Boston Public Library Rare Books and Manuscripts Department Finding Aid

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1 Boston Public Library Rare Books and Manuscripts Department Finding Aid Samuel L. Clemens (Mark Twain) Correspondence (bulk ) Ms Acc 532 Collection Summary: Title: Samuel L. Clemens (Mark Twain) Correspondence Span Dates: Bulk: Ms No: Ms Acc 532 Creator: Samuel L. Clemens Extent:.5 cubic ft. Language: Material is in English Abstract: This collection documents the relationship between the American novelist Samuel Clemens ( ) and the sculptor Kurt Gerhardt ( ). Clemens financed Kurt Gerhardt s education at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris, and in 1885, helped he helped Gerhardt secure a commission from President Ulysses S. Grant. Other subjects include Clemens health, travel plans, business matters, among them his lecture tour and finances, and an altercation involving an unauthorized biographical publication. Also discussed are book illustrations and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Personal Names: Clemens, Samuel Langhorne, Twain, Mark, Clemens, Olivia Gerhardt, Karl, Bliss, Elisha, Stoddard, Charles Warren, Lanthrop, George Parson, Chatto, Andrew, Subjects: Sculpture, American -- 19th century. Entrepreneurship. Typesetting machines -- Design and construction. Administrative Information: Provenance: This collection was purchased through the Josiah H. Benton Fund, April Processing History: Finding aid prepared by Heather Mumford, March

2 Preferred Citation: Samuel L. Clemens Correspondence. Courtesy of the Trustees of the Boston Public Library/Rare Books. Access Restrictions: Collection is open for research. Chronology: Date Event 1835 Samuel Clemens born in Florida, Missouri Olivia (Langdon) Clemens born in Elmira, New York Karl Gerhardt born in Boston, Massachusetts Harriet Josephine (Gloyd) Gerhardt born in Dalton, Massachusetts Clemens and Olivia Langdon marry Clemens family moves to Hartford, Connecticut The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is published Clemens begins investment in Paige typesetter Clemens finances sculptor Karl Gerhardt s education at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris Gerhardt returns to America to find work. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is published Clemens and Gerhardt visit Ulysses S. Grant and present Grant with bust Clemens family moves to Europe Clemens embarks on world-wide lecture tour to recover from debt Harriet Josephine Gerhardt passes away in Bloomfield, Connecticut Clemens finishes paying off creditors. Clemens family takes up residence in an apartment at the Hotel Krantz, Vienna Clemens family returns to America. 2

3 1904 Olivia Clemens passes away. Samuel Clemens moves to New York City Clemens moves to Redding, Connecticut Daughter Clara marries, Daughter Jean passes away Samuel Clemens passes away in Redding, Connecticut Karl Gerhardt passes away in Shreveport, Louisiana. Related Collections: [?], 1874, Ms.E.9.4 Baxter, Sylvester, 1887, Whitman Mss 2 Field, Kate, 1886, Ks.KF.101 Field, Kate, [1873], Ms.KF Vol. 1 No. 100 Phillips, Mary E., 1901, Ms.Am 1200 Phillips, Mary E., [1901], Ms.Am 1200 Phillips, Mary E., 1904, Ms.Am 1200 Redpath, James, [1872], A Scope and Content Note: This collection contains sixty-one letters written by Samuel Clemens between 1870 and The majority of the letters are addressed to Karl Gerhardt and document their personal and business relationship. Topics include the yearly expenses of Gerhardt's education, the Ulysses Grant bust, and the Paige Typesetting Machine. In addition to business matters, Clemens also wrote to inform Gerhardt on the whereabouts and general well-being of their mutual friends, including Augustus St. Gaudens, John Quincy Adams Ward, and Charles Dudley Warner. Also documented is Clemens publications, such as Mark Twain s Annual 1871, book illustrations, family travel plans, and lecture tours. Mark Twain's Lebensgeschichte, an unauthorized biography Clemens found in Vienna, Professor Rudolf Virchow's plasmon powder, and Jesuits and Catholics are some of the other subjects are discussed in the letters. Moreover, the contribution made by Ambrose Bierce ( ) to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is also mentioned. Organization of the Papers: The correspondence is arranged alphabetically by recipient. 3

4 Container List Box 1 Folder Contents Date 1 Bliss, Elisha n.d. 2 Chatto, Andrew n.d. 3 Dear Sir Dear Sir Deed: Paige Typesetting Machine 1889, Envelopes (empty) 1881, 1882, Fragment n.d. 8 Gerhardt, Karl and Josephine Gerhardt, Karl and Josephine Gerhardt, Karl and Josephine Gerhardt, Karl Gerhardt, Karl Gerhardt, Karl Gerhardt, Karl Gerhardt, Karl n.d 16 Gerhardt, Karl and Josephine n.d 17 Gerhardt, Karl and Josephine n.d. 18 Gerhardt, Karl n.d. 19 Lanthrop, George Lutz [?] Note n.d. 4

5 22 Old Man Old Man Portrait s n.d. 25 Stoddard, Charles Stoddard, Charles n.d. 5