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Académie française autograph collection

 Collection
Call Number: GEN MSS 1339

Scope and Contents

Correspondence and other documents signed by circa 200 members of the Académie française, 1637-1926 and undated, assembled by an unidentified collector, possibly American autograph collector Howes Norris, Jr. (1867-1938), of Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts. Most are autograph letters, signed; other contents include literary writings, legal documents, and a few documents concerning administration of the Académie française. Many are accompanied by descriptions from vendor catalogs, engraved portraits, clippings, or notes of former owners. Correspondence includes an autograph letter, signed, from Alexis de Tocqueville to Robert Walsh, consul general of the United States in Paris, 1845 June 10. Documents relating to Maurice Donnay and Albert, comte de Mun, include signatures on printed cards identified as “The autograph collection of Howes Norris, Jr.”

Dates

  • 1637-1926
  • Majority of material found within 1750-1900

Language of Materials

In French.

Conditions Governing Access

The materials are open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The Académie française Autograph 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

Purchased from Goodspeed's Book Shop on an unknown fund, 1954.

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by name.

Extent

1.04 Linear Feet (3 boxes)

Catalog Record

A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog

Persistent URL

https://hdl.handle.net/10079/fa/beinecke.academie

Abstract

Correspondence and other documents signed by circa 200 members of the Académie française, 1637-1926 and undated, assembled by an unidentified collector, possibly American autograph collector Howes Norris, Jr. (1867-1938), of Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts. Most are autograph letters, signed; other contents include literary writings, legal documents, and a few documents concerning administration of the Académie française. Many are accompanied by descriptions from vendor catalogs, engraved portraits, clippings, or notes of former owners. Correspondence includes an autograph letter, signed, from Alexis de Tocqueville to Robert Walsh, consul general of the United States in Paris, 1845 June 10.

Académie française

Learned society for the French language, founded in 1635 by Richelieu.

Processing Information

Former call number: Uncat Ms Vault 139. In 2015, the collection received a baseline level of processing, including rehousing and minimal organization. Most folder titles were based on those assigned by Library staff at the time of acquisition. Names were updated to conform to Library of Congress name authorities. Folder titles were not verified against contents.

Title
Guide to the Académie française autograph collection
Author
Karen Spicher
Date
2015
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

Contact:
P. O. Box 208330
New Haven CT 06520-8330 US
(203) 432-2977

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.