Including 13 original typed and edited drafts of magazine articles and eight sections of THE AMERICAN LANGUAGE and other books; autobiographical notes and reminiscences; letters to and from Mencken, his secretaries, and others in his circle; clippings of articles by and about Mencken; and a partial memoir written by his secretary, Margaret Lappin, never published. The collection documents Mencken's activities primarily from the late 1930s until his death in 1956, particularly revealing his working relationship with his secretary, Rosalind Lohrfinck, who typed flawlessly as he dictated, and after his stroke performed the lion's share of his work. (A full inventory of the collection will be available at the exhibition before sale and upon request to those who cannot attend in person).
Provenance: Originally in possession of Maragaret Lappin and Rosalind Lohrfinck, sisters who successively worked as Mencken's private secretaries. After Lappin's death, her attorney gave the bulk of her archive to the Beinecke Library at Yale, however these papers were retained by her attorney, presumably because they were of a more private nature, with details of Mencken's and Mrs. Lohrfinck's health. They also reflect the huge contribution that Lohrfinck in particular had made to Mencken's literary output. The documents have remained in the hands of descendants of that attorney until the present time.

Collection of H. L. Mencken Documents March, 2023 I. Memoirs of Mencken A. Rosalind Lohrfinck 1. Extract from Mencken’s diary, Sept. 23, 1943, concerning his dependence on his black housekeepers, but especially on Mrs. Lohrfinck, stating at length her contributions. (Three typed transcripts.) 2. Two further transcripts from HLM’s diary, Aug. 29 and Sept. 19, 1944, concerning Lohrfinck’s illness. (Original typed and carbon copies) 3. Group of 9 typed entries from Lohrfinck’s diary, November 1949 – April, 1950, detailing her experiences with HLM – quite vivid and revealing about their relationship. (Original typed entries, most on standard bond paper, two on newsprint and from a different typewriter.) 4. Two pages of short-hand notes dictated by HLM, apparently concerning the CHRESTOMATHY (In pencil on yellow legal paper.) B. Margaret Lappin’s Fragmentary Memoir, comprising drafts of various pages in the typescript, incomplete and never published. 1. Typed footnote on a scrap of paper, concerning the origin of a slang word and the indifference of most writers to the origins and meanings of common words. 2. Typed page relating discovery of papers that would become MINORITY REPORT, published in 1956. 3. Typed page describing a visit to Mencken’s house on Union Square in fall of 1954. 4. Group of typed drafts of her memoir, “As I Saw Mencken,” circa 1969, including pages 1-30 (about 57 original typed and carbon copies, with some handwritten corrections.) 5. Typed page concerning Rosalind Lohrfinck’s feeling concerning a memoir of HLM. C. Notes and Correspondence concerning the project 1. MS note from Richard Hart (head of Enoch Pratt Library) to R. Lohrfinck, concerning end of her work on Mencken’s books and papers, Aug. 28, [1962?] 2. Snapshot photo of R. Lohrfinck and Margaret Lappin. 3. Typed list of books belonging to R. Lohrfinck with HLM associations, compiled by M. Lappin, with commentary. (7 leaves, some with minimal entries, others typed on both sides.) 4. Typed letter from Rosalind to her brother-in-law, Charles Lappin, April 16, 1958, which mentions her work at Enoch Pratt. 5. Typed and handwritten letter to M. Lappin, Feb. 28, 1952, including details of her work with HLM preparing his archive for the Pratt Library. 6. Typed letter signed by Dr. Walter Baetjer, Oct. 9, 1967, concerning Lohrfinck’s health. 7. Typed letter signed by M. Lappin, Nov. 19, 1969, to a scholar in England concerning the attempt to write a memoir of HLM. (The letter returned to sender as undeliverable.) 8. Three typed pages from Lappin’s memoir, noted as originally having been part of Rosalind’s memoir, concerning Mencken’s article on derogatory nicknames of American towns and cities, including comments on their work on THE AMERICAN LANGUAGE. D. Other 1. Twelve posted envelopes that once held correspondence between HLM and R. Lohrfinck, and between Lohrfinck and M. Lappin, 1947-1958. 2. Brief Correspondence from and to R. Lohrfinck concerning transcription of HLM’s articles in Chicago TRIBUNE, 1924-’27, for a book by Knopf, 1957, comprising Lohrfinck’s bill, retained cover letter, and response from Knopf’s secretary. 3. Tax forms and correspondence related to Lohrfinck’s employment by HLM, 1948 - 1952. II. Letters and Notes by H. L. Mencken, Non-Specific A. Typed by Secretaries 1. Typed draft and carbon of Mencken’s transmission letter for donation of books to the Pratt, May 2, 1950. (Two pages.) 2. Three Typed retained copies of letters to Hulbert Footner, a popular mystery and adventure writer and good friend, Oct. 2, 1939 – June 23, 1942; none signed. B. Handwritten or Typed by HLM 1. Four typed cards from HLM’s word file, one with penciled numerals by HLM. 2. Three typed cards from HLM’s quotation file, one with additional notes by Lohrfinck and Lappin. (With additional identification notes by Lappin on an envelope.) 3. One typed and 7 handwritten notes from HLM to Lohrfinck, concerning typing assignments. 4. Handwritten note for a letter to Joseph Hergesheimer, n.d., mentioning Toynbee (on a scrap of blue note paper.) 5. Two typed notes from HLM to Blanche Knopf, July 27 and Aug. 15, 1944, concerning Lohrfinck’s illness (on foolscap letterhead but retained copies: the first original typewritten copy, the second a carbon.) 6. A handwritten definition of the Yiddish word, ”schwarte,” instructional note in pencil to Lohrfinck; and a typed risqué joke. (Three small pieces of paper in Lappin’s labelled envelope.) 7. Typed note signed by HLM, restricting access to an unspecified group of documents and letters; HLM autograph, before his stroke. (Two small pieces of paper in Lappin’s labelled envelope.) 8. Typed note, with monogram by HLM, uncertain date in 1941, to Lohrfinck, asking her to accompany him to a Sunpapers board meeting. (On foolscap letterhead.) 9. Typed letter, initialled by HLM to Lohrfinck, Roaring Gap, NC, Sept/Oct., 1939, concerning plans to return to Baltimore and writing. (On “Roaring Gap” foolscap letterhead.) 10. Brief pencilled note by HLM, March, 1948, concerning a book citation, pinned to two typed index cards. 11. Typed letter, with monogram of HLM, to Lohrfinck, Port Said, Egypt, March 9, 1934, concerning his honeymoon travels and expected return to Maryland. (On N.D. Lloyd steamship, “Columbus,” stationery.) 12. Three typed notes from HLM to Lohrfinck, two signed and one with monogram, the dates unspecified, probably 1930s, all praising her for her work. (Three foolscap sheets with letterhead.) 13. Retained carbon copy of a typed letter to Harry Nash, proprietor of a hotel in St. Petersburg, Fl., Jan. 5, 1948, arranging a stay in February. (8 ½ X 11 sheet of typewriter paper; toned and brittle.) 14. Typed note from HLM to Lohrfinck, no date, unsigned, giving the locations in his office of various parts of his manuscript for the CHRESTOMATHY, with envelope identifying the document as one that Lohrfinck found after HLM’s death and then discovered the MS. (Original and carbon copy on typewriter bond paper.) C. Items Produced as Therapy after stroke 1. Eight notes or single words and a signature written in pencil on small scraps of paper, Sept. 18, 1949 – Sept. 7, 1951, all following his stroke. Some with typed or handwritten notes concerning their meanings and dates; with Lappin’s annotated envelope. 2. Series of typed transcripts of monologues from HLM to Lohrfinck, September 1, 1949 – September 6, 1950; some with typed annotations from Lohrfinck. (Fourteen items on typewriter bond paper, some extending onto a second page.) 3. Ten similar typed monologues, August 15 – September 1, 1950, particularly concerning HLM’s health (Original typed pages and carbons, most about 2 pages double-spaced on bond paper.) III. Letters and Notes to H. L. Mencken and his Caretakers A. General 1. Typed note from August Mencken to Lohrfinck, undated and unsigned, with a typed copy by Lappin and carbon of the same, concerning Knopf’s plan to issue a one-volume edition of AMERICAN LANGUAGE and a volume of collected articles for The New Yorker, c.1933 (Half page original; annotated transcript and carbon on regular bond). 2. Three typed letters, signed, and an essay by Siegfried Weissberger, HLM’s friend and admirer, 1951 (5 pp. regular bond paper, 2 more on half sheets). 3. Postcard sent to HLM from Rye Beach, New Hampshire, August 31, 1949, unidentified sender, J. C. F. 4. TLS from August Mencken to M. Lappin, September 2, 1964, on personal stationery, with original stamped cover, concerning whether there were any more of HLM’s papers and scrapbooks among her personal property and whether any money was due her estate from HLM; also commenting that her collection of Mencken books would have substantial value (Half-sheet of bond paper.) B. Concerning His Health 1. TLS from August Mencken to Lohrfinck, August 9, 1950, on personal stationery, regarding finding a hobby for HLM after his stroke, possibly printing. (Half-sheet of bond paper.) 2. ALS from Elizabeth Hanes to Lohrfinck, July 18, 1950, on “Roaring Gap” stationery, inquiring about HLM’s health following the stroke, with retained copy of Lohrfinck’s response, July 21, 1950, giving a highly detailed account of his situation and state of mind. (The first, one page, 4to size; the second, 1 p. single spaced on standard bond sheet.) 3. ALS from Elizabeth Hanes to Lohrfinck, March 2, 1951, on Pioneer Hotel, Tucson, stationery, asking about HLM’s health and commenting on biography, DISTURBER OF THE PEACE (1+ pp., 12mo size.) C. Other 1. Two carbons of a Typed Letter from August Mencken, November, 1950, to members of the Saturday Night Club, proposing the disbanding of the group, with a newspaper clipping from the Baltimore Sun reporting the donation of their musical library to the Pratt Library in Baltimore. (Regular bond paper.) 2. Typed biographical summary addressed to C. S. Flugel in Salinas, Cal., possibly by Mencken himself, with handwritten address corrections, possibly by Lohrfinck. (14 single-spaced lines on scrap of paper.) 3. Handwritten note from W. D. Pauls, probably to Lohrfinck, November 1, 1949, suggesting that she encourage Mencken to dictate memories of people he has known, as a way to stimulate his thinking after the stroke. (Pencil on a sheet of bond paper.) IV. Personal Papers of H. L. Mencken A. General 1. Typed copy of a letter from President Truman to Paul Hume, music critic for the Washington Post, December, 1950, in which the President insults and threatens Hume for writing an unfavorable review of Margaret Truman’s piano recital; with envelope bearing typed note by Lappin concerning the letter. (One page, bond paper.) 2. Two recipes, for Hungarian goulash (Dr. Max Broedel’s) and sole (Reine Pedauque restaurant in Paris), evidently typed by HLM (Each a half-page of bond paper, carbon copies.) 3. Typed extract from “Diary of a Reviewer” published in The Smart Set, February, 1920, on growing old, with typos suggesting that HLM was the typist. (Quarter sheet of bond paper.) B. Diary Extracts 1. Transcript of 5 entries, July 2, 1944 – January 22, 1945, concerning Lohrfinck’s illness and her return to work for HLM, evidently typed by her directly from the diary. (Three half-sheets of bond paper.) 2. Transcript of entry for March 18, 1933, describing his dinner with F. Scott Fitzgerald and family the night before, very closely observed, likely typed by Lohrfinck. (One page, single space, on regular bond paper: original and carbon copy.) 3. Three original typed sheets from HLM’s Diary, April 27, 1944, concerning Alfred Knopf and his wife, Blanche, with details of their marriage difficulties and some anti-Semitic content; with a note from Lohrfinck explaining that HLM had instructed her to purge these from his diary and retype a censored version. (Two sheets regular bond paper, a partial sheet, and a 12mo size sheet for the note.) C. “My Life as Author and Editor,” original typed autobiographical sketch, with small edits by HLM, the cover sheet with note concerning the dates of composition and restricted access note signed by Mencken (post stroke). With a copy typed by Lohrfinck, including extra carbon sheets. (The original consisting of 3 1/2 pages, bond paper, browned and brittle.) D. Retained carbon copy of letter to National Institute of Arts & Letters, April 24, 1950, declining an honorary membership, with notes by Lappin concerning Lohrfinck’s role in the episode. (Two pages, regular bond, with an annotated envelope.) E. Memorandum, June 2, 1945, concerning a young woman who was stalking him. (One and a quarter pages, double spaced, on 2 sheets of bond paper.) F. Photographs 1. HLM with George Nathan(?) apparently on the deck of a ship, c. 1930 2. Souvenir photo of HLM, August Mencken, and Louis Cheslock, signed by all three men on the mount and dated August 20, 1949. 3. Color photo of HLM standing on the terrace of the Hanes’s house, Roaring Gap, NC, August, 1940, with typed and handwritten identification verso. 4. Two photos from the same negative, showing HLM at work in his office, a copy of NEWSPAPER DAYS (published in 1941) on his desk; each signed in pen, u.l. (Some curling, with crackled emulsion.) 5. Five photos of an elderly Mencken at a birthday party in his honor, possibly with members of the Saturday Night Club. (Light curling, with some crackling in the emulsion.) V. Manuscripts or Drafts A. Books 1. Typewritten Table of Contents with corrections and additions in HLM’s handwriting, forming an early draft of material included in several of his PREJUDICES series. The last page with a handwritten summary, with word-count of the various chapters, on two foolscap sheets, laid down on the typed page. (Six single-spaced pages, cheap bond paper – now brittle and deeply toned.) 2. Typewritten page 1003 of autobiography, with handwritten edits and a citation slip, dealing with the end of his time at the MERCURY and particularly reminiscing about Isaac Slonimsky and his wife, Dorothy Adlow. (One legal-size page, double and single space; the paper toned and brittle.) 3. Typewritten excerpt from THE AMERICAN LANGUAGE, with handwritten edits by HLM and signed by him at the top of the first page, concerning American proper names, the naming of telephone exchanges in New York and of apartment buildings in the same city. (Three pages, cheap bond paper, heavily toned and becoming brittle, stapled and bound with blue paper tape.) 4. Typewritten excerpt from THE AMERICAN LANGUAGE, with handwritten edits by HLM and signed by him at the top of the first page, Article 544, concerning systematic street names in American cities. (Nine pages, cheap bond paper, heavily toned and becoming brittle, stapled and bound with blue paper tape.) 5. Typewritten excerpt from THE AMERICAN LANGUAGE, with handwritten edits by HLM and signed by him at the top of the first page, Article 548, concerning the names of residents of various states and cities. (Seven pages, cheap bond paper, heavily toned and becoming brittle, stapled and bound with white paper tape.) 6. Typewritten excerpt from THE AMERICAN LANGUAGE, with handwritten edits by HLM and signed by him at the top of the first page, comprising two drafts of Article 552, concerning nicknames for American towns and cities. (One comprising 5 pages, cheap bond paper, with various typed slips inserted, heavily toned and becoming brittle; the other, 10 pages, regular bond paper; stapled and bound together with blue paper tape.) 7. Typewritten excerpt from THE AMERICAN LANGUAGE, with handwritten edits by HLM and signed by him at the top of the first page, and with an attestation by Lohrfinck on the last page, Article 553, concerning the nicknames of American cities. (Seven pages, cheap bond paper, heavily toned and becoming brittle, stapled and bound with blue paper tape.) 8. Typewritten excerpt from THE AMERICAN LANGUAGE, with handwritten edits by HLM and signed by him at the top of the first page, comprising a list of contributors of place names and nicknames. (Four pages, cheap bond paper, heavily toned and becoming brittle, stapled and bound with blue paper tape.) 9. Two Typewritten proposals for books, typed by Mencken on January 15, 1941: “A New Dictionary of Quotations” and “Newspaper Days” (Five pages total, retained carbon copies, with some additional notes by Lappin.) B. Magazine and Newspaper Articles 1. “A Lesson For Pastors,” written for the Baltimore Evening Sun, January 18, 1926, a reminiscence of old Baltimore; transcript typed by Lohrfinck with typed notes by her at the end. (Four pages, regular bond paper.) 2. Review of Henry Gannett’s book, AMERICAN NAMES, published in the MISSISSIPPI VALLEY HISTORICAL REVIEW, June, 1948, comprising an early draft extensively reworked in HLM’s handwriting and a finished draft, signed by HLM at top of first page. (Each draft, 2 pages, the first draft on toned and brittle paper; both drafts stapled together and bound with red tape.) 3. “The American: His Language,” published in THE SMART SET, August, 1913, likely a later transcript, signed by HLM at the top of the first page. (Eighteen pages, regular bond paper; stapled and bound with red tape. The first page with toning but otherwise sound.) 4. “Some Opprobrious Nicknames,” published in AMERICAN SPEECH, February, 1949, comprising an early draft, extensively reworked by HLM and signed by him at thew top of the first page. (Ten pages, regular bond paper, with some pasting up; stapled and bound with blue tape.) 5. Two drafts of “Days of Innocence – An Evening on the House,” published in ESQUIRE, December 1, 1943, each signed on the first page; one with title edited. (The first, 11 pages double spaced on regular bond paper; the second extending a few lines onto a 12th page.) 6. “Obsequies in the Grand Manner,” published in ESQUIRE, January, 1944, signed on the first page. (Twelve pages, double spaced on regular bond; retained carbon copy.) 7. “Days of Innocence – Surdi Audiunt,” published in NEW YORKER, June 12, 1943, signed on the title page. (Eleven pages, double spaced, on regular bond paper; retained carbon copy.) 8. “Days of Innocence – The Life of Tone,” published in NEW YORKER, September 25, 1943, signed on the title page. (Eleven pages, double spaced, on regular bond paper; retained carbon copy.) 9. “Stare Decisis,” published in NEW YORKER, December 30, 1944, signed on the title page, and with a few minor corrections. (Fourteen pages, double spaced, on regular bond paper; retained carbon copy.) 10. “Tale of a Traveler,” published in NEW YORKER, October 12, 1945, signed on the title page, and with a couple of minor corrections in the text. (Eleven pages, double spaced, on regular bond paper; retained carbon copy.) 11. “Love Story,” published in NEW YORKER, January 17, 1948, signed on the title page. (Twelve pages, double spaced, on regular bond paper; retained carbon copy.) 12. “Postscript to the American Language: Scented Words,” published in NEW YORKER, April 2, 1949, unsigned, but with extensive corrections in Mencken’s hand. (Eight pages, double spaced, on brittle and toned bond paper; carbon copy.) 13. Two drafts of “A Potlatch of Idealists,” a gossipy story concerning the Disarmament Conference held in Washington, 1921-’22, written in 1948, which was never published; comprising an early draft with extensive revision in HLM’s handwriting and a subsequent draft, signed on the first page and with a few corrections. (Each draft consisting of 10 pages, double spaced, on regular bond format. The earlier draft a carbon copy on cheap toned paper. The later draft directly typed, on better paper, but with considerable toning, especially on the first page.) 14. “Speech for the Annual Dinner of the American Philosophical Society,” delivered in Philadelphia, November 4, 1948 (two weeks before his stroke), with a few minor corrections. (Thirteen pages, double spaced, on standard bond paper.) VI. A collection of Printed Articles by H. L. Mencken, including works removed from various magazines and newspapers, many with brief notations by Lohrfinck, Lappin, or HLM. VII. Assortment of Newspaper Clippings Concerning H. L. Mencken, some with brief notes concerning date or origin. Many are post mortem. VIII. Other A. Alistair Cooke and Dedication of Mencken Room at Pratt Library, Baltimore, including copies of his address and a radio-play about Mencken, starring Cooke. B. The Mencken Room, including Richard Hart’s description of the collection and it’s importance to the Pratt Library of Baltimore C. Typed List Mencken’s Books and Personal Library, prepared by him with annotations and estimated values, many in his own handwriting (About 20 pages, on toned and brittle bond paper) D. Critical Assessments, mostly clippings from magazines and newspapers. E. Miscellaneous Items, including the annotated envelopes in which Lappin arranged the collection.