Overview of the Collection
Access
Administrative Information
Biographical Note
Scope and Content
Arrangement
Indexing Terms
Overview of the Collection
Title: Washington Irving Way Letters
Dates (inclusive): 1894-1924
Collection Number: mssWY 1-174
Creator: Way, W. Irving
(Washington Irving), 1853-1931.
Extent:
174 pieces in 3 boxes.
Repository:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2129
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: This collection contains correspondence and miscellaneous ephemera of American author, agent, and book distributor W. Irving
Way (1853-1931),
consisting primarily of 146 letters and ephemera from American publisher
Thomas Bird Mosher (1852-1923), chiefly about business matters.
Language:
English.
Access
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services
Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.
Administrative Information
Publication Rights
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to
quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such
activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is
one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item]. Washington Way Letters, The Huntington Library, San
Marino, California.
Provenance
Gift of William W. Clary, November 1948.
Biographical Note
Washington Irving Way (1853-1931) was an American author, literary agent and book
distributor. He was a lifelong friend, business associate and agent for Maine publisher Thomas Bird
Mosher (1852-1923), whose books he helped to distribute in California
Scope and Content
The collection contains letters and ephemera pertaining to the life and work of
publisher Thomas Bird Mosher. The vast majority of the letters are from Mosher to his friend W. Irving Way
and discuss business matters relating to the distribution of Mosher's books. Some
letters in the collection also address Mosher's writing and the shaping of his
books, as well as his opinions on current events and personalities. Issues addressed
within the correspondence include Thomas Bird Mosher and his writing and 20th
century American literature. Correspondents include Milton James Ferguson, Flora M.
Lamb, and Mosher.
Persons represented by 2 or more pieces:
- Ferguson, Milton James (13 items)
- Lamb, Flora MacDonald (10 pieces)
- Mosher, Thomas Bird (147 items)
Some notable items include:
- Mosher, Thomas Bird. 1906, April 26. Mentions San Francisco earthquake and fire.
- ------. 1910 May J. "...You and I know better than to write books. It is bad enough to try and sell them."
- ------. 1922 October 16. "I am going home to-night to read the second volume of D.B. Updike's treatise on Printing Types.
I have read the first volume and enjoyed it. It is a wonderful book published by the Harvard Press of Cambridge. Old Updike
has done himself proud. I have only met him once
or twice and I never wanted to meet him again . He is bumptous and rather unpleasant, but his book is a wonderful piece
of work."
Arrangement
The collection is arranged chronologically in 3 boxes, with two folders of miscellaneous ephemera at the end of Box 3.
Indexing Terms
Subjects
Mosher, Thomas Bird,
1852-1923 -- Correspondence.
Way, W. Irving
(Washington Irving), 1853-1931, correspondent.
American literature -- 20th
century.
Authors, American --
Correspondence.
Forms/Genres
Ephemera -- United States -- 20th
century.
Letters (correspondence) -- United
States -- 20th century.
Additional Contributors
Ferguson, Milton J. (Milton James),
1879-1954.
Lamb, Flora M.
Mosher, Thomas Bird, 1852-1923.