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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

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

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

George C. Anderson to Charles W. Chesnutt, 27 July 1920

  • Date: July 27, 1920
  • Creator(s): Anderson, George C.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 1

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

Alfred W. Arundel to Charles W. Chesnutt, 4 August 1922

  • Date: August 4, 1922
  • Creator(s): Arundel, Alfred W.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 2

Alfred W. Arundel to Charles W. Chesnutt, 21 August 1922

  • Date: August 21, 1922
  • Creator(s): Arundel, Alfred W.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 2

Selden Bacon to Charles W. Chesnutt, 4 December 1906

  • Date: December 4, 1906
  • Creator(s): Bacon, Selden
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 1

Frank H. Baer to Charles W. Chesnutt, 30 September 1922

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

Frank H. Baer to Charles W. Chesnutt, 31 August 1922

  • Date: August 31, 1922
  • Creator(s): Baer, Frank H.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Paper, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 2

Frank H. Baer to Charles W. Chesnutt, 22 May 1923

  • Date: May 22, 1923
  • Creator(s): Baer, Frank H.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 3

Frank H. Baer to Charles W Chesnutt, 11 April 1923

  • Date: April 11, 1923
  • Creator(s): Baer, Frank House
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 3

Newton D. Baker to Charles W. Chesnutt, 19 September 1915

  • Date: September 19, 1915
  • Creator(s): Baker, Newton D.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 1

Newton D. Baker to Charles W. Chesnutt, 11 August 1913

  • Date: August 11, 1913
  • Creator(s): Baker, Newton D.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 1

Newton D. Baker to Charles W. Chesnutt, 2 May 1922

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

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

Lila May Barnett to Charles W. Chesnutt, 26 May 1924

  • Date: May 26, 1924
  • Creator(s): Barnett, Lila May
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 4

Lila May Barnett to Charles W. Chesnutt, 23 April 1924

  • Date: April 23, 1924
  • Creator(s): Barnett, Lila May
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 4

W. P. Bayless to Charles W. Chesnutt, 14 July 1922

  • Date: July 14, 1922
  • Creator(s): Bayless, W. P.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 2

Robert F. Bingham to Charles W. Chesnutt, 21 November 1922

  • Date: November 21, 1922
  • Creator(s): Bingham, Robert F.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, 1889-1932, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 2

Benjamin Brawley to Charles W. Chesnutt, 26 August 1921

  • Date: August 26, 1921
  • Creator(s): Brawley, Benjamin
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 1

Benjamin Brawley to Charles W. Chesnutt, 27 March 1922

  • Date: March 27, 1922
  • Creator(s): Brawley, Benjamin
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 2

H. Franklin Bray to Charles W. Chesnutt, 28 January 1931

  • Date: January 28, 1931
  • Creator(s): Bray, H. Franklin
  • 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

George W. Brown to Charles W. Chesnutt, 19 April 1932

  • Date: April 19, 1932
  • Creator(s): Brown, George W.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 1

Harry L. Brown to Charles W. Chesnutt, 21 December 1921

  • Date: December 21, 1921
  • Creator(s): Brown, Harry L.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 1

Sterling N. Brown to Charles W. Chesnutt, 22 November 1921

  • Date: November 22, 1921
  • Creator(s): Brown, Sterling N.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 1

Robert J. Bulkley to Charles W. Chesnutt, 8 April 1914

  • Date: April 8, 1914
  • Creator(s): Bulkley, Robert J.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 1

William S. Bundy to Charles W. Chesnutt, 15 December 1921

  • Date: December 15, 1921
  • Creator(s): Bundy, William S.,
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 1

Henry Cuyler Bunner to Charles W. Chesnutt, 4 April 1889

  • Date: April 4, 1889
  • Creator(s): Bunner, Henry C.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 2, folder 1

Theodore E. Burton to Charles W. Chesnutt, 16 January 1914

  • Date: January 16, 1914
  • Creator(s): Burton, Theodore E.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 1

Theodore E. Burton to Charles W. Chesnutt, 3 November 1921

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

Robert E. Butler to Charles Waddell Chesnutt, 28 July 1921

  • Date: July 28, 1921
  • Creator(s): Butler, Robert E.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 1

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

George Washington Cable to Charles W. Chesnutt, 17 June 1890

  • Date: June 17, 1890
  • Creator(s): Cable, George Washington
  • Format: letter
  • Source: George Washington Cable Papers, Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, Tulane University, LaRC-2

George Washington Cable to Charles W. Chesnutt, 9 May 1890

  • Date: May 9, 1890
  • Creator(s): Cable, George Washington
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, Tulane, box 82, folder 47

Joyce H. Caldwell to Charles W. Chesnutt, 13 February 1931

  • Date: February 13, 1931
  • Creator(s): Caldwell, Joyce H.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 6

Joyce H. Caldwell to Charles W. Chesnutt, 13 January 1931

  • Date: January 13, 1931
  • Creator(s): Caldwell, Joyce H.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 6

Joyce H. Caldwell to Charles W. Chesnutt, 24 March 1931

  • Date: March 24, 1931
  • Creator(s): Caldwell, Joyce H.
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 6

Mildred Chadsey to Charles W. Chesnutt, 22 September 1931

  • Date: September 22, 1931
  • Creator(s): Chadsey, Mildred
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 2

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 John Patterson Green, 7 December 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

Victor K. Chesnut to Charles W. Chesnutt, 23 July 1924

  • Date: July 23, 1924
  • Creator(s): Chesnut, V.K. (Victor King), 1867–1938
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 4

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 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, 19 October 1908

  • Date: October 19, 1908
  • 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 Cassie Mae Reed, 25 April 1932

  • Date: April 25, 1932
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Charles Waddell), 1858–1932
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers 1889-1932, Western Reserve Historical Society, MS 3370, box 1, folder 6

Charles W. Chesnutt to W. E. B. Du Bois, 25 February 1929

  • Date: February 25, 1929
  • 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 Walter White, 1 March 1930

  • Date: March 1, 1930
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Carl Van Vechten Papers Relating to African American Arts and Letters, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University

Charles W. Chesnutt to Walter White, 6 September 1930

  • Date: September 6, 1930
  • Creator(s): Chesnutt, Charles W. (Waddell)
  • Format: letter
  • Source: Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers 1889-1932, Western Reserve Historical Society
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