- CA ON00389 F17-5-6
- Subseries
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
Documents about Contemporaries
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
Fonds consists of documents relating to the Zola Research Program and the publication of the 10 volume "Émile Zola Correspondance" series, including project files, inventories, reference materials, photocopies of Émile Zola’s correspondence and other documents related to the project. The project files contained in this fonds document the development and activities of the Zola Research Program. Project files records include inventories of various letters, funding information, budgetary forms, donor agreements, publicity documents and summaries of the project written both by external entities (newspapers) and internal figures (members of the Program staff). Also included are supplementary documents that were collected to create a broader contextual framework. Each letter is be supported with annotations and background information on the correspondents, events or people discussed in the letters as well as the social and political state of France during the 19th century. While the collection of letters by Zola was the primary mandate of the project, along the way the Program collected a vast number of reference materials to broaden the perspective. This fonds contains the off-prints, various documents (both collected by Zola and collected by the Zola Research Program about various 19th century figures) and bibliographies. Books collected by the Program are now the basis of the Émile Zola Collection in the Rare Book Collection of Kelly Library.
The correspondence is composed mostly of photocopies of handwritten letters, post cards, cartes de visites, telegrams and typed transcriptions of letters. The correspondence is a mixture of professional and personal letters that discuss various matters from the publication of Zola’s main works to the birth of his children. It is clear from the various handwritings and documentation styles that multiple figures were involved in the processing of the letters. However, as a Research Associate and long-term member of the team, Dorothy Speirs was the primary figure creating, processing and cross-referencing the letters. This can be seen through the presence of her initials on most of the documents. Additionally, as Project Archivist Hélène Issayevitch organized the letters and maintained the record-keeping practices throughout. It is important to note that after the dissolution of the Zola Research Program in 1995, Speirs continued collecting reference materials and adding them to the collection. As a result, there are a number of documents contained within that extend outside the dates of the Program. The result of this continued research is an additional publication completed in 2008, in association with Owen Morgan.
This collection remains the largest repository of Émile Zola’s letters available in North America. In recent years, the descendants of Zola have divided the estate, including the letters, resulting in a dispersal of the documents. This collection represents the largest single collection of Zola’s letters that is accessible and open to the public. Additionally, this fonds contains a fountain of information on key figures in the Naturalist Movement of the 19th century, as well as other well-known artists, scholars, intellectuals and political and social figures, including J.K. Huysmans, Edmond de Goncourt, Gustave Flaubert, Édouard Manet, Alfred Bruneau, Paul Alexis, Henry Céard, Léon Hennique, and Guy de Maupassant - all of which can be found either through personal discussions in the letters or supplementary documentation. The hidden value in this fonds lies in the plethora of reference resources that are available. The fonds also houses a vast number of off-prints that explore various aspects of Zola’s life as well as the broader Naturalist community of the 19th century. Some other significant pieces include original 19th century illustrated theatrical pamphlets from the Théâtre Libre, various original newspaper clippings and original letters by Émile Zola, Alexandrine Zola, Paul Alexis and Jules Claretie.
Fonds is arranged into 6 series:
1) Project Files series: consists of a variety of records that document the development of the project over the years, including funding information, publicity and marketing documents, donor agreements, budgetary forms and some correspondence amongst various scholars.
2) Letters by Zola series: consists of photocopies of letters written by Zola between 1856 and 1902. This series also contains an original letter by Émile Zola, dated June 22, 1890 (File #107).
3) Letters to Zola series: contains photocopies of letters written to Zola between 1858 and 1902. This series also contains an original letter by Alexandrine Zola to Émile Zola, dated May 27, 1890 (File #248).
4) Letters by Contemporaries series: consists of photocopies of letters sent between Zola’s family and contemporaries. This series contains an original letter from Paul Alexis to Léon Hennique, dated September 19, 1887 (File #420).
5) Collected and Reference Material series: contains photocopies of documents about the project and the various correspondents in the fonds (documents written by or about Émile Zola, documents about his family and correspondents, off-prints of works written about Émile Zola and naturalism, project inventories of letters and bibliographies). Series contains a variety of original documents including newspapers and theatrical pamphlets.
6) Alphabetical Index Forms series: consists of biographical and contextual information on correspondents of Émile Zola, figures mentioned in the letters, or the main journals for which he wrote.
Zola Research Program
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of records created and maintained by the Zola Research Program staff throughout the life of the project. Types of records found in these files include publicity and marketing documents (including some newspaper articles), various summaries of the project, funding and budgeting documents, salary, benefits and stipend forms, mail order lists, book orders for the Joseph Sablé Centre for 19th century French Studies (post-project) and graduate student profiles.
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of records that document the various sources from which letters and documents were donated for the project. File #2 contains donation agreements for private French donors. The dates of these forms range from 1974 to 1988. File #3 contains an inventory of French libraries and journals that were visited throughout the course of the project. File #4 is a collection of references cards that outline the different public and private institutions that donated documents or letters to the project. These cards outline the name of the institution or figure, location, and a listing of the letters donated to the project.
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of a bibliography of works written by Zola, including compilations of his works as well as
translations and updated editions. It is unclear when the document was compiled, however dates of
publication of items included on the list indicate that compilation occurred after the dissolution of the Zola
Research Program. Dorothy Speirs continued adding reference materials to the collection, and it is likely that
this bibliography was included in this process. Pages 187-222 are missing from the document, resulting in
works starting with “A” missing.
The document has been arranged into 8 separate sections, listed below:
1) Oeuvres completes
2) Collected editions of the novels
3) Individual works by title
4) Electronic publications
5) Selected works
6) Correspondence
7) Divers
8) Prefaces
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of biographical cards for correspondents with surnames Colet to Hennique. Key
correspondents in these files include Numa Coste, Fernand Desmoulin, Louis Desprez, Edmond Duranty,
Gustave Flaubert, Edmond de Goncourt, Antoine Guillemet and Léon Hennique.
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of biographical cards for various 19th century journals and correspondents with surnames
About to Coedes. Key correspondents in these files include Edmond About, Paul Alexis, the Aubert family
(Zola’s mother’s family), Saint-Georges de Bouhélier, Alfred Bruneau, Henry Céard, Paul Cézanne, Georges
Charpentier, and Jules Claretie. The journal index cards differ slightly from the biographical cards. The journal cards include information on the beginning and ending of publication, directors (main editors), nature of the
journal, its political orientation, collaborators and its role in Zola’s career.
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of biographical cards for correspondents with surnames Nadar to Zola. Key
correspondents in these files include Nadar, Auguste Rodin, Marius Roux, the Solari family, Gabriel Thyébaut,
Gustave Toudouze, Antony Valabrègue, Alexandrine Zola, and Zola’s mother and father (François and Émilie
Zola).
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of biographical cards for correspondents with surnames Henriques to Murger. Key
correspondents in these files include Joris-Karl Huysmans, the Laborde family (Amélie, Albert, Elina),
Édouard Manet, Louis Margery, Guy de Maupassant and Octave Mirbeau.
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of off-prints, articles and chapters from books relating to Émile Zola and/or Naturalism
written by authors with surnames Tabarant to Varndoe. The publication dates for works contained in these
files range from 1876 to 1993. Recurring scholars include René Tournois, Clive Thomson and Akira
Tsuneoka. Most of the works contained in these files are written in French or English, however there are some
pieces written in Japanese.
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of articles, chapters from books and off-prints relating to Émile Zola and/or Naturalism
written by authors with surnames Sanders to Scott. The dates of works published in these files range from
1891 to 1991. Recurring scholars include J.B. Sanders, Rita Schober and Naomi Schor. File #1268 contains an
original 1891 article by Aurélien Scholl, titled “L’Amant de sa femme."
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of chapters from books, articles and off-prints that discuss Émile Zola and/or Naturalism
written by authors with surnames Vaughn to Wierenga. The publication dates for works contained in these
files range from 1873-1996. Recurring scholars include Robert M. Viti, Philip Walker, Rodolphe Walter and
Henry Weinberg.
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of chapters from books, off-prints and articles written about Émile Zola and/or Naturalism
written by authors with surnames Wilson to Zolling. The publication dates for works contained in these files
range from 1878 to 1994. Recurring authors include Nelly Wilson, Albert Wolff, Geoff Woolen, Alexandre
Zevaes and Liugia Zilli.
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of a bibliography of works written about Émile Zola between 1864 and 1981. Although
not indicated on the document itself, the original folder identified D. Baguley as the compiler of the
document. Other materials in this fonds indicate that David Baguley was head of a project out of the Western
University (then University of Western Ontario) in the 1970s to compile an international bibliography of all
existing works written about Zola. It is likely that the bibliography included in this sub-series is an updated
version of this project. The document has been divided by year, with distinctions made between types of
publication (book or article). Publications in this document are mostly French and English, however there are
other languages present as well. The years 1896-1899 and 1922-1930 are missing from this document. This
bibliography is also available online and Baguley has continued updating it in recent years (it can be found at
http://www.cahiers-naturalistes.com/baguley.htm).
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of off-prints, articles and chapters from books that pertain to Émile Zola and/or
Naturalism written by authors with surnames Sederberg to Symons. The publication dates for works contained
in these files range from 1891 to 1997. Recurring authors include Masakazu Shimizu, Dolorès Signori,
Dorothy Speirs and Halini Suwala. Most of the works in these files are written in French or English, however
Shimizu’s works are written in Japanese. File #1291 contains an original article by Severine, published in 1898
and titled "Notes d’une frondeuse - Liste de suspects."
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of inventories created by the Zola Research Program between the years of 1975 and 1991.
The inventories are a mixture of handwritten and typed, with various additions and annotations present. In
particular, the inventories documenting the Collection Le Blond Zola have very interesting ways of organizing
letters sent to Zola based on various information including author, content of letter or reference of Zola’s
work and country from which the letter was sent. These inventories are documenting the early years of the
program, as they developed more advanced systems of record keeping later on. As a result, most of the
inventories in these files were created in 1975 and 1976. There are also an extensive number of inventories in
the second half of the box that were used for cross-checking between the two teams. These inventories were
divided into years by the Zola Research Program staff, and a letter between Hélène Issayevitch and Collette
Morin-Laborde dates them to 1991. There is also an inventory of Letters by Contemporaries sent amongst
Zola’s family members (corresponds with letters in Boxes 54 and 55), which have been arranged by
correspondent.
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of photocopies of off-prints, newspaper and academic articles and chapters from books
that discuss Émile Zola and/or Naturalism that have been written by authors with the surnames Bedo to
Hemmings. The dates of publication in these files range from 1900 to 1994. Key scholars in these files include
Saint-Georges de Bouhélier and Pedro Calheiros. These files include a number of original documents by SaintGeorges
de Bouhélier, with dates ranging from 1908-1938 (in Files #713-717, #719) and three newspapers:
Comœdia (dated 1908, in File #728), Le Figaro (dated 1927, in File #736) and La Feuille Litteraire (dated 1913, in
File #737).
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of photocopies of articles, off-prints and chapters from books that focus on either Émile
Zola or Naturalism written by authors with the surname Niederstenbruch to Page. The dates of publication
for material in these files range from 1898 to 1994. Recurring scholars include Robert J. Niess and Kazuo
Ozaki. There are articles written in French, English, Italian, Japanese and Russian in these files.
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of off-prints, newspaper and academic articles, and chapters from books that pertain to
Émile Zola and/or Naturalism written by authors with surnames Rigaud to Salvan. The dates of the works
published in these files range from 1886 to 1998. Recurring authors include Guy Robert, Edouard Rod, Sergio
Sacchi, Murry Sachs and A.J. Salvan.
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of off-prints, articles, and chapters from books that pertain to Émile Zola or Naturalism
that have been written by authors with surnames Adamo to Becker. These files also contain anonymous
articles and one file (#643) that contains articles that are to be categorized. The dates of the works range from
1892 to 1995. The files within have been arranged alphabetically by surname with each work possessing its
own folder. Recurring scholars include Auriant and Colette Becker.
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of photocopies of articles, off-prints and chapters from books that discuss Émile Zola
and/or Naturalism written by authors with surnames Pia to Rienzo. The dates of publication for material in
these files range from 1868 to 1991. Recurring scholars include V.S. Pritchett, Madeleine Reberioux and
Theodore Reff. These files also contain three original documents: an article written by Gaston Picard,
published in 1927 (in File #1085); one La Presse newspaper clipping, published in 1897 (in File #1102); and
one Revue de l’art Pour Tous newspaper clipping, published in 1904 (in File #1144).
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of photocopies of off-prints, articles and chapters of books that pertain to Émile Zola
and/or Naturalism written by authors with the surnames Nelson to Newton. The dates of publication range
from 1951 to 2004. Joy Newton dominates these files with over 60 articles, however other recurring authors
include Brian Nelson and William Newton.
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of photocopies of articles, off-prints, and chapters from books that discuss Émile Zola
and/or Naturalism written by authors with surnames Pagès to Peyrot. The dates of publication for material in
these files range from 1858 to 2001. Recurring scholars in these files include Alain Pagès, Allan Pasco, and
Sandy Petrey
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of photocopies of off-prints, articles and chapters from books that relate to Émile Zola or
Naturalism written by authors with the surnames Iwabuchi to Mitterand. The dates of publication range from
1897 to 2001. Recurring scholars include Gian-Carlo Menichelli, Elise Michel and Henri Mitterand. There are
also multiple booklets written in Japanese in these files.
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of photocopies of off-prints, articles and chapters from books that discuss Émile Zola
and/or Naturalism written by authors with the surname Mitterand to Nardi. The dates of publication range
from [1894] to 2001. Recurring authors include Henri Mitterand and Owen Morgan.
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of articles and research materials compiled and written about the correspondents from the
Letters by Contemporaries series. Types of documents found in these files include various certificates
(including, marriage, death, professional/honorary), photographs, booklets or journal articles written about the
figure, as well as examples of their own work (poems, newspaper articles, etc). Key correspondents in these
files include Henry Céard, Alphonse Daudet, Louis Desprez, Paul Alexis and Alfred Bruneau. There are also
files on various other events including the commission of the Statue of Balzac and diverse matters. There are a
number of original pieces in these files including a program celebrating Henry Becque (dated May 31, 1904, in
File #640), an albumen print (dated 1898, in File #641), and a pamphlet discussing loans of the Government
of Egypt (dated 1873, in File #644)
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of photocopies of documents pertaining to Émile Zola’s personal and professional life.
There are six broad categories in these files:
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of articles and research materials compiled by and written about the correspondents from
the Letters by Contemporaries series. Types of materials that can be found include photocopies of birth,
marriage and death certificates, some works written by them as well as photocopies of photographs. Key
correspondents in these files include various family members (Alexandrine Zola, Georges Loiseau and Dr.
François Émile-Zola), as well as other professional correspondents (such as Theodore Stanton, Ernest
Vizetelly, Saint-Arroman and Georges Charpentier) and personal correspondents (including Léon Hennique,
Jacques van Santen Kolff, Léona Queyrouze and Dr. Édouard Toudouze).
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of photocopies of handwritten manuscripts, published material and typed transcriptions of
manuscripts and other documents pertaining to Zola’s works written between 1866 and 1952. The files within
have been arranged alphabetically by title of works, starting with Angeline and finishing with Vérité. These files
document some of Zola’s thought process and brainstorming when writing his books and short stories.
Germinal and Une Page d’amour contain extensive (though not complete) photocopies of manuscripts written in
Zola’s hand.
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of photocopies of handwritten and published materials that relate to Émile Zola. There are
three broad categories represented in these files:
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of a variety of documents that pertain to Émile Zola’s life and work. There are four broad
categories in these files:
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of photocopies of a variety of documents written and/or owned by Émile Zola or that
pertain to his business affairs between 1863 and 1903. There are four broad categories of documents included
in these files:
Collected and Reference Materials
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of photocopies of letters written by and amongst Zola’s contemporaries with the surnames
M through to Alexandrine Zola’s letters to Doctor Larat. The files within have been arranged alphabetically by
author, with recurring correspondents possessing their own distinct files. Letters sent by Alexandrine Zola to
various correspondents dominate these files, with particular emphasis on letters to the Laborde family (Amélie,
Albert and Elina). The dates range from 1871 to 1922. File #460 contains nine original cartes de visites from
Alexandrine Zola to various correspondents, dated from 1903.
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of photocopies of letters written by and amongst Zola’s family and friends, starting with
letters written by Alexandrine to Eugène Fasquelle through to Zola’s mother Émilie Zola and finishing with
letters written to and from Zola’s wife, mistress and children between 1903 and 1905. File #474 contains
letters sent to Alexandrine Zola by Eugène Fasquelle. The dates of letters in these files range from 1841 to
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of photocopies of letters written amongst Zola’s immediate family: Alexandrine Zola,
Jeanne Rozerot, Denise Émile-Zola (previously Rozerot), Jacques Émile-Zola (previously Rozerot) and
eventually Denise’s husband Maurice Le Blond and Jacques’ wife Marguerite Émile-Zola. The files within are
arranged chronologically, starting in 1906 and continuing through to 1924, including undated letters. There is
no clear indication as to why these letters have been compiled and preserved, as they could not have provided
context for the annotations in the published volumes (as they were all written after Zola’s death); however, it is
possible that these letters were collected to document the lives of Zola’s children, who would eventually have a
great impact on the development of the project because the children of Denise and Jacques provided the
primary and foremost source of letters.
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of photocopies of handwritten and typed letter, postcards, cartes de visites telegrams and
some photocopies of newspaper clippings of undated items from the 1991 accession of Dreyfus Affair
records. The last file in this box (File #417) also contains miscellaneous items from the Dreyfus Affair subseries.
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of photocopies of letters written by and amongst Zola’s contemporaries with the surnames
A through L. Although most of the files are indistinct groupings of letters (for example, letters with authors that start with “A”), recurring correspondents possess their own distinct file (for example, File #424 is
dedicated to Alfred Bruneau). The dates of letters in these files range from 1864 to 1936. These files include
three original letters: one letter written by Paul Alexis to Léon Hennique (dated 19 September 1887, in File
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of photocopies of handwritten and typed letter, postcards, cartes de visites, telegrams and
some photocopies of newspaper clippings sent to Émile Zola in April of 1898 through to December of 1899.
The period largely consists of Zola’s exile to England and his subsequent return to France in 1899. These files
were obtained from a distinct accession of Dreyfus Affair material from July and August of 1991.
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of photocopies of handwritten and typed letter, postcards, cartes de visites, telegrams and
some photocopies of newspaper clippings sent to Émile Zola between February 8 and March 31, 1898. This
period spans the trial of Zola as well as the interim period after his conviction, but before his exile. These files
were obtained from a distinct accession of Dreyfus Affair material from July and August of 1991.
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of photocopies of handwritten and typed letters, postcards, cartes de visites and telegrams
sent to Émile Zola between March and June of 1898. The contents of these files are primarily concerned with
the outcome of the trial of Zola as well as the beginning discussion of Zola’s exile, with correspondents
expressing support or criticism for Zola’s involvement in the Affair
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of photocopies of handwritten and typed letters, postcards, cartes de visites, telegrams and
some photocopies of newspaper clippings spanning the early months of Émile Zola’s participation in the
Dreyfus Affair (beginning in January 1897 through to February 7, 1898), including the period in which J’Accuse
was published. These files were obtained from a distinct accession of Dreyfus Affair material from July and
August of 1991.
Part of Zola Research Programs fonds
These files consist of photocopies of handwritten and typed letters, postcards, cartes de visites and telegrams
sent to Émile Zola between November of 1897 and January 16, 1898. The letters in these files all pertain to
the Dreyfus Affair, with the early files focusing on the lead-up to Zola’s direct involvement in the Affair. The
later files mostly focus on Zola’s public letter to the President of the Republic, J’Accuse, printed in the
newspaper L’Aurore on January 13, 1898. Some of the letters refer to the Dreyfus Affair through general
discussion of events; however, most demonstrate a clear support or criticism of Zola’s involvement.