Call Number:

C1174

Repository:

Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division

Extent:

• 1 box
• 0.2 linear feet

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Jane Porter and Anna Maria Porter Collection, Box and Folder Number; Special Collections, Princeton University Library.

Date:

1808-1850 (inclusive)

Creator:

Princeton University. Library. Special Collections and Porter, Jane, 1776-1850

Form:

Correspondence -- 19th century, Manuscripts, Scottish -- 19th century., and Watercolors (paintings) -- 19th century

Abstract:

Consists of selected material by and about the two Scottish sisters Jane and Anna Maria Porter, who were novelists in the first half of the 19th century.

Jane Porter, born in Durham, Scotland, was a novelist and the older sister of Anna Maria Porter. After the death of their father, the family settled in Edinburgh, where they enjoyed the friendship of Sir Walter Scott. Jane's novel Thaddeus of Warsaw (1803) is one of the earliest examples of the historical novel and went through several editions. The Scottish Chief (1810), a novel about William Wallace, was also a success and has remained popular with Scottish children. Jane wrote a number of other novels, as well as two plays; the latter, however, were less successful. She also contributed to various periodicals. Jane and Anna Maria were the sisters of Sir Robert Ker Porter, the historical painter.

Anna Maria Porter, like her sister Jane, was a novelist and a poet. At the age of 12 Anna Maria published the novel Artless Tales. She was in London by the 1790s, publishing verse in the Universal Magazine. She wrote a short novel, Walsh Colville, which was published anonymously in 1797. Though her sister was the more popular writer, Anna was the more prolific. She collaborated with Jane and wrote, among other novels, The Hungarian Brothers (3 vols., 1807), a historical romance set against the French Revolutionary Wars, which was a huge success, published in several editions.

The collection consists of selected material by and about the two Porter sisters. Jane Porter's correspondence consists of one letter to "Dr. Brown," a letter to Anthony Cardon regarding publishing drawings, a letter to "Mr. Churchill," a letter to "Mr. Haines," a letter to Rev. W. Homes, a letter to Shirley Park, the Marquess of Cholmontley, and a letter to Rev. William Lindsay. Included is a holograph "Memorandum of Agreement" between Jane Porter and Richard Bentley, bookseller and publisher, dated 26 June 1844, with the names of the novels that he will publish for her. In addition, there are two short biographical sketches of Jane, one of which includes a steel engraving and an original watercolor painting signed "L. F." There are also other lithograph and steel engravings (several are drawn by G. Harlowe and engraved by J. Thomson), a newspaper clipping of her obituary, and other clippings from THE ART-JOURNAL dating from 1850.

Anna Maria Porter's correspondence consists of 22 autograph letters sent to Mrs. Wilhelmina Hole, dated 1809-1830 and bound together in boards, covered in tan paper. Additional material includes a letter addressed to "My Dear Madame," a clipping of her obituary, and a lithograph portrait engraving (1846).

The material is arranged by accession number.