Harry James Cargas Papers: About the Collection

Date(s): mainly late 1950s to 1998

 

Physical extent: the initial donation was an estimated 25 linear feet.

 

Name of Creator: Harry James Cargas

 

Administrative/Biographical History: a brief biographical sketch is available.

 

Scope/Content: Items in the Harry James Cargas collection were created between the 1950s and the author's death in August 1998. While research and writings on sports, human rights, literature, and social issues make up part of the collection, the bulk of the collection represents Dr. Cargas' research and publication on the Holocaust, Christianity, and key figures in these areas. The collection includes published and unpublished works, as well as taped interviews with scholars, theologians, and prominent figures in the history of the Holocaust. Several of the interviews have been published. Copies of Dr. Cargas' book reviews and columns published in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis Jewish Light, and other publications are included as are copies of his research articles published in scholarly journals. Personal correspondence is also part of the collection, including writings between Dr. Cargas and Elie Wiesel, Philip and Daniel Berrigan, Malcolm Boyd, Kurt Vonnegut and others. Correspondence related to publication and information gathering for several of Cargas' books is available. A small number of photographs are included. The collection represents Dr. Cargas' professional life as a scholar, author, and teacher and for the most part does not include family correspondence, documents, and memorabilia.

 

System of Arrangement: Please consult the series outline and processing notes pages.

 

Conditions of Access and Use: The collection is open for research use by appointment only. Part of the collection is restricted and access requires the permission of his literary executor.

 

Copyright Information: The Harry James Cargas Papers are the physical property of Webster University. Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs or assigns.

 

Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use: Copyright restrictions may apply.

 

Languages and Scripts of the Material: Materials almost entirely in English.

 

Finding Aids:Collection/Series outline

 

Immediate Source of Acquisition: Harry James Cargas donated his collection to the Webster University Library in 1996. The family contributed additional items after his death in 1998.

 

The information above was provided by Eileen Simon and Kathy Gaynor.