Charles Dickens Papers: Finding Aid mssHM 72776-72810

Gayle M. Richardson

The Huntington Library

December 2023

1151 Oxford Road

San Marino, California 91108

Business Number: (626) 405-2191

reference@huntington.org

URL: http://www.huntington.org

Contributing Institution: The Huntington Library

Title: Charles Dickens papers

Creator: Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870

Identifier/Call Number: mssHM 72776-72810

Physical Description: 1.25 Linear Feet (1 box)

Date (inclusive): 1837-1869

Abstract: A collection of letters by Charles Dickens which also includes manuscripts, and printed material.

Language of Material: Materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

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

Conditions Governing Use

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]. Charles Dickens papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchased for the Huntington from Charles Apfelbaum by the Library Collectors' Council, January 2010.

Biographical / Historical

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was a British writer during the Victorian era, perhaps the most celebrated writer of his time; he used his writing to entertain but to also expose the ills of Victorian society. Dickens was born in Portsmouth, England, and was forced by family circumstances to leave school at the age of 12 for three years. After some additional schooling, he began his writing career as a journalist; over the following decades, he was also a journal editor, publisher, critic, and a writer of novels, short stories, and articles. Dickens also gave many lectures and reading performances throughout England and America. He used his writing to campaign for social reform for children and education among other issues. In 1836, he married Catherine Thomson Hogarth; together they had 10 children. On June 8, 1870, Dickens had a second stroke at his home; he never regained consciousness and, the next day, he died at Gads Hill Place.

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of letters and manuscripts by Charles Dickens; the letters are written to, among others, Hablot Knight Browne, Peter Cunningham, Sir Alexander Cornewall Duff-Gordon, John Forster, Frances Maria Kelly, Charles Kent, Edward Robert Bulwer Lytton, Earl of Lytton, and Mary Sargeant Gove Nichols. The letters cover a range of topics including Dickens' novels Nicholas Nickleby, Little Dorrit and A Christmas Carol, as well as Dickens' comments on the American Civil War and the poems of a young girl sent to Dickens by her father. The collection also includes a signed print of Dickens, an inscribed printed photograph, and a print by Phiz (Hablot Knight Browne). A small number of letters also have typewritten transcriptions and catalogue descriptions.

Processing Information

Processed by Gayle M. Richardson in 2010; in December 2023, a finding aid was created. This collection was formerly titled: Letters of Charles Dickens, 1837-1869.

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Authors, English -- 19th century

Theater -- Great Britain -- 19th century

United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865

Letters (correspondence)

Manuscripts

Browne, Hablot Knight, 1815-1882

Cunningham, Peter, 1816-1869

Duff-Gordon, Alexander Cornewall, Sir, 1811-1872

Forster, John, 1812-1876

Kelly, Frances Maria, 1790-1882

Kent, Charles, 1823-1902

Lytton, Edward Robert Bulwer Lytton, Earl of, 1831-1891

Nichols, Mary Sargeant Gove, 1810-1884

Box 1, Folder 1

Letter to Abraham Hayward HM 72776 approximately 1837

Scope and Contents

Doughty Street.

Box 1, Folder 2

Letter to Hablot Knight Browne HM 72777 1838

Scope and Contents

Incomplete, portion of letter only.

Box 1, Folder 3

Letter to Charles Ollier HM 72778 1841 June 3

Scope and Contents

Devonshire Terrace.

Box 1, Folder 4

Letter to William Shoberl HM 72779 1841 July 21

Scope and Contents

Devonshire Terrace.

Box 1, Folder 5

Letter to John Leech HM 72780 1844 December 1

Box 1, Folder 6

Letter to John D. Thornely and Son (Firm) HM 72781 1845 August 5

Scope and Contents

Devonshire Terrace.

Box 1, Folder 7

Note to Dudley Costello HM 72782 1845?

Scope and Contents

Signed CD. Written on the inside flap of an envelope; window mounted.

Box 1, Folder 8

Note to Dudley Costello HM 72783 1845?

Scope and Contents

This is a note concerning rehearsal calls for the St. James Theatre for Dudley Costello; window mounted.

Box 1, Folder 9

Letter to Thomas Rodd HM 72784 1847 October 4

Scope and Contents

Written in the third person.

Box 1, Folder 10

Letter to Frances Maria Kelly HM 72785 1848 May 13

Scope and Contents

Devonshire Terrace. Signed: CD. With envelope.

Box 1, Folder 11

Letter to P---- Johnson HM 72786 1848 November 13

Scope and Contents

Devonshire Terrace.

Box 1, Folder 12

Letter to Peter Cunningham HM 72787 1851 March 20

Scope and Contents

Great Malvern. Signed: CD. Window mounted.

Box 1, Folder 13

Letter to Thomas Batson HM 72788 1851 August 13

Scope and Contents

Broadstairs.

Box 1, Folder 14

Letter to Peter Cunningham HM 72789 1853 June 28

Scope and Contents

Boulogne. Signed: CD. Window mounted.

Box 1, Folder 15

Letter to Thomas Constable HM 72790 1855 January 10

Scope and Contents

Tavistock House.

Box 1, Folder 16

Letter to Edward Robert Bulwer Lytton, Earl of Lytton HM 72791 1855 February 18

Scope and Contents

Also enclosed: print of Dickens, with signature; both letter and print originally mounted and framed.

Box 1, Folder 17

Letter to Thomas Robert Eeles HM 72792 1857 June 4

Scope and Contents

Gads Hill Place.

Box 1, Folder 18

Letter to Sir Alexander Cornewall Duff-Gordon HM 72793 1857 September 29

Scope and Contents

Gads Hill Place. Also enclosed: printed photograph inscribed: Faithfully Yours, Charles Dickens; both letter and print originally mounted and framed.

Box 1, Folder 19

Letter to Robert Drake HM 72794 1858 January 21

Scope and Contents

Tavistock House.

Box 1, Folder 20

Letter to Thomas Robert Eeles HM 72795 1858 February 2

Scope and Contents

Tavistock House.

Box 1, Folder 21

Letter to Mrs. Thomas Whitford HM 72796 1858 October 29

Scope and Contents

Sheffield.

Box 1, Folder 22

Letter to William Hepworth Dixon HM 72797 1859 September 7

Scope and Contents

Gads Hill Place.

Box 1, Folder 23

"At such times as when your sister is on the Rampage, Pip…" HM 72798 1861 September 10

Scope and Contents

Gads Hill Place. Signed quote from "Great Expectations."

Box 1, Folder 24

Letter to Mary Sargeant Gove Nichols HM 72799 1863 May 9

Scope and Contents

Gads Hill Place. Also enclosed: typewritten catalogue description of this series of letters.

Box 1, Folder 25

Letter to Mary Sargeant Gove Nichols HM 72800 1863 May 26

Scope and Contents

Gads Hill Place. Also enclosed: typewritten transcription and catalogue description.

Box 1, Folder 26

Letter to Mary Sargeant Gove Nichols HM 72801 1863 July 25

Scope and Contents

Also enclosed: typewritten transcription and catalogue description.

Box 1, Folder 27

Letter to Mary Sargeant Gove Nichols HM 72802 1864 August 9

Scope and Contents

Gads Hill Place. Also enclosed: typewritten transcription.

Box 1, Folder 28

Letter to Mary Sargeant Gove Nichols HM 72803 1864 August 15

Scope and Contents

Gads Hill Place. Also enclosed: typewritten transcription.

Box 1, Folder 29

Letter to Mary Sargeant Gove Nichols HM 72804 1864 November 1

Scope and Contents

Gads Hill Place.

Box 1, Folder 30

Letter to John Hullah HM 72805 1866 May 8

Scope and Contents

Gads Hill Place.

Box 1, Folder 31

Letter to J. Leyland HM 72806 1867 January 20

Scope and Contents

Liverpool. With envelope.

Box 1, Folder 32

Letter to Sir Sydney Colpoys Dacres HM 72807 1868 August 1

Scope and Contents

Gads Hill Place.

Box 1, Folder 33

Letter to John Forster HM 72808 1869 April 28

Scope and Contents

Signed CD. Cut down from a larger sheet of paper.

Box 1, Folder 34

Letter to Laurence John Hollenius HM 72809 1869 June 15

Scope and Contents

Gads Hill Place. Written in third person; with envelope.

Box 1, Folder 35

Note to Charles Kent HM 72810 1869 September 22

Scope and Contents

Signed: CD. Also enclosed: print by Phiz (Hablot Knight Browne).