Scope and Content Note
The papers of Herbert Corey (1872-1954) span the years 1847-1954, with the bulk from the period 1880-1954. The collection contains diaries, correspondence, scrapbooks, literary manuscripts, clippings, and printed matter. The papers are organized into the following series: Diaries and Datebooks , Correspondence , Scrapbooks and Notebooks , Literary File , Clippings , and Miscellany .
The Diaries and Datebooks contain numerous notations and personal observations by Corey regarding World War I, outstanding events of his lifetime, business appointments, social engagements, and other subjects.
Although the Correspondence series begins with the year 1847, most of the items are dated after 1880. The series reflects on Corey's many occupations as a cowboy, sheepherder, stage driver, war correspondent, author, and contributing editor of the Nation's Business. The few letters dated previous to 1880 were written by other members of the Corey family. While the series chiefly highlights Corey's career as writer and correspondent, including letters pertaining to his first book, Truth about Hoover, it also includes a file for Simon Lake, the naval architect and submarine designer who was the subject of Corey's book Submarine: The Autobiography of Simon Lake as Told to Herbert Corey.
Scrapbooks in the Scrapbooks and Notebooks series contain letters, press clippings, identification papers, and related documents and are mainly concerned with Corey's career as a correspondent in England and Europe. The series also includes two notebooks belonging to Corey's mother, Sarah Permilla Herbert, one of which contains a brief genealogical history of the Corey family.
The Literary File contains published and unpublished drafts of Corey's major works, short stories, and articles, including two unpublished manuscripts of memoirs of World War I and an autobiography. The series also contains background material and notes accumulated by Corey during the course of his research and writing, including research notes and speeches by Simon Lake and a biographical sketch of Jesse S. Lake.