Edward G. and Hortense R. Levy Autograph collection, part one
Scope and Contents
The Edward G. and Hortense R. Levy Collection, Part I consists of several thousand clipped autographs, franked envelopes, autographed photographs, and autograph notes and letters by nineteenth century British notables. The majority of the items date from the last half of the nineteenth century and include autographs of members of the British royal family; hundreds of members of the nobility and gentry; politicians, especially members of Parliament; churchmen, including missionaries and members of the Anglican hierarchy; artists, authors, actors, and journalists; and military men, in particular holders of the Victoria Cross.
Dates
- 1718-1955
Creator
- Levy, Edward G., 1898-1990 (Collector)
Conditions Governing Access
The materials are open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The Edward G. and Hortense R. Levy Autograph Collection, Part One is the physical property of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. For further information, consult the appropriate curator.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Edward G. and Hortense R. Levy, 1980.
Extent
21.07 Linear Feet (65 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Abstract
Collection of several thousand clipped autographs, franked envelopes, and autographed notes and letters by British notables, mostly from the nineteenth century. The collection is particularly strong in members of the British royal family; members of the nobility and gentry; politicians; churchmen, including missionaries and members of the Anglican hierarchy; and artists, actors, authors and journalists.
EDWARD G. LEVY (1898-1990)
Edward G. Levy was born in New Haven, Connecticut on October 21, 1898 and educated in the city's public schools. He received his LL.B. from Boston University in 1921 and joined his brother, Herman L. Levy, in his law practice in New Haven, specializing in theatrical law. Levy married Hortense Rosenblatt in 1926; their son Charles Joseph was born in 1935.
In May 1938, Levy was charged with participating in a conspiracy with 22 others, including the Mayor of Waterbury, to defraud that city of more than $1,000,000. He pled guilty and turned state's evidence; the New York Times reported on February 4, 1939 that Levy admitted under cross-examination that he had been expelled from Yale University for cheating and that he had worked as a lobbyist "for various interests" before becoming involved with the conspirators. After his cooperation, Levy received a sentence of one year in jail.
In his later years, Levy became known as a dime novel collector and historian, and he and his wife amassed substantial autograph collections as well, donating dime novels and manuscripts to several universities, including Harvard, New York University, and Yale. The couple maintained residences in Woodbridge, Connecticut, and Palm Beach, Florida, where they were members of the Palm Beach Country Club. Edward G. Levy died on January 15th, 1990.
Processing Information
The Edward G. and Hortense R. Levy Autograph Collection was donated to the library in two parts, in 1980 and 1983. Part One was arranged by the library in its present alphabetical order in the 1980s; Part Two remains in its original order by subject.
- Actors -- Great Britain -- Autographs
- Authors, English -- Autographs
- Autographs -- Great Britain
- Clergy -- Great Britain -- Autographs
- Gentry -- Great Britain -- Autographs
- Levy, Edward G., 1898-1990
- Nobility -- Great Britain -- Autographs
- Politicians -- Great Britain -- Autographs
- Royal family -- Great Britain -- Autographs
- Title
- Guide to the Edward G. and Hortense R. Levy Autograph Collection, Part One
- Status
- Under Revision
- Author
- by Beinecke Staff
- Date
- March 2008
- Description rules
- Beinecke Manuscript Unit Archival Processing Manual
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Part of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library Repository
Location
121 Wall Street
New Haven, CT 06511
Opening Hours
Access Information
The Beinecke Library is open to all Yale University students and faculty, and visiting researchers whose work requires use of its special collections. You will need to bring appropriate photo ID the first time you register. Beinecke is a non-circulating, closed stack library. Paging is done by library staff during business hours. You can request collection material online at least two business days in advance of your visit, using the request links in Archives at Yale. For more information, please see Planning Your Research Visit and consult the Reading Room Policies prior to visiting the library.