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Authors Collection

Finding Aid & Inventory

This collection consists of materials, correspondence, letters, and works of various authors from the late 18th century through the 20th century. Specifically, there are numerous amounts of information and materials related to the authors Samuel L. Clemens, F. W. Rolfe, W. B. Yeats, and Thomas Wolfe.

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Biographical and Historical Note

The prominent authors included in this collection include F.W. Rolfe, W.B. Yeats, Thomas Wolfe, and Samuel L. Clemens.

Frederick William (F.W.) Rolfe, better known as Baron Corvo, was a late 19th century English writer best known for his letters, fictional works, and autobiographies. William Butler (W. B.) Yeats was a prominent Irish poet, writer, and figure in the 20th century Irish Literary Revivial. Thomas Wolfe was an American novelist of the 20th century who used his autobiographical and poetic writing to reflect American culture at the time. Samuel L. Clemens, most well-known by his pen name, Mark Twain, was an American writer and humorist of the 19th century who incorporated and popularized colloquial speech in American literature.

Charles Lee Smith (1884) and Henry T. Pulliam (1951) were both Wake Forest alumni who donated materials to this collection. Smith donated a library to the University in 1941, which he had collected around the world. Pulliam, a teacher, focused on Wolfe materials. Both collectors donated books to the University, as well as items such as appear in this collection.

Collection Overview

This collection documents the work of several popular authors from mainly the United States, England, and Ireland. This collection includes literature works and publications, letters, correspondence, and other related materials. Specifically, much of the materials present in this collection focus on four authors: F. W. Rolfe, also known as Baron Corvo, W. B. Yeats, Thomas Wolfe, and Samuel L. Clemens, known by his pseudonuym Mark Twain.

The materials from this collection originated from a number of sources which have been obscured over time. The Clemens materials were mostly part of a single purchase, documented in a news article in the collection. All or much of the Wolfe materials was donated together by Henry T. Pulliam. Some items were originally labeled with source information, such as Charles Lee Smith or E. A. Poe collections; more information is not available about those labels but the information was retained since it is likely correct.

Collection Inventory

  • Authors-related materials
    • Adams, John Quincy, handwritten letter  (1935 June 5) box 1 folder 1
    • Barrie, James Matthew, signed, handwritten letter to Lady Watson, from Charles Lee Smith collection  (1931 July 5) box 1 folder 2
    • Barrow, David, diary entries  (1795) box 1 folder 3
    • Batten, Guinn, WFU Press article in WFU Magazine  (1988 September) box 1 folder 4
    • Benecke, P. V. M., signed, handwritten letters, associated with Handel's Alexander's Feast  (1896) box 1 folder 5
    • Betts, Doris, clipping  (1954) box 1 folder 6
    • Bond, Julian, signed letter to A. Davis  (circa 1971) box 1 folder 7
    • Brennecke, Julia and Ernst, signed, handwritten letter to Frances and Richard Lockridge  (1954) box 1 folder 8
    • Brooks, Gwendolyn, Boy Breaking Glass poem (undated) box 1 folder 9
    • Cabell, James Branch, clipping, invitation, and related materials  (1965-1968) box 1 folder 10
    • Carlson, Hiram, signed, handwritten letter to Dr. Brigah  (1907 August 24) box 1 folder 12
    • Carson, Ciaran, article  (1988 July 31) box 1 folder 11
    • C.E.N. signed, handwritten letter to Ruskin, John Ruskin, from Charles Lee Smith collection  (1809 February 26) box 1 folder 13
    • Chappell, Fred, poem and newspaper clipping  (circa 1985) box 1 folder 14
    • Clarke, Austin, clippings  (circa 1962) box 1 folder 15
    • Clemens, Olivia L., signed, handwritten letter to Josie Gerhardt with post script by S.L. Clemens  (1885 May 30) box 1 folder 16
    • Clemens, Samuel Langhorn, signed, handwritten letter (undated) box 1 folder 17
    • Clemens, Samuel Langhorn, signed, handwritten note  (1893 February 12) box 1 folder 18
    • Clemens, Samuel Langhorn, signed, handwritten note to Miss Milly  (1983 September 12) box 1 folder 19
    • Clemens, Samuel Langhorn, signed, handwritten note to Mr. Fisher (undated) box 1 folder 20
    • Commin, James G., signed letter to Atherton P. Mason  (1923 June 8) box 1 folder 21
    • Craig, Edward Gordon, signed letter to Mr. Bulloch  (1929 December 27) box 1 folder 22
    • Davies, Aneirin Talfan, signed, handwritten letter to F'Arnnyl Dai  (1983 November 1) box 1 folder 23
    • Dickey, James, A Birth holographed manuscript (undated) box 1 folder 24
    • Dickey, William, poems (undated) box 1 folder 25
    • Dixon, Thomas, signed, handwritten letter  (1937 October 17) box 1 folder 26
    • Dixon, Thomas, signed, handwritten letter (undated) box 1 folder 27
    • Douglas, Norman, signed. handwritten letter  (1946 December 9) box 1 folder 28
    • Douglas, Norman, signed, handwritten letter to Edward David McDonald  (1924 January 2) box 1 folder 29
    • Durrell, Lawrence, The Anecdotes (undated) box 1 folder 30
    • Eberhart, Richard, letter to James E. Fravell  (1940 May 30) box 1 folder 31
    • Eberhart, Richard, postcard to Herbert West  (1974 May) box 1 folder 32
    • Edgerton, Clyde, The Floatplane Notebooks photocopied article  (1988) box 1 folder 33
    • Eliot, T. S. (Thomas Stearns), clippings and related materials (circa 1965-1988) box 1 folder 34
    • Ellman, Richard, photocopied journal article  (1989) box 1 folder 35
    • Faulkner, William, image reproduction  (1962 March 20) box 2 folder 1
    • Fletcher, Ingris, Caroline Series photocopied article  (1950) box 1 folder 36
    • Forman, Maurice Buxton, signed letter to Amy L. Steiner  (1939 July 12) box 1 folder 37
    • Frost, Robert, clippings, booklets, and related materials  (1944-1974) box 1 folder 38
    • Frost, Robert, photocopied book review article  (1927) box 1 folder 39
    • Forster, E. M. (Edward Morgan), signed, handwritten note (undated) box 1 folder 40
    • Gardner, Clarence, signed, handwritten letter to Mr. Eggleston  (1896 January 2) box 1 folder 41
    • Giese, Rachel, pictures in article  (1988 July 31) box 1 folder 42
    • Gilman, C. P., signed, handwritten letter  (1923 November 28) box 1 folder 43
    • Gogarty, Oliver St. John, signed, handwritten letter to Brinsley MacNamara  (1950 October 11) box 1 folder 44
    • Graves, Robert, photographs  (circa 1961) box 1 folder 45
    • Graves, Robert, signed, handwritten letters  (1945-1964) box 1 folder 46
    • Green, Paul, photocopied articles  (1950) box 1 folder 47
    • Green, Paul, signed, handwritten letter to Walter Parroll  (1977 December 26) box 1 folder 48
    • Gregory, Lady, signed, handwritten note  (1912 August 9) box 1 folder 49
    • Grover, Edwin Osgood, portraits (undated) box 1 folder 50
    • Harwell, Richard B., signed letters to Jay Hubbell, David K. Jackson gift, from E. A. Poe Collection  (1948 April) box 1 folder 51
    • Hayes, Harold T. P., photocopied article  (1989) box 1 folder 52
    • Henderson, Archibald, photocopied article  (1947 May 18) box 1 folder 53
    • Higgins, F. R., poem "The Auction" typscript (undated) box 1 folder 54
    • Hubbell, Jay B., typed letter to Richard B. Hubbell, David K. Jackson gift, from E. A. Poe Collection  (1948 April 23) box 1 folder 55
    • Irving, Washington, letter (circa 1824-1834) box 1 folder 56
    • Jackson, David K., typed letter review of E. A. Poe and the Philadelphia Saturday Courier  (1933) box 1 folder 57
    • Jefferson, Joseph, portraits (undated) box 1 folder 58
    • Jefferson, Joseph, signed, handwritten letters  (1896-1898) box 1 folder 59
    • Jones, Manley H., signed letter to Ralph Hartman about B. A. Williams' Come Spring  (1940 February 13) box 1 folder 60
    • Joyce, James, clippings, poster, and magazine article  (1939-1991) box 1 folder 61
    • Joyce, James, portrait, portrait by Wyndham Lewis  (1921) box 1 folder 62
    • Kaye-Smith, Sheila, signed, handwritten letter to Mrs. Dakers (undated) box 1 folder 63
    • Kerouac, Jack, newspaper clippings and advertisement (circa 1992-1999) box 1 folder 64
    • Kinsella, Thomas, clippings  (1981-1986) box 1 folder 65
    • Kinsella, Thomas, interview  (1982) box 1 folder 66
    • Kipling, Rudyard, newspaper clipping, photocopies of articles and poems, and related materials (circa 1900-1936) box 1 folder 67
    • Kirk, Harris, signed letter to Stanley  (1939 December 22) box 1 folder 68
    • LaTouche, Rose, photograph (undated) box 1 folder 69
    • Lippmann, Walter, signed letter  (1934 December 27) box 1 folder 70
    • Lippmann, Walter, signed letter to Martin Beck, gift of Mrs. Beck  (1929 June 5) box 1 folder 71
    • Lockhart, signed, handwritten letter (undated) box 1 folder 72
    • Longley, Michael, article  (1986) box 1 folder 73
    • Longley, Michael, Irish Literary Supplement newspaper  (1986) box 1 folder 74
    • Lover, Samuel, signed, handwritten letter to MacKenzie  (1842 March 10) box 1 folder 75
    • Macy, George, signed letter to Charles V. Vanover  (1940 April 29) box 1 folder 76
    • Malone, Dumas, signed letter to Thomas F. Gossett  (1983 March 3) box 1 folder 77
    • Markham, Edwin, signed, handwritten letter to Edna R. Worrell  (1933 January 29) box 1 folder 78
    • Martin, Graham, newspaper clipping and "Toward a Modern Diplomacy" book photocopy  (1968-1973) box 1 folder 79
    • McDonald, Edward David, signed, handwritten letters to E. R. Stickney  (1925-1927) box 1 folder 80
    • Meek, Jay, article (undated) box 1 folder 81
    • Montague, John, Faber and Faber Poetry pamphlet  (1985 January 7) box 1 folder 82
    • Montague, John, letters and poems  (circa 1896) box 1 folder 83
    • Montague, John, photocopied clippings  (1978-1983) box 1 folder 84
    • Murphy, Richard, information bulletin  (1983 February 14) box 1 folder 85
    • O'Donnell, C. J., signed, handwritten letter to Michael J. Ryan  (1929 November 12) box 1 folder 86
    • O'Faolain, Sean, essays about Machiavelli and Irish emigration, and correspondence  (1948-1950) box 1 folder 87
    • O'Sullivan, Seamus, signed, handwritten letters  (1909-1918) box 1 folder 88
    • Page, Hubbard F., newspaper clippings and photocopies  (1964) box 1 folder 89
    • Pearson, James Larkin, signed letters to F. H. Bigelow  (1931) box 1 folder 90
    • Phillips, Elizabeth, photocopied article  (1988) box 1 folder 91
    • Pirie-Gordon, Harry, signed, handwritten letter and related notes  (1955) box 1 folder 92
    • Powys, John Cowper, signed, handwritten letter to E. A. de Young  (1950 June 12) box 1 folder 93
    • Reeves, Albert L., signed letter and envelope to Honorable R. Hunt Parker, from Parker collection  (1960 November 11) box 1 folder 94
    • Rice, Alice Caldwell (Hegan), signed, handwritten letter to Miss Whiting, regarding Mrs. Wiggs, gift of Reynolda House (undated) box 1 folder 95
    • Riesman, David, signed letter to M. J. Ryan  (1921 December 7) box 1 folder 96
    • Riley, James Whitcomb, five testimonial letters  (1915) box 1 folder 97
    • Rives, Amelie, signed autograph poem (undated) box 1 folder 98
    • Rollins, Carl, signed letter to R.L. Dothard  (1880) box 1 folder 99
    • Rolfe-Dawkins correspondence (undated) box 2 folder 2
    • Rolfe, F. W., R. M. Dawkins correspondence with Martin's Bank  (1908 October) box 1 folder 153
    • Rolfe, F. W., letters and postcards to R. M. Dawkins  (1908) box 1 folder 100
    • Rolfe, F. W., letters and postcards to R. M. Dawkins  (1909) box 1 folder 101
    • Rolfe, F. W., letters and postcards to R. M. Dawkins  (1910) box 1 folder 102
    • Rolfe, F. W., letters and postcards to R. M. Dawkins  (1911) box 1 folder 103
    • Rolfe, F. W., photocopied clippings  (1975) box 2 folder 3
    • Rolfe, F. W., postcards to R. M. Dawkins  (1912) box 1 folder 104
    • Rolfe, F. W., recipient list of A.J. Symons' book, Frederick Baron Corvo (undated) box 2 folder 4
    • Rolfe, F. W., signed, handwritten letter to R. M. Dawkins  (1911 March 19) box 2 folder 5
    • Rolfe, F. W., signed, handwritten letters to R. M. Dawkins  (1907) box 1 folder 105
    • Ruskin, John, original watercolor painting, from Charles Lee Smith Collection  (1873 September) box 1 folder 106
    • Ruskin, John, photographs (undated) box 1 folder 107
    • Ruskin, John, signed, handwritten letter, Charles Lee Smith Collection  (1871 March 2) box 1 folder 108
    • Ruskin, John, signed, handwritten letters and envelopes to Mrs. Ruskin, from Charles Lee Smith Collection  (1861-1871) box 1 folder 109
    • Sharpe, William, signed, handwritten letter  (1893 March 23) box 1 folder 110
    • Simms, William Gilmore, signed, handwritten letter to C. Warren, from Babcock gift, taken from the Damsel of Darien  (1869 August 18) box 1 folder 111
    • Simms, William Gilmore, signed handwritten letter to H. Lee, Babcock gift, taken from The Border Beagles  (1860 August 22) box 1 folder 112
    • St. Denis, Ruth, invitation, letter, and envelope  (1947) box 1 folder 113
    • St. Denis, Ruth, signed letters to J. Paget-Fredricks  (1949-1950) box 1 folder 114
    • Steiner, Amy L., signed, handwritten letter to Anna (undated) box 1 folder 115
    • Street, Julia Montgomery, newspaper clipping  (circa 1955) box 1 folder 116
    • Symons, A.J.A, signed letter to R.A. Walker  (1936 March 24) box 1 folder 117
    • Tauchnitz, Bernard, signed, handwritten letter to Clemens, Samuel Langhorn Clemens file  (1978 December 28) box 1 folder 118
    • Thackeray, William, signed, handwritten letter reproductions (undated) box 1 folder 119
    • Thomas S. Klise Company American literature filmstrip booklets (undated) box 3 folder 2
    • Thompson, John R., "Some Uncollected Verse" material  (circa 1920) box 1 folder 120
    • Tilley, Nannie, novel, The R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company newspaper clipping  (1985) box 1 folder 121
    • Wakowski, Diane, poems and signed, handwritten postcards and letters  (1968-1969) box 1 folder 122
    • Walker, Percy, signed, handwritten letter  (1973 April 1) box 1 folder 123
    • Wellesley, Dorothy, signed, handwritten letter  (1953 April 1) box 1 folder 124
    • Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, Duke of, signed, handwritten letter  (1815) box 1 folder 125
    • West, Herbert, letter (undated) box 1 folder 126
    • Whitman, Walt, engraving (undated) box 1 folder 127
    • Wilberforce, Robert, letter to Viscount Melborne  (1840) box 1 folder 128
    • Williams, Jonathon, letters, poems, and related materials  (1964) box 1 folder 129
    • Wolfe, Thomas, articles, pamphlets, and booklets  (1947-1971) box 3 folder 3
    • Wolfe, Thomas, Asheville article (undated) box 3 folder 4
    • Wolfe, Thomas, Asheville, NC materials  (1948-1975) box 2 folder 6
    • Wolfe, Thomas, autobiographical articles  (1937-1938) box 3 folder 5
    • Wolfe, Thomas, biographical book reviews  (1948-1968) box 2 folder 7
    • Wolfe, Thomas, biographical information  (1947-1972) box 2 folder 8
    • Wolfe, Thomas, book reviews (circa 1935-1973) box 2 folder 9
    • Wolfe, Thomas, clippings  (1940-1975) box 2 folder 10
    • Wolfe, Thomas, collection of letters and articles  (1921-1977) box 3 folder 6
    • Wolfe, Thomas, critical studies book reviews (circa 1954-1975) box 2 folder 11
    • Wolfe, Thomas, critical works and related commentary  (1964-1965) box 1 folder 130
    • Wolfe, Thomas, family articles and clippings  (1961-1973) box 3 folder 7
    • Wolfe, Thomas, letters and notebooks reviews  (1956-1970) box 2 folder 12
    • Wolfe, Thomas, photocopied clippings  (1937-1938) box 3 folder 8
    • Wolfe, Thomas, photocopied clippings  (1939) box 3 folder 9
    • Wolfe, Thomas, photocopied clippings  (1940) box 3 folder 10
    • Wolfe, Thomas, photocopied clippings  (1941-1943) box 3 folder 11
    • Wolfe, Thomas, photocopied clippings  (1946-1948) box 3 folder 12
    • Wolfe, Thomas, play reviews, play notices, and playbills  (1957-1970) box 3 folder 13
    • Wolfe, Thomas, Thomas Wolfe Society materials  (1990) box 3 folder 1
    • Wolfe, Thomas, UNC Chapel Hill articles and related materials (circa 1968-1972) box 3 folder 14
    • Wood, Ralph, newspaper clipping  (1989) box 1 folder 131
    • Woodlief, Anne, "In River Time: The Way of the James" article clipping  (1985) box 1 folder 132
    • Worthington, Samuel Wheeler, signed copy of "Ancient and rare North Caroliana"  (1939) box 1 folder 133
    • Yeats, W. B. (William Butler), caricatures by Max Beerbohm (undated) box 1 folder 134
    • Yeats, W. B. (William Butler), clippings  (1936-1965) box 1 folder 135
    • Yeats, W. B. (William Butler), clippings and "Horseman, Pass By, A musical celebration! from the writings and spirit of W. B. Yeats"  (circa 1969) box 1 folder 136
    • Yeats, W. B. (William Butler), "Cuchulain Plays" pamphlet  (1977-1978) box 1 folder 137
    • Yeats, W. B. (William Butler), "Home of W. B. Yeats" pamphlet and related clippings  (circa 1975) box 1 folder 138
    • Yeats, W. B. (William Butler), newspaper clipping by Cyril Connolly  (1965 June 13) box 1 folder 139
    • Yeats, W. B. (William Butler), photocopied clippings  (1928-1988) box 1 folder 140
    • Yeats, W. B. (William Butler), photocopied signed, handwritten letters (circa 1929-1994) box 1 folder 141
    • Yeats, W. B. (William Butler), signed, handwritten letter to A.E. (undated) box 1 folder 142
    • Yeats, W. B. (William Butler), signed, handwritten letters to David Wilson  (1917) box 1 folder 143
    • Yeats, W. B. (William Butler), signed, handwritten letters to Fagan (undated) box 1 folder 144
    • Yeats, W. B. (William Butler), signed letters to Lady Watson, from Charles Lee Smith Collection  (1935 October) box 1 folder 145
    • Yeats, W. B. (William Butler), signed, handwritten letter to Mary Whitty  (1986) box 1 folder 146
    • Yeats, W. B. (William Butler), signed, handwritten letter to W. G. Harding  (1926 March 11) box 1 folder 147
    • Yeats, W. B. (William Butler), signed letter to Robert I. Cuddihy (undated) box 1 folder 148
    • Yeats, W. B. (William Butler), Sotheby Catalogue of letters, manuscripts, and related documents  (1980 December) box 1 folder 149
    • Yeats, W. B. (William Butler), Yeats International Summer School informational pamphlets  (1972-1981) box 1 folder 150
    • Yeats, W. B. (William Butler), Yeats Studies Series materials  (1975) box 1 folder 151
  • General and publisher materials
    • Jackpine Press reviews pamphlet  (circa 1978) box 1 folder 152
    • North Carolina authors clippings and notes  (1988) box 1 folder 154

Summary Information

Repository
Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives
Title
Authors Collection
ID
MS705
Date [inclusive]
1795-1992
Quantity
1 record carton, 2 document boxes, 1 half-document box, 1 oversize box
Extent
3  Linear Feet

Administrative Information

Publication Information
Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives, 2023 February
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for researchers. 
Copyright Notice
The nature of the WFU Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The Archives and Special Collections of ZSR Library claims only physical ownership of most materials. The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to the U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. 
Preferred Citation
Authors Collection (MS705), Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA. 

Learn more about collector Charles Lee Smith in the Charles Lee Smith Papers (MS604), , Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives. There are also digitized materials in our Digital Collections. Books collected by Charles Lee Smith are searchable under "Charles L. Smith collection" in the ZSR Library catalog.

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