A. Edward Newton Papers

Collection

Identifier: M040

Staff Only

Abstract

A. Edward Newton (1864-1940) was an authority on book collecting during the first half of the 20th century. His correspondence with Alfred Blake Trott, president of Daniels & Fisher Company of Denver, Colorado from 1929-1944, details book collecting as well as travels, and reflects on the political and economic climate of the time in Europe and the United States. Newton also sent Trott copies of articles, most published in the Atlantic Monthly between 1922 and 1938. Some articles were privately printed by Newton; these booklets or pamphlets were sent as Christmas greetings inscribed by Newton to Trott. The collection includes two letters written to Luella Corbin, 351 Acoma St., Denver, Colorado that discuss Newton and his wife.

Dates

1919-1941

Creator

Newton, A. Edward (Alfred Edward), 1864-1940 (Person)

Biographical / Historical

A. Edward Newton (1864-1940) was the owner and operator of the Cutter Electric Equipment Manufacturing Company in Philadelphia, a successful business that supported his family, his frequent travels to London and his life-time obsession with collecting first editions, manuscripts, and book-related ephemera. At the time of his death, he had amassed over 10,000 volumes. Newton was married to Babette Edelheim Newton, with whom he had a son, E. Swift, and a daughter, Caroline. He designed their family home in Oak Knoll, Daylesford, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. In 1918, Newton published a collection of essays, The Amenities of Book Collecting and Kindred Affections, which came to be considered the classic of the genre. He continued to write popular books about books, authors and travel throughout his life. He also had numerous essays published in the Atlantic Monthly and the Saturday Evening Post. He was a founding member of the Anthony Trollope Society.

Extent

0.5 Linear Feet (letter document box)

Additional Description

Scope and Contents

A. Edward Newton was the leading authority on book collecting in the first half of the 20th century. The A. Edward Newton collection contains correspondence, newspaper clippings, and periodical articles, from 1919 through 1941. Ten of the letters are from Newton to Alfred Blake Trott of Denver, written between June 1932 and February 1934. They cover Newton's book collecting and travels, and mention visits and gifts that were exchanged between the Newtons and the Trotts. In nearly all of the correspondence, Newton reflects upon the political and economic climate of the time in Europe and the United States. Newton frequently sent Trott copies of articles he had written. Most were published in the Atlantic Monthly between 1922 and 1938. The collection also contains examples of articles that were privately printed by the author, and sent to a limited number of friends as Christmas greetings. Newton inscribed several of the rare pamphlets to Trott. Two letters were written to Luella Corbin from an unknown person, and discuss Mr. and Mrs. Newton, with whom the writer had spent time in London. The collection also contains newspaper clippings, most of which refer to A. Edward Newton. Others are about book collecting in general. The papers also contain envelopes, booklists, booklets, and notes.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in five series:; 1. Articles by Newton-Atlantic Monthly, 1922-1938.; 2. Works by Newton-privately published, 1919-1940.; 3. Clippings, 1921-1941.; 4. Correspondence, 1932-1934.; 5. Ephemera, 1927-1938.;