{"id":4285,"date":"2026-08-17T21:08:48","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T21:08:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/library.umbc.edu\/specialcollections\/finding-aids\/coll001\/"},"modified":"2026-09-03T15:11:08","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T15:11:08","slug":"coll001","status":"publish","type":"finding_aid","link":"https:\/\/library.umbc.edu\/specialcollections\/finding-aids\/coll001\/","title":{"rendered":"Philip M. Wagner papers"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Overview<\/h1>\n
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Title:<\/td>\nPhilip M. Wagner papers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Call Number:<\/td>\nColl001<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Creator:<\/td>\nWagner, Philip M. (Philip Marshall), 1904-<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dates:<\/td>\n1839-1995<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Size:<\/td>\n8 boxes (9.35 linear feet)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Language:<\/td>\nEnglish<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Abstract:<\/td>\nFiles documenting Philip Wagner’s career as a freelance columnist, writer and editor for the Baltimore Sun and Baltimore Evening Sun, and founder of Boordy Vineyard. Includes correspondence, manuscripts, clippings, research files, case files, publications, diaries, notes and photos. Significant correspondents represented are: Alfred Knopf, H.L. Mencken, Knowles Ryerson, Knud Meister, Ann Duchene, Lord Winster.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Citation:<\/td>\nPhilip M. Wagner papers, Collection 1, Special Collections, University of Maryland, Baltimore County (Baltimore, MD).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n
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Administrative\/Biographical Note<\/h1>\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
1904<\/td>\nBorn Feb. 18th in New Haven, Connecticut<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1925<\/p>\n<\/td>\nA.B. University of MichiganApril 15th Married Helen Crocker – 2 children: Susan & Philip<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1925
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t1930<\/td>\n		Member Publicity Department at General Electric<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1930
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t1936<\/td>\n		Editorial writer; Baltimore Evening Sun<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Early 1930’s<\/td>\nBegan cultivating and distilling french hybrid grapes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1933<\/td>\nPublished, American Wines and How to Make Them (New York: Knoft)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1936
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t1937<\/td>\n		London correspondent, chief of London bureau, Baltimore Sun<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1937<\/td>\nPublished, Wine Grapes, their Selection, Cultivation and Enjoyment( New York, Harcourt: Brace and company)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1938
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t1943<\/td>\n		Editor, Baltimore Evening Sun<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1940<\/td>\nMarried Jocelyn McDonough Sept. 4th<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1943<\/td>\nBoordy Vinyard becomes a bonded winery<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1943
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t1964<\/td>\n		Editor, Baltimore Sun<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1945<\/p>\n<\/td>\nFirst Boordy wine sold commerciallyPublished, The Wine Growers Guide (New York: Knoft)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1956<\/td>\nPublished. American Wines and Winemaking (New York: Knoft)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1964
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t1996<\/td>\n		Syndicated columnist on public affairs<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1966<\/td>\nPublished, H.L. Mencken (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1980<\/td>\nBoordy Winery sold<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1996<\/td>\nDied Riderwood, Maryland on Dec. 29<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n
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Scope & Content<\/h1>\n

Arrangement<\/h2>\n

Organized into three series: Series I. Personal, 1839-1994. Series II. Sun Papers, 1927-1995. Series III. Boordy Vineyard, 1933-1995.<\/p>\n

    \n\t\t\t\tSeries I. Personal<\/strong><\/p>\n
  1. Correspondence<\/li>\n
  2. Manuscripts<\/li>\n
  3. Clippings<\/li>\n
  4. Research Files<\/li>\n
  5. Publications<\/li>\n
  6. Journals and Pamphlets<\/li>\n
  7. Receipts and Invoices<\/li>\n
  8. Diaries<\/li>\n
  9. Photos<\/li>\n
  10. Flyers, Announcements, & Miscellany<\/li>\n
  11. Notes and Notebooks<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      \n\t\t\t\tSeries II. Sun Papers<\/strong><\/p>\n
    1. Correspondence<\/li>\n
    2. Manuscripts<\/li>\n
    3. Proof Sheets<\/li>\n
    4. Clippings<\/li>\n
    5. Research Files<\/li>\n
    6. Case Files<\/li>\n
    7. Notes<\/li>\n
    8. Reports<\/li>\n
    9. Memoranda<\/li>\n
    10. Press Releases<\/li>\n
    11. Publications<\/li>\n
    12. Photos<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
        \n\t\t\t\tSeries III. Boordy Vineyards<\/strong><\/p>\n
      1. Correspondence<\/li>\n
      2. Press Releases<\/li>\n
      3. Clippings<\/li>\n
      4. Pamphlets<\/li>\n
      5. Diary<\/li>\n
      6. Miscellany<\/li>\n
      7. Photos<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Note<\/h2>\n

        This collection of Philip Wagner\u2019s 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\u2019s to the late 1970\u2019s.<\/p>\n

        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.<\/p>\n

        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 \u201ckilled 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.<\/p>\n

        Philip Wagner\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

        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.<\/p>\n

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        Provenance Information<\/h1>\n

        Provenance and Acquisition Information<\/h2>\n

        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.<\/p>\n

        Related Collections<\/h2>\n

        Philip Wagner papers, #6928. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.<\/p>\n

        Processing Note<\/h2>\n

        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.<\/p>\n

        Descriptive Rules Used<\/h2>\n

        Describing Archives: a Content Standard (DACS)<\/p>\n

        Archives Processing Manual: Description (2015)<\/a><\/p>\n

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        Access & Use<\/h1>\n

        Finding Aids<\/h2>\n

        Finding aid available.<\/p>\n

        Finding Aid: \/specialcollections\/finding-aids\/coll001\/<\/a><\/p>\n

        Access Conditions<\/h2>\n

        No restrictions.<\/p>\n

        Conditions Governing Reproductions and Use<\/h2>\n

        Reproductions allowed for research purposes. UMBC is the copyright owner; permission to reproduce is required.<\/p>\n

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        Subject Headings<\/h1>\n

        Creators<\/h2>\n

        Wagner, Philip M. (Philip Marshall), 1904-<\/p>\n

        Knopf, Alfred A., 1892-1984<\/p>\n

        Mencken, H. L. (Henry Louis), 1880-1956<\/p>\n

        Ryerson, Knowles Augustus, 1892-1990<\/p>\n

        Meister, Knud<\/p>\n

        Duchene, Ann<\/p>\n

        Winster, Lord<\/p>\n

        Subjects<\/h2>\n

        Boordy Vineyard<\/p>\n

        Wagner, Philip M. (Philip Marshall), 1904- — Archives<\/p>\n

        Editorials — Maryland — Baltimore<\/p>\n

        Viticulture — Maryland<\/p>\n

        Baltimore sun<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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        Series Description & Container List<\/h1>\n

        Series I. Personal<\/h2>\n
        Date: <\/strong>1839-1994; bulk 1950-1983<\/div>\n
        Extent: <\/strong>6 boxes (7.5 linear feet)<\/div>\n
        Description: <\/strong><\/p>\n

        Correspondence, manuscripts, clippings, research files and other materials relating
        \n to Wagners work as a free lance writer as well as personal correspondence, diaries,
        \n notebooks, photos and miscellany are arranged into 11 subseries by type of
        \n document.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

        Sub-series I.A. Correspondence<\/h3>\n
        Date: <\/strong>1915-1994; bulk 1930-1980<\/div>\n
        Extent: <\/strong>31 folders (.5 linear feet )<\/div>\n
        Description: <\/strong><\/p>\n

        Correspondence files for individuals, associations, newspapers, and trips abroad
        \n are arranged in alphabetical order, followed by Miscellaneous correspondence in
        \n chronological order.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n