Answered By: Special Collections
Last Updated: Feb 29, 2024     Views: 1018

About the Collections

There are items related to the lives and writings of F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald across multiple collections held at both Special Collections Firestone and Special Collections Mudd.

In particular, material related to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s time as a Princeton student can be found at Mudd Library in the Office of the Registrar Records (AC116)the Triangle Club Records (AC122) and the Nassau Literary Review, which has been digitized and is available online via the Papers of Princeton

A digitized copy of the Fitzgerald's scholastic card can be found in the post "F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Princeton Career and the Triangle Club" located on the University Archives Blog

The primary relevant collections at Firestone are the F. Scott Fitzgerald Papers (C0187), the F. Scott Fitzgerald Additional Papers (C0188) and the Zelda Fitzgerald Papers (C0183). There is also Fitzgerald material in the Archives of Charles Scribner’s and Sons (C0101).

Some material, such as Fitzgerald's corrected first edition of The Great Gatsby, the autograph manuscript of The Great Gatsby and the family scrapbooks are available through the finding aid for the F. Scott Fitzgerald Papers (C0187) as high-quality digital scans, available for public download.

Accessing the Collections

As is true with all collections, all researchers are welcome to view materials in the Special Collections Reading Room located on the C-Floor of Firestone Library during open hours.

If you would like to see the collection in person, we ask that you register for a Special Collections Research Account. While it is not necessary to do this before you arrive, it will speed up your visit if you register and request materials ahead of time.

Materials can be requested through the Princeton University Finding Aids and/or Catalog. We recommend submitting requests at least 3 business days in advance your visit to ensure timely arrival. 

Upon your first visit to the library, you will need to check in with the access office on the first floor of Firestone Library in order to obtain an Access Card. Researchers will be asked to present a photo ID like a driver’s license, passport, school ID or work ID. It is not necessary to use a government-issued ID. Once your Access Card has been issued, please take the stairs or elevator down to C-floor, where you will find the Special Collections department. If you would like to have the ID Card made in advance of your visit so it is ready when you arrive, you can fill out a Special Collections ID Card Application online.

As a reminder, all food, drink, and personal belongings (such as bags, coats, laptop sleeves, pens, books, notebooks) must be stowed in the lockers available just outside the department. You are welcome to bring your laptop or tablet, but we will provide you with paper and pencils for handwritten notes.

You are also welcome to bring a camera, cell phone or other device to take pictures of the collection, but please leave any camera cases in your locker with other personal items. Please also be aware that due to preservation concerns, we do not allow the use of personal scanners, tripods, flash, or copy stands. To respect fellow researchers, we kindly ask you to remember to turn off any audible notifications on your devices when in the Reading Room. For more information please visit the Reading Room Guidelines page on our website.

Submitting a Digitization Request

Researchers who may not be able to visit in person can also request material be digitized and emailed to them as high-quality reproductions at no cost to the researcher. However, in order to provide effective and equitable service to all researchers, requests are limited to 300 pages per person/project. Published materials may be further limited due to copyright restrictions. Should you believe you are in need of services that do not align with our order fulfillment period or page limits, please reach out to public services staff to discuss your needs further.

If you have further questions or concerns, please contact Special Collections staff via the AskUs! Form

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