Francis Marion Crawford papers mssCrawford

Gayle Richardson
The Huntington Library
December 2019
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
reference@huntington.org


Contributing Institution: The Huntington Library
Title: Francis Marion Crawford papers
Creator: Crawford, F. Marion (Francis Marion), 1854-1909
Identifier/Call Number: mssCrawford
Physical Description: 5.85 Linear Feet (5 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1883-1908
Abstract: A collection of the work of American novelist F. Marion Crawford; included are novels, plays, a poem, historical works, a lecture, and articles.
Language of Material: Materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

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]. Francis Marion Crawford papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchased by the Library Collector's Council from Christie's, January 19, 2019.

Custodial History

The material in this collection was left by F. Marion Crawford to his daughter Mother Clare Marion Crawford at the Italian convent where she was a nun. The convent retained the material for decades before giving them to Crawford biographer Patricia S. Hageman, with the request the material would be placed at an institution where scholars could access them.

Biographical / Historical

Francis Marion Crawford (1854-1909) was a prolific American writer who published 44 novels and scores of short stories, essays, and plays. He was born in Tuscany, Italy, to American expatriate parents, and educated in America and Europe. In 1883, he settled permanently in Italy, where many of his works are set; in 1884, he married Elizabeth Berdan, and together they had four children. Crawford died in Italy of a heart attack on April 9, 1909.

Scope and Contents

The collection is comprised of the work of the writer Francis Marion Crawford; it includes novels, plays, a poem, historical works, articles and a lecture. The majority of the works are autograph, with Crawford's corrections and insertions. The collection covers the years 1883-1908, and includes such topics as the Gilded Age in New York City and the history of Rome.
Many of the manuscripts contain some amount of corrections and additions. Upper left corners of each page contain a system of dots marking the number of words on that page (each dot equaling 100 words), and with word counts penciled on the verso of pages. All materials are autograph unless otherwise noted. The location of where the works were written is noted in the file description, when known.

Processing Information

The collection was processed by Gayle Richardson in 2019.

Arrangement

The papers consist of the following series: Fiction (boxes 1-4), Non-fiction (box 5); materials within series are arranged alphabetically by title.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Crawford, F. Marion (Francis Marion), 1854-1909
Authors, American
Rome -- History
Articles
Lectures
Manuscripts
Novels
Poems

 

Fiction 1883-1905

Physical Description: 4.68 Linear Feet(4 boxes)
 

Adam Johnstone's Son: novel 1894 October 29

Box 1, Folder 1

Chapters I-XIII 1894 October 29

Scope and Contents

Sorrento, Italy.
 

By the Waters of Babylon: play 1905 April 1

Scope and Contents

Written in several different hands. This play is based on Crawford's 1885 novel "Zoroaster."
Box 1, Folder 2-3

Scenes I-VII: autograph 1905 April 1

Scope and Contents

Amalfi, Italy.
 

"Dear wife, if I could tell thee all my heart…:" poem approximately 1895

Box 1, Folder 4

Early draft approximately 1895

Scope and Contents

On verso: signed, draft letter, in French, to "Monsieur;" heavily stained.
 

Don Orsino: novel 1891 October 30

Box 1, Folder 5-9

Chapters I-XXIX 1891 October 30

Scope and Contents

Sorrento, Italy.
 

Fair Margaret: novel approximately 1904-1905

Box 2, Folder 1

Chapters XVII-XIX approximately 1904-1905

Scope and Contents

Incomplete; the Houghton Library holds pages 1-196.
 

Katharine Lauderdale: novel 1893 August 19

Box 2, Folder 2

Outline 1893 August 19

Box 2, Folder 3-4

Chapters I-XXX 1893 October 28

Scope and Contents

Washington, D.C.
 

Marion Darche: play approximately 1894

Scope and Contents

This is an adaptation of Crawford's 1893 novel of the same name.
Box 2, Folder 5-6

Acts I-IV: typewritten approximately 1894

 

The Ralstons: novel 1893 October 31-December 9

Scope and Contents

This manuscript version of the novel has some differences to the published version, with different chapter divisions.
Box 2, Folder 7

Outline 1893 October 31

Box 2, Folder 8-9

Chapters I-XXX 1893 December 9

Scope and Contents

New York, N.Y.
 

Saracinesca: novel approximately 1883-1885

Box 3, Folder 1

Outline and notes approximately 1883-1885

Scope and Contents

Sorrento, Italy.
Box 3, Folder 2-5

Chapters I-XXXIX 1885 September 25

Scope and Contents

Sorrento, Italy. Written in ink with pencil corrections in another hand. Pages have been renumbered and chapter numbers changed; some pages are damaged, with early repairs.
 

Taquisara: novel 1894 December 21

Box 3, Folder 6-7

Chapters I-XXIX 1894 December 21

Scope and Contents

Sorrento, Italy.
 

Via Crucis: novel 1898 October 5

Scope and Contents

Large portions of this manuscript written in an unknown hand. Pages are stained and dirty, some pages very fragile and brittle.
Box 4, Folder 1-8

Chapters I-XXVI 1898 October 5

Scope and Contents

Sorrento, Italy.
 

The Witch of Prague: novel approximately 1890

Box 4, Folder 9

Chapter II only: early draft? approximately 1890

Scope and Contents

Pages numbered 7-11; this text differs significantly from the published text of the novel.
 

Non-fiction 1885-1908

Physical Description: 1.17 Linear Feet(1 box)
 

Ave Roma: history approximately 1897-1898

Box 5, Folder 1

Word count and research notes approximately 1897-1898

Box 5, Folder 2-4

Chapters I-XVIII approximately 1897-1898

Scope and Contents

Incomplete; lacking final chapters.
 

Beatrice Cenci: The True Story of a Misunderstood Tragedy: article approximately 1907

Scope and Contents

Article published in "The Century," January 1908.
Box 5, Folder 5

Notes for article approximately 1907

Scope and Contents

In pencil; pages numbered 5-37.
 

Mr. Isaacs: lecture approximately 1900

Box 5, Folder 6

Final draft: typewritten approximately 1900

Scope and Contents

With autograph corrections and insertions.
 

Mr. Isaacs' Legacy: article? approximately 1885

Box 5, Folder 7

Early draft approximately 1885

 

Salve Venetia: history approximately 1904

Box 5, Folder 8

Early draft approximately 1904

Scope and Contents

Pages 1-8 only.
 

Some Curiosities and Treasures of the Vatican: article approximately 1908

Box 5, Folder 9

Later draft: typewritten approximately 1908

Scope and Contents

With autograph corrections and insertions; stained and damaged.
 

The Unknown Life of Christ: translation of Nicholas Notovitch's work approximately 1893

Box 5, Folder 10

Early draft approximately 1893

Scope and Contents

Incomplete; partial translation only, with corrections.
 

Dramatis Personae approximately 1900

Box 5, Folder 11

Notes on characters for an unidentified work approximately 1900

 

"Oliver Borland stood with his hand upon the latch of the door…" approximately 1900

Box 5, Folder 12

Beginning of a novel? approximately 1900

Scope and Contents

Also enclosed: synopsis of a three volume novel.