JFK Library Opens Hemingway Files

The John F. Kennedy Library opened a portion of the previously unavailable Ernest Hemingway papers for research on January 30.

The papers include the original opening chapter of "The Sun Also Rises," several unpublished chapters from "A Moveable Feast," and F. Scott Fitzgerald's comments on "A Farewell to Arms."

The Kennedy Library, which is temporarily housed at the Federal Records Center in Waltham, began receiving the papers in 1972 from Mary Hemingway, the author's widow.

The collection also contains over 3000 photographs of Hemingway's life and family, as well as typescript drafts and galleys of many of his books.

Mrs. Hemingway's permission is required to see any of the material, except selected documents for which she gave a blanket release. These include the pencil manuscript of the draft conclusion of "A Farewell to Arms," and a typewritten draft with ink corrections and inserts, of the foreword to the Fitzgerald section of "A Moveable Feast."

Mrs. Hemingway selected the library as the depository for all materials in her possession related to her husband's career, because of his admiration for John F. Kennedy '40, Dan H. Fenn Jr., director of the library, said yesterday.

Hemingway did not himself attend college and had no ties to any educational institutions.

Warner Berthoff '47, professor of English, said yesterday. "I doubt any new material in the papers will contribute significantly to our understanding or rating of Hemingway, but they should be of interest."

Invisible Papers

Berthoff said he had not yet seen the Hemingway papers.

Fenn said no date has yet been set by the library for opening the rest of the collection. The total collection consists of over 15,000 pages of manuscripts for Hemingway's published novels and short stories.