MG-177     The Horatio Alger Jr. Collection, 1869-1899

1 box     9 folders, 46 items      .25 cubic feet

Description: This collection contains copyright and publication documents spanning 1869-1899, source unknown. Those directly related to Horatio Alger Jr. include copyright and publication agreements and correspondence from 1870-1899. Reference is made to The Luck and Pluck Series, The Campaign Series, The Ragged Dick Series, The Tattered Tom Series, Ben’s Nugget, Only an Irish Boy, The Young Salesman, The Young Bank Messenger, Slow and Sure, From the Street to the Shop, The Cousin’s Conspiracy, Jack Drummond’s Pluck, Walker Crawford’s Probation a/k/a Walker Sherwood’s Probation, Chester Rand, Andy Grant’s Pluck, Rupert’s Ambition, Gerald’s Illusion, The Hermit’s Heir or Mark Manning’s Mission, A Debt of Honor, Tom Turner’s Legacy, The Island Treasure or Guy’s Eventful Voyage, Boy’s Fortune, and others that are not discernible. The collection also includes other copyright and publication documents referencing Porter & Coates and various authors and titles involved with A. K. Loring, Cassell Publishing, Lea Brothers & Co., John G. Winston, and Henry T. Coates. There are three documents for Margaret Vandergrift and unused Horatio Alger postage stamps.

For additional information see the Horatio Alger Society at www.ihot.com/~has/

Folder 1 Publication and copyright contracts for Porter & Coates and Henry T. Coates

Insert 1 Copyright for the book Stonehenge, specifically regarding trotters, J. H. Walsh F.R.C.S., Robert McClure MD.U.S., Elwood Harvey M. D., issued by clerk of District Court, E. D. John B. Beaver to Porter & Coates. 5 March 1869.

Insert 2 Publication and copyright agreement between M. Laird Simons and Porter & Coates for Sunday Half – Hours With The Great Preachers. 1 January 1872.

Insert 3 Partial correspondence from A. R. Spofford, Librarian of Congress, regarding copyright of Our English Bible, Walden. 7 May 1872.

Insert 4 Copyright and publication agreement between William Blasius and Porter & Coates for a book on meteorology proposed to be titled Storms, Their Laws, Origin and Prognostics. Marked “Duplicate.” 14 October 1874.

Insert 5 Correspondence containing an agreement for copyright and publication by Porter & Coates of The Seven Hill Series by C. H. B. Laing. 3 July 1875.

Insert 6 A copyright, royalty, and publication agreement between Edward A. Freeman and Porter & Coates for The English People in Its Three Homes; and Practical Bearings of General European History. Lectures. 7 March 1882.

Insert 7 1. Correspondence from William Melsinger Jr., on stationery of William McGeorge Jr., attorney, as executor of estate of T. S. Arthur regarding receipt of royalty for Ten Nights in a Bar Room, by T. S. Arthur addressed to W. S. Stiles, Esq. c/o Porter & Coates. 21 February 1895; 2. Receipt of William Melsinger Jr. and Richard A. Lewis, executors of the estate of T. S. Arthur, and agreement for publication of Ten Nights in a Bar Room, by T. S. Arthur from Porter & Coates. 19 February 1895 (front) and 21 February 1895 (back).

Insert 8 Copyright and publication agreement between Richard Meade Bache and Porter & Coates regarding Life of General George Gordon Meade a/k/a A Memoir of General George Gordon Meade, by Richard Meade Bache. 20 January 1897.

Insert 9 Agreement for prospective book to be written by Claude de La Roche Francis and titled London, Its Social and Architectural History to be published by Henry T. Coates. 5 December 1898.

Insert 10 Publication and copyright agreement between Henry T. Coates Co. and Mary L. Peebles, author of the books A Question of Honour and Where Honour Leads. 16 May 1898.

Insert 11 Agreement for reduction in royalty for the books Marion Berkeley and The Hartwell Farm, by Elizabeth B. Comins and for their inclusion in the Roundabout Library, between said author and Henry T. Coates Co. 14 June 1898.

Folder 2 Margaret Vandergrift copyright documents with Porter & Coates, 1883-1886

Insert 1 Copyright and publication agreement between Margaret Vandergrift and Porter & Coates for The Queen’s Body Guard. 7 December 1883.

Insert 2 Copyright and publication agreement between Margaret Vandergrift and Porter & Coates for Doris and Theidora. 23 October 1884.

Insert 3 Copyright and publication agreement between Margaret Vandergrift and Porter & Coates for Ways and Means. 4 January 1886 (back) and 31 August 1886 (at inception).

Folder 3 Copyright documents for Lea Brothers & Co., John G. Winston Co. and Cassell Publishing Co., 1886-1896

Insert 1 A copyright to Lea Brothers & Co. for a Household Manual of Medicine, Surgery, Nursing, and Hygiene, by Henry Hartshorne M.D. 19 January 1886. With attached transfer from Charles M. Lea, Christian C. Febiger, Arthur N. Lea, and Henry M. Barnes trading as Lea Brothers & Co. to John G. Winston and Henry W. Stokes, trading as John G. Winston Co. 26 January 1889.

Insert 2 1. Agreement for publication, of Witness to the Deed, by G. Manville Fenn, between G. Manville Fenn and Cassell Publishing Company. 15 December 1892; 2. Receipt for two pounds sterling for interest in the plates for Nurse Elisia and Witness to the Deed, not including copyright from Cassell Publishing Co. to George Manville Fenn. 1896.

Folder 4 Publication and copyright contracts for Horatio Alger Jr., 1870-1882

Insert 1 Agreement between Horatio Alger Jr. and A. K. Loring regarding publication and copyright of The Luck and Pluck Series providing for assignment to Porter & Coates, undated. [With blue crayon writing on back.] Internal Revenue stamp dated 10 August 1870.

Insert 2 Agreement between Horatio Alger Jr. and A. K. Loring regarding publication and copyright of The Campaign Series, The Ragged Dick Series, and the Tattered Tom Series. Internal Revenue stamp dated 10 August 1870. Assignment to Porter & Coates on back. 20 October 1881.

Insert 3 Agreement between Horatio Alger Jr. and Porter & Coates for publication and copyright of Ben’s Nugget. 27 May 1882.

Folder 5 Correspondence from Horatio Alger Jr., 1887-1897

Insert 1 Letter referencing 15 May 1887 to John regarding publishers S&S and Porter & Coates. September [18__ ].

Insert 2 Letter with answer notation of 17 September 1893, from Horatio Alger Jr. to Porter & Coates regarding S&S and publication of Only an Irish Boy quoting from Armond Smith’s letter. 12 September 1893.

Insert 3 Receipt to Henry T. Coates for copyright of The Young Salesman, by Horatio Alger Jr. 11 April 1896.

Insert 4 Letter referencing royalties from 1 January to 1 July 1896 and showing receipt therefore to Henry T. Coates Co. and discussing personal matters, from Horatio Alger Jr. to Henry T. Coates. 24 July [1896].

Insert 5 Letter from Horatio Alger Jr. to Henry T. Coates Co. and receipt. Letter references title and audience issues on works of Horatio Alger Jr. 3 April 1897.

Insert 6 Letter from Horatio Alger Jr. to Henry T. Coates Co. referencing The Young Bank Messenger, The Cousin’s Conspiracy, Jack Drummond’s Pluck and alternate titles. 5 April 1897.

Insert 7 Letter from Horatio Alger Jr. to Henry T. Coates Co. 22 May 1897. With assignment of rights to Walker Crawford’s Probation renamed Walker Sherwood’s Probation on May 24, 1897 per J. W. Shellenberger.

Insert 8 Letter from Horatio Alger Jr. to Henry T. Coates & Co. showing receipt and requesting copy of Helen Ford be sent to Mrs. Eugene Bowers. Copy sent 21 October 1897. [2_ ] October [1897].

Insert 9 Receipt of Horatio Alger Jr. for The Young Bank Messenger, from Henry T. Coates & Co., referencing October 1897.

Insert 10 Letter to Henry T. Coates & Co. from Horatio Alger Jr. with receipt of 10 November 1897. 11 November [1897].

Insert 11 Letter to Henry T. Coates Co. from Horatio Alger Jr. with notation The Young Bank Messenger. 27 December 1897. Answered 30 December 1897.

Folder 6 Correspondence from Horatio Alger Jr., 1898-1899

Insert 1 Letter from Horatio Alger Jr. to Mr. Stiles, regarding royalties, with receipt to Henry T. Coates & Co. from Horatio Alger Jr. and referencing health issues. 21 February 1898.

Insert 2 Letter from Horatio Alger Jr. to Henry T. Coates Co. referencing Slow and Sure or From the Street to the Shop. Stamped answered 2 April 1898 by Joseph Knight.

Insert 3 Letter from Horatio Alger Jr. to Henry T. Coates & Co. discussing cost of juvenile books. 5 April 1898.

Insert 4 Letter from Horatio Alger Jr. to Henry T. Coates & Co. 24 February 1899. With receipt for Chester Rand. April 1898. Receipt for Andy Grant’s Pluck. 10 October 1898, 4 November 1898, and 1 December 1898. (Three items originally clipped together.)

Insert 5 Letter to Henry T. Coates Co. from Horatio Alger Jr. regarding Tom Turner’s Legacy, A Debt of Honor, The Island Treasure or Guy’s Eventful Voyage, Rupert’s Ambition, Wait and Win or Jack Drummond’s Pluck, Gerald’s Illusion, The Hermit’s Heir or Mark Manning’s Mission. (Different handwriting from previous correspondence, but similar signature.) 10 April 1899. Answered 11 April 1899.

Insert 6 Letter to Mr. Coates from Horatio Alger Jr. regarding Rupert’s Ambition and discussing health issues. (Same handwriting as Insert 5 with same signature, presumably Horatio Alger Jr.’s.) 13 April 1899.

Folder 7 Undated Correspondence from Horatio Alger Jr.

Insert 1 Letter to Porter & Coates from Horatio Alger Jr. regarding a letter from John May and publication issues. [18__ ].

Insert 2 Letter to Mr. Coates from Horatio Alger Jr. regarding letter agreement; The Roundabout Library, The Young Bank Messenger, and personal matters.

Insert 3 Letter to Henry T. Coates & Co. regarding receipts from Horatio Alger Jr. October 23.

Insert 4 Letter referencing October 1897 to Henry T. Coates Co. from Horatio Alger Jr. regarding The Island Treasure, Gerald’s Mission, The Young Bank Messenger, Boy’s Fortune, and other business and personal matters. October 21.

Insert 5 Letter to Mr. Knight from Horatio Alger Jr. regarding titling book (illegible). November 14.

Folder 8 Four undated, unused, attached $.20 USA Horatio Alger postage stamps. ZIP code symbol also attached. These were included with the collection.

Folder 9 “How Much Money Did Horatio Alger Really Earn?” by Robert E. Kasper. Newsboy. Vol. 43, no. 4, July-August 2005. Mr. Kasper utilized this collection for his research.