Henry Blake Fuller letters to Louise Lawrence Venus Washburn, 1873-before 1929

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Summary

Abstract:
Henry Blake Fuller was an American poet, essayist, and novelist. The collection consists primarily of letters from Henry Blake Fuller to Louise Lawrence Venus Washburn from 1873 to before 1929.
Extent:
1.50 Linear Feet (1 box)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Henry Blake Fuller letters to Louise Lawrence Venus Washburn, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The Henry Blake Fuller letters consist primarily of letters from Henry Blake Fuller to Louise Lawrence Venus Washburn, a childhood friend in Chicago, from 1873 to before 1929. There are also two notes from other friends of Fuller's Anna Morgan and Clara Ray, to Louise Washburn. Miscellaneous items in the collection include three photographs of Fuller and one of Washburn, a musical score to a song written by Fuller, eight fragments (one of which is a letter written in code), and printed material (mostly reviews of Fuller's work and that of other literary authors). Fuller's letters include correspondence written from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin; Boston, Massachusetts; and Chicago, Illinois; which describe the cities, social activities (including the 1893 Chicago Exposition), and his life and work. There are also detailed letters from Fuller's travels, primarily from his first two trips to Europe, in 1879 and 1883, but also from a trip to Northern Africa and later European trips. He describes his sightseeing, European architecture and art, a performance of Gilbert and Sullivan's H.M.S. Pinafore, and the work and stature of William Dean Howells (1837-1920) and Henry James (1843-1916).

Biographical / historical:

Henry Blake Fuller was an American poet, essayist, and novelist. Fuller was born in January 1857 in Chicago, Illinois. His works include The Chevalier of Pensieri-Vani, The cliff-dwellers, and With the procession. He passed away in July 1929. In 2000, he was posthumously inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame for his important contributions to gay literature.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Mrs. Roland R. Tilestone, September 1950.
Processing information:

Processed by Huntington staff, circa mid-20th century. In 2020, Gina C Giang created a finding aid derived from a legacy summary report.

Arrangement:

Arranged chronologically.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

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

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]. Henry Blake Fuller letters to Louise Lawrence Venus Washburn, 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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