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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

372 items

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

  • Date: February 27, 1895
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Charles Waddell), 1858-1932
  • Format: letter
  • Source: George Washington Cable Papers, Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, Tulane University, LaRC-2, box 17, folder 9

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

  • Date: April 11, 1895
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Charles Waddell), 1858-1932
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Century Company Records, Berg Collection, New York Public Library, MssCol 504

Charles W. Chesnutt to George Washington Cable, 11 April 1895

  • Date: April 11, 1895
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Charles Waddell), 1858-1932
  • Format: letter
  • Source: George Washington Cable Papers, Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, Tulane University, LaRC-2, box 17, folder 9

Charles W. Chesnutt to Albion W. Tourgée, 27 April 1895

  • Date: April 27, 1895
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Charles Waddell), 1858-1932
  • Format: letter
  • Source: The Albion W. Tourgee Papers, Chautauqua County Historical Society, 8517

Charles W. Chesnutt to Albion W. Tourgée, 25 June 1895

  • Date: June 25, 1895
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Charles Waddell), 1858-1932
  • Format: letter
  • Source: The Albion W. Tourgee Papers, Chautauqua County Historical Society, 8566

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

  • Date: April 25, 1896
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Charles Waddell), 1858-1932
  • Format: letter
  • Source: The Albion W. Tourgee Papers, Chautauqua County Historical Society, 9218

Charles W. Chesnutt to Albion W. Tourgée, 24 May 1897

  • Date: May 24, 1897
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Charles Waddell), 1858-1932
  • Format: letter
  • Source: The Albion W. Tourgee Papers, The Chautauqua County Historical Society, 9442

Charles W. Chesnutt to John Patterson Green, 7 October 1897

  • Date: December 7, 1897
  • Creator(s): Charles W. Chesnutt | Chesnutt, Charles W., (Charles Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: John Patterson Green Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3380, box 4, folder 1-4

Charles W. Chesnutt to George Washington Cable, 5 August 1898

  • Date: August 5, 1898
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Charles Waddell), 1858-1932
  • Format: letter
  • Source: George Washington Cable Papers, Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, Tulane University, LaRC-2, box 17, folder 9

Charles W. Chesnutt to John P. Green, 10 February 1899

  • Date: February 10, 1899
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Charles Waddell), 1858-1932
  • Format: letter
  • Source: John Patterson Green Papers,, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3379, box 5, folder unknown

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

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

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

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

Charles W. Chesnutt to Herbert Small, 26 October 1899

  • Date: October 26, 1899
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Charles Waddell), 1858-1932
  • Format: letter
  • Source: African American History collection (1729–1970, bulk 1800–1865), William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan, M-454 et al., box 5, folder 20a

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

  • Date: October 31, 1899
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Charles Waddell), 1858-1932
  • 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 Herbert Small, 6 November 1899

  • Date: November 6, 1899
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Charles Waddell), 1858-1932
  • 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 Jerome B. Howard, 15 December 1899

  • Date: December 15, 1899
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Charles Waddell), 1858-1932
  • Format: letter
  • Source: African American History collection (1729–1970, bulk 1800–1865), William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan, M-454 et al., box 5, folder 21a

Charles W. Chesnutt to William Dean Howells, [3 February 1900]

  • Date: February 3, 1900
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Charles Waddell), 1858-1932
  • Format: letter
  • Source: William Dean Howells, Gilded Age Collections, Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums, GA-20

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

  • Date: February 24, 1900
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Charles Waddell), 1858-1932
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Booker T. Washington papers, 1853-1946, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS44669, box 36, folder Chesnutt, Charles Waddell

Helen M. Chesnutt to Charles W. Chesnutt, 5 March 1900

  • Date: March 5, 1900
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Helen M.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers 1889-1932, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370

Charles W. Chesnutt to Robert Underwood Johnson, 15 May 1900

  • Date: May 15, 1900
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Century Company records, Berg Collection, New York Public Library, MssCol 504

Charles W. Chesnutt to Booker T. Washington, 29 October 1900

  • Date: October 29, 1900
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Charles Waddell), 1858-1932
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Booker T. Washington papers, 1853-1946, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS44669, box 39, folder Chesnutt, Charles Waddell

Charles W. Chesnutt to Booker T. Washington, 10 November 1900

  • Date: November 10, 1900
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Booker T. Washington papers, 1853-1946, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS44669, box 39, folder Chesnutt, Charles Waddell

Francis W. Halsey to Charles W. Chesnutt, 15 December 1900

  • Date: December 15, 1900
  • Creator(s): Halsey, Francis W.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Western Reserve Historical Society

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

  • Date: December 26, 1900
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Charles Waddell), 1858-1932
  • 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 Richard W. Gilder, 1 January 1901

  • Date: January 1, 1901
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Century Company records, Berg Collection, New York Public Library, MssCol 504

Charles W. Chesnutt to Booker T. Washington, 13 March 1901

  • Date: March 13, 1901
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Booker T. Washington papers, 1853-1946, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS44669, box 39, folder Chesnutt, Charles Waddell

Charles W. Chesnutt to Booker T. Washington, 10 May 1901

  • Date: May 10, 1901
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Charles Waddell), 1858-1932
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Booker T. Washington papers, 1853-1946, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS44669, box 39, folder Chesnutt, Charles Waddell

Charles W. Chesnutt to Emmett J. Scott, 4 September 1901

  • Date: September 4, 1901
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Booker T. Washington papers, 1853-1946, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS44669, box 39, folder Chesnutt, Charles Waddell

Charles W. Chesnutt to Booker T. Washington, 8 October 1901

  • Date: October 8, 1901
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Charles Waddell), 1858-1932
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Booker T. Washington papers, 1853-1946, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS44669, box 39, folder Chesnutt, Charles Waddell

Charles W. Chesnutt to Emmett J. Scott, 24 October 1901

  • Date: October 24, 1901
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Booker T. Washington papers, 1853-1946, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS44669, box 39, folder Chesnutt, Charles Waddell

Charles W. Chesnutt to Booker T. Washington, 5 November 1901

  • Date: November 5, 1901
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Charles Waddell), 1858-1932
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Booker T. Washington papers, 1853-1946, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS44669, box 39, folder Chesnutt, Charles Waddell

Charles W. Chesnutt to Booker T. Washington, 16 November 1901

  • Date: November 16, 1901
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Charles Waddell), 1858-1932
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Booker T. Washington papers, 1853-1946, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS44669, box 39, folder Chesnutt, Charles Waddell

Charles F. Thwing to Charles W. Chesnutt, 21 November 1901

  • Date: November 21, 1901
  • Creator(s): Thwing, Charles Franklin, 1853-1937
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 1

Charles W. Chesnutt to Booker T. Washington, 25 November 1901

  • Date: November 25, 1901
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Booker T. Washington papers, 1853-1946, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS44669, box 39, folder Chesnutt, Charles Waddell

George B. Cortelyou to Charles W. Chesnutt, 27 November 1901

  • Date: November 27, 1901
  • Creator(s): Cortelyou, George B. (George Bruce), 1862-1940
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Western Reserve Historical Society

Charles W. Chesnutt to Booker T. Washington, 9 December 1901

  • Date: December 9, 1901
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Charles Waddell), 1858-1932
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Booker T. Washington papers, 1853-1946, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS44669, box 39, folder Chesnutt, Charles Waddell

Charles W. Chesnutt to Booker T. Washington, 1902

  • Date: 1902
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Charles Waddell), 1858-1932
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Booker T. Washington papers, 1853-1946, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS44669, box 39, folder Chesnutt, Charles Waddell

Charles W. Chesnutt to Booker T. Washington, 5 March 1902

  • Date: March 5, 1902
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Charles Waddell), 1858-1932
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Booker T. Washington papers, 1853-1946, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS44669, box 39, folder Chesnutt, Charles Waddell

Charles W. Chesnutt to Horace Traubel, 25 March 1902

  • Date: March 25, 1902
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Charles Waddell), 1858-1932
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Horace Traubel and Anne Montgomerie Traubel Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS43141, box 58

Charles W. Chesnutt to Booker T. Washington, 23 May 1902

  • Date: May 23, 1902
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Charles Waddell), 1858-1932
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Booker T. Washington papers, 1853-1946, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS44669, box 39, folder Chesnutt, Charles Waddell

Charles W. Chesnutt to Booker T. Washington, 10 June 1902

  • Date: June 10, 1902
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Charles Waddell), 1858-1932
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Booker T. Washington papers, 1853-1946, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS44669, box 524, folder Chesnutt, Charles Waddell

Charles W. Chesnutt to Booker T. Washington, 21 June 1902

  • Date: June 21, 1902
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Charles Waddell), 1858-1932
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Booker T. Washington papers, 1853-1946, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS44669, box 39, folder Chesnutt, Charles Waddell

Charles W. Chesnutt to Emmett J. Scott, 9 July 1902

  • Date: July 9, 1902
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Booker T. Washington papers, 1853-1946, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS44669, box 39, folder Chesnutt, Charles Waddell

Charles W. Chesnutt to Horace Traubel, 16 August 1902

  • Date: August 16, 1902
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Charles Waddell), 1858-1932
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Horace Traubel and Anne Montgomerie Traubel Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS43141

Charles William Anderson to Charles W. Chesnutt December 3, 1902.

  • Date: December 3, 1902.
  • Creator(s): Anderson, Charles William
  • Format: letter
  • Source: James Lowell Gibbs collection of African-American documents, 1865-1918., Cornell University Rare and Manuscript Collection, 4506, box 1, folder 1

Charles W. Chesnutt to Horace Traubel, 19 December 1902

  • Date: December 19, 1902
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Charles Waddell), 1858-1932
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Horace Traubel and Anne Montgomerie Traubel Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS43141, box 58

Charles W. Chesnutt to Booker T. Washington, 21 March 1903

  • Date: March 21, 1903
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Charles Waddell), 1858-1932
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Booker T. Washington papers, 1853-1946, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS44669, box 39, folder Chesnutt, Charles Waddell

Emmett J. Scott to Charles W. Chesnutt, 6 May 1903

  • Date: May 6, 1903
  • Creator(s): Scott, Emmett J.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Booker T. Washington papers, 1853-1946, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS44669, box 39, folder Chesnutt, Charles Waddell

Charles W. Chesnutt to W. E. B. Du Bois, 27 June 1903

  • Date: June 27, 1903
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: W. E. B. Du Bois Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries, MS 312

Charles W. Chesnutt to Horace Traubel, 3 July 1903

  • Date: July 3, 1903
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Charles Waddell), 1858-1932
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Horace Traubel and Anne Montgomerie Traubel Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS43141
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