Scope and Contents
Irving’s creative process can be traced in notebooks and handwritten drafts. The collection includes notes and an autograph manuscript for volumes four and five of Irving's final book Life of George Washington. The various manuscript fragments contained in the collection also illustrate the American public's fascination with Irving and the culture of collecting souvenirs related to his life and writings. For this reason the majority of Irving's drafts are incomplete; for example, the library acquired two leaves from The Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus at separate times and which are from different sections of the original manuscript. A small amount of correspondence with publishers and authors, including Charles Dickens and Sir Walter Scott, also reflect Irving's literary life. Irving's letter to William C. Preston expresses his views regarding the copyright of his works within an international context.
A few documents relating to Irving's work as a diplomat in England and Spain are also part of the collection. These include a passport with Irving's signature in his role as Secretary to the American Legation in London. Irving's correspondence with diplomat Prince Dmitrii Ivanovich Dolgorukii and Scottish painter Sir David Wilkie reflect his experience in Spain. Notably, correspondence with Prince Dmitrii Ivanovich Dolgorukii also includes Dolgorouki's correspondence from Sir David Wilkie, in which Wilkie discusses his painting and work for King George IV of England.
Irving’s personal life can be traced in his correspondence with his siblings and their children (particularly his sister Catherine Rodgers Irving Paris and her daughter Sarah Sanders Paris Storrow). The collection also includes journals belonging to Emily Foster to whom Irving is believed to have proposed marriage. Documents relating to Irving's brothers -- namely John Treat and Peter -- are also included in the collection. The collection contains John Treat Irving's "Simon Pure Papers" (for which Washington Irving drew illustrations) and Peter Irving's journals describing his travels in Europe.
Stanley T. Williams's The Life of Washington Irving and extra-illustrated publications of Irving's writings attest to his reputation and lasting influence.
Dates
- 1802 - 1972
Creator
Language of Materials
Conditions Governing Access
Conditions Governing Use
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Arrangement
Extent
9.8 Linear Feet (25 boxes)
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Overview
Washington Irving (1783-1859)
Processing Information
The collection was largely catalogued prior to the creation of the finding aid. At that time it was loosely organized into genres and then arranged alphabetically. Individual catalogue cards were created for each document and each document was assigned a specific call number. Printed material was catalogued separately and assigned call numbers (Za Ir 8 +G1).
Former call numbers: Za Irving, Za Ir 8 +G1, Uncat Za File 519, Uncat Za File 520, Uncat Za File 521, Uncat Za File 522, and Uncat Za File 523.
This collection includes materials previously identified by multiple call numbers.
- American literature -- 19th century
- Aspinwall, Thomas, 1786-1876
- Authors
- Authors and publishers
- Authors, American -- 19th century -- Archives
- Authors, American -- New York (State)
- Diaries
- Dolgorukiĭ, D. I., kni︠a︡zʹ (Dmitriĭ Ivanovich), -1867
- Engravings (prints)
- Foster, Emily, 1804?-1885
- Irving, John Treat, 1812-1906
- Irving, Peter, 1772-1838
- Irving, Washington, 1783-1859
- Novelists, American
- Paris, Catherine Rodgers Irving
- Storrow, Sarah Sanders Paris
- Thomas, Moses, 1787-1865
- Travelers' writings, American
- Wilkie, David, Sir, 1785-1841
- Title
- Guide to the Washington Irving Collection
- Author
- by Beinecke Staff
- Date
- 2013
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- 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.