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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 Swan E. Micheaux, 23 February 1922

  • Date: February 23, 1922
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, 1889-1932, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 2

Charles W. Chesnutt to Oscar Micheaux, 23 February 1922

  • Date: February 23, 1922
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 2

Charles W. Chesnutt to Charles Henser, 30 June 1922

  • Date: June 30, 1922
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 2

Charles W. Chesnutt to Oscar Micheaux, 17 January 1923

  • Date: January 17, 1923
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 3

Charles W. Chesnutt to Ida and Fannie Henderson, 13 October 1931

  • Date: October 13, 1931
  • 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 Editor of the Survey [Paul Underwood Kellogg], 17 March 1925

  • Date: March 17, 1925
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 5

Charles W. Chesnutt to Victor K. Chesnut, 4 August 1924

  • Date: August 4, 1924
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 4

Charles W. Chesnutt to Wendell Phillips Dabney, 13 October 1931

  • Date: October 13, 1931
  • 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 Mayo Fesler, 16 October 1931

  • Date: October 16, 1931
  • 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 William Monroe Trotter, 3 March 1932

  • Date: March 3, 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 Frank X. Cull, 13 October 1931

  • Date: October 13, 1931
  • 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 Jessie B. Parks, 17 November 1931

  • Date: November 17, 1931
  • 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 Langston Hughes, 12 January 1932

  • Date: January 12, 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 Oscar Micheaux, 29 January 1924

  • Date: January 29, 1924
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 4

Charles W. Chesnutt to George W. Chesnutt, 7 April 1924

  • Date: April 7, 1924
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 4

Charles W. Chesnutt to Abraham Edward Bernsteen, 8 March 1923

  • Date: March 8, 1923
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 3

Charles W. Chesnutt to Harvey M. Williamson, 25 April 1932

  • Date: April 25, 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 Wendell P. Dabney, 11 May 1932

  • Date: May 11, 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 Lessie Ophelia Toler, 25 April 1932

  • Date: April 25, 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 Ethel Chesnutt Williams, 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 The Warren Book Company [Archibald Poole], 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 Mildred Chadsey, 21 September 1932

  • Date: September 21, 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 Vlasta Vavra, 24 October 1932

  • Date: October 24, 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 Harry J. Warwick, 24 October 1932

  • Date: October 24, 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 Harry J. Warwick, 6 September 1932

  • Date: September 6, 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 The Cleveland Museum of Art, 21 September 1932

  • Date: September 21, 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 Herbert Small, 6 November 1899

  • Date: November 6, 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 John Patterson Green, 30 August 1882

  • Date: August 30, 1882
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: John Patterson Green Papers, 1889-1932, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3379, box 1, folder 1-5

Charles W. Chesnutt to Frank H. Baer, 1 September 1922

  • Date: September 1, 1922
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 2

Charles W. Chesnutt to George Washington Cable, 25 July 1890

  • Date: July 25, 1890
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles W. Chesnutt Family Collection, 1821-1967, Charles W. Chesnutt Library, Fayetteville State University

Charles W. Chesnutt to D. K. Cherry, 21 September 1932

  • Date: September 21, 1932
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1

Charles W. Chesnutt to William Frederick Mackay, 21 September 1932

  • Date: September 21, 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 Dickerson Donahey, 6 September 1932

  • Date: September 6, 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 Edith E. Robinson, 13 September 1932

  • Date: September 13, 1932
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1

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

  • Date: June 27, 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 Booker T. Washington, 11 August 1903

  • Date: August 11, 1903
  • 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 Booker T. Washington, 5 February 1906

  • Date: February 5, 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, 27 October 1904

  • Date: October 27, 1904
  • 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 Booker T. Washington, 8 June 1904

  • Date: June 8, 1904
  • 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 Booker T. Washington, 31 October 1903

  • Date: October 31, 1903
  • 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 Booker T. Washington, 13 March 1901

  • Date: March 13, 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 Booker T. Washington, 16 November 1901

  • Date: November 16, 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 Booker T. Washington, 5 November 1901

  • Date: November 5, 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 Booker T. Washington, 8 October 1901

  • Date: October 8, 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 John Patterson Green, 7 October 1897

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

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

  • Date: November 10, 1900
  • 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, 29 October 1900

  • Date: October 29, 1900
  • 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, 5 March 1904

  • Date: March 5, 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, 25 November 1901

  • Date: November 25, 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 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