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Mary Mapes Dodge 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

Dodge, Mary Mapes, 1830-1905

Mary Mapes Dodge was an American children's writer and editor, best known for her novel Hans Brinker; or The Silver Skates, A Story of Life in Holland. In 1859 she began writing and editing, working with her father to publish two magazines, the Working Farmer and the United States Journal. Within a few years she had great success with a collection of short stories ns2:titled The Irvington Stories (1864). Dodge then wrote Hans Brinker, which became an instant bestseller. Later on she was an associate editor of Health and Home, edited by Harriet Beecher Stowe. She had charge of the household and children's departments of that paper. She became an editor in her own right with the children's magazine St. Nicholas, published by Charles Scribner' Sons, for she was able to solicit stories from a number of well-known writers including Mark Twain, Louisa May Alcott, and Robert Louis Stevenson. St. Nicholas became one of the most successful magazines for children during the second half of the nineteenth century, with a circulation of almost 70,000.. Dodge is buried in the Evergreen Cemetery, at Hillside, New Jersey.

The collection consists of selected correspondence of Mary Mapes Dodge, the American children's writer and editor. In a letter to Mary Louise Booth, editor of Harper's Bazaar, Dodge asks Booth to publish one of her poems anonymously. Writing to "Mrs. Coates," Dodge praises Helen Keller's book. Also included is a letter to Arthur Stedman, praising his "biographies" which he wrote for his father's work Library of American Literature, as well as a dictated letter to Miss Laura M. Wachschlager regarding Dodge's novel Hans Brinker. In addition, there are five letters from the English-American playwright Frances Hodgson Burnett, in which she inquires about the proofs of her children's story Little Lord Fauntleroy for publication in St. Nicholas, and an incomplete letter to Dodge, in which she suggests a new serial for St. Nicholas and a new children's book.

The collection was formed as a result of a Departmental practice of combining into one collection material of various accessions relating to a particular person, family, or subject.

The letter to Arthur Stedman was laid in a copy of Hans Binker.

The letters to Miss Wachschlager, Mrs. Grossman, and to Mr. and Mrs. Stedman were purchased in February 1975.

The letters of Frances Burnett were purchased on December 14, 1982.

The letter to Mrs. Coates was purchased on June 7, 1985. Various AM.

This collection was processed by Dina Britain on May 6, 2009. Finding aid written by Lauren Kustner on May 21, 2009. Folder Inventory added by Hilde Creager (2015) in 2012.

No appraisal information is available.

Publisher
Manuscripts Division
Finding Aid Date
2009
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

Letter from Mary Mapes Dodge to Mary Louise Booth, undated. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

5 Letters from Frances Burnett to Mary Mapes Dodge, 1885-1893. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Letter from Mary Mapes Dodge to Florence Coates, 1904 January 6. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Letter from Mary Mapes Dodge to Mrs. Grossman, 1902 February 5. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Letter from Mary Mapes Dodge to Arthur Stedman, 1890 November 23. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Letter from Mary Mapes Dodge to Edmun Clarence Stedman, 1893 January 19. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Letter (dictated) from Mary Mapes Dodge to Laura Wachslhlager, 1883 June 10. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Letter from Mary Mapes Dodge to "Dear Friend", 1893 March 11. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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