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COLLECTION Identifier: MS Am 1088

Charles Eliot Norton papers

Overview

Letters sent to American author, editor and Harvard professor, Charles Eliot Norton.

Dates

  • Creation: 1845-1908

Language of Materials

Collection materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions on physical access to this material.

Conditions Governing Use

Images linked to the finding aid describing this collection are intended for public access and educational use. This material is owned and/or held by the Houghton Library, and is provided solely for the purpose of teaching or individual research. Any other use, including commercial reuse, mounting on other systems, or other forms of redistribution requires the permission of the curator.

Extent

15 linear feet (45 boxes)

This archive contains letters addressed to Charles Eliot Norton from about 1845 to1908. Norton was a Harvard graduate (A.B. 1846) and professor of the History of Fine Arts at Harvard from 1874 to 1898, with a special interest in the study and translation of Dante. Many of the letters in this collection deal with art and with Dante. In addition he knew a great many prominent figures in both England and the United States, especially those in the political field and the literary and artistics fields. His correspondence with these people often touches upon their public and their private lives.

From 1863 to 1868 Norton was joint editor with his friend James Russell Lowell of the North American review. The letters addressed to him as editor are marked in this index by a star (*) and the folders containing them are stamped with a red N.A.R.(=North American Review).

In 1898 Norton's opposition to the Spanish-American war led Senator George F. Hoar to criticize him. A list of some of the letters Norton received commenting on this controversy is at the end of this index.

Referenced throughout the finding aid is the Excavations at Delphi (scrapbook folder) with a folder designation, such as f.1, f.2, and so on. All folders can be found at item number 5308.

Biographical / Historical

Norton was an American author, editor, and teacher. He was coeditor of the North American Review from 1864 to 1868 and helped found the political review, The Nation in 1865. He was professor of the history of fine arts at Harvard.

Arrangement

Organized into the following series:

  1. Letters to Charles Eliot Norton
  2. Index to Spanish-American War letters

Arranged by name of correspondent.

Please note that item numbers 232 and 6573 were inadvertently omitted from this finding aid.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of the Norton family, 1914-1949.

Related Materials

See also HOLLIS catalog for additional materials related to Charles Eliot Norton, the Norton family, and the North American Review.

Index to Spanish-American War Letters

Norton was opposed to the Spanish-American War and in June, 1898, he expressed his views to some Harvard students. He was severely criticized by Senator George F. Hoar. For comments on the attitudes of Norton and Senator Hoar and on the controversy between them, see the following letters:

  1. Abbot, Francis Ellingwood, 1836-1903. 19 Jul 1898
  2. Abbott, Lyman, 1835-1922. 10 Aug 1898
  3. Agassiz, Alexander, 1835-1910. 20 Jul 1898
  4. Atwood, Samuel Adams. 19 Jul 1898
  5. Ayer, M. S. 25 Aug 1898
  6. Babbott, Frank Lusk, 1854-1933. 11 Sep 1898
  7. Bailey, Hannah (Johnston) 1839-1923. 3 Aug 1898
  8. Barlow, Ellen. (Shaw) 20 Jul [1898]
  9. Bass, William Louis, 1865- 20 Jul 1898
  10. Bassett, William. 30 Aug 1898
  11. Bates, Gilbert H. 11 Nov 1898
  12. Beaman, Gamaliel. 26 Aug 1898
  13. Bennett, R. T. 27 Jul 1898
  14. Bennett, Samuel Crocker, 1858-1925. 22 Jul 1898
  15. Blackiston, Katharine A. 9 Sep 1898
  16. Bowditch, Vincent Yardley, d.1929. 19 Jul 1898
  17. Boyd, William Riley. 8 Aug 1898
  18. Bradish, Frank Eliot, d.1914. 21 Jul 1898
  19. Bridgman, S. E. 26 Aug 1898
  20. Brown, James H. 20 Jul 1898
  21. Burgess, W. W. 20 Jul 1898
  22. Burnham, James A. 24 Jun 1898
  23. Carter, Alice H. 6 Sep 1898
  24. Cassot, Arthur. 19 Jul 1898
  25. Chamberlain, Mellen, 1821-1900. 18 Jul 1898
  26. Chandler, John Rice. 20 Jul 1898
  27. Clymer, William Branford Shubrick, d.1903. 24 Jul 1898
  28. Cockrell, Robert Spratt, 1866- 30 Oct 1898
  29. Conway, Moncure Daniel, 1832-1907. 30 Jul 1898
  30. Cox, Fred H. 15 May 1898
  31. Craik, George W. 1 Nov 1898
  32. Crosby, Eleanor Francis (Davis) 1845- 20 Jul 1898
  33. Cupples, J. G. 18 Jul 1898
  34. Curtis, A[?] S. 11 Aug 1898
  35. Curtis, James G. 19 Jul 1898
  36. Dall, Caroline (Healey) 1822-1912. 5 Nov 1898
  37. Davis, Samuel Warren. 27 Jul 1898
  38. Del Mar, Alexander, 1836-1926. 31 Oct 1898
  39. Deyo, Amanda. 13 Jul 1898
  40. Dixon, Thomas, 1864- 16 Sep [1898]
  41. Dole, Nathan Haskell, 1852-1935. 23 Jul 1898
  42. Eames, Charles E. 18 Sep 1898
  43. Eastin, William B. 27 Aug 1898
  44. Eggleston, George Cary, 1839-1911. 24 Jul 1898
  45. Endicott, William, d.1941. 28 Aug 1898
  46. Fairchild, Elisabeth. 19 Jul [1898]
  47. Felt, C. A. 30 Aug 1898
  48. Felt, Charles W. 19 Jul 1898
  49. Folk, Joseph Wingate, 1869-1923. 31 Jul 1898
  50. Fowler, William J. 2 Sep 1898; 6 Sep 1898
  51. Fuller, J. B. 23 Jul 1898
  52. Garrison, Wendell Phillips, 1840-1907. 29 Jul 1898
  53. Gaskell, Margaret Emily, 1837-1913. 15 Nov 1898
  54. George, Andrew Jackson, 1855-1907. 20 Jul 1898
  55. Gerould, E. P. 2 Aug 1898
  56. Gibbs, David. 22 Jul 1898
  57. Gleason, A. A. 29 Aug 1898
  58. Godkin, Edwin Lawrence, 1831-1902. 4 Aug [1898]
  59. Gould, John Melville, 1848-1909. 20 Jul 1898
  60. Greene, Frederick Lewis, d.1922. 24 Jul 1898; 30 Jul 1898
  61. Griffin, J. B. [1898?]
  62. Griswold, William McCrillis, 1853-1899. 19 Jul 1898
  63. Hale, Edward. 20 Jul 1898
  64. Hall, H. S. 21 Jul [1898]
  65. Hammond, William B. 27 Aug 1898
  66. Harding, Benjamin Fosdick, 1857-1923. 19 Jul 1898
  67. Harrington, George S? 19 Jul 1898
  68. Hodges, George Clarendon 21 Jul 1898
  69. Holden, Edwin Babcock, 1861-1906. 6 Sep 1898
  70. Holst, Hermann von, 1841-1904. 15 Aug 1898
  71. Honcharenko, Agapius. 18 Nov 1898
  72. Hopkins, Frank Easton, 1863-1933. 29 Aug 1898
  73. Howe, Archibald Murray, 1848-1916. 21 Jul 1898
  74. Hunnewell, Walter, 1844-1921. 20 Jul 1898
  75. Hutchinson, Harold. 18 Jul 1898
  76. Hyslop, James Hervey, 1854-1920. 30 Oct 1898
  77. Irwin, George Francis. 29 Aug [1898]
  78. James, David B. 20 Jul 1898; 2 Aug 1898; 6 Aug 1898; 8 Aug 1898; 15 Aug 1898
  79. Johnson, Clifton, 1865-1940. 20 Jul 1898
  80. Johnson, Thomas Moore, 1851-1919. 12 Sep 1898
  81. Jones, Samuel Arthur, 1834-1912. 31 Jul 1898; 9 Aug 1898
  82. 1 15 Aug 1898 20 Aug 1898
  83. Jordan, David Starr, 1851-1931. 15 Sep 1898
  84. Kilvert, Emily M. C. 27 Apr 1898
  85. King, Andrew. 28 Aug 1898
  86. King, William Lyon Mackenzie, 1874- 22 Jul 1898
  87. Kinne, H. C. 2 Sep 1898
  88. Knights, Alonzo A. 29 Aug 1898
  89. Kriehn, George, 1868- 24 Jul 1898
  90. Lamb, Henry Whitney, 1853-1926. 22 Jul 1898
  91. Larrabee, L. L. 7 Nov 1898
  92. Lawton, Mary. 19 Jul 1898
  93. Leavens, Albert. 20 Jul 1898
  94. LeMoyne, Francis Julius. 20 Jul 1898
  95. Leonard, W. J. 20 Jul 1898
  96. Leonard, William Ellery, 1876-1944. Poem: "Charles Eliot Norton"; Jul 1898
  97. Lewis, Katharine Mary Campbell (Norton) Barney, 1849- 25 Aug 1898
  98. Lowe, Martha Ann (Perry) 1829-1902. 20 Jul 1898
  99. Loyal legion of American citizens. Chicago. Resolutions about Charles E. Norton. 29 Aug 1898
  100. McCartney, Henry R. 30 Sep 1898
  101. McClurg, Alexander Caldwell, 1832-1901. 29 Aug 1898
  102. McKenzie, Alexander, 1830-1914. 20 Jul 1898
  103. McPherson, Ross, 1876-1935. [1898]
  104. MacVeagh, Eames. 17 Aug 1898
  105. Marbburn[?] F. A. 22 Jul 1898
  106. Marriott, Richard. 26 Aug 1898
  107. Mathews, Edward Roscoe. 20 Jul 1898
  108. May, Joseph, 1836-1918. 11 Sep 1898
  109. Milburn[?] Joseph A. [20 Jul 1898]
  110. Miller, Charles Kingsbury, 1850- 1 Dec 1898
  111. Moore, Charles, 1855-1942. 18 Jul 1898
  112. Morgan, Morris Hickey, 1859-1910. 18 Jul 1898
  113. Morse, Edward Leland Clarke. 24 Aug 1898; 8 Sep 1898
  114. Murphy, J. H. 10 May 1899
  115. Nash, George Miner, d.1916. 20 Jul 1898
  116. Nields, John P., 1868- 19 Jul 1898
  117. Nobili, A. C. 27 Aug 1898
  118. Norcross, Grenville Howland, 1854-1937. 19 Jul 1898
  119. Nordhoff, Charles, 1830-1901. 20 May 1898
  120. Northrop[?] Theo T 29 Aug 1898
  121. Norton, Eliot, 1863-1932. 27 Aug 1898
  122. Nott, Charles Cooper, 1827-1916. 3 Sep 1898
  123. O'Neil, James. 28 Aug 1898
  124. Pagenstieben[?] A. 31 Aug 1898
  125. Palmer, Julius Auboineau, 1840-1899. 2 Nov 1898
  126. Palmer, William Jackson, 1836-1909. 22 Jul 1898
  127. Parks, Samuel C. 27 Aug 1898
  128. Parsons, Albert Stevens, 1841-1922. 18 Jul 1898; 10 Aug 1898; 26 Aug 1898
  129. Patton, A. T. 5 Nov 1898
  130. Payson, George Shipman, 1845-1923. 3 Oct 1898
  131. Peabody, Francis, 1854-1938. 21 Jul 1898
  132. Peabody, George Foster, 1852-1938. 27 Aug 1898
  133. Pickering, Mary G. W. 27 Aug 1898
  134. Planthok, Mrs. Charles. 1 Jan 1899
  135. Prindle, James Dwight. 21 Jul 1898
  136. Rayner, Tyrrell. 25 Jul 1898
  137. Richards, Theodore William, 1868-1928. 20 Jul 1898
  138. Robinson, Nelson Lemuel. 21 Aug 1898
  139. Roe, Charles. 23 Jul 1898
  140. Romeike, Henry, 1855-1903. 18 Jul 1898
  141. Russell, John Edwards, 1834-1903. 20 Jul 1898
  142. Sabine, William T. 27 Jul 1898
  143. Saisons[?] Herbert C. 26 Aug 1898
  144. Scattergood, George J. 26 Aug 1898
  145. Schofield, William Henry, 1870-1920. 20 Jul 1898
  146. Schroff, Max. 26 Aug 1898
  147. Shaw, Sarah B. 6 Aug 1898; 8 Sep 1898
  148. Shea, Thomas Knight. 26 Jul 1898
  149. Smith, Minna Caroline, 1860-1929. 29 Jul 1898
  150. Spackman William Master. 20 Jul 1898
  151. Spooner, Henry J. to George F. Hoar. 19 Jul 1898
  152. Stevens, Abram Walter. 18 Aug 1898
  153. Stillman, Charles Chauncey. 1 Aug 1898
  154. Stocker, G. 6 Sep 1898
  155. Stone, Jennie Frances. 21 Jul [1898]
  156. Storey, Moorfield, 1845-1929. 9 Dec 1898
  157. Thayer, William Roscoe, 1859-1923. 11 Aug 1898
  158. Thompson, Harry F. 20 Jul 1898
  159. Trent, William Peterfield, 1862-1939. 19 Jul 1898; 15 Oct 1898
  160. Trowbridge, John, 1843-1923. 20 Jul 1898
  161. Valentine, Robert Grosvenor, 1872-1916. [27 Jul 1898]
  162. Van Dyke, John Charles, 1856-1932. 27 Aug [1898]
  163. Westover, George F. 3 Nov 1898
  164. Wetherbee, George R. 29 Aug 1898
  165. White, Stamford. 19 Jul 1898; 26[?] Aug 1898
  166. Whitmore, James Herman. 20 Jul 1898
  167. Whitney, G. L. 19 Jul 1898
  168. Wigmore, John Henry, 1863-1943. 18 Jul [1898]
  169. Williams, Charles J. 30 Aug 1898
  170. Williams, T. D. 14 Jul 1898
  171. Wilson, E. H. 15 Nov 1898
  172. Wilson, P. 28 Jul 1898
  173. Winthrop, Robert Charles, 1834-1905. 19 Jul 1898
  174. Wolcott, Charles W. 26 Aug 1898
  175. Wood, Charles James, d.1906. 15 Jul 1898
  176. Wood, George Willard, 1854- 10 May 1898
  177. Yates, William H. 21 Jul 1898
  178. Norton, Charles Eliot, 1827-1908. To Editor, New York Times Saturday Review -- 23 Aug 1898; To [Lyman] Abbott -- [6 Aug? 1898]
  179. Anonymous and unidentified letters:
  180. "American" [30 Oct 1898?]
  181. "Your admirer" 5 Sep 1898
  182. "Harvard graduate" 31 Oct 1898
  183. Picture of donkey sent to Charles E. Norton [postmark: 13 Aug 1898]
  184. "An anti-imperialist" 8 Feb 1901
  185. [ ] [Somerville, 1898]

Processing Information

Recataloged from MS Am 9028, Nor 5259.13*, and "Old Autograph file."

The 2 volume extra-illustrated set, Nor 5259.13* was reclassified to MS Am 1088.14, and the materials pasted into the volumes were indexed in this finding aid. The volumes are housed and cataloged separately under MS Am 1088.14.

Title
Norton, Charles Eliot, 1827-1908. Charles Eliot Norton papers, circa 1845-1908: Guide.
Author
Houghton Library, Harvard College Library
Language of description
und
EAD ID
hou00083

Repository Details

Part of the Houghton Library Repository

Houghton Library is Harvard College's principal repository for rare books and manuscripts, archives, and more. Houghton Library's collections represent the scope of human experience from ancient Egypt to twenty-first century Cambridge. With strengths primarily in North American and European history, literature, and culture, collections range in media from printed books and handwritten manuscripts to maps, drawings and paintings, prints, posters, photographs, film and audio recordings, and digital media, as well as costumes, theater props, and a wide range of other objects. Houghton Library has historically focused on collecting the written record of European and Eurocentric North American culture, yet it holds a large and diverse number of primary sources valuable for research on the languages, culture and history of indigenous peoples of the Americas, Africa, Asia and Oceania.

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