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William Dean Howells Collection

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Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Call Number:
C0168
Repository:
Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division
Extent:
  • 1 box
  • 0.2 linear feet
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); William Dean Howells Collection, Box and Folder Number; Special Collections, Princeton University Library.
Date:
1863-1919 (inclusive)
Creator:
Princeton University. Library. Special Collections and Howells, William Dean, 1837-1920.
Form:
Articles -- 19th century. and Letters -- 19th century.
Abstract:
Consists of correspondence and selected manuscripts of the American critic, novelist, poet, and playwright William Dean Howells.

Howells, William Dean, 1837-1920.

Wiliam Dean Howells was a critic, novelist, poet, and playwright. He began as the subeditor of the Atlantic Monthly of Boston under James T. Fields, and in 1871 he was appointed editor-in-chief, a post held until 1881.

The collection consists primarily of letters by Howells to an assortment of correspondents, including Lawrence Barrett, Wendell P. Garrison, Alexander McKenzie, J. R. Osgood, and Charles Dudley Warner. In addition, there are manuscripts of "Edward Bellamy," "English Feeling Toward Americans," "The Fiction of Eden Phillpotts," "The Fiction of Leonard Merrick," and "Recollections of an Atlantic Editorship"; a review of George William Curtis's books; and a few miscellaneous items.

The following standard abbreviations, or their variations, are used to identify materials in this collection: ALS = autograph letter signed, TLS = typed letter signed, AMsS = autograph manuscript signed, and TMsS = typed manuscript signed.

This collection was formed as a result of the departmental practice of combining into one collection manuscript material of various accessions relating to a particular author.

Most of the collection from Pforzheimer in May 1944 with letter that is a gift of Mrs. Frederic J. Dennis.

For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.

This collection was processed by Ran Tao in 2003. Finding aid written by Ran Tao in 2003.

No appraisal information is available.

People
Subject

Publisher
Manuscripts Division
Finding Aid Author
Ran Tao
Finding Aid Date
2003
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research use.

Use Restrictions

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. No further photoduplication of copies of material in the collection can be made when Princeton University Library does not own the original. Inquiries regarding publishing material from the collection should be directed to RBSC Public Services staff through the Ask Us! form. The library has no information on the status of literary rights in the collection and researchers are responsible for determining any questions of copyright.

Collection Inventory

Scope and Contents

Consists of manuscripts for works such as "The Fiction of Eden Phillpotts" and "The Fiction of Leonard Merrick," as well as others.

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by title.

Physical Description

1 box

"Edward Bellamy": AMsS, dates not examined. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

"English Feeling Toward Americans": TMsS, dates not examined. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Physical Description

1 box

AMs [with typed transcript], dates not examined. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

2 ALsS [with typed transcripts] by Howells to [?] Munro, dates not examined. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Physical Description

1 box

TMsS and galley proof, dates not examined. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Clipping of Merrick's obituary, dates not examined. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Howells, William Dean, 1837-1920.. "Recollections of an Atlantic Editorship": AMsS bound, dates not examined. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Autograph signed manuscript, with annotations and deletions, concerning his time as editor of the "Atlantic Monthly" in Boston. Howells began as the subeditor under James T. Fields, and in 1871 he was appointed editor in chief, a post held until 1881. Manuscript undated, probably 20th century.

Physical Description

1 folder

Review of George William Curtis's books: AMsS, dates not examined. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Physical Description

1 box

"Bitter the things one's enemies will say...", dates not examined. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

TL (copy) by [?] to [?] Reeves concerning above lines, dates not examined. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

"Editor's Easy Chair", dates not examined. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Scope and Contents

Consists of correspondence with individuals such as Eleanor Beach, Benjamin Ticknor, and Charles Henry Webb, as well as others.

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by correspondent.

Physical Description

1 box

Miscellaneous Correspondence: A-M, dates not examined. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Miscellaneous Correspondence: N-Z, dates not examined. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Barrett, Lawrence (1838-1891), ALsS (with typed transcripts), 1877 November 14-1883 November 24. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Physical Description

1 box

ALS, 1917 April 28. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

ALS (Xerox) by Mrs. Frederic J. Dennis regarding the Howells-Beach letter, 1968 September 21. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Beatty, [?], 2 ALsS, 1915 September 29-1917 January 26. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Boyesen, H. H., ALS, 1887 February 17. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Dana, Charles A., ALS, 1891 January 29. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Davidson, [?], ALS, 1900 June 13. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Doubleday and McClure Co., ALS, 1899 June 4. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Physical Description

1 box

25 ALsS, 1874 March 25-1891 April 19. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

TLS, 1912 March 10. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Garrison, Wendell P. (1840-1907), 2 ALsS, 1874 December 12-15. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Higginson, T. W. (1823-1911), ALS (with typed transcript), 1867 January 10. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Kimball, [?], ALS, 1896 November 2. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

McKenzie, Alexander, 2 ALsS, 1871 August 1-4. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

McKenzie, Kenneth, ALS, 1912 December 14. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Physical Description

1 box

4 ALsS, 1899 May 13-1908 February 3. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

TL (transcript), 1903 September 9. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Physical Description

1 box

2 ALsS, , ), 1876 May 15. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

ANS (telegram), 1880. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Palgrave, Francis Turner (1824-1897), ALS, 1882 August 17. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Reed, [?], ALS, 1912 December 15. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Shipherd, [?], ALS, 1877 March 28. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Starrett, Vincent (1886-1974), ALS, 1910 March 13. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Stoddard, Charles W., TLS, 1901 September 22. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Swinton, [?], TL (transcript), 1863 October 22. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Physical Description

1 box

6 ALsS, 1885 July 26-1889 January 16. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

TLS, 1885 June 10. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

TL (transcript), 1885 September 6. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Warner, Charles Dudley, ALS, 1873 January 5. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Webb, Charles Henry, 2 ALsS, 1888 May 15-1898 April 23. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Unidentified, dates not examined. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Scope and Contents

Consists of "Judgment Day," printed poem signed by Howells as well as a printed portrait.

Arrangement

Not arranged according to any arrangement scheme.

Physical Description

1 box

"Judgment Day," printed poem signed by Howells, dates not examined. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Portrait, printed copy by A. [?] Clark, New York, 1900 December 16. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Miscellaneous, dates not examined. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Print, Suggest