Ellen Nehr Papers
Collection Overview
Abstract
The Ellen Nehr Papers consist of research materials, correspondence, and manuscript materials written by Ellen Nehr, as well as works by others sent to Nehr for review.
Dates
- Creation: undated
Extent
19 Cubic Feet (16 records cartons.)
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of research materials, correspondence, and manuscript materials written by Ellen Nehr, as well as review proofs of books written by others that she received for inclusion in her Murder Ad Lib newsletter. These materials will be of interest to those studying fan culture, the mystery fiction industry of the late 20th century, and the work of Ellen Nehr.
An inventory is not currently available for this collection, however the materials are available for researchers to access.
Biographical / Historical
Ellen Nehr (1931-1995) was an American author, critic, and editor in the field of mystery fiction. She was the compiler-author of The Doubleday Crime Club Compendium 1928-1991, the producer of the review newsletter Murder Ad Lib, and contributing essayist to Twentieth-Century Crime and Mystery Writers.
Nehr served in the Air Force from 1955-1962, attaining the rank of Captain. She married in 1960 and eventually had three children. Always an avid reader, it was on moving to Hartford, Connecticut in 1976 that she became involved with DAPA-EM ("Elementary, My Dear APA") and began writing about the books she collected through her zine The Apron String Affair. She became an Associate Editor at Mystery Scene magazine, producing a column titled "Murder Ad Lib", which later became the title of her newsletter.
In 1992, while living in Columbus, Nehr completed work on The Doubleday Crime Club Compendium 1928-1991. Despite health problems, she continued to produce her Murder Ad Lib newsletter and work on a reivision to the Doubleday book until shortly before her death.
(The bulk of the information for this note is taken from Murder Ad Lib, published as a tribute to Ellen Nehr by DAPA-EM in 1996.)
Conditions Governing Access
No known access restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright and other restrictions may apply to the materials in this collection. Researchers using this collection assume full responsibility for conforming to the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright, and are responsible for securing permissions necessary for publication or reproduction.
Language of Materials
English
Separated Materials
The donation included bound books sent to Ellen Nehr for review, which have been cataloged and added into the collections of the Browne Popular Culture Library.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The materials in this collection were transferred to the Browne Popular Culture Library by the Estate of Ellen Nehr between 1995 and 2002.
Genre / Form
- Title
- Guide to the Ellen Nehr Papers
- Author
- Steve Ammidown
- Date
- 2017, 2020
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin