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Willard F. Motley Papers

Finding Aid: Willard F. Motley Papers
Repository: Chicago Public Library, Carter G. Woodson Regional Library, Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection of Afro-American History and Literature

Willard F. Motley PapersWillard F. Motley was a Chicago-born writer, best known for his novel Knock on Any Door, published in 1947, and its later film adaptation in 1951. As an active member of Chicago's Hull House during the 1930s, Motley founded Hull House Magazine along with William P. Schenk (Peter) and Alexander Saxon. This small literary journal became a testing ground for Motley's early works, which led to Motley's acceptance to the WPA Writer's Project in 1940. After the publication of Knock on Any Door, Motley successfully published three additional novels, We Fished All Night (1951), Let No Man Write My Epitaph (1960) and Let Noon Be Fair (1966).

The Willard Motley Papers include a series of correspondence between William P. Schenk and Motley, exchanged during Motley's time working with Hull House Magazine. Additionally, the collection includes a number of newspaper clippings tracking the reviews and publication of Knock on Any Door.

Selected Artifacts

Willard F. Motley was a Chicago-born writer, best known for his novel Knock on Any Door, published in 1947, and its later film adaptation in 1951. Correspondence between Willard Motley and William P. Schenk, written Christmas Day, 1943. Motley and Schenk worked together as Co-Founders of Hull House Magazine during the 1930s. The letter includes updates regarding the progress of Motley's first novel, Knock on Any Door. Both personal and insightful, the letter is one example of the many correspondences between Motley and Schenk included in the collection. Announcement regarding the publication of Knock on Any Door, May 5, 1947.


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