Zera S. Fink (1902-1979) Papers

The Zera S. Fink Papers, comprising two boxes, are arranged into four groups: general correspondence, course materials, published works and research materials.

The series includes a small amount of general correspondence, which is arranged chronologically in nine folders. Fink's correspondence is largely administrative and professional and spans the years from 1944 to 1978; although the bulk of the correspondence is from 1956 to 1959 and largely concerns the printing and publication of his book, The Early Wordsworthian Milieu.

Other correspondence pertains to his other book, The Classical Republicans; reflects his interest in Northwestern's retirement annuity program (Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America and College Retirement Equities Fund); and concerns the administration of the English Department. The folder for 1970 contains a few letters congratulating Fink upon his retirement from the Northwestern faculty. The Papers also contain a few letters written by Lucille Fink in 1980.

The course materials include examinations, syllabi, bibliographies and notes for some of the courses Fink taught. The folders are arranged by course number. Also included are two folders containing M.A. and Ph.D. examinations. The bulk of the course materials and examinations falls within the 1960s.

Fink's published works include books, articles and reviews. The series includes one folder of reviews, advertisements and references to his first book, The Classical Republicans as well as a typeset and proof (both fragmentary), reviews, references and advertisements for The Early Wordsworthian Milieu. The papers also include drafts of articles, a lecture and offprints of articles and book reviews by Fink.

The research materials included in the series are mainly notes and references maintained by Fink on small index cards or slips of paper. The research materials concern aspects of Romanticism and Romantic authors. Also among the research materials are a folder of photostats and transcriptions of Christopher Wordsworth's notebook including Fink's notes and a folder of photostatic samples of Christopher and William Wordsworth's handwriting. The folder of handwriting samples contains some correspondence from handwriting analysts pertaining to ascription of the samples.