Scope and Contents
The E. F. Benson Papers consist of writings, correspondence, and business and financial files, documenting Benson's fiction-writing career and spanning the years 1894 to 1929. Writings consist almost entirely of drafts, most corrected, of short stories by Benson, his novel Paul (1906), and an evidently unpublished and untitled novel written in 1906. Among the short stories are two of Benson's most celebrated "spook stories," "The Superannuation Department AD 1945" (1906) and "The Thing in the Hall" (1912). Other papers include correspondence, sales and royalty statements, contracts, bills, and receipts that document Benson's business dealings with his literary agency (the Author's Syndicate, Ltd.) and various publishers.
Dates
- 1894 - 1929
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
The materials are open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The E. F. Benson Papers 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
Purchased from David J. Holmes on the Edwin J. Beinecke Book Fund, the Starling W. Childs Library Fund, and the George Henry Nettleton Fund, 1991-1996, and from Julian Nangle on the George Henry Nettleton Fund, 1997.
Arrangement
Organized into three series: I. Writings, 1894-1924. II. Correspondence, 1901-1929. III. Business and Financial Papers, 1902-1918.
Extent
3.13 Linear Feet (8 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 E. F. Benson Papers consist of writings, correspondence, and business and financial files, documenting Benson's fiction-writing career and spanning the years 1894 to 1929. Writings consist almost entirely of drafts, most corrected, of short stories by Benson, his novel Paul (1906), and an evidently unpublished and untitled novel written in 1906. Among the short stories are two of Benson's most celebrated "spook stories," "The Superannuation Department AD 1945" (1906) and "The Thing in the Hall" (1912). Other papers include correspondence, sales and royalty statements, contracts, bills, and receipts that document Benson's business dealings with his literary agency (the Authors' Syndicate, Ltd.) and various publishers.
E. F. Benson, 1867-1940
Edward Frederic Benson was a British author known most widely today for his comic "Mapp and Lucia" series and his short stories of the supernatural. E. F. Benson was the fifth child of Mary Sidgwick Benson and Edward White Benson, who served as Archbishop of Canterbury from 1883 to 1896. Benson was educated at Marlborough College and King's College, Cambridge, where he completed his studies in 1892.
Benson's first novel, Dodo, was published in 1893 and enjoyed significant acclaim and commercial success. Benson went on to a prolific literary career, publishing nearly 100 works including novels, short stories, memoirs, biographies, and other works of non-fiction. Benson also worked as an archaeologist at excavations in Italy, Greece, and Egypt, represented England in international figure skating competitions, and served in the 1930s as the mayor of the town of Rye in East Sussex.
Benson's first novel, Dodo, was published in 1893 and enjoyed significant acclaim and commercial success. Benson went on to a prolific literary career, publishing nearly 100 works including novels, short stories, memoirs, biographies, and other works of non-fiction. Benson also worked as an archaeologist at excavations in Italy, Greece, and Egypt, represented England in international figure skating competitions, and served in the 1930s as the mayor of the town of Rye in East Sussex.
Processing Information
This collection includes materials previously identified by the following call numbers: Uncat.MS Vault.File, Uncat.MS Vault.632, Uncat.MS Vault.634, and Uncat.MS Vault.705.
- Title
- Guide to the E. F. Benson Papers
- Author
- by Will Baker
- Date
- 2010
- 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.