A Guide to the Letters of the Bliss family, 1872, 1904 Bliss family, Letters of, 1872, 1904 10895

A Guide to the Letters of the Bliss family, 1872, 1904

A Collection in
Clifton Waller Barrett Library
The Special Collections Department
Accession Number 10895

Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia
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USA
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Funding: Web version of the finding aid funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Processed by: Special Collections Department

Repository

Special Collections, University of Virginia Library

Accession number

10895

Title

Letters of the Bliss family, 1872, 1904

Physical Characteristics

This collection consists of 5 items.

Language

English

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Letters of the Bliss family, Accession #10895, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

This collection was transferred & deposited by Barrett -Mark Twain Collection on 1990 January 4 & 1964 October 20.

Biographical/Historical Information

The American Publishing Company was incorporated in Hartford, Connecticut, on April 10, 1865. The company's location in Hartford was the center of the subscription book industry in the United States, with paper manufacturers, printers, and binders right at hand. Elisha Bliss was born in 1822 in Springfield, Massachusetts. In 1867, at the age of 45, he replaced S. S. Scranton as secretary of the American Publishing Company until 1870 when he became president . From 1871-1873, he was secretary again; and, from 1873 until 1880 he remained president . Bliss began replacing several of the older agents with his relatives--in Newark and Trenton--and made his son, Francis E. Bliss, treasurer. Elisha Bliss was considered a remarkably shrewd and calculating businessman, and was accused of having cheated both his authors and his customers. Bliss died on September 28, 1880. Francis E. Bliss took over the management of the American Publishing Company from his father in 1880. This and additional information may be found in Mark Twain and Elisha Bliss, by Hamlin Lewis Hill, University of Missouri, Columbia, 1964 [PS1331.H46 1964].

Scope and Content Information

The collection contains a letter, 1872 September 24, Anna Elizabeth Dickinson, Philadelphia, to Elisha Bliss, Jr., Hartford, concerning a misunderstanding over publication terms.

There are also four letters, 1904 July 2 to August 13, between Francis E. Bliss, and Benjamin West Clinedinst and Arthur Ignatius Keller regarding illustrations for "The complete writings of Charles Dudley Warner."

Contents List

Letter: [Anna Elizabeth Dickinson], Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Elisha Bliss, Jr., The American Publishing Company, Hartford, Connecticut, concerning a "grave misunderstanding" about the terms of their agreement for the publication of her book. 1872 Sep 24

AL. 2 p. on 1 l.

Letter: Benjamin West Clinedinst, Pawling, Duchess Co., New York, to Francis E. Bliss, The American Publishing Company, Hartford, Connecticut, concerning an illustration for the Warner book [ The Complete Writings of Charles Dudley Warner , edited by Thomas R. Lounsbury]. He comments that "the description of the Vodoo dance...ought to make a very strong picture" and inquires as to the dimensions and date needed 1904 July 2

ALS. 2 p. on 1 l.

Letter: Arthur Ignatius Keller, Cragsmoor, New York, to Francis E. Bliss, The American Publishing Company, Hartford, Connecticut, concerning an illustration for [ The Complete Writings of Charles Dudley Warner ]. He tentatively agrees to undertake the project under certain conditions 1904 July 28

ALS, 1p.

Letter: Arthur Ignatius Keller, Cragsmoor, Ellenville, New York, to Francis E. Bliss, The American Publishing Company, Hartford, Connecticut, agreeing to do the picture requested and to meet Bliss if warranted, and seeking as early as possible an account of his work under progressArthur Ignatius Keller, Cragsmoor, Ellenville, New York, to Francis E. Bliss, The American Publishing Company, Hartford, Connecticut, agreeing to do the picture requested and to meet Bliss if warranted, and seeking as early as possible an account of his work under progress 1904 Aug 4

ALS, 1p.

Letter: Arthur Ignatius Keller, Cragsmoor, New York, to Francis E. Bliss, The American Publishing Company, Hartford, Connecticut, having received the Warner book [ The Writings of Charles Dudley Warner ] and agreeing to read it with Bliss' suggestion regarding the frontispiece in mind, and referring to their verbal agreement 1904 Aug 13

ALS, 1p.