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 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 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.