Guide to the Melville Best Anderson Papers M0243

Department of Special Collections and University Archives
1999 ; revised 2023
Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford 94305-6064
specialcollections@stanford.edu


Language of Material: English
Contributing Institution: Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Melville Best Anderson Papers
Identifier/Call Number: M0243
Physical Description: 5 Linear Feet (6 boxes ; approx. 500 items)
Date (inclusive): 1809-1933

Scope and Contents

collection of the papers of Melville Best Anderson, most related to Anderson's translation of Dante's Divine Comedy. The material consists of: 1) correspondence to and from Anderson, 2) typescripts and manuscripts of poems, 3) miscellaneous typescripts and manuscripts re: Dante's Divine Comedy, 4) newsclippings, magazine articles and books and 5) other miscellaneous items.

Biographical / Historical

The Anderson Family, of Scottish-English origins, came to the United States in the middle of the nineteenth century. The family settled on the East Coast, later moving West; the Andersons contributed to society in the fields of theology, education and literature. Melville Best Anderson was an author, translator and teacher whose particular interest was the work of Dante. From 1891-1910, he taught in the English Department at Stanford University, serving as first chairman of the department.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item] Anderson Family Papers, M0243, Dept. of Special Collections, Stanford Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Mrs. Robert Van Vleck Anderson, 1973.

Conditions Governing Use

While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns.

Conditions Governing Access

Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use.

Box 1, folder 1

Correspondence to and from Melville Best Anderson - 1909, 1913, 1915-1910, 1918-1922, 1924, 1926, 1929

Box 1, folder 2

Correspondence to and from Melville Best Anderson - 1931-1933 and no date

Box 1, folder 3

Correspondence between Anderson and Dr. John H. Nash re: revision of Anderson's translation of Divina Commedia.

Box 1, folder 4

Miscellaneous poems, some re: Dante's Divine Comedy, typescripts and manuscripts.

Box 1, folder 5

Typescripts of poems, some re: Dante's Divine Comedy, alphabetical by title (A-O).

Box 1, folder 6

Typescripts of poems, some re: Dante's Divine Comedy, alphabetical by title (P-Z).

Box 1, folder 7

Typescripts and manuscripts of poems, alphabetical by 1st line (A-Z).

Box 1, folder 8

Typescript of Anderson's translation of Dante's Divine Comedy, includes and introduction(?): England and Florence in the Time of Dante.

Box 1, folder 9

Miscellaneous poems and verses, typescript and manuscript, no order.

Box 1, folder 10-12

Typescripts of parts of Dante's Divine Comedy with manuscript notes.

Box 2, folder 13

Final revision of Date's Divine Comedy.

Box 2, folder 14

Miscellaneous typescripts and manuscripts, includes a review by Anderson re: Dante's Divine Comedy - review mentioned in correspondence, 17-Dec-26

Box 2, folder 15

Miscellaneous typescripts.

Box 2, folder 16

Pamphlet re: Dante in Italian

Box 2, folder 17

Miscellaneous

 

1) biography of Melville Best Anderson,

 

2) leaflets, pamphlets - printed ephemera,

 

3) Paget Toynbee: Some Personal [UNK]

Box 2, folder 18

Newsclippings, magazine articles, etc.

Box 2

Photo album - Taormina ruins, Naples etc.

Box 3

Scrapbook of newspaper clippings 1870s-1880s

Box 3

Alighieri, Dante. La Divina Commedia. Vitorio Alinari, editor 1809

Box 4

Alighieri, Dante. La Divina Commedia. G.A. Scartazzini & C. Vandelli, editors 1922

Box 4

books on Dante 1844-1933

Box 5

books on Dante, etc. 1880-1933

Box 6

Stanford diploma 1906