Collection of The Independent Correspondence and Other Materials
History and Biographies:
The Independent was a New York weekly newspaper founded in 1848 by Henry Chandler Bowen. The Congregationalist journal, which was published until 1921, included social topics, primarily opposition to slavery and religious articles, but after the Civil War included literary submissions. Editors included, among others, Henry Ward Beecher, Theodore Tilton, Kinsley Twining, Hamilton Holt, William Hayes Ward, and his sister, Susan Hayes Ward.
William Hayes Ward (1835-1916) was born in Abingdon, Massachusetts, on June 25, 1835. He graduated with distinction from Amherst College in 1856 and from Andover Theological seminary in 1859. He married Ellen Maria Dickinson in 1859. Dr. Ward served as a professor of Latin at Ripon College in Wisconsin and was a prominent orientalist and biblical scholar in his later years. In 1868 he left Ripon College to join the editorial staff of The Independent. In 1884, he led an expedition to Babylonia to examine archeological sites, and became president of the American Oriental Society, a position held twice, from 1890-1894 and 1909-1910. He specialized in studying designs of Babylonian and Assyrian seal cylinders, which were used in ancient record-keeping.
Showing a lifelong concern for social issues in the newspaper and in private life, William Hayes Ward upheld African-American rights and opened the first conference held by the NAACP in 1909 in New York City. He was editor-in-chief of The Independent from 1896-1913 and is known for supporting poet Sidney Lanier, whose work was frequently published in the paper, and about whom Dr. Ward wrote a biographical memoir.
Horace Howard Furness, Sr., 1833-1912, was an important American Shakespeare scholar. He was known for his editing of Shakespeare's plays, which contained numerous editions of plays as well as criticism. His son, Horace Howard Furness, Jr., 1865-1930, was a partner and successor of his father's work and edited his letters. Samuel Chew was a renowned literary critic in the early twentieth century.
Scope and Contents
The collection includes papers ranging in dates from 1680 to 1936 with the bulk of the collection falling between 1879 and 1881. Most of the collection is comprised of the correspondence of William Hayes Ward, editor of The Independent, with notable literary and historical figures including General John Charles Frémont, American explorer and expedition leader; P. T. Barnum, showman; and Asa Gray, the preeminent American botanist of the 19th century.
Other items in the collection include American literature and theater papers; colonial historical manuscripts and documents; and correspondence with the library of Norfolk division of the College of William and Mary (the predecessor of Old Dominion University).
Assorted other papers in the collection include presidential signatures; a letter by John Ruskin, Victorian art and social critic; part of a book manuscript by American author Washington Irving; colonial deeds, including a land grant signed and sealed by Lord Dunmore; and papers and letters on American theatre, including correspondence of Horace Howard Furness, Sr., Horace Howard Furness, Jr., and Samuel Chew.
The collection contains a number of transcriptions, some of which include inaccurate identifications which are noted in the finding aid.
Series Descriptions
The Historical Letters collection is divided into five series:
Series I: Editorial Correspondence of The Independent includes letters to the editors. Arrangement is the original order of letters found in a scrapbook, which the creator organized roughly by subject.
Series II: Literary authors and papers on American Theater 1896-1913, which include correspondence of Samuel Chew and Horace Howard Furness, Jr., and Sr. Several letters in this series contain transcriptions that incorrectly attribute the letters of Horace Howard Furness, Jr., to Horace Howard Furness, Sr. and vice versa.
Series III: Historical manuscripts and documents, which includes a printed copy of a speech by Charles II and American colonial documents.
Series IV: Miscellaneous literary and political correspondence.
Series V: William and Mary Norfolk Campus Correspondence, which includes letters about library collections.
Provenance
Unknown. Some of the papers were discovered in the 1980s among a collection of rare books owned by the Old Dominion University library which had been purchased from a New York City bookstore in 1971.
Access
Open to researchers without restrictions. Questions on literary property rights should be directed to the Special Collections Librarian.
Size
1 Hollinger Document Case.
Collection Number
MG 83
Container Listing
Series I: Editorial Correspondence of The Independent
Folder 1: Scrapbook, Page 1, 1866
Letter from Bayard Taylor to My Dear Sir. July 18, 1866. Thanks for papers delivered to his residence.
Folder 2: Scrapbook, Page 2, 1880-1881
Seal of North American Construction Company Puerto Cabella
Letter from J. T. Trowbridge to W. H. Ward: Dec. 15, 1880. Asks about publishing a poem.
Letter from J. T. Trowbridge to W. H. Ward: Jan 5, 1881. Thanks for check received for poem.
Letter from General Charles Frémont to Mr. Bowen (Henry Chandler Bowen). Oct. 31, 1880. Describes Tucson territory.
Folder 3: Scrapbook, Page 3, 1880
Signature of Charles Sumner.
Business card. United States Coast Survey Office, Capt. of Eng'rs, As't in Charge.
Signature of U. S. President J. A. Garfield.
Signature of Louis Kingsley, Lieutenant and Executive Officer
Letter from Henry M. Hoyt to Henry C. Bowen. November 19, 1880. Answers request for article on Ex-presidents as senators-for-life.
Letter from E. C. Stedman to W. H. Ward. June 29, 1880. Describes article enjoyed.
Folder 4: Scrapbook, Page 4, 1880
Letter to "Dear Sir" from S. Newcomb (Simon Newcomb). Nov. 23, 1880. Asks about scientific papers sent to Mr. Bowen.
Letter to "Gentlemen" from Lewis Swift. September 28, 1880. Describes printing an image of observatory.
Folder 5: Scrapbook, Page 5, 1880
To W. H. Ward) from James McCosh. No date. Asks about proofing article.
To William H. Ward from James H. Fairchild. Nov. 15, 1880. Reacts to Congregationalist articles.
Folder 6: Scrapbook, Page 6, 1880-1881
To W. H. Ward from Leonard Bacon. Jan. 13, 1881. Asks about publishing article.
To "My Dear Sir" from J. W. Nicer. June 20, 1880. Asks about publication.
Folder 7: Scrapbook, Page 7, 1880-1881
To W. H. Ward from Justin McCarthy. January 15, 1881. Turns down request to write for newspaper.
To Editor of The Independent from Epes Sargent. Nov. 24, 1880. Asks for publication of a reply to an article.
Folder 8: Scrapbook, Page 8, 1880-1881
Letter to W. H. Ward from Timothy Dwight. July 27, 1881. Asks about publication.
Letter to W. H. Ward from W. D. Whitney. Nov. 26, 1880. Asks about abstract for article on Hittite inscriptions.
Folder 9: Scrapbook, Page 9, 1880
Letter to Henry C. Bowen from Charles W. Eliot. Nov. 17, 1880. Responds about Amending Constitution so ex-presidents may be made life-senators.
Letter to Henry C. Bowen from Horace Maynard. December 9, 1880. Responds about amendment to the Constitution.
Folder 10: Scrapbook, Page 10, 1880
Letter to W. H. Ward from Joseph Cook. Nov. 8, 1880. Explains opinion on evolution.
Letter to Editor of The Independent from P. T. Barnum. July 17, 1880. Requests newspaper publish article Barnum's wife, Nancy Fish Barnum.
Folder 11: Scrapbook, Page 11, 1880
Letter to W. H. Ward from Asa Gray. February 1, 1880. Asks about printing excerpts of a lecture.
Letter to W. H. Ward from Asa Gray. August 2, 1880. Asks about proofing some documents.
Letter to Editor of The Independent from Asa Gray. August 4, 1880. Requests reproofing an article concerning Darwin and "The Descent of Man."
Letter to W. H. Ward from Asa Gray. Sept. 2, 1880. Describes lectures at Royal Gardens.
Letter to Henry C. Bowen from Alexander H. Stephens. Nov. 21, 1880. Is against amendment to the Constitution.
Folder 12: Scrapbook, Page 12, 1880
Letter to My Dear Friends from Stephen [last name illegible]. February 26, 1880. Offers opinion on the "Roman Catholic Question."
Letter to W. H. Ward from T. De Witt Talmage. No date. Asks for publication.
Folder 13: Scrapbook, Page 13, 1879-1880
Letter to William H. Ward from Harriet P. Spofford. Nov. 5, 1880. Answers request for publication in Thanksgiving issue.
Letter to Editor of the Independent from James Freeman Clarke. Nov. 6, 1879. Asks about publication of a poem in the newspaper.
Folder 14: Scrapbook, Page 14, 1879-1880
Letter to W. H. Ward from Howard Crosby. Feb. 23, 1880. Requests translations of Biblical archeology.
Letter to W. H. Ward from R. S. Storrs. Oct. 15, 1879. Asks about biblical scholarship.
To W. H. Ward from R. S. Storrs. Dec. 16 [no year]. Mentions "Carr's promise."
Folder 15: Scrapbook, Page 15, 1880
Letter to W. H. Ward from Joseph Cook. August 24, 1880. Responds to article in The Observer about spiritualism.
Letter to W. H. Ward from [unreadable]. Feb. 22, 1880. Asks about proofs and papers to be printed.
Folder 16: Scrapbook, Page 16, 1880
To W. H. Ward from H. E. Scudder. March 22, 1880. Asks about publishing fiction.
To W. H. Ward from H. E. Scudder. Sept. 6, 1880. Asks about publishing article.
To Sir from unreadable. Dec. 7, 1880. Questions payment for article.
Folder 17: Scrapbook, Page 17, 1880
To W. H. Ward from John Sherman. June 24, 1880. Responds to request for article for the 4th of July.
To W. H. Ward from John Sherman. June 15, 1880. Asks about article.
Folder 18: Scrapbook, Page 18, 1880
Envelope addressed to Dr. S. B. Ward from Grover Cleveland.
Scrap with signature of U. S. Grant, U. S. President.
To Dr. Ward from Mary Clemmer. Nov. 9, 1880. Follows up on failed meeting.
Folder 19: Scrapbook, Page 19, 1880
To Editor Independent from Abby Morton Diaz. June 25. [no year]. Asks for quick publication.
To Dr. W. H. Ward from Rose Terry Cooke. July 26, 1880. Re: publishing poems sent by Cooke.
Folder 20: Scrapbook, Page 20, 1881
To Dr. Ward from Grace Greenwood (Mrs. Lippincott). Jan. 22, 1881. Re: publication of an article.
To William Hayes Ward from Harriet P. Spofford. June 17, no year. Asks about story contribution hopes to publish.
Manuscript of a poem entitled "Faithful." [In pencil identified as by Rose Terry Cooke.]
Folder 21: Scrapbook, Page 21, 1880
To Mr. Ward from Lucy Stone. June 7, 1880. Replies to manuscript request by Ward.
Manuscript entitled "Strange Country," a poem. Signed Mr. S. M. B. Piatt. [Poet Sarah Morgan Bryan.]
Folder 22: Scrapbook, Page 22, 1880
To Henry C. Bowen from Benjamin F. Butler. Nov. 19, 1880. Turns down request to write article about ex-presidents as senators for life.
Folder 23: Loose items not in scrapbook, 1879-1917
To W. H. Ward from S. E. Wallace. Nov. 21, 1879. Publishing manuscript about Pueblos. Transcription [incorrectly attributed to L. E. Wallace].
To W. H. Ward from Helen Hunt Jackson. No date. Asks for publication of manuscript. Transcription.
To The editor of The Independent from Rose Hawthorne Lathrop. Submits story for publication. November, 1880. Transcription.
From W. H. Ward to Miss Jeffries. January 24, 1881. Family visit. Transcription.
To Sir from Sidney Lanier. July 19, 1880. Returns submitted poem in order to edit further.
To My Dear Solomon from Herbert B. Tree. Feb. 7, 1917. Asks about receipt of work. Transcription.
To Editor Independent from Wendell Phillips. No date. Requests publication of reply to Crosby. Transcription.
To W. H. Ward from Edward S. Hale. June 22, 1880. Provides additional information on Utes Indian tribe for article.
To My dear Dr. from J. W. Miller (Cincinnatus Hiner). Feb. 3, 1881. Requests review of his book about Indians.
From P. T. Barnum to Editor of the Independent. July 13, 1880. Asks the newspaper to publish article his wife. Transcription.
Series II: Literary Authors and Papers on American Theater 1896-1913
Folder 1, John Ruskin, No Date
Letter from John Ruskin. To My dear Thom [Transcription mistakenly attributed to My dear Mom.] Comments on compliments given.
Note that says Ruskin letter to mother [Thom] found in Stones of Venice, V. 1 (1851).
Folder 2, Washington Irving, No Date
Manuscript excerpt from Irving book The Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus
Transcription of excerpt
Photocopy of the pages of The Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus that match the handwritten manuscript
Photocopy of Irving's signature from a book
Envelope with letterhead of Norfolk campus of College of W&M labeled "Washington Irving 12/13/62"
Folder 3, Papers on American Theater, 1896-1913
To Mr. Chew from Julia Marlowe. Feb. 12, 1906. Answers that Hamlet as Shakespeare's finest play. Transcription.
To "Dear Sir" from Sidney Lee. Feb. 16, 1905. What Lee thinks is Shakespeare's best play. Transcription.
To "My Dear Sir" from Henry Irving. Jan. 11, 1896. Thanks him for a letter. Transcription.
To "Dear Sir" from R. Garnett. June 15, 1906. Answers which Shakespearean play is his favorite.
From Horace Howard Furness to My dear boy. [Dated in pencil, as April 1, 1906.] Describes the acting genius of Miss Marlowe. Transcription.
From Horace Howard Furness 5. Letter to My dear boy. 21 February. [Dated in pencil as 1906.] Mentions actors and a possible visit. Transcription. [The transcription attributes the letter to Horace Howard Furness, Jr., but may have been penned by H. H. Furness, Sr.]
From Horace Howard Furness to Mr. Samuel C. Chew. Feb. 13, 1906. Asks to set up a meeting. [Attached is a note indicating the letter was authored by H. H. Furness, Jr. It is by Sr., however.]
From Horace Howard Furness to Mr. Samuel C. Chew. December 17, 1906. Criticizes the actor Ben Greet. [Note attached attributing the letter to H. H. Furness, Jr., but again it is by Sr.]
From H. H. Furness to "My Dear Sam" [Mr. Chew]. 28 July [no year] [1911 written in pencil.] Mentions sending Mr. Chew a photograph. Transcription. [Note attached attributing the letter to H. H. Furness, Jr., but again it is by Sr.]
From Horace Howard Furness, Jr., to Mr. Chew. Feb. 8, 1906. Provides Mr. Chew with his father's address. Transcription.
From Horace Howard Furness, Jr. to Mr. Chew. October 19, 1905. Requests to meet when Mr. Chew comes to Philadelphia. Transcription.
Newspaper article, "Tributes Paid to Furness' Memory." No byline, date, or paper.
Article about performance given by Mr. E. H. Sothern and Miss Julia Marlowe of Shakespeare's comedy Twelfth Night. [No date, byline, newspaper or article title.]
Photograph of Dr. Horace Howard Furness, Jr., excised from a book.
Envelope with letterhead of Norfolk campus of College of W&M marked "Letters removed from S'peare variorum" [a book that collates all known variants of texts with textual criticism]
Envelopes to Mr. Samuel C. Chew with the return address of Horace Howard Furness on the letterhead:
a. postmarked Feb. 26, 1906
b. postmarked April 2, 1906
c. date unreadable on post office stamp
d. date unreadable
e. postmarked August 9, 1912
f. postmarked Jul. 22, 1911
g. postmarked July 28, 1911
Series III: Historical Manuscripts and Documents
Folder 1, Charles II speech, 1680
Printed copy of speech by King Charles II, 1680. Wing C3159. "His majesties most gracious speech to both houses of parliament, on Wednesday the 15th of December, 1680, Published by his Majesties Command. Transcription.
Folder 2, Permission for Duties, 1795
For Henry Barrow, Surveyor for the County of Southampton. Signed by Governor Robert Brooke, April 24, 1795. Transcription.
Permission of duties for Henry Barrow approved by president and professors of William and Mary College on March 10, 1795. Transcription.
Folder 3, Land Deed, ca. 1770
Certifies Thomas Bonyer [?] to land per royal proclamation of 1763. Signed and sealed by Lord Dunmore on Dec. 1, 177[?]. Document addressed to surveyor of Fincastle County. Transcription. [Transcription incorrectly has date as 1777.]
Series IV: Miscellaneous Literary and Political Correspondence, 1930-1936
Folder 1, Kenneth Roberts correspondence, No Date
Letter from Kenneth Roberts to Elizabeth Urban. No date. Thanks her for a note. Transcription.
Folder 2, S. W. Jackson correspondence, 1936
Letter to Mr. S. W. Jackson from [Mayberry?]. November 10, 1936. Re: Thanking Mr. Jackson on behalf of Governor Alf M. Landon.
Folder 3, Alexander Robertson correspondence, 1931
Letter to Mr. Brown from Alexander Robertson. Nov. 30, 1931. Re: a copy of a book about Mussolini and photographs of Mussolini. Robertson admires Mussolini. Typed transcription attached. Robertson was the author of Mussolini and the New Italy, published in 1929.
Folder 4, Unlabeled manuscript, No Date
[Manuscript appears to be poem, "The Ragpicker" by Thomas Dunn English.]
Series V: William and Mary Norfolk Campus library correspondence
Folder 1, W. C. Pollard, 1960
Letter to Mr. Pollard from Annette Parsons. July 29, 1960. Asks for information about a friend. Handwritten and typed manuscripts about Italian author.
Folder 2, H. B. Grigsby, 1958
To H. B. Grigsby from P. E. Read. No date. Social letter with drawings attached. Transcription.
Envelope addressed to Library at W & M at Norfolk. Note on envelope says it contains a "letter from H. B. Grigsby book." Dated October 13, 1958.
Folder 3, Berkeley Minor correspondence, No Date
Letter to Miss Emily Christian from Berkeley Minor. Oct. 19, [no year]. Sends Miss Christian, librarian of W&M College in Williamsburg, a copy of a book The Real Lincoln. Transcription. [Transcription incorrectly says Boothby Minor.]
Revised 3/24/08