Philip M. Wagner papers

Overview

Administrative/Biographical Note

Philip M. Wagner was the editor for Baltimore Sun and Baltimore Evening Sun; syndicated columnist; founder of Boordy Vineyard; author of books on viticulture and H.L. Mencken. 1904 Born Feb. 18th in New Haven, Connecticut 1925 A.B. University of Michigan April 15th Married Helen Crocker – 2 children: Susan & Philip 1925 1930 Member Publicity Department at General Electric 1930 1936 Editorial writer; Baltimore Evening Sun Early 1930’s Began cultivating and distilling french hybrid grapes 1933 Published, American Wines and How to Make Them (New York: Knoft) 1936 1937 London correspondent, chief of London bureau, Baltimore Sun 1937 Published, Wine Grapes, their Selection, Cultivation and Enjoyment( New York, Harcourt: Brace and company) 1938 1943 Editor, Baltimore Evening Sun 1940 Married Jocelyn McDonough Sept. 4th 1943 Boordy Vinyard becomes a bonded winery 1943 1964 Editor, Baltimore Sun 1945 First Boordy wine sold commercially Published, The Wine Growers Guide (New York: Knoft) 1956 Published. American Wines and Winemaking (New York: Knoft) 1964 1996 Syndicated columnist on public affairs 1966 Published, H.L. Mencken (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press) 1980 Boordy Winery sold 1996 Died Riderwood, Maryland on Dec. 29

Scope & Content

This collection of Philip Wagner’s papers covers the three main areas of his professional life: his work as a free lance columnist, as an editor and writer for the Baltimore Sun, and as a vintner and founder of Boordy Vineyard. The bulk of the papers however pertains to his work as a writer both for the Baltimore Sun and for his syndicated column from the early 1950’s to the late 1970’s. The collection contains a substantial amount of correspondence, manuscripts, clippings and research files, along with some notes, receipts and invoices, and publications, the majority of which directly relate to the articles he produced and illustrate the scope of his intrests. Among those he corresponded with were editors and writers for the Manchester Guardian and the London Times, Alfred Knopf his publisher, the American Society of Newspaper Editors of which he was a member, and Lord Winster a free lance columnist in London who contributed articles to the Sun for many years. That he had a wide range of contacts both in the U.S. and Europe is particularly apparent in the correspondence connected with his several European trips. These trips were a for him a combination of work and pleasure serving both as a chance to meet with his contacts and those who were sources for his articles as well as an opportunity to visit th vinyards and wineries in France. A significant portion of the manuscripts in the collection are from his syndicated column on public affairs which he wrote from 1963 until nearly the end of his life. Also included are drafts of his work on H.L. Mencken and a selection of editorials written for the Sun, both in manuscript draft and proof sheets. Of particular intrest are those editorial proofs marked “killed editorial” as these were never published. Wagner also kept a small number of manuscripts by other writers among which were articles submitted by Lord Winsterfor publication in the Sun between 1952-1961. Philip Wagner’s collection of clippings and research files contains a large number of subject files collected both for research on his syndicated column and his work at the Sun. The topics cover a wide range of subjects but show that he had a keen interest in foreign affairs and in government. Topics included the European Common Market in 1965, the Bay of Pigs, congressional reform, fiscal policies and budget and also in individual politicians and policies. He had a particular intrest in the Freedom of Information Act and in the issue of Forest Genetics maintaining a substantial file on each. Further he had a penchant for issues that were controversial such as Madelyn Murray and the school prayer issue, the Jensen I.Q. study, the Motorola discrimination suit of 1964 and the impact of automation. His clipping files also contained copies of his syndicated column for the years February 1964 – January 1971, articles published by the Sun of particular interest to him, and a large quantity of miscellaneous clippings from a wide range of sources on a vast array of subjects. Though more limited in scope the collection also contains documents pertaining to his work as an editor and to his personal avocation, winemaking. There are memoranda, case files, notes, correspondence, receipts and invoices, diaries, photos, and scrapbooks.

Organized into three series: Series I. Personal, 1839-1994. Series II. Sun Papers, 1927-1995. Series III. Boordy Vineyard, 1933-1995. Series I. Personal Correspondence Manuscripts Clippings Research Files Publications Journals and Pamphlets Receipts and Invoices Diaries Photos Flyers, Announcements, & Miscellany Notes and Notebooks Series II. Sun Papers Correspondence Manuscripts Proof Sheets Clippings Research Files Case Files Notes Reports Memoranda Press Releases Publications Photos Series III. Boordy Vineyards Correspondence Press Releases Clippings Pamphlets Diary Miscellany Photos

Provenance Information

MSS 1997-01; The present collection was donated by Susan and Philip Wagner on January 23, 1997 and transferred from Philip Wagner’s home in Riderwood, Maryland.

The manuscripts were found in a somewhat disordered state and in generally fair condition. The collection had been previously sorted so that the original order was not entirely clear but there appeared to be disctinct divisions in the materials between those documents created during Wagner’s work for the Sun and those resulting from either his work as a free lance writer or his founding and running of Boordy Vineyards. As such it seemed best to arrange them into threse three primary series. The collection was processed by Marcia Frank Peri December 1997.

Access & Use

No restrictions.

Reproductions allowed for research purposes. UMBC is the copyright owner; permission to reproduce is required.

Subject Headings

• Knopf Alfred A. 1892-1984
• Mencken H. L. (Henry Louis) 1880-1956
• Ryerson Knowles Augustus 1892-1990
• Meister Knud
• Duchene Ann
• Winster Lord
• Boordy Vineyard
• Wagner, Philip M. (Philip Marshall), 1904- Archives
• Editorials Maryland Baltimore
• Viticulture Maryland
• Baltimore sun

Series Description & Container List

Expand all | Collapse all

Series I. Personal

Sub-series I.A. Correspondence

Sub-series I.B. Manuscripts- Syndicated Columns & Miscellaneous

Sub-series III.C. Clippings

Sub-series I.D. Research Files

Sub-series I.E. Publications

Sub-series I.F. Journals and Pamphlets

Sub-series I.G. Receipts and Invoices

Sub-series I.H. Diaries

Sub-series I.I. Photos

Sub-series I.J. Flyers, Announcements and Miscellany

Sub-series I.K. Notes and Notebooks

Series II. Baltimore Sun Papers

Sub-series II.A. Correspondence

Sub-series II.B. Manuscripts

Sub-series II.C. Proof Sheets

Sub-series II.D. Clippings

Sub-series II.E. Research Files

Sub-series II.F. Case Files

Sub-series II.G. Notes

Sub-series II.H. Reports

Sub-series II.I. Memoranda

Sub-series I.J. Press Release

Sub-series II.K. Publications

Sub-series I.L: Photos

Series III. Boordy Vineyards

Sub-series III.A. Correspondence

Sub-series III.B. Press Release

Sub-series III.C. Clippings

Sub-series III.D. Pamphlets

Sub-series III.E. Diary

Sub-series III.F. Miscellany

Sub-series III.G. Photos