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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

Fleta Harrison to Charles W. Chesnutt, 20 October 1921

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

Ferris Greenslet to Charles W. Chesnutt, 31 January 1931

  • Date: January 31, 1931
  • Creator(s): Greenslet, Ferris
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 6

Ethel Chesnutt Williams to Charles W. Chesnutt, 25 April 1932

  • Date: April 25, 1932
  • Creator(s): Williams, Ethel Chesnutt
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 6

Ernest Angell to Charles W. Chesnutt, 26 April 1922

  • Date: April 26, 1922
  • Creator(s): Angell, Ernest
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 2

Ernest Angell to Charles W. Chesnutt, 20 March 1922

  • Date: March 20, 1922
  • Creator(s): Angell, Ernest
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 2

The Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc. to Charles W. Chesnutt, 23 October 1922

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

Emmett J. Scott to Charles W. Chesnutt, February 7, 1906

  • Date: February 7, 1906
  • Creator(s): Scott, Emmett J.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Booker T. Washington papers, 1853-1946, 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

Emmett J. Scott to Charles W. Chesnutt, 6 January 1908

  • Date: January 6, 1908
  • Creator(s): Scott, Emmett J.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Booker T. Washington papers, 1853-1946, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS44669, box 524, folder Chesnutt, Charles Waddell

Emmett J. Scott to Charles W. Chesnutt, 27 November 1907

  • Date: November 27, 1907
  • 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

Emmett J. Scott to Charles W. Chesnutt, 27 March 1905

  • Date: March 27, 1905
  • 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

Emmett J. Scott to Charles W. Chesnutt, 22 March 1909

  • Date: March 22, 1909
  • 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

Emmett J. Scott to Charles W. Chesnutt, 21 December 1904

  • Date: December 21, 1904
  • 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

Emmett J. Scott to Charles W. Chesnutt, 21 August 1906

  • Date: August 21, 1906
  • Creator(s): Scott, Emmett J.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Booker T. Washington papers, 1853-1946, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, MSS44669, box 524, folder Chesnutt, Charles Waddell

Emmett J. Scott to Charles W. Chesnutt, 2 May 1923

  • Date: May 2, 1923
  • Creator(s): Scott, Emmett J.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers 1889-1932, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370

Emmett J. Scott to Charles W. Chesnutt, 12 October 1906

  • Date: October 12, 1906
  • 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

Emilie Skarabotta to Charles W. Chesnutt, 5 August 1931

  • Date: August 5, 1931
  • Creator(s): Skarabotta, Emilie
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 6

Emilie Skarabotta to Charles W. Chesnutt, 29 August 1931

  • Date: August 29, 1931
  • Creator(s): Skarabotta, Emilie
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 6

Emilie Skarabotta to Charles W. Chesnutt, 17 August 1931

  • Date: August 17, 1931
  • Creator(s): Skarabotta, Emilie
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 6

Emilie Skarabotta to Charles W. Chesnutt, 11 August 1931

  • Date: August 11, 1931
  • Creator(s): Skarabotta, Emilie
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 6

Emilie Skarabotta to Charles W. Chesnutt, 1 August 1931

  • Date: August 1, 1931
  • Creator(s): Skarabotta, Emilie
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 6

Elmer Adler to Charles W. Chesnutt, 26 March 1931

  • Date: March 26, 1931
  • Creator(s): Adler, Elmer
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 6

Edwin J. Chesnutt to Charles W. Chesnutt, 23 July 1903

  • Date: July 23, 1903
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Edwin J.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers 1889-1932, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 1

Edward C. Williams to Charles W. Chesnutt, 3 December 1921

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

Edna M. Irvine to Charles W. Chesnutt, 2 December 1931

  • Date: December 2, 1931
  • Creator(s): Irvine, Edna M.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 6

Edmund Vance "Buck" Cooke Jr. to Charles W. Chesnutt, 27 January 1932

  • Date: January 27, 1932
  • Creator(s): Cooke, Edmund Vance "Buck" Jr.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 6

Edith E. Robinson to Charles W. Chesnutt, 24 June 1932

  • Date: June 24, 1932
  • Creator(s): Robinson, Edith E.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 6

Edith Brill to Charles W. Chesnutt, 15 June 1932

  • Date: June 15, 1932
  • Creator(s): Brill, Edith
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 6

Edgar S. Byers to Charles W. Chesnutt, 20 September 1932

  • Date: September 20, 1932
  • Creator(s): Byers, Edgar S.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 6

Edgar J. Banks to Charles W. Chesnutt, 4 December 1922

  • Date: December 4, 1922
  • Creator(s): Banks, Edgar J.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 2

E. D. McNelly to Charles W. Chesnutt, 20 November 1922

  • Date: November 20, 1922
  • Creator(s): McNelly, Edward D.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 2

Draft letter from W. E. B. Du Bois to Charles W. Chesnutt, 30 October 1926

  • Date: October 30, 1926
  • Creator(s): Du Bois, W. E. B.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: W.E.B. Du Bois Papers, 1803–1999 (bulk 1877–1963), Special Collections and University Archives, University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries

Draft letter from W. E. B. Du Bois to Charles W. Chesnutt, 18 November 1926

  • Date: November 18, 1926
  • Creator(s): Du Bois, W. E. B.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: W.E.B. Du Bois Papers, 1803–1999 (bulk 1877–1963), Special Collections and University Archives, University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries

D. L. Murray to Charles W. Chesnutt, 1 October 1921

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

Clara M. Henderson to Charles W. Chesnutt, 10 September 1921

  • Date: September 10, 1921
  • Creator(s): Henderson, Clara M.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 1

Chester K. Gillespie to Charles W. Chesnutt, 9 March 1923

  • Date: March 9, 1923
  • Creator(s): Gillespie, Chester K. (Chester Karl), 1897–1985
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 3

Chester K. Gillespie to Charles W. Chesnutt, 3 March 1923

  • Date: March 3, 1923
  • Creator(s): Gillespie, Chester K. (Chester Karl), 1897–1985
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 3

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

  • Date: December 3, 1902.
  • Creator(s): Anderson, Charles W.
  • 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 Williams to Charles W. Chesnutt, 24 January 1931

  • Date: January 24, 1931
  • Creator(s): Williams, Charles W. Chesnutt
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS3370, box 1, folder 6

Charles W. Chesnutt to William T. Mitchell (on behalf of State Mutual Life Assurance Company), 12 December 1921

  • Date: December 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 William T. Couch, 3 April 1931

  • Date: April 3, 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 Stanley Braithwaite, 8 September 1924

  • Date: September 8, 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 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 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 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 William Donahey and Mary Dickerson Donahey, 23 May 1922

  • Date: May 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 William Donahey, 6 September 1922

  • Date: September 6, 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 William Donahey, 12 May 1922

  • Date: May 12, 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 William Donahey, [11 May 1922]

  • Date: May 11, 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 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
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