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
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 5
books on Dante, etc.
1880-1933