Scope and Content Note
The papers of Benjamin Holt Ticknor (1842-1914) span the years 1595-1935, with the bulk of the material concentrated in the period 1850-1920. Housed mainly in bound volumes, the collection consists chiefly of correspondence of American and British authors whose works were published by the Boston firm of Ticknor and Company and, after 1885, James R. Osgood and Company. Most of the letters are addressed to Ticknor or to his daughter, Caroline Ticknor. Also included are occasional holograph writings such as the preface by Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) to The New Guide of the Conversation in Portuguese and English by Pedro Carolino; Rankell's Remains by Barrett Wendell; and “Madge: ye hoyden,” a poem, by Eugene Field.. The oldest item, dated 1595, is a fragment signed by William Cecil (Burghley, William Cecil, Baron).
The Ticknor Papers are organized largely as received. Material in the bound volumes is arranged alphabetically by name of correspondent, with the manuscripts to Rankell’s Remains by Wendell filed at the end. Unbound material consists of miscellaneous writings, printed matter, and the poem by Field.