A Souvenir of Charles Dickens' Last Visit to America, 1867 September-December

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Summary

Creators:
Kent, Charles, 1823-1902
Abstract:
A series of letters addressed to Charles Kent related to a honorary dinner given for Charles Dickens in November 1867.
Extent:
6.8 Linear Feet (4 boxes, 1 oversize folder)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. A Souvenir of Charles Dickens' Last Visit to America, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

A series of letters written to Charles Kent on the occasion of a dinner held in honor of Charles Dickens before his departure to the United States in November 1867. The letters were written in response to Kent's request the letter writers would be stewards for the dinner on November 2, 1867. The majority of the letters are short notes accepting or declining the invitation; many of the letters with envelopes. The letters were written by many of the most famous men of Victorian Britain, including prime ministers, politicians, authors, actors, artists, and businessmen, including, among others, Wilkie Collins, Frederick Locker-Lampson, and William Henry Wills. The collection also includes a small number of letters by Charles Dickens, printed copies of all the letters and other ephemera, a large printed poster announcing the dinner, and the original separated bindings.

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 made two trips to the United States, the first in January 1842, and the second in November 1867, during both trips he gave a large number of public readings and attended numerous honorary dinners.

William Charles Mark Kent (1823-1902) was an English poet, biographer, and journalist. He was a personal friend of Charles Dickens and contributed to Dickens' periodicals, Household Words and All the Year Round.

Acquisition information:
Provenance unknown. In library as of 1950.
Processing information:

Material orginally bound into two scrapbooks; material removed by Huntington Staff in 1988. Karen Kearns, in approximately 1990, processed the collection; in February 2025, Gayle M. Richardson created the finding aid.

Arrangement:

Arranged in original order by call number.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

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]. A Souvenir of Charles Dickens' Last Visit to America, 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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