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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

469 items

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 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 William Dean Howells, [3 February 1900]

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

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

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

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, 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 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 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 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 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 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 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, 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 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 Samuel S. Rosenthal, Inc., 28 June 1932

  • Date: June 28, 1932
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 6

Charles W. Chesnutt to Minnie E. Jones, 16 May 1932

  • Date: May 16, 1932
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 6

Charles W. Chesnutt to Mary Haven Thirkield, 16 May 1932

  • Date: May 16, 1932
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 6

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

  • Date: October 24, 1901
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • 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. (Waddell)
  • 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. (Waddell)
  • 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

  • Date: [July 1907]
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Booker T. Washington papers, 1853-1946, Manuscript Divisions, Library of Congress, MSS44669, box 39, folder Chesnutt, Charles Waddell

Charles W. Chesnutt to Emmett J. Scott, 6 September 1905

  • Date: September 6, 1905.
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Booker T. Washington papers, 1853-1946, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS44669, box 524, folder Chesnutt, Charles Waddell

Charles Chesnutt to Samuel Edward Courtney, 16 May 1905

  • Date: May 16, 1905
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • 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, 14 July 1906

  • Date: July 14, 1906
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • 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, 23 March 1907

  • Date: March 23, 1907
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Booker T. Washington papers, 1853-1946, Library of Congress, Manuscript Divisions, MSS44669, box 39, folder Chesnutt, Charles Waddell

Charles W. Chesnutt to Booker T. Washington, 3 November 1906

  • Date: November 3, 1906
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • 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, 12 March 1906

  • Date: March 12, 1906
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • 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, 9 October 1906

  • Date: October 9, 1906
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • 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, 11 July 1907

  • Date: July 11, 1907
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • 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, 16 September 1924

  • Date: September 16, 1924
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • 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 W. E. B. Du Bois, 25 July 1925

  • Date: July 25, 1925.
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • 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 Booker T. Washington, 1 January 1908

  • Date: January 1, 1908
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • 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 W. E. B. Du Bois, 3 August 1925

  • Date: August 23, 1925
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers 1889-1932, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370

Charles W. Chesnutt to Booker T. Washington, 1 August 1907

  • Date: August 1, 1907
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • 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, 22 November 1907

  • Date: November 22, 1907
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • 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, 28 August 1908

  • Date: August 28, 1908
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • 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, 1 March 1916

  • Date: March 1, 1916
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • 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 Booker T. Washington, 25 November 1908

  • Date: November 25, 1908
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • 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, 3 February 1917

  • Date: February 3, 1917
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • 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 W. E. B Du Bois, 16 July 1909

  • Date: July 16, 1909
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: W. E. B. Du Bois Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Massachusetts Amherst, MS 312

Charles W. Chesnutt to W. E. B. Du Bois, 27 October 1926

  • Date: October 27, 1926
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: W.E.B. Du Bois Papers, 1803–1999 (bulk 1877–1963), Special Collections and University Archives, University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries

Charles W. Chesnutt to W. E. B. Du Bois, 15 October 1926

  • Date: October 15, 1926
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: W.E.B. Du Bois Papers, 1803–1999 (bulk 1877–1963), Special Collections and University Archives, University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries

Charles W. Chesnutt to W. E. B. Du Bois, 17 June 1926

  • Date: June 17, 1926
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: W.E.B. Du Bois Papers, 1803–1999 (bulk 1877–1963), Special Collections and University Archives, University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries

Charles W. Chesnutt to Booker T. Washington, 1 June 1908

  • Date: June 1, 1908
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • 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, 28 December 1910

  • Date: December 28, 1910
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Booker T. Washington papers, 1853-1946, MSS44669, box 524, folder Chesnutt, Charles Waddell

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

  • Date: June 10, 1902
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • 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 W. E. B. Du Bois, 1903

  • Date: 1903
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • 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 W. E. B. Du Bois, 1928

  • Date: 1928
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: W.E.B. Du Bois Papers 1868-1963, University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries Special Collections and University Archives

Charles W. Chesnutt to Walter White, 10 February 1932

  • Date: February 10, 1932
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Collection 1889-1932, Western Reserve Historical Society
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