Description
This collection contains 105 letters from American author Samuel Clemens (also known as Mark Twain) to his friend and confidante
Mary J. Mason Fairbanks, written
between 1867 and 1895.
Background
American author Samuel Clemens met Mary Mason Fairbanks (1828-1898) in 1867 on board the
steamship the Quaker City, going to Europe and the Near East, and they became friends.
Fairbanks was married to Abel Fairbanks, an owner of the Cleveland Herald, and she was traveling in the role of a correspondent for
the Herald under the pen name, "Myra." Following the trip, Clemens and Fairbanks corresponded regularly, most notably during the time
Clemens was courting his future wife Olivia Langdon.
Extent
107 pieces in 2 boxes.
Restrictions
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.
Availability
Items are available with curatorial approval. Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services
Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.