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Selected Papers of William B. Smith

Notifications

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

Smith, William B. (William Benjamin), 1895-

William B. Smith was a childhood friend of Ernest Hemingway, the noted American author. The two carried on a long correspondence in their youth, in which Hemingway took on the role of the mature, experienced friend. Smith later broke off the friendship because of a family quarrel.

The collection consists primarily of correspondence between Smith and Ernest Hemingway. Of the twenty-two Hemingway letters included in the collection, most span the years 1918 to 1927. The letters are friendly and personal; many discuss Hemingway's experience in Europe, particularly his fascination with bull fighting, and references are made to his works Men Without Women and the then-untitled Death in the Afternoon. A folder of photographs contains twenty-nine pictures of the author at various stages of life, including some taken at Horton's Bay, Michigan. In addition, there are eighteen John Dos Passos letters and cards, one Edmund Wilson letter, and one Donald Ogden Stewart letter.

The following sources were consulted during preparation of biographical note: Hemingway: A Life Without Consequences, by James R. Mellow.

Gift of Mrs. William B. Smith.

This collection was processed in 2002. Finding aid written in 2002.

Biography written by Jessica Marati, '08.

During 2022, restrictions on Ernest Hemingway materials were lifted as part of a restrictions review project.

No appraisal information is available.

Publisher
Manuscripts Division
Finding Aid Date
2002
Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

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

Physical Description

1 box

"Condensing the Classics," typescript of article by Hemingway, with corrections in the hand of Katy Smith (sister of William B. Smith), dates not examined. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Physical Description

1 box

Physical Description

1 box

1918 December 13, 1918 December 13. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

TL, circa January-February 1921. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

TLS, circa 1921 March. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

TLS, 1921 April 28. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

TLS, 1921 November 25. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

ALS, circa 1921 December 20. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

ALS, 1922 January 18. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

1924 December 6, 1924 December 6. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

AL (incomplete), circa early 1925. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

AL, 1925 January 9. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

1925 January 27, 1925 January 27. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

1925 February 17, 1925 February 17. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

1925 February 26, 1925 February 26. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

ALS, 1925 March 8. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

1925 March 11, 1925 March 11. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

1925 July 27, 1925 July 27. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

1925 August 5, 1925 August 5. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

ALS, 1926 January 8. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

1927 July 28, 1927 July 28. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

TLS, circa 1927 August. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

TL, 1927 November 1. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Christmas Cards (Hemingways to Smiths), dates not examined. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

circa late 1948, circa late 1948. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Physical Description

1 box

1919 December 18- 1921 July 19, 1919 December 18- 1921 July 19. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Physical Description

1 box

Dos Passos, John, to Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Smith (Christmas cards), dates not examined. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

correspondence between Ernest Hemingway, John Dos Passos, Edmund Wilson, 1926-1968. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Miller, Walter B., to John Dos Passos, dates not examined. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Wilson, Edmund, 1948 March 20. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Smith, W. B., to Y. K. Smith, dates not examined. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

envelopes addressed to W. B. Smith, dates not examined. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Physical Description

1 box

miscellaneous, dates not examined. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

fishing license to W. B. Smith, Pamplona, 1925 June 27. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

photographs, dates not examined. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Physical Description

1 box

1972 October 31, 1972 October 31. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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