It is with profound gratitude and renewed optimism that I am able to share a significant development in the ongoing recovery efforts for Lapham’s Quarterly. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity and vision of Hawthornden Foundation, the Quarterly has been given a lifeline that promises a brighter future.

Hawthornden Foundation, founded by the late Drue Heinz—the former publisher of The Paris Review and co-founder of Ecco Press—has agreed to take over the commercial lease for the Quarterly’s office space in Union Square, New York City. This remarkable gesture will allow us additional time to continue to restructure and reimagine the journal’s future.

This partnership is a poignant testament to the enduring connections between the Heinz and Lapham families, united by their shared passion for the literary arts and their commitment to intellectual and cultural enrichment. 

Hawthornden Foundation is dedicated to supporting and preserving the literary arts, fostering creativity, and honoring the legacy of writers through grants, and residencies. In keeping with this nonprofit mission, they have expressed a sincere interest in honoring Lewis’s memory by establishing a permanent tribute in the office, featuring a full set of the Quarterly, a plaque celebrating Lewis’s life and work, and personal items such as his typewriter and potentially his desk, which are symbolic of Lewis’s lifelong devotion to the world of letters. This space will serve as both a working office for Hawthornden Foundation and a living memorial to Lewis’s contributions to cultural discourse.

Further, the Foundation has expressed an interest in preserving and cataloging the Quarterly’s extensive library of literary and historical books, which would be accessible to researchers and scholars upon written request. Their on-staff archivist will collaborate with us to create a comprehensive catalog, including specially designed book plates that commemorate each volume as part of Lapham’s Quarterly’s institutional collection. This effort will help us safeguard the invaluable resources that have inspired our work over the years.

As publisher of Lapham’s Quarterly, I am deeply moved by the generosity of Hawthornden Foundation to honor Lewis’s vision. This partnership reaffirms my belief in the importance of the Quarterly at a pivotal moment so that we can continue to rebuild and re-engage our community of readers and supporters. 

Ellyn Toscano, Executive Director of Hawthornden Foundation, shared her enthusiasm for this development: 

Lewis Lapham’s contributions to the world of ideas and letters are immeasurable. Hawthornden Foundation is proud to honor and preserve his legacy. We are thrilled to ensure that his memory is preserved in the office he called home. Establishing the home of Hawthornden Foundation in this iconic space is a point of pride.

I am incredibly grateful for this partnership and inspired by what lies ahead. Still, there is much work to be done. 

As we prepare to announce exciting news about a new steward for the Quarterly, we invite you—our readers, donors, and friends—to join us in this next chapter of Lapham’s Quarterly, by making an end-of-year tax-deductible gift using the Donate button below. Your support has always been the foundation of our work, and today it is more critical than ever. 

Together, with the generosity of Hawthornden Foundation and the spirit of collaboration, we hope to ensure that the Quarterly will flourish once again as a trusted and enduring voice in the field of arts and letters. 

Thank you for standing with us.

Learn more about Hawthornden Foundation at their website here.