Harriet Wasserman Literary Agency
New York, NY

The Harriet Wasserman Literary Agency (HWLA) was formed in 1981 by Harriet Wasserman. The collection of about 20,000 items consists largely of office files by author, which contain correspondence with authors, editors, and publishers, drafts of works, contracts, and other materials documenting the writers themselves and activities of the agency on behalf of them. Among many others, the collection includes files for the following writers represented by the Wasserman agency: Richard Bausch, Saul Bellow, Allan Bloom, Frederick Buechner, Oscar Hijuelos, Josephine Humphreys, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, George F. Kennan, Alice McDermott, Reynolds Price, and Mark Winegardner.

Let’s Talk Organization (LTO), was contracted by the HWLA located in midtown Manhattan to review over ten thousand manuscripts, royalty statements, newspaper articles, and written reviews. Organization activities involved categorization of all HWLA items, disassemble built-in shelving, clear away massive clutter, furniture, and personal items, and prepare the space for a quick sale and move. Other activities included: creating files for each author (over 20,000), business documents, and personal files, distribution of published books owned by the HWLA to various vendors, and individuals; as well as packing and moving items to a storage facility. LTO contracted and organized movers, local contractors, and other personnel to aid in this large project which lasted 2 months.

LTO was contracted by HWLA for additional add-on work 3 weeks later, which involved bookkeeping and record keeping organization on a reoccurring weekly basis.

“The Park Slope Project” – Prospect Park West
Brooklyn, NY

Let’s Talk Organization was contracted to handle an 8 room, prewar apartment estate project in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn. LTO was responsible for selecting and preparing items for auction, coordinating efforts with the Co-Op Board, waste removal services, contractors, vendors, and purveyors of art.

LTO was hired by a husband and wife team living in Falls Church, Virginia, to organize a massive moving and repair project involving thousands of dollars worth of antiques and valuables, including books, furnishings, records, memorabilia, and collectors’ art. The client’s space was prepared for auctioneers who gathered and collected the valuables. LTO also disposed of over 15,000 books, over 5,000 record albums, 400-500 bags of trash, furnishings, house wares, and prepared the apartment for sale and construction. Work also involved placing ads on the internet, and donating items to various charity organizations. LTO was given 2 months to complete all the above; however the project was finished in 5 weeks.