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Correspondence

Here we present our growing digital edition of the correspondence of Charles W. Chesnutt. Chesnutt’s letters illuminate the expansive social and literary network of this prominent African American writer, lawyer, and voting rights activist, and shed light on his times. The letters, dating from 1883 to 1932, range widely, relating to personal, political, business, civic, and literary matters. Our edition includes transcriptions of incoming as well as outgoing letters, and Chesnutt’s drafts, along with images of the original documents whenever possible. Our editorial policies can be found here.

The edition includes a catalog of all of Chesnutt’s known correspondence, incoming and outgoing.


Full Correspondence Catalog


Correspondence

634 items

Charles W. Chesnutt to Albion W. Tourgée, 25 April 1896

  • Date: April 25, 1896
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: The Albion W. Tourgee Papers, Chautauqua County Historical Society, 9218

Charles W. Chesnutt to Albion W. Tourgée, 3 September 1895

  • Date: September 3, 1895
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: The Albion W. Tourgee Papers, Chautauqua County Historical Society, 8826

Charles W. Chesnutt to M. A. De Wolfe Howe, 31 October 1899

  • Date: October 31, 1899
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt letters, 1899-1900, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University Libraries, Pennsylvania State University, 1969-0092R VF Lit

Charles W. Chesnutt to George Washington Cable, 12 September 1890

  • Date: September 12, 1890
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: George Washington Cable Papers, Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, Tulane University, LaRC-2, box 17, folder 9

Charles W. Chesnutt to George Washington Cable, 1 August 1890

  • Date: August 1, 1890
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: George Washington Cable Papers, Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, Tulane University, LaRC-2, box 17, folder 9

Charles W. Chesnutt to George Washington Cable, 27 February 1895

  • Date: February 27, 1895
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: George Washington Cable Papers, Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, Tulane University, LaRC-2, box 17, folder 9

Charles W. Chesnutt to George Washington Cable, 22 September 1890

  • Date: September 22, 1890
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: George Washington Cable Papers, Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, Tulane University, LaRC-2, box 17, folder 9

Charles W. Chesnutt to George Washington Cable, 13 January 1891

  • Date: January 13, 1891
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: George Washington Cable Papers, Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, Tulane University, LaRC-2, box 17, folder 9

Charles W. Chesnutt to Horace Traubel, 29 December 1915

  • Date: December 29, 1915
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Horace Traubel and Anne Montgomerie Traubel Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS43141, box 58

Charles W. Chesnutt to Carter Godwin Woodson, 22 November 1917

  • Date: November 22, 1917
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Carter Godwin Woodson Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS46342, box I:5

Charles W. Chesnutt to Carter Godwin Woodson, 3 January 1917

  • Date: January 3, 1917
  • Creator(s): Charles W. Chesnutt | Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Horace Traubel and Anne Montgomerie Traubel Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS43141

Charles W. Chesnutt to S. W. Rutherford, 27 March 1923

  • Date: March 27, 1923
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Carter Godwin Woodson Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS46342, box I:5

Charles W. Chesnutt to Albion W. Tourgée, 18 April 1893

  • Date: April 18, 1893
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Albion W. Tourgee Papers, Chautauqua County Historical Society, 6876

Charles W. Chesnutt to Horace Traubel, 19 December 1902

  • Date: December 19, 1902
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Horace Traubel and Anne Montgomerie Traubel Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS43141, box 58

Charles W. Chesnutt to Horace Traubel, 25 March 1902

  • Date: March 25, 1902
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Horace Traubel and Anne Montgomerie Traubel Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS43141, box 58

Charles W. Chesnutt to Horace Traubel, 2 June 1905

  • Date: June 2, 1905
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Horace Traubel and Anne Montgomerie Traubel Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS43141, box 58

Charles W. Chesnutt to Horace Traubel, 16 August 1902

  • Date: August 16, 1902
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Horace Traubel and Anne Montgomerie Traubel Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS43141

Charles W. Chesnutt to Horace Traubel, 16 September 1905

  • Date: September 16, 1905
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Horace Traubel and Anne Montgomerie Traubel Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS43141, box 58

Charles W. Chesnutt to Horace Traubel, 6 November 1905

  • Date: November 6, 1905
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Horace Traubel and Anne Montgomerie Traubel Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS43141, box 58

Charles W. Chesnutt to Horace Traubel, 24 October 1907

  • Date: October 24, 1907
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Horace Traubel and Anne Montgomerie Traubel Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS43141, box 58

Charles W. Chesnutt to Horace Traubel, 1 February 1908

  • Date: February 1, 1908
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Horace Traubel and Anne Montgomerie Traubel Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS43141, box 58

Charles W. Chesnutt to Horace Traubel, 3 July 1903

  • Date: July 3, 1903
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Horace Traubel and Anne Montgomerie Traubel Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS43141

Charles W. Chesnutt to Richard W. Gilder, 19 May 1899

  • Date: May 19, 1899
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Century Company records, Berg Collection, New York Public Library, MssCol 504

Charles W. Chesnutt to Richard W. Gilder, 11 April 1895

  • Date: April 11, 1895
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Century Company Records, Berg Collection, New York Public Library, MssCol 504

Charles W. Chesnutt to Richard W. Gilder, 24 April 1899

  • Date: April 24, 1899
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Century Company records, Berg Collection, New York Public Library, MssCol 504

Charles W. Chesnutt to Micheaux Book & Film Company, 2 August 1920

  • Date: August 02, 1920
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 1

Charles W. Chesnutt to William Brace Pratt, 20 January 1921

  • Date: January 20, 1921
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 1

Charles W. Chesnutt to Oscar Micheaux, 27 January 1921

  • Date: January 27, 1921
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 1

Charles W. Chesnutt to William B. Pratt, 18 February 1921

  • Date: February 18, 1921
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 1

Charles W. Chesnutt to Robert Levy, 7 February 1921

  • Date: February 7, 1921
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 1

Charles W. Chesnutt to Hugh M. Browne, 21 November 1907

  • Date: November 21, 1907
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Booker T. Washington correspondence, 1903-1916, 1933 and undated, Rubenstein Library, Duke University, RL.01347, box 1

Charles W. Chesnutt to William B. Pratt, 8 October 1921

  • Date: October 8, 1921
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 1

Charles W. Chesnutt to Harry C. Gahn, 1 November 1921

  • Date: November 1, 1921
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 1

Charles W. Chesnutt to Mary Dickerson Donahey, 1 November 1921

  • Date: November 1, 1921
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 1

Charles W. Chesnutt to Booker T. Washington, 28 May 1904

  • Date: May 28, 1904
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Booker T. Washington papers, 1853-1946, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS44669, box 9, folder Chesnutt, Charles Waddell

Charles W. Chesnutt to Booker T. Washington, 24 February 1900

  • Date: February 24, 1900
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Booker T. Washington papers, 1853-1946, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS44669, box 36, folder Chesnutt, Charles Waddell

Charles W. Chesnutt to Laurens Maynard (on Behalf of Small, Maynard & Co.), 26 December 1900

  • Date: December 26, 1900
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt letters, 1899-1900, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University Libraries, Pennsylvania State University, 1969-0092R VF Lit

Charles W. Chesnutt to Alfred Anderson, 3 September 1921

  • Date: September 3, 1921
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 1

Charles W. Chesnutt to William B. Pratt, 19 September 1921

  • Date: September 19, 1921
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 1

Charles W. Chesnutt to Swan E. Micheaux, 23 September 1921

  • Date: September 23, 1921
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 1

Charles W. Chesnutt to Robert Levy, 18 February 1921

  • Date: February 18, 1921
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 1

Charles W. Chesnutt to Robert Levy, 12 March 1921

  • Date: March 12, 1921
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, 1889-1932, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 1

Charles W. Chesnutt to Swan E. Micheaux, 19 February 1921

  • Date: February 19, 1921
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 1

Charles W. Chesnutt to Hugh M. Browne, 26 February 1909

  • Date: February 26, 1909
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Booker T. Washington correspondence, 1903-1916, 1933 and undated, Duke University Libraries; David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, RL.01347, box 1

Charles W. Chesnutt to Booker T. Washington, 21 July 1910

  • Date: July 21, 1910
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: MSS44669, box 39, folder Chesnutt, Charles Waddell

Charles W. Chesnutt to William Eglin Ambler, 10 June 1918

  • Date: June 10, 1918
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: James Lowell Gibbs collection of African-American documents, 1865-1918, Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library, 4506, box 1

Charles W. Chesnutt to Henry Clay Tyson, 20 December 1921

  • Date: Decemberer 20, 1921
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 1

Charles W. Chesnutt to Harcourt, Brace and Company, 12 November 1921

  • Date: November 12, 1921
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 1

Charles W. Chesnutt to Edward C. Williams, 20 December 1921

  • Date: December 20, 1921
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 1

Charles W. Chesnutt to Alfred A. Knopf, 20 December 1921

  • Date: December 20, 1921
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 1