Collection Number: SC#163
Title:
Lost Generation Journal Collection
Dates:
1950s-1970s
Collection Size:
2 processed boxes, multiple unprocessed boxes
The Lost Generation Journal was published in Salem, Missouri from 1973 until 1979 by Tom and Deloris Wood. The "Lost Generation" refers to writers and other artists from the United States who took up residence in Paris, France in the 1920s and 1930s. This group includes Gertrude Stein, Ernest Hemingway, Ezra Pound, Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald, James Joyce, Picasso and a multitude of others. The Lost Generation Journal explored the Lost Generation from the lens of newspaper editors working in the area at the time.
This collection includes the documents of Eric Hawkins, who was the managing editor of the Paris Herald from 1924 until1960; the documents of R. Jules Frantz, who was managing editor of the Paris Tribune from 1929 until 1934 and later was an editor of the New York Herald Tribune. The collection also includes the documents and photographs of Tom and Deloris Wood, along with numerous audio interviews the couple conducted while researching stories for the Lost Generation Journal. The collection also includes artwork and a vast collection of books and journals.
Ralph Jules Frantz was born in Springfield, Ohio in 1902. He began his lifetime career as a newspaperman in 1919 working as a reporter and sports editor for the Springfield Sun while attending Wittenberg College. Frantz moved to Cleveland in 1922 and held various editorial positions for the Cleveland Times until 1925 when he went abroad to Europe. He traveled across England, Holland, Germany, and Belgium before settling in France.
In Paris, he joined the staff of the Paris Edition of The Chicago Tribune working his way up from rewrite man to managing editor in 1929. Frantz held this editorial position until the paper merged with the Paris Edition of The New York Herald in 1934, where he declined the opportunity to remain with the merged paper in Paris. He returned to New York in 1935 and joined the staff of The New York Herald Tribune serving in various editorial positions.
During World War II, Frantz left New York to join the Office of War Information where he served as a news specialist in Morocco, North Africa before transferring to Palermo, Sicily from 1943 until 1945. He oversaw the press, radio, and films of Allied information and eventually organized an American library in Palermo.
Frantz returned to the New York Herald Tribune and continued his work as editor until 1966 where he served at the Bergen Record until his retirement in 1971. During retirement, Frantz was a cofounder of the Overseas Press Club and served on numerous terms as treasurer and one term as vice-president. He became secretary of the Correspondents Fund which aids veteran journalists in need.
Frantz remained close with his reporter friends and kept a series of Round Robin letters between them during his retirement years. He also wrote stories documenting his travels across the United States and Europe. Frantz served on the advisory board of the Lost Generation Journal and published four articles; one of which is titled, “The Chicatrib: 1917-34" (1974).
He was married to Isabelle Loulette Desrumaux, a French woman he met in Paris, until her death in 1967. His second marriage was to Lillian Maxine Moore, a librarian in New Jersey. Frantz died of cancer in New Jersey in 1979 at the age of 77.
- Waters, Frank. “Ralph Jules Frantz Is Dead At 77; Herald Tribune Editor 30 Years.” The New York Times. Nov. 4, 1979. https://www.nytimes.com/1979/11/04/archives/ralph-jules-frantz-is-dead-at-77-herald-tribune-editor-30-years.html
Prepared by Lauren Ruth, School of Arts and Sciences, Literary Studies, 12/1/25
This collection remains mostly unprocessed.
1 box of The Lost Generation Journal, multiple boxes of the papers of Eric Hawkins and Jules Frantz, multiple boxes of the papers of Tom and Deloris Wood, multiple drawers of audio interviews on cassette tape and CD, multiple shelves and boxes of unprocessed books
The Lost Generation Journal collection contains: The Lost Generation Journal, newspapers, the papers of Eric Hawkins and Ralph Jules Frantz, the papers of Tom and Deloris Wood, audio interviews on cassette tape and CD, and multiple fiction and nonfiction books.
Included in the collection are several copies of The Lost Generation Journal published from 1973 until 1979 by Tom and Deloris Wood. Multiple copies are signed by writers or artists featured in articles published in the journal. Articles written by Eric Hawkins and Ralph Jules Frantz are featured in multiple volumes of the journal.
There is a large collection of the European Edition of The New York Herald Tribune from the late 1920s until the 1960s. Also included are European Editions of The New York Herald from 1907 until 1922. Further, there are special editions like hourly issues printed during World War II, special souvenir issues, and anniversary issues.
The collection contains the papers of Ralph Jules Frantz kept throughout his personal life and career as a newspaperman. This includes information regarding his education, medical history, financial records, correspondence, menus, and photographs. Frantz kept letters written to him from readers and fellow colleagues when he left his editorial position at the New York Herald Tribune in Paris for a similar position in the New York offices. There are two sets of photographs: newspaper press and Frantz family photos.
There is an assortment of menus kept by Frantz from his travels across the United States and abroad in Europe. Some menus include signatures from Frantz and his friends who visited him from Paris. The stories Frantz wrote documenting his travels are included in this collection. Additionally included are menus from the New York World’s Fair of 1939, Overseas Press Club banquet dinners, and U.S.S. Sail Line menus.
Prepared by Lauren Ruth, School of Arts and Sciences, Literary Studies, 12/1/25
Items from this collection were donated in 2022 and 2023 by Deloris Gray Wood.
The New York Herald Tribune Newsletter for staff members. The top photo features Frantz (far right) with fellow colleagues.
The Lost Generation Journals:
Box 1
Box 2 Eric Hawkins Papers
Box 3 Ralph Jules Frantz Papers
Education Information
Medical Information
Financial Information
Ralph Jules Frantz Personal Photographs
Newspaper Photographs
Newspaper Editor Career Documents/Letters/Correspondence
Correspondence
Box 3 Ralph Jules Frantz Papers - Menus
United States Restaurant Souvenir Menus
Multiple unprocessed boxes
Multiple unprocessed boxes
3 drawers of audio recordings of interviews on cassette tapes and CDs - unprocessed
The New York Herald
The Chicago Daily Tribune
The New York Herald Tribune
Today’s Issue: 16 Pages, 2 Sections 5:30 A.M. Edition The New York Herald European Edition of The New York Herald Tribune
The New York Herald European Edition of The New York Herald Tribune
The New York Herald European Edition of The New York Herald Tribune Possible
The New York Herald European Edition of The New York Herald Tribune Possible
The New York Herald Possible European Edition of The New York Herald Tribune
Special Edition The New York Herald European Edition of the New York Herald Tribune
Possible Special Edition The New York Herald European Edition of the New York Herald Tribune
Today’s Issue, Sixteen Pages; Four Special Legion Pages The New York Herald European Edition of the New York Herald Tribune
Today’s Issue, Sixteen Pages; Four Special Legion Pages The New York Herald European Edition of the New York Herald Tribune
Today’s Issue, 16 Pages; 3 Special Legion Pages; 2 Special Fight Pages The New York Herald European Edition of the New York Herald Tribune
The New York Herald European Edition of The New York Herald Tribune
Second Edition 2:30 A.M. The New York Herald European Edition of The New York Herald Tribune
Third Edition 4 A.M. The New York Herald European Edition of The New York Herald Tribune
Fifth Edition Possible 11 A.M. The New York Herald European Edition of The New York Herald Tribune
The New York Herald European Edition of The New York Herald Tribune
Today’s Issue Consists Of 18 Pages Including 4-Page Rotogravure The New York Herald European Edition of The New York Herald Tribune
The New York Herald European Edition of The New York Herald Tribune Possible
Final Edition 11 A.M. The New York Herald European Edition of The New York Herald Tribune
Possible 2:30 A.M. Edition The New York Herald European Edition of The New York Herald Tribune
3:30 A.M. Edition The New York Herald European Edition of The New York Herald Tribune
6:30 A.M. Edition The New York Herald European Edition of The New York Herald Tribune
Final Edition 11 A.M. The New York Herald European Edition of The New York Herald Tribune
The New York Herald European Edition of The New York Herald Tribune
With Today’s Issue: 50th Anniversary and American Legion Sections The New York Herald Tribune
For Americans Traveling in England The New York Herald Tribune
Special Strike Edition The New York Herald Tribune
2 A.M. Edition The New York Herald Tribune
Underground Edition The New York Herald Tribune
Grudge Game Extra The New York Herald Tribune
Merry Christmas A Happy New Year The New York Herald Tribune
The American Newspaper Edited and Published in Europe New York Herald Tribune
Souvenir Supplement – The New Luxury Liner Liberté The New York Herald Tribune
Special Section 37th Paris Auto Salon The New York Herald Tribune
Abbeville-Larchmont Special Souvenir Issue The New York Herald Tribune
Orléans-Wichita special Souvenir Issue The New York Herald Tribune
The New York Herald Tribune European Edition Published Daily in Paris
Paris Bimillenary Special Edition The New York Herald Tribune
Souvenir Supplement The New Liner Constitution The New York Herald Tribune
Special Edition The New York Herald Tribune
International Edition The New York Times
Special Supplement 75th Anniversary Issue The New York Herald Tribune
International Herald Tribune Published with The New York Times and The Washington Post
The New York Herald Tribune European Edition Of The New York Herald Tribune Tourist Guide To The United States Season 1934 The New York Herald Tribune European Edition Tourist Guide To The United States
The Morning Post The Empire’s Senior Daily
Supplement D’Art The New York Herald (Written in English & French)
Book collection:
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