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Cyril M. Kornbluth Papers

An inventory of the collection at Syracuse University


Finding aid created by: Michele Combs
Date: 27 Jan 2026

Biographical History

Cyril M. Kornbluth (1923-1958) was an American science fiction author. A precocious student, he graduated from high school at age 13. He began writing at age 15 and by 1951 was a full-time author. As a teenager he joined the Futurians, whose members included Frederik Pohl, Don Wollheim, and Robert A. W. Lowndes, as well as Mary Byers, who became his wife. He collaborated with Judith Merril and with Frederik Pohl on several novels, including the well-known and critically acclaimed The Space Merchants. He died in 1958 at the age of 34, leaving a number of unfinished works which were eventually completed by others and published. His short story "The Meeting" was the co-winner of the 1973 Hugo Award for Best Short Story.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Cyril M. Kornbluth Papers consists of correspondence, financial and legal material, memorabilia, and writings.

Correspondence contains both incoming and carbon copies of outgoing. The bulk of the correspondence is with science fiction author and editor Frederik Pohl, with whom Kornbluth collaborated on several projects. Some of the correspondence is with Kornbluth's wife, later widow, Mary.

Financial and legal material contins contracts and agreements, copyright registration forms, correspondence on various legal matters, and royalty payments, receipts, and account summaries.

Memorabilia consists of clippings, family material, material related to Kornbluth's military service, obituarues and other items related to his death, photographs, school and college material, and a few miscellaneous items.

Writings consists mostly of typed drafts of books and short stories. There is also one synopsis of a proposed television series, and several different bibliographies of his work.

Arrangement of the Collection

Correspondence is arranged alphabetically by name. Legal and financial material and Memorabilia are arranged alphabetically by type or topic. Writings are subdivided by type (e.g. books, stories, etc.) and within that arranged alphabetically by title.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

The majority of our archival and manuscript collections are housed offsite and require advance notice for retrieval. Researchers are encouraged to contact us in advance concerning the collection material they wish to access for their research.

Some items in the collection have sustained water damage. There is no mold, but some of the items in the collection do have a distinct musty odor which may affect sensitive users.

Use Restrictions:

Written permission must be obtained from SCRC and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

Related Material

The collection originally contained several published works by Kornbluth. These have been transferred to Rare Books for cataloting. Please refer to Libraries Search to locate these items.

Subject Headings

Persons

Gold, H. L. (Horace Leonard), 1914-1996.
Kornbluth, C. M. (Cyril M.), 1923-1958.
Pohl, Frederik, 1919-

Subjects

American literature -- 20th century.
Authors, American.
Novelists, American.
Science fiction, American.

Genres and Forms

Clippings (information artifacts)
Contracts.
Correspondence.
Manuscripts for publication.
Photographs.

Occupations

Authors.
Novelists.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Cyril M. Kornbluth Papers,
Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Gift of Marilyn Brooker, 2025

Table of Contents

Correspondence

Financial and legal material

Memorabilia

Writings

Inventory