Lewis C. Warden Papers

The Papers include manuscripts of Warden's published and unpublished writings, legal, literary, and personal correspondence, manuscript and printed records of various aspects of his life, and photographs of himself, family, and places he visited.

The bulk of the Papers are manuscripts of his published and unpublished works. Published works include The Life of Blackstone, Torrent of the Willows, a historical novel of French emigrants to Ohio during the time of the French Revolution, and two crime novels Murder on Wheels, and Running against the Wind. Unpublished fiction includes "Courthouse Row," "Cricket on the Hearth," "Devil Tide," "Mr. Grundery," "Mr. Littleman," and "Stick around She Said." Several of these works exist in multiple drafts with alternate titles. His fictional writing tended towards criminal cases with his extended courtroom scenes. The manuscripts also include some short legal writings.

The Papers include legal, literary and professional correspondence. Correspondence relating directly to the literary works are filed with the manuscripts. A large file includes letters, newspaper clippings, and other records relating to a publicity tour in Ohio and West Virginia for Torrent of the Willows. General correspondence, extending from 1935-1987 is in several chronological files. Special files include correspondence with his employer, the Lawyers Cooperative Publishing Company, 1950-1981, both his alma maters, Ohio State University and Harvard Law School, Warden family correspondence, and correspondence concerning a suit Warden bought against the United States government over the question of violation of privacy in the 1940 census. Some records other than correspondence may be found in the correspondence file.

Miscellaneous records include biographical information and records concerning Lewis Warden and his wife, Emma, various certificates and diplomas, printed article by or about Warden from periodicals sources, real estate records regarding his homes, and Warden family history.

There are numerous photographs of Warden throughout his adult life, as well as of his father, wife, and children. Several photographs were taken during his publicity tour for Torrent of the Willows. There are also numerous snapshot photographs from trips in Florida, Alaska, Europe, and elsewhere, that Warden made in the last years of his life, with either his daughter Rebecca or Deborah.