Yale Collection of American Literature Letter Collection
Collection
Call Number: YCAL MSS 446
Scope and Contents
The Yale Collection of American Literature Letter Collection contains single letters and small groups of letters acquired by the Beinecke Library from various sources and at various times, previously represented in the Beinecke Manuscripts Card Catalog. Letters sometimes include enclosures such as manuscript drafts and clippings. Folders frequently contain additional provenance, descriptive, or other information not reflected in this list.
Dates
- 1816-1980
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
The materials are open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Yale Collection of American Literature Letter Collection 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
Materials acquired by gift or purchase from various sources, as noted in the finding aid and on folders.
Arrangement
The files are arranged alphabetically by name main entry, which usually is the author of the piece. In a few cases, however, the material is filed under the name of the person who is the subject or recipient of the letter(s). Cross references from older forms of names used as main entries in the card catalog have been included in this online list, as necessary. Two unidentified items are filed at the beginning of the collection.
Extent
13.02 Linear Feet (31 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Overview
The Yale Collection of American Literature Letter Collection contains single letters and small groups of letters acquired by the Beinecke Library from various sources and at various times, previously represented in the Beinecke Manuscripts Card Catalog. Letters sometimes include enclosures such as manuscript drafts and clippings. Folders frequently contain additional provenance, descriptive, or other information not reflected in this list.
Processing Information
This collection includes materials previously identified by the following call number: ZA Letter File.
Until circa 1980, the library filed and cataloged single and small groups of letters in an artifician collection titled ZA Letter File. In the mid-1990s, the library converted the catalog cards into a finding aid, and began the Yale Collection of American Literature MSS Miscellany, which includes single or small groups of letters and manuscripts acquired after 1980 and arranged by the author's name. Also in the mid-1990s, the library began the practice of cataloging in Orbis any item, regardless of size, that warranted full subject access.
Dates in brackets are supplied by the archivist. The physical form of each item is identified by the following abbreviated notations: Typescript Letter Signed (TLS); Autograph Letter Signed (ALS); Note Signed (NS); Autographed Note Signed (ANS); Typed Manuscript Signed (TMS); Autograph Manuscript Signed (AMS).
In the course of converting the card files to a finding aid for ZA Letter File, non-original ancillary material, including later newspaper and journal clippings (previously uncataloged), as well as photocopies and photostats of manuscript originals not held by the Beinecke Library, were removed at the request of the curator. Folders of material received from the Yale University Press were removed to the Yale University Press collection (ZA Yale University Press). In 2011, the ZA Letter File was renamed Yale Collection of American Literature Letter Collection and assigned a new call number YCAL MSS 446.
All pertinent bibliographical information from the previosuly existing card set in the Manuscripts Catalog has been retained.
In some cases, items were removed from ZA Letter File and repatriated to manuscript collections during processing.
Until circa 1980, the library filed and cataloged single and small groups of letters in an artifician collection titled ZA Letter File. In the mid-1990s, the library converted the catalog cards into a finding aid, and began the Yale Collection of American Literature MSS Miscellany, which includes single or small groups of letters and manuscripts acquired after 1980 and arranged by the author's name. Also in the mid-1990s, the library began the practice of cataloging in Orbis any item, regardless of size, that warranted full subject access.
Dates in brackets are supplied by the archivist. The physical form of each item is identified by the following abbreviated notations: Typescript Letter Signed (TLS); Autograph Letter Signed (ALS); Note Signed (NS); Autographed Note Signed (ANS); Typed Manuscript Signed (TMS); Autograph Manuscript Signed (AMS).
In the course of converting the card files to a finding aid for ZA Letter File, non-original ancillary material, including later newspaper and journal clippings (previously uncataloged), as well as photocopies and photostats of manuscript originals not held by the Beinecke Library, were removed at the request of the curator. Folders of material received from the Yale University Press were removed to the Yale University Press collection (ZA Yale University Press). In 2011, the ZA Letter File was renamed Yale Collection of American Literature Letter Collection and assigned a new call number YCAL MSS 446.
All pertinent bibliographical information from the previosuly existing card set in the Manuscripts Catalog has been retained.
In some cases, items were removed from ZA Letter File and repatriated to manuscript collections during processing.
- Title
- Guide to the Yale Collection of American Literature Letter Collection
- Author
- by Beinecke Staff
- Date
- July 2000
- 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.