For nearly 40 years, Mavis McIntosh and Elizabeth Otis brought Steinbeck’s works to the world. Elizabeth’s long, deep friendship spanned most of his career. National Steinbeck Center Archivist Lisa talks about how her steady influence helped Steinbeck be the writer the world knew him as.

In this video National Steinbeck Center Archivist, Lisa, gives an overview of the life of noted literature professor, Joseph Campbell, and his influence on John Steinbeck, Ed Ricketts, and others during his extended stay on the West Coast. For more information about Joseph Campbell, see “A Fire in the Mind: The Life of Joseph Campbell” […]

Join National Steinbeck Center Archivist, Lisa, to learn about Bruce and Jean Ariss, members of the Lab group on Cannery Row. Living in Monterey County for most of their lives, many of Bruce’s works of art are still part of the landscape in Monterey.

Learn more about Ritchie Lovejoy, the man Steinbeck gifted his Pulitzer Prize winnings to. In a special just for members, National Steinbeck Center Archivist, Lisa, reads a paragraph from Lovejoy’s manuscript, originally excerpted in Steinbeck Review in 2008.

A video inspired by a virtual member’s suggestion, National Steinbeck Center Archivist, Lisa, talks about Jack Calvin, who was mentioned in the video on Ed Ricketts as the connection that brought Steinbeck and Ricketts together. Hear about Calvin in his own right as a photographer, writer, and conservation advocate for Sitka, Alaska.

National Steinbeck Center Archivist, Lisa, talks about Edward Ricketts and reveals a little bit about one of the most fascinating friendships of the literary world.

Join National Steinbeck Center Archivist, Lisa, in the first video of our new series, “Steinbeck’s Phalanx”, in which we explore the relationship between John Steinbeck and his longtime friend and editor, Pascal Covici.

Archivist Lisa talks more about how travel to the Soviet Union relates to Steinbeck’s writing over the course of his career. Also, she’ll take a look at some of the photos taken during Steinbeck’s 1960s visits to Budapest.

Join National Steinbeck Center Archivist, Lisa Josephs, in exploring the War Journal, a notebook that traveled with Steinbeck during his 1943 stint as a war correspondent. Lisa also reads a section of Once There Was a War, showing Steinbeck’s ability to illuminate the lives of soldiers by observing the smallest details.

Join National Steinbeck Center Archivist, Lisa Josephs, in exploring the work that launched Steinbeck’s love of reading, Morte D’Arthur. This 5th edition of the work is a close copy to the earlier edition that Steinbeck’s Aunt Molly gifted him over a century ago. Also, a letter by Pascal Covici, describing his reaction to Steinbeck’s project.