Edward Payson Roe Collection 1871-1888

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:

Edward Payson Roe Collection, Accession 7922-a, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Summary

Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Edward Payson Roe Collection, Accession 7922-a, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Background

Scope and content:

[Tipped into booklet.]

[Encloses [manuscript ?]; indicates his willingness to cut it if it is too long; invites him to visit; writes that he will soon send a check for $20.]

[Sends autograph in response to request for [Squire's] collection of "Knights of the Quill."]

[Thanks him for "interesting volume."]

[Expresses thanks for being honored by Wood's Society.]

[Outlines a story of a war refugee family based on Memoirs of the War of the Revolution in the Southern Dept. of the United States; indicates his desire to produce what the editors want and to cooperate in every way; hopes for sufficient remuneration as he is financially pressed.]

[Approves circular and hopes to hear from McClure about his sister's [ Mary Abigail Roe] story as well as his own.]

[Writes that, because of the volume of other work, he must know when the requested piece would be required and what he would receive for it before making a commitment.]

[Writes that Current, which had been publishing a story of his, failed; fears he will suffer financial loss as a result; states that failure has impelled him to write " Significant Hummingbirds, " which he describes, to recoup losses; offers to sell it for $200.]

[Writes that, although he has had another offer for [" Significant Hummingbirds"], he has awaited McClure's response; sends the manuscript and points out its timeliness, because much criticism is being expressed of "wearing little birds."]

[Excuses his delay in replying because he was on a mountain excursion with [Henry Mills] Alden; accepts the rejection of his story and will try again.]

[Writes that he will meet McClure in December to discuss requests; states he is reluctant to take on new commitments because of promised work; hopes to begin war stories shortly; explains that he must write when the mood strikes rather than promise "a certain length and at a certain time"; writes he must complete work for Harper's [Monthly]. ]

[Explains the illness of his child prevented their planned meeting; requests a letter stating the type of work desired; states he will do his best but cannot meet demands as to length and completion date.]

[States that he is writing a book which will provide more income that short stories; writes he will communicate with McClure when he has more time for stories.]

[Discusses a short story, which he has almost completed; writes he will submit it to [ Youth's Companion], his first attempt having been rejected; comments on a story which recently appeared in their publication which affected him deeply.]

[Discusses observance of the Sabbath and the role of Sunday newspapers; believes Sunday should be set apart from the rest of the week and publications should emphasize literature and articles leading to "higher thoughts . . . and better living" rather than business and crime.]

[Expresses understanding of an editor's right to choose his material and accepts the rejection of his story, which he has submitted elsewhere; writes that he is "mulish enough" to try again.]

[Writes that he has returned from Charlestonwith material for a story; states he will leave in 2 weeks for Santa Barbara, Californiawith his family; expects the railroad companies and Santa Barbarato profit from his literary work; hopes for financial concessions; explains that, having "endorsed for a relative and lost everything," he is in financial difficulty.]

[Accepts, on behalf of his friend, whatever seems fair for the manuscript and photographs; believes the article will be an attractive feature in Wright's magazine.]

[Offers for publication a love story, " A Queen of Spades, " for which he asks $300 to be paid as soon as possible; reserves the right to publish in book form at a later date.]

Acquisition information:
Deposit [ 17 Dec 1963] 14 Nov 1966
Processing information:

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

Physical location:
Physical description:
20 items