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Artemus Ward papers

 Collection
Identifier: ACCN 2616

Scope and Contents

The Artemus Ward papers (1860-1880) consists of correspondence, a manuscript, photographs, and biographical materials.

Dates

  • 1860-1880

Creator

Language of Materials

Collection materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Conditions Governing Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Biographical Note

Charles Farrar Browne was born in Waterford, Maine on April 26, 1834. His initial professional endeavor was that of a printer working for a number of newpapers and periodicals in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Ohio. The Cleveland, Ohio "Plain Dealer" employed him in 1858 as a writer who wrote fictional and humorous accounts of a peregrinating showman named "Artemus Ward." While in Cleveland, Ward commenced to etablish a national and international reputation as a first rate humorist. His articles appeared in New York's Vanity Fair and London's Punch. Subsequently, Ward moved to New York City where Vanity Fair hired him as a columnist. Some of Ward's columns were reproduced in an 1866 work entitled "Artemus Ward: His Book." One of the chapters in this book is designated as "A Visit to Brigham Young" and can be accessed in box 1, folder 10. A copy of this book can be found in the Marriott Library's Special Collections' stacks.

In the 1860's Ward traveled throughout parts of the United States delivering humorous lectures, the most popular of which was called "The Babes in the Wood." Two of his best known admirers were President Abraham Lincoln and Mark Twain. Preceding the reading of the "Proclamation Emancipation" to his cabinet, Lincoln read aloud an Artemus Ward story. One of the locales to which Ward sojourned was Salt Lake City, Utah. His experience in Salt Lake City prompted him to compose a lecture which became his favorite presentation during the remainder of his short life. The lecture was named "Artemus Ward among the Mormons." The program of this lecture is located in box 1, folder 8. The apex of his entertaining career occurred when he visited London in 1866. A most appreciative audience thoroughly enjoyed the lecture on the Mormons as well as his articles which were published in Punch. After a bout with consumption, Artemus Ward died in Southampton on March 6, 1867.

Extent

2.75 Linear Feet (1 box and 1 oversize folder)

Abstract

The Artemus Ward papers (1860-1880) consists of correspondence, a manuscript, photographs, and biographical materials.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchased from Rick Grunder in 2011.

Separated Materials

Photographs and one CD were transferred to the Multimedia Division of Special Collections.

Processing Information

Processed by Roger V. Paxton in 2014.
Title
Inventory of the Artemus Ward papers, 1860-1880
Author
Finding aid created by Roger V. Paxton
Date
© 2014 (last modified: 2020)
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid encoded in English in Latin script.

Repository Details

Part of the J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections Repository

Contact:
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863