Silas Weir Mitchell Collection 1870-1911

Access and use

Location of collection:
University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia
P.O. Box 400110
170 McCormick Rd
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Special Collections Public Services & Reference Staff
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968
Restrictions:

Collection is open to research.

Terms of access:

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred citation:

Silas Weir Mitchell Collection, Accession 6337-b, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Summary

Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Silas Weir Mitchell Collection, Accession 6337-b, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Background

Scope and content:

[Early draft of the beginning of Westways, 1913.]

[Gives thanks for satisfactory closure on sale of land; asks for account of sale of 160 acres.]

[Encloses account for consultations.]

[Says he has letter from Cadwalader's grandfather and will keep it for him or send it to him; offers him and his wife money if they need it; offers hospitality in Philadelphia. ]

[Responds to request for an autograph; says he is unable to write a selection.]

[Gives dates on which he could meet Howard Pylein New York; discusses a poem and illustration which will appear in a magazine.]

[Informs company that Silas Weir Mitchellapproved the page proof; wants manuscript of his preface returned so he may make corrections; encloses a copy of page proof, 3 pages of Francis Drake: A Tragedy of the Sea; includes AN by Silas Weir Mitchellapproving the page and requesting the manuscript of the preface for corrections.]

[Says he read the book sent to him when he was ill; discusses the merits of poetry and Johnson's, Richard Watson Gilder's , and his own work; promises to send his new book "for revenge."]

[Says he is willing to read for 20 minutes later on in the program when the audience has quieted down; thinks that too many readers are on the program for the time available; suggests that program be altered because, in its present form, it appears to be a commercial affair.]

[Replies to his letter to Beatrice Tollemache; discusses his own writings, especially the character sketches, "talks with Mr. Gladstone," and a small volume sent to Mitchell containing reminiscences of Lewis Carroll; talks at length about poetry, Mitchell's " When all the Woods are Green"; believes Mitchell's verses are reminiscent of Rudyard Kipling's " Recessional Hymn"; mentions his schoolfellow, George Trevelyan; refers to a friendly review of Characteristicsin The Spectatorof August 12.]

[Thanks him for books; mentions Characteristics, " When all the Woods are Green, " and her own attempt to write character sketches; discusses an old saying from Cheshire; relates stories about her nephew's exploits in the Rockies and in Africa; tells a story about a Benedictine monk who was sent from Englandto America. ]

[Discusses details of speaking engagement at Smith College. ]

[Responds to inquiry.]

[Speaks with affection about Gibbs' deceased sister and her hospitality to him; sends him some theses that give evidence of the activity in Smith's department.]

[Responds to request for and autograph.]

[Regrets that he is unable to attend the funeral of his old friend; promises to write again in a few days; sends regards to Emily Tuckerman. ]

[Expresses feelings on the death of her uncle; fears the slow decay of old age; talks affectionately about [ Oliver Wolcott Gibbs], his old friend.]

[Praises Arthur Haleas a proper member of the Players; says he cannot promise to autograph book because he may not be in New Yorkfor months.]

[Expresses thanks.]

[Remarks on the sonnets of the "Wingless Hours" by an unnamed author he sent to him; believes the author to be an invalid lacking in self-criticism; comments that he himself does not know how to use the "terrible" sonnet form.]

[Gives him the times he can see him in Chicago; asks to see some people while there as well as Payne's museum in the Park; requests hotel arrangements for himself and his valet; declines a fee; AN accepts cost of travel and hotel only.]

[Thanks him for an encouraging letter concerning "his best work"; believes that although the book did not sell as well as others, there were rewards of another nature; mentions the many letters from people with similar histories who came to him; singles out letter of woman who told about the influence of drink on her husband.]

[Says he is glad to receive The Dial; wishes that magazine luck, larger space, and competent length of reviews; believes that reviews ought to be signed by the reviewers; speculates that George E. B. Saintsburywrote an article on "Chicago Fair"; calls S[aintsbury] "really a pestilent fellow"; recommends that Browne reprint Saintsbury's article on Lowell and the Civil War which Saintsbury called "a parochial disturbance"; praises H. B. Fuller's The Cliff Dwellers. ] (Includes 2 typed carbon copies)

[Wonders about the rooms that were engaged for them in Chicago; sends a list of people he wants to see, especially Dr. Billings and [Patriott]; hopes a lot of doctors will attend his lecture; promises it will be brilliant and original; asks for travel expenses only because he never takes a fee for lectures.]

[Sends her one of his books, which was very successful in America; speaks about a young man he felt sorry for but was unable to help.]

[Says he will send out invitations later than the correspondent will send his announcements; believes Professor Barker will be more helpful than Wood.]

[Requests 2 copies of Hephzibah Guinessfor minor corrections; says no corrections are needed for Wear and Tear; asks that he find the number of editors and the publisher of the first edition of Wear and Tear. ]

[Complains that he finds the commercial side of his life distasteful; insists that his own doctor take fees; sends him his consultant account.]

[States that Aldrich has recovered from illness and has returned to making verse about Longfellow; says he is working on the third copy of his new novel which will appear next November in The Century; mentions that [Richard Watson] Gilderis excited about the novel; believes it to be a good sign in an editor; refers to his son's new play.]

[Expresses interest and comments on book Cholim sent to him on Cholim's "race."]

[Remarks that a book presented to Thomas Jeffersonwould be worth more if it has Jefferson's signature.]

[Advises her to go without Bismuth for some time; recommends four books to be read to her father; mentions a nice note he received from Mrs. Forbes.]

[Speaks about telepathic sympathies between them; admires Gibbs' handwriting which belies his age; describes his visits to his patients; notes that he works as a doctor only in the winter and spends summers fishing for salmon and writing fiction in Maine; believes some essential difference exists between scientific work and creative fiction.]

[Sends regrets because he is unable to undertake "this pleasant and interesting matter."]

[Turns down trip to Buffaloto see a mental patient; discusses the problems of diagnosing and treating mental patients; asks for contribution to enlarge his nervous hospital; reports that Mr. Robb is very well, but unaware of the peril he was in.]

[Feels that members of the W. Island Clubthat are not present should be able to vote on new members; thinks it should use the same procedure as in the Round Table Club; suggests that Strong make some change in the laws.]

[Says number 5-c has been ready for her for awhile; fears that it will be part of a collection nobody will buy.]

[Signed by Silas Weir Mitchelland George William Jacobs & Co.and witnessed by Cosntance J. Greerand Pariau S. Parsons. ]

[Includes biographical sketch listing Mitchell's accomplishments as a physician and writer

[For medical attendance.]

[Includes 2 copies of a poem.]

[Poem, signed by Silas Weir Mitchell. ]

[Volume bound in dark blue leather with gilt ornamentation; includes following items.]

[Reflects on six weeks spent in Venice. ]

[Thanks him for the book which he is looking forward to reading.]

[Recommends his brother for the position of physician at Lazarette.]

[Regrets that he cannot help with the binding.]

[Declines invitation.]

[Inscribed to Silas Weir Mitchell. ]

[Says he is pleased by comment about poem; includes AN on verso, initialed W. M., 1892, describes when Holmes gave Mitchell the poem and letter.]

[Discusses his publishing projects.]

[Declines invitation.]

[Includes signed autograph dedication to Silas Weir Mitchell. ]

[Asks her to send copy of " Battle Hymn of the Republic. "]

[Encloses autograph copy of " Battle Hymn of the Republic"; claims share of credit for writing it since her mother wrote while staying with her; compliments his book.]

[Inscribed to Silas Weir Mitchell. ]

[Signed by author.]

[Laid in back of volume.]

[Includes 17 autographs, 10 identifiable as Moncure Daniel Conway, John W. [Karlson], Stanley Matthews, Andrew D. White, Weir Mitchell, E. R. Robinson, [ J. F. Davies], James MacAlister, George Sechel Pepper, William Pepper. ]

Acquisition information:
Deposit 1963 Dec 17
Processing information:

Funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities

Physical location:
Physical description:
ca. 65 items