Century Magazine Correspondence, 1885-1914

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Summary

Creators:
Century magazine.
Abstract:
This collection consists mainly of letters written by various contributors to the editors of The Century magazine between 1885 and 1914. The collection also contains numerous editorial memorandums and notes written by Richard Watson Gilder to his editorial assistants chiefly in 1904.
Extent:
760 pieces in 9 boxes
Language:
English.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists mainly of letters written by various contributors to the editors of The Century Magazine. Most of the correspondence is addressed either to Gilder or his associate editor, Robert Underwood Johnson, who became editor upon Gilder's death. A few letters are simply addressed to the Century Magazine or to Clarence Clough Buel, assistant editor. The collection also contains numerous editorial memorandums and notes written by Richard Watson Gilder to his editorial assistants. Most of these were written about 1904 when Gilder was frequently in Massachusetts to recover his health. He remained active in his editorial duties, however, sending almost daily suggestions and directions to the editorial office in New York.

Correspondents represented in the collection include: Irving Bacheller (22 pieces), John Kendrick Bangs (11 pieces), John Joy Bell (9 pieces), Lewis Saul Benjamin (9 pieces), F. C. Boggs, Robert Browning; Clarence Clough Buel, Francis Marion Crawford (30 pieces), Doty; Helena deKay Gilder, Jeannette Leonard Gilder (6 pieces), Joseph Benson Gilder, Richard Watson Gilder (319 pieces), Frederic Harrison (19 pieces), Thomas Wentworth Higginson (20 pieces), Emory R. Johnson, Robert Underwood Johnson (7 pieces), John La Farge (44 pieces), Louise Chandler Moulton (18 pieces), Charles Eliot Norton (24 pieces), Sir Gilbert Parker (5 pieces), Elizabeth Robins Pennell (22 pieces), Bertha Runkle (5 pieces), Anne Douglas Sedgwick (28 pieces), William Sharp (18 pieces), Frank Dempster Sherman (18 pieces), Roswell Smith, Harriet Elizabeth Prescott Spofford (8 pieces), Eleanor Tully, Elizabeth Sturat Phelps Ward (35 pieces), Ward Herbert Dickinson, Mary Augusta (Arnold) Ward (Mrs. Humphry Ward) (22 pieces), Charles Dudley Warner (27 pieces), and Richard Whiteing (11 pieces). Note: piece counts have been included for correspondents represented by three or more items.

Some notable items include:

  • Crawford, Francis Marion. Synopsis of a story. [1894 April 28]
  • Gilder, Richard Watson. To R. U. Johnson. Re: plans for Civil War articles. 1885 April 23
  • Gilder, Richard Watson. To Johnson. 1904 July 16. Praising a story of Hawthorne; ... it will not be even a `pearl before swine' for the swine will drop off at the first sentence.
  • Gilder, Richard Watson. To Century office. 1904 September 22. Telegram that a picture is upside down.
  • Gilder, Richard Watson. To Johnson. 1905 September 18. Re: Maeterlinck's essay on immortality.
  • Harrison, Frederic. 1901 October 29. Re: an historical romance he is writing.
  • Johnson, Robert Underwood. To Gilder. 1889 July 24. Re: the way journalism is carried on in California.
  • Norton, Charles Eliot. To Gilder. 1891 February 3. Regrets Ruskin has written so much in recent years about himself and his friends.
  • Sharp, William. To Century editors. 1889 January 11. Offers American rights to a new novel.
  • Ward, Mary Augusta (Arnold). To Gilder. 1902 February 15. Re: her father's letters.
  • Ward, Mary Augusta (Arnold). To Johnson. 1905 October 13. Objects to alterations in her story.

Biographical / historical:

The Century Magazine was the successor to Scribner's Monthly, founded by Roswell Smith and Dr. Josiah Gilbert Holland in New York City, with its first issue published in November 1870. In 1881, due to a change in ownership, the name became The Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine. At that time, Richard Watson Gilder became editor-in-chief and his was the controlling influence in the magazine until his death in 1909. The magazine was an important periodical in its day, publishing numerous types and genres of writing as well as pictorial works.

Acquisition information:
Purchased from Charles Hamilton, 1955.
Arrangement:

Arranged chronologically.

Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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