Thackeray (William Makepeace) Collection, 1818-1903, bulk 1830-1864

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Summary

Title:
William Makepeace Thackeray collection
Dates:
1818-1903, bulk 1830-1864
Creators:
Thackeray, William Makepeace, 1811-1863
Abstract:
A collection of maunscripts, correspondence, and drawings related to William Makepeace Thackeray, English novelist, poet, and illustrator.
Extent:
3.6 Linear Feet (3 boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. William Makepeace Thackeray collection, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

A collection of poems, lectures, fragments of novels, letters, drawings, and sketches by William Makepeace Thackeray. Correspondents in the collection include William Harrison Ainsworth; Marguerite, Countess of Blessington; Henry T. Buckle; Lady Rachel Butler; Anne Carmichael-Smyth; Edward Chapman; Eyre Crowe; George Cruikshank; Joseph Cundall; William H. Dixon; Whitwell Elwin; Albany Fonblanque; John Forster; Catherine G. F. Gore; Jean A. T. Gudin; Mrs. S. C. Hall; S. Reynolds Hole; William Jerdan; William L. Leitch; Henry T. Lowry-Corry; William C. Macready; Sir William Molesworth; Arthur J. Munby; Charles Neate; Alfred T. Paget; Sir Anthony Panizzi; George Potemkin Perry; Sara Monckton Prinsep; Anne Thackeray Ritchie; Charlotte S. T. Ritchie; Edward John Stanley, Baron Stanley; Henrietta M. Stanley, Baroness Stanley; Lady Morgan Stanley; Harriet M. Stephen; and James G. Wilson. Many of the letters contain drawings and sketches by Thackeray. The collection also includes a letter from John Adams to William Wirt, 1818, which is followed by a letter from Thackeray to Whitwell Elwin, 1856 (mssHM 15344). One Thackeray letter, with a drawing, is a forgery purchased from Charles Hamilton (mssHM 45970).

Biographical / historical:

William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863) was an English novelist, poet, and illustrator best known for his novels Vanity Fair and The Luck of Barry Lyndon.

Acquisition information:
Acquired by purchase and gift from various sources, specific acquisition information noted on individual folders, 1916-1981.
Processing information:

Processed by Huntington Library staff from 1918 to 1985; in October 2026, Gayle M. Richardson created the finding aid. This collection includes multiple acquisitions acquired and assembled by Huntington Library staff over many years.

Arrangement:

Arranged chronologically.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Gayle M. Richardson
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-10-02 10:11:55 -0700 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

Terms of access:

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]. William Makepeace Thackeray collection, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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