Robert Louis Stevenson Collection
Scope and Contents
The Robert Louis Stevenson Collection consists of correspondence, manuscript notes and drafts, photographs, original artwork, printed ephemera, memorabilia, and other material relating to Robert Louis Stevenson acquired by the library through various gifts and purchases from 1947 to 2004. The collection spans the years 1765 to 1983, with the bulk dating from 1852 to 1931.
The collection is housed in 22 boxes and arranged by provenance. The collection includes named gifts and purchases from Major General and Mrs. John Ramsey Pugh, Justin G. Turner, Charles Scribner's Sons, Francis Woolsey Bronson, Christie's New York and the Alta California Bookstore, as well as smaller gifts and purchases from other sources. Boxes 14-21 and 22 contain Oversize and Restricted Fragile material respectively.
Dates
- 1765 - 1983
- Majority of material found within 1852 - 1931
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
The materials are open for research.
Box 22: Restricted fragile material. Reference surrogates have been substituted in the main files. For further information consult the appropriate curator.
Existence and Location of Copies
Microfilm for portions of the collection is available from Access Services.
Conditions Governing Use
The Robert Louis Stevenson 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
Acquired through various gifts and purchases from 1947 to 2004.
Arrangement
Organized into eight series: I. Major General and Mrs. John Ramsey Pugh Gift, 1854-1983. II. Justin G. Turner Gift, 1765-1923. III. Charles Scribner's Sons Gifts, 1892-1932. IV. F. W. Bronson Gift, 1914-1938. V. Alta California Bookstore Purchase, 1881-1966. VI. Christie's Purchase, 1873-1893. VII. Material From Other Sources, 1867-1977. VIII. 2022 Addition, 1885-1908.
Extent
15.62 Linear Feet ((25 boxes) + 4 art, 2 broadsides)
Language of Materials
English
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Abstract
The Robert Louis Stevenson Collection consists of correspondence, writings, photographs, artwork, and other material documenting the life, work, and remembrance of Robert Louis Stevenson.
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894)
Robert Louis Stevenson was one of the most popular and prolific British writers of the late 19th century, the author of verse, novels, travel books, short stories, plays, and essays, including such titles as The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Treasure Island. There is considerable secondary literature on Stevenson, including book-length biographical studies, chronologies, and bibliographies. Summary information is available in the standard print and online biographical resources.
Processing Information
The Robert Louis Stevenson collection contains material by and related to Stevenson acquired by the library through various gifts and purchases from 1947 to 2004. This material was previously shelved with the Edwin J. Beinecke Collection of Robert Louis Stevenson, in some cases interfiled, and known informally as the library's "Stevenson collection." During reprocessing of the "Stevenson collection" in 2009, material was identified and separated by provenance so that all Stevenson and Stevenson-related material acquired by Edwin J. Beinecke resides in the Edwin J. Beincke Collection of Robert Louis Stevenson (GEN MSS 664) and all Stevenson and Stevenson-related material acquired through other sources resides in the Robert Louis Stevenson Collection (GEN MSS 684).
This collection includes material formerly classed as Uncat Ms Vault 110, Uncat Ms Vault 240, Uncat Ms Vault 241, Uncat Ms Vault 370, Uncat Ms Vault 388, Uncat Ms Vault 406, Uncat Ms Vault 423, Uncat Ms Vault 644, Uncat Ms Vault 649, Uncat Ms Vault 693, Uncat Ms Vault 698, Uncat Ms Vault 721, Uncat Ms Vault 722, Uncat Ms Vault 734, Uncat Ms Vault 735, Uncat Mss 105, Uncat Mss 236, and Uncat Mss 512. The collection also includes material formerly classed as Uncat Ms Vault File Stevenson and Ms Vault Stevenson Supplemental, the bulk of which is in the Edwin J. Beinecke Collection of Robert Louis Stevenson (GEN MSS 664), as well as several items (McKay numbers 474, 2622, 6062, 6106a, 7580, and 8404) described in George Leslie McKay's A Stevenson Library: Catalogue of a Collection of Writings by and about Robert Louis Stevenson.
- Title
- Guide to the Robert Louis Stevenson Collection
- Author
- by Michael L. Forstrom
- Date
- May 14, 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.