Edgar Wilson Nye ["Bill Nye"] Collection 1870-1900

Access and use

Location of collection:
University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia
P.O. Box 400110
160 McCormick Rd
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Brenda Gunn
Phone: (434) 924-1037
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968
Restrictions:

Collection is open to research.

Terms of access:

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred citation:

Edgar Wilson Nye ["Bill Nye"] Collection, Accession 7949-b, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Summary

Creator:
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Edgar Wilson Nye ["Bill Nye"] Collection, Accession 7949-b, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Background

Scope and content:

[Includes book dealer's note.]

[Signed Wm. Pauncefoot Nye.]

[For Miss May Smillie. ]

[Includes typed transcript; gives account of the first money he ever earned and a visit to the circus.]

[Includes pencil notation "Regular galley matter follows here" in an unknown hand.]

[Encloses "Unfinished Poem" in letter; mentions Mr. [Roshacher].]

[Includes typewritten dealer's comment and original pen and ink drawing by Nye; as former postmaster of Laramie, he congratulates him on appointment as United StatesPostmaster General.]

[Includes dealer's note; hopes to meet him in person on Nye's upcoming trip to Boston, having been acquainted with him for years in spirit only; accepts Scott's invitation to help him "destroy a chicken"; says he will stop on the way to Bostonto deliver a lecture in Altoona, Pennsylvania; mentions his uncle, B. S. Nye. ]

[Includes small magazine photo of Nye; indicates his readiness to do all his humorous writing for McClure's syndicate; suggests that it would be more profitable for both the writer and the paper; says that copyright would prevent his articles from being "stolen" by other papers as frequently is the case now.]

[Agrees to write exclusively for the syndicate if conditions can be met, starting with $60 per week; asks the publisher to pay him whatever is fair for the material that has already been published.]

[Relates how James Whitcomb Riley"secured the Metropolitan Pelt at the Author's Reading"; says Riley was not given a chance but was very convincing in introducing his own style of humor; states that the audience, press, as well as the critics were enthusiastic.]

[Includes typewritten dealer's note; begins "Sir. You cannot scare me with your hot words," and ends "I do not seek a quarrel but the widows and orphans of those who has monkeyed with me agree that I am no slouch. Defiantly yours."]

[Sends a piece that appeared in the Journalistand asks him to paste it in his scrapbook.]

[Informs him that from now on he intends to publish his own books, starting with an Almanac for 1891.]

[Includes original pen and ink self-portrait caricature waving goodbye to ships; humorously commiserates with a friend who has shattered a foot; relates at length his own experience with a broken leg; says his after-dinner speeches at club have become much better since he took to drinking goat's milk and Vichy; says the speeches aren't as witty as before, but they read better in the papers.]

[Includes pen and ink self-portrait at top of page; informs him that he will come to the Author's Club; gladly accepts offer to spend the night at his home.]

[Looks forward to meeting him at the Emporium of Major James B. Pond; agrees to look at a manuscript with Kemble.]

[Announces opening of his new play The Cadion September 21, 1891, at the Union Square Theaterin New York City; declares that the expense for the production would be appalling to him had he to furnish the money himself; says the play relates to his own experience as a Justice of the Peace on the frontier.]

[Turns down a request to do an interview "between me and myself" for the paper; claims that readers would not be interested and that he is pressed for time; suggest instead an interview between James Whitcomb Rileyand himself.]

[Humorous description of an accident he and his wife had.]

[Thanks him for a letter expressing regard and generous applause.]

[Sends on request an old Bill Nyeletter dealing with an injured foot; announces a visit to Philadelphiawhere he hopes to see Harry; promised letter is probably to "My dear Edward" from 1890 December 17.]

[Extends an invitation to visit him at his home.]

[Fragment praising the music of his friend [Richard] Wagner, stating that it is much better than it sounds; sends James Whitcomb Riley's address.]

[Assures him of his readiness to write for him again.]

[Includes 5 photos of George Washington Cableon verso.]

Acquisition information:
Deposit [ 1963 Dec 17 ] 1966 Jul 7
Processing information:

Funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities

Physical location:
Physical description:
27 items