Skip to main content
Use the right side menu to identify relevant boxes and place requests.

Correspondence, 1932-1977 and undated

 Series 2

This series contains original and transcribed copies of letters to and from Katherine Anne Porter, Glenway Wescott, Monroe Wheeler, Barbara Harrison Wescott, Russell Lynes, George Platt Lynes, William Humphrey, Marianne Moore, W. Somerset Maugham, Robin Maugham, Wallace Stevens, Alan Searle, Eugene Pressly, Albert Erskine, Jr., Nelson Rockefeller, Harold Ross, and William R. Ross. The majority of the letters are to or from Katherine Anne Porter.

Katherine Anne Porter executed a Power of Attorney designating Glenway Wescott as her Principal for her dealings with the Library of Congress, to which she had initially intended to give her papers, and there is a file of Wescott's correspondence relating to his actions in that role as well as the original copy of the Power of Attorney.

In addition, there are numerous original letters from W. Somerset Maugham to both Glenway Wescott and Monroe Wheeler, in which he writes about his own and other's literary efforts and his personal life.

The arrangement of the series is alphabetical by correspondent. Within the three large groupings of correspondence of Katherine Anne Porter, Glenway Wescott, and Monroe Wheeler, the letters are arranged alphabetically by Porter's, Wescott's or Wheeler's individual correspondents. Their correspondence with each individual is arranged chronologically. There are both original and transcribed copies of letters. Glenway Wescott arranged some of the originals and the corresponding transcriptions in blue folders, which have been retained. On some of these folders, Wescott made notes. See the appendix for a listing of the original letters.

Dates

  • 1932-1977 and undated

Conditions Governing Access

Until 2019, no one may consult the correspondence of Glenway Wescott with W. Somerset Maugham, Alan Searle, and Wallace Stevens and the correspondence of Monroe Wheeler with Robin Maugham, W. Somerset Maugham, Nelson Rockelfeller, Alan Searle, and Wallace Stevens unless authorized by the Literary Trustee of the Estate of Katherine Anne Porter.

Extent

2.75 Linear Feet

Library Details

Part of the Special Collections and University Archives

Contact:
University of Maryland Libraries
Hornbake Library
4130 Campus Drive
College Park Maryland 20742
301-405-9212