Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery

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.