mss006 Frank Elli papers University of Minnesota Libraries
University of Minnesota Libraries Minneapolis, MN 55455
EAD encoding by Leslie Czechowski, October 2004 English Elli, Frank Frank Elli papers 1963-1966 University of Minnesota Libraries. Literary Manuscripts Collection, Manuscripts Division [mss] 1 cubic foot The collection contains papers relating to Elli's book, The Riot, including correspondence, clippings, criticisms, a typewritten manuscript, and galley proof . The collection also includes correspondence course lessons, Elli's autobiography, and "Skid Row Santa," a short story manuscript. Mss 6 English Mezzanine Administrative Information Restrictions on Access

Available for use in Manuscripts Division reading room.

Restrictions on Use

All literary rights are retained by the author.

 Preferred Citation

Frank Elli papers (Mss 6), Literary Manuscripts Collection, University of Minnesota Libraries, Minneapolis.

 Acquisition

Donated by the author in 1967.

 Processing Information

The collection was processed and the finding aid written by Archives staff.

 Biographical Note

Frank Elli was born in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1925. After being convicted of armed robbery in 1959, he was committed to Stillwater Prison to serve a 10-80 year sentence; he was paroled in 1965.

In 1962 Elli received a General Mills Foundation scholarship that paid tuition at the University of Minnesota for a correspondence course and he enrolled in a narrative writing course taught by Harold J. Alford. Elli submitted a short story to Alford, but Alford return it with the comment that it wasn't a story, but rather a synopsis for a novel. Elli continued to write and received ongoing criticism from Alford who helped him get the novel published. The book was published by Coward-McCann in 1966 and was made into a 1969 motion picture starring Gene Hackman and Jim Brown.

 Scope and Content Note

The collection contains papers relating to Elli's book, <emph render="altrender"> The Riot,</emph> including correspondence, clippings, a typewritten manuscript, and the galley proof. Also included is criticism of the manuscript by Professor Alford. The collection also includes correspondence course lessons Elli completed while writing the novel, Elli's autobiography, and a short story, "Skid Row Santa." Numerous editions of The Riot are part of the collection.

 Index Terms

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the University of Minnesota Libraries. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Elli, Frank The Riot Skid Row Santa Detailed Contents

The following section contains a detailed list of the materials in the collection.

Manuscript Materials 1A Clippings pertaining to book, The Riot, and movie version. 1B Correspondence course lessons, 1963-1964 2 Typescript of The Riot, pp. 1-120 3 Typescript of The Riot, pp. 121-239 4 Typescript of The Riot, pp. 240-356 5 Criticism of The Riot manuscript, 1964-1965

Consists mainly of correspondence exchanged between Harold J. Alford, University of Minnesota professor, and Elli.

 6 & 7 Galley proof of The Riot 8 Correspondence and papers concerning The Riot, 1966

Correspondence exchanged between Elli and his agent and publisher; copy of agreement assigning publication rights to Coward-McCann.

 9 Autobiography, 1966

Typescript, 6 pages.

 9 "Skid Row Santa" (short story)

Typescript, 19 pages.

 Published editions of The Riot Avon Books, New York, 1966

Paperback

 Flammanion, Editeur, Paris, 1967

Published under title, La Mutinerie

 Editorial Bruguera, Barcelona, 1967

Published under title, El Motin

 Western Printing Services, Bristol, England, 1967

2 copies

 Coward-McCann, Inc., New York, 1966

2 copies