James B. Pinker Letters mssHM 42393-42453

Gayle Richardson
The Huntington Library
July 2020
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
reference@huntington.org


Contributing Institution: The Huntington Library
Title: James B. Pinker letters
Creator: Pinker, James B.
Identifier/Call Number: mssHM 42393-42453
Physical Description: 1.2 Linear Feet (1 box)
Date (inclusive): 1903-1934
Abstract: A collection of letters addressed to the British literary agent James Brand Pinker.
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]. James B. Pinker letters, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchased from W. A. Myers, January 1974.

Biographical / Historical

James Brand Pinker (1863-1922) was an English literary agent. Pinker was born in east London, England, and had little formal schooling; he worked as a shipping clerk, newspaper correspondent and agent, and reader and assistant editor. In 1896, he established an office in London, England, as a literary agent; he negotiated rights and contracts for authors in both the American and British markets and was established as one of the leading literary agents of his time. Among his clients were Joseph Conrad, Henry James, Jack London, Henry Lawson, Stephen Crane, Ford Madox Ford, James Joyce, George Gissing, Violet Hunt, and Arnold Bennett. Pinker died at the Biltmore Hotel, New York, New York, on 8 February 1922 from influenza and pneumonia-related complications contracted on the boat voyage from London.

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of 61 letters addressed to the literary agent James Brand Pinker or to his sons, Eric (1891-1973) and Ralph (1900-1959), from a number of literary figures. The letters mostly discuss business matters handled through Pinker's London or New York offices. The collection includes letters from Freda Uhl Strindberg concerning the legal and financial affairs of Russian writer Mikhail Petrovich Art︠s︡ybashev (1878-1927); there are also letters in the collection concerning the affairs of writer Arnold Bennett.

Processing Information

Processed by Huntington Library Staff, February 1976. In 2020, Gayle Richardson created the finding aid derived from legacy in-house summary report.

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Authors -- 20th century
Literary agents -- Great Britain
Letters (correspondence) -- 20th century
Art︠s︡ybashev, M. (Mikhail), 1878-1927
Bennett, Arnold, 1867-1931
Pinker, Eric, 1891-1973
Pinker, Ralph, 1900-1959
Uhl, Frida, 1872-1943

Box 1, Folder 1-61

James B. Pinker letters 1903-1934