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Finding Aid for the John Stuart Verschoyle Papers 1884-1915
MS.2007.001  
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Collection Overview
 
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Description
Correspondence sent to John Stuart Verschoyle from a wide-ranging group of fin-de-siecle notables, dating 1881-1915 and undated. Though much of the correspondence issues from Verschoyle's role as assistant editor of the Fortnightly Review, a significant number of items related to African colonial interests are also included.
Background
John Stuart Verschoyle was born in Ireland in 1853 to Anglo-Irish gentleman James J. Verschoyle and his wife Catherine Foster. After receiving his B.A. from Pembroke College, Cambridge University in 1881, he was appointed curate of the Church of the Holy Trinity, Marylebone, London in 1882. During his early years in London, Verschoyle made the acquaintance of Frank Harris, whom he introduced to his group of literary friends and assisted by editing his early submissions to various London periodicals. This helped lead to Harris' appointment as the editor of the London Evening News in 1883. In 1886, Harris left the Evening News for a post editing the Fortnightly Review, which he would continue to do until 1894. While Verschoyle's formal role as editor during this entire time is unclear, it seems that by at least 1889, he was formally installed as an assistant editor at the Fortnightly, where, as several contemporaries remarked, he seemed to take on the lion's share of the work. During this time, he did not function just as an editor of Harris' writing, but actively solicited contributions to the Fortnightly from prominent individuals in a wide variety of fields, which is well-reflected in the correspondence collected here. In 1891, Verschoyle moved out of London and would not live in the city again for the rest of his life. During the years he served as the rector of Creeting St Peter, Suffolk (1891-1893), and Huish Champflower, Somerset (1893-1915), he still apparently visited London, helped Harris with editorial matters and kept in regular correspondence with his literary and political friends. His editorial work seems to have largely tapered off by the early 1900s, and there are several letters from this time also inquiring after his poor health.
Extent
2 boxes (1 linear foot)
Restrictions
Copyright has not been assigned to the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, UCLA. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Availability
Collection is open for research.