Samuel L. Clemens-Frances N. Winzer Papers: Finding
Aid
Finding aid prepared by Huntington Library staff and updated by Diann Benti.
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
Manuscripts Department
The Huntington Library
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2191
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
© June 1982
The Huntington Library. All rights reserved.
Overview of the Collection
Title: Samuel L. Clemens-Frances N. Winzer Papers
Dates (inclusive): 1907-1910
Collection Number: mssHM 48450-48492; mssFAC 1023
Creator:
Clemens, Samuel Langhorne, 1835-1910.
Extent:
approximately 50 pieces in 1 box
Repository:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2191
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: This collection contains forty pieces of correspondence from American author Samuel Langhorne Clemens (also known as Mark
Twain) to teenager Frances Nunnally Wizner (1891-1981), dating from 1907 to 1910.
Language: English.
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]. Samuel L. Clemens-Frances N. Winzer Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Provenance
Gift of Frances N. Winzer Estate, May 1982.
Material Transferred
Additional photographs are in the Photographic Collections of the Rare Book Department; they include formal portraits and
photographs taken on shipboard.
Access
RESTRICTED. Items available with curatorial approval. Requires extended retrieval and delivery time.
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader
Services.
Historical Note
In June 1907, American author Samuel Clemens travelled to England to receive an honorary degree from Oxford University. One
of his shipmates for the Atlantic crossing was
Frances Nunnally (later Wizner) (1891-1981), the daughter of J. H. Nunnally, an Atlanta candy manufacturer. The teenaged school
girl and the 71-year-old writer became acquainted and,
discovering they were
staying in the same London hotel, Clemens escorted the young girl, whom he called Francesca, on visits and social calls. Back
in the United States, their friendship continued, and Nunnally became
part of Clemens's group of young women, nicknamed the "Angelfish," whom Clemens treated as honorary grandchildren.
Two years after the friendship began, Frances asked Clemens to speak at her graduation. He agreed and, in June 1909, left
his Redding, Connecticut, home and journeyed to
Catonsville, Maryland, to be the commencement speaker at St. Timothy's school for young women. His address included this advice
(much quoted in the contemporary press)
to the young ladies: "Don't smoke, drink, or marry -- that is, to excess." While in Maryland, Clemens for the first time suffered
the chest pains of the heart ailment
that would result in his death less than a year later on April 21, 1910, at the age of 74. The affectionate correspondence
between Clemens and his young friend continued until shortly before his death.
Scope and Content
This collection contains forty pieces of correspondence from American author Samuel Langhorne Clemens (also known as Mark
Twain) to teenager Frances Nunnally Wizner (1891-1981), dating from 1907 to 1910.
Collection includes several interesting items including: photographs of Samuel Clemens and Frances N. Winzer (HM 48476, HM
48492);
manuscript by Clemens entitled "The Aquarium" (FAC 1023); letter of 1908, Dec. 9 where Clemens discusses a John Milton celebration
he regrets having declined;
he mentions in particular the teasing of William Dean Howells he will miss by not attending the event (HM 48477); letter of
1909, July 15, discusses Clemens'
thoughts about his recently-diagnosed heart condition (HM 48486); clippings from Atlanta newspapers about Clemens and Winzer,
1910, Apr. 22 (HM 48491).
Related materials in the Huntington Library
- Samuel Langhorne Clemens Collection
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in the following 2 series:
- Series I. Correspondence
- Series II. Photographs and miscellaneous materials
Indexing Terms
Subjects
Twain, Mark, 1835-1910 -- Archives.
Twain, Mark, 1835-1910 -- Photographs.
Winzer, Frances Nunnally, approximately 1892-1982 -- Photographs.
Howells, William Dean, 1837-1920.
Milton, John, 1608-1674.
Twain, Mark, 1835-1910 -- Archives.
Authors, American -- Archives.
Forms/Genres
Letters (correspondence) -- United States -- 20th century.
Contributors
Winzer, Frances Nunnally, approximately 1892-1982, correspondent.
Box 1
Collection
Access Information
RESTRICTED. Items available with curatorial approval. Requires extended retrieval and delivery time.
Correspondence.
Arrangement
Items arranged chronologically.
HM 48450.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
[1907 July 7].
A.L.S. 1 p. London, England. With envelope.
HM 48451.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1907 August 3.
A.L.S. 2 p. Tuxedo Park, New York. Enclosed in: letter from Samuel Langhorne Clemens to Frances (Nunnally) Winzner, August
18, 1907.
HM 48452.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1907 August 18.
A.L.S. 2 p. Tuxedo Park, New York. Enclosed in: letter from Samuel Langhorne Clemens to Frances (Nunnally) Winzner, August
3, 1907.
HM 48453.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1907 September 25
A.L.S. 2 p. New York, New York. With envelope.
HM 48454.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1907 October 4.
A.L.S. 2 p. Tuxedo Park, New York. With envelope.
HM 48455.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1907 October 28.
A.L.S. 3 p. New York, New York. With envelope.
HM 48456.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1907 November 18.
A.L.S. 2 p. New York, New York. With envelope.
HM 48457.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1907 November 27.
Telegram 1 p. New York, New York. With envelope.
HM 48458.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1907 December 20.
A.L.S. 2 p. New York, New York. With envelope.
HM 48459.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1907 December 29.
A.L.S. 4 p. New York, New York. With envelope.
HM 48460.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1908 January 15.
A.L.S. 2 p. New York, New York. With envelope.
HM 48461.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1908 January 15.
A.L.S. 1 p. New York, New York. Signature cut away. With envelope.
HM 48462.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1908 January 21.
A.L.S. 2 p. New York, New York. With envelope.
HM 48463.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1908 February 8.
A.L.S. 3 p. New York, New York. With envelope.
HM 48464.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1908 February 24.
A.N.S. on two postcards. Hamilton, Bermuda. With envelope.
HM 48465.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1908 March 10.
A.L.S. 3 p. Hamilton, Bermuda. With envelope.
HM 48466.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1908 March 14-16.
A.L.S. 3 p. Hamilton, Bermuda. With envelope.
HM 48467.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1908 March 24.
A.L.S. 2 p. Hamilton, Bermuda. With envelope.
HM 48468.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1908 March 31.
A.L.S. 2 p. Hamilton, Bermuda. With envelope.
HM 48469.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1908 May 1.
A.L.S. 2 p. New York, New York. With envelope.
HM 48470.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1908 June 3.
A.L.S. 2 p. New York, New York. With envelope.
HM 48471.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1908 June 6
A.L.S. 2 p. New York, New York. With envelope.
HM 48472.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1908 June 20.
A.L.S. 2 p. Redding, Connecticut. With envelope.
HM 48473.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1908 July 29.
A.L.S. 2 p. Redding, Connecticut. With envelope.
HM 48474.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1908 September 18.
A.L.S. 2 p. Redding, Connecticut. With envelope.
HM 48475.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1908 October 10-12.
A.L. 4 p. Redding, Connecticut. With envelope.
HM 48476.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1908 October 24-31
A.L.S. 4 p. Redding, Connecticut. With envelope. Accompanied by three postcards of Clemens and his home in Redding, with
autograph notes on each, and two snapshots of Clemens with Winzer, [September 1908].
HM 48477.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1908 December 9.
A.L.S. 4 p. Redding, Connecticut. With envelope.
HM 48478.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1908 December 29.
A.L.S. 3 p. Redding, Connecticut. With envelope.
HM 48479.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1909 February 9.
A.L.S. 4 p. Redding, Connecticut. With envelope.
HM 48480.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1909 February 17.
A.L.S. 4 p. Redding, Connecticut. With envelope.
HM 48481.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1909 March 28.
A.L.S. 4 p. Redding, Connecticut. With envelope.
HM 48482.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1909 April 29.
A.L.S. 4 p. Redding, Connecticut. With envelope.
HM 48483.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1909 May 18.
A.L.S. 2 p. Redding, Connecticut. With envelope.
HM 48484.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1909 June 7.
A.L.S. 2 p. Redding, Connecticut. With envelope.
HM 48485.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1909 June 18.
A.L.S. 2 p. Redding, Connecticut. With envelope.
HM 48486.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1909 July 15.
A.L.S. 4 p. Redding, Connecticut. With envelope.
HM 48487.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1909 August 27.
A.L.S. 2 p. Redding, Connecticut. With envelope. Letter incorrectly dated 1907.
HM 48488.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1909 September 27.
A.L.S. 2 p. Redding, Connecticut. With envelope.
HM 48489.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1909 December 14.
A.L.S. 2 p. Hamilton, Bermuda. With envelope.
HM 48490.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
[1909 December]
A.N.S. on postcard. [Hamilton], Bermuda.
HM 48491.
Walter Hyams and Co. letter to Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
1910 April 22.
L. 1 p. (typewritten) Atlanta, Georgia. With envelope and ten clippings.
Photographs and miscellaneous materials.
FAC 1023.
The Aquarium [photocopy].
1908
Photocopy (A.MS.S.) 12 p. Redding, Connecticut. Photocopy of rules and regulations for a club formed by Clemens ("Curator"
or "Admiral of the Aquarium") and several schoolgirl friends ("Members of the Aquarium.") Also contains a signature on a page
from a calendar.
HM 48492.
Photograph of Samuel Langhorne Clemens and Frances (Nunnally) Winzer.
[1909 June 10]
Snapshot 3 1/4 x 5 1/2" [Catonsville, Maryland] Photograph of Clemens and Winzer taken at Winzer's graduation from St.
Timothy's school, when Clemens addressed the graduating class. Also: a photograph of Winzer and three other graduates.
Ephemera
5 items. Two envelopes addressed to Winzer by Clemens, December 22, 1908, and April 8, 1909, both postmarked Redding,
Connecticut; an envelope addressed to Walter Hyams and Co.; and a clipping on Clemens' death, with envelope.
