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Samuel L. Clemens-Frances N. Winzer Papers: Finding
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mssHM 48450-48492; mssFAC 1023
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Title: Samuel L. Clemens-Frances N. Winzer Papers
Dates (inclusive): 1907-1910
Collection Number: mssHM 48450-48492; mssFAC 1023
Creator:
Clemens, Samuel Langhorne, 1835-1910.
Extent:
approximately 50 pieces in 1 box
Repository:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2191
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: This collection contains forty pieces of correspondence from American author Samuel Langhorne Clemens (also known as Mark
Twain) to teenager Frances Nunnally Wizner (1891-1981), dating from 1907 to 1910.
Language: English.
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.
[Identification of item]. Samuel L. Clemens-Frances N. Winzer Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Gift of Frances N. Winzer Estate, May 1982.
Additional photographs are in the Photographic Collections of the Rare Book Department; they include formal portraits and
photographs taken on shipboard.
RESTRICTED. Items available with curatorial approval. Requires extended retrieval and delivery time.
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader
Services.
In June 1907, American author Samuel Clemens travelled to England to receive an honorary degree from Oxford University. One
of his shipmates for the Atlantic crossing was
Frances Nunnally (later Wizner) (1891-1981), the daughter of J. H. Nunnally, an Atlanta candy manufacturer. The teenaged school
girl and the 71-year-old writer became acquainted and,
discovering they were
staying in the same London hotel, Clemens escorted the young girl, whom he called Francesca, on visits and social calls. Back
in the United States, their friendship continued, and Nunnally became
part of Clemens's group of young women, nicknamed the "Angelfish," whom Clemens treated as honorary grandchildren.
Two years after the friendship began, Frances asked Clemens to speak at her graduation. He agreed and, in June 1909, left
his Redding, Connecticut, home and journeyed to
Catonsville, Maryland, to be the commencement speaker at St. Timothy's school for young women. His address included this advice
(much quoted in the contemporary press)
to the young ladies: "Don't smoke, drink, or marry -- that is, to excess." While in Maryland, Clemens for the first time suffered
the chest pains of the heart ailment
that would result in his death less than a year later on April 21, 1910, at the age of 74. The affectionate correspondence
between Clemens and his young friend continued until shortly before his death.
This collection contains forty pieces of correspondence from American author Samuel Langhorne Clemens (also known as Mark
Twain) to teenager Frances Nunnally Wizner (1891-1981), dating from 1907 to 1910.
Collection includes several interesting items including: photographs of Samuel Clemens and Frances N. Winzer (HM 48476, HM
48492);
manuscript by Clemens entitled "The Aquarium" (FAC 1023); letter of 1908, Dec. 9 where Clemens discusses a John Milton celebration
he regrets having declined;
he mentions in particular the teasing of William Dean Howells he will miss by not attending the event (HM 48477); letter of
1909, July 15, discusses Clemens'
thoughts about his recently-diagnosed heart condition (HM 48486); clippings from Atlanta newspapers about Clemens and Winzer,
1910, Apr. 22 (HM 48491).
Related materials in the Huntington Library
- Samuel Langhorne Clemens Collection
The collection is arranged in the following 2 series:
- Series I. Correspondence
- Series II. Photographs and miscellaneous materials
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
Huntington Library's Online Catalog.
Twain, Mark, 1835-1910 -- Archives.
Twain, Mark, 1835-1910 -- Photographs.
Winzer, Frances Nunnally, approximately 1892-1982 -- Photographs.
Howells, William Dean, 1837-1920.
Milton, John, 1608-1674.
Twain, Mark, 1835-1910 -- Archives.
Authors, American -- Archives.
Letters (correspondence) -- United States -- 20th century.
Winzer, Frances Nunnally, approximately 1892-1982, correspondent.