Papers of William McFee, 1916-1951

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
170 McCormick Rd
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Special Collections Public Services & Reference Staff
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968
Restrictions:

There are no restrictions.

Terms of access:

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred citation:

Papers of William McFee, Accession #6241-b, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Summary

Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Papers of William McFee, Accession #6241-b, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection contains manuscript for introduction to Innnocment Aloft.

Letters discuss the sale of his literary manuscripts; the publication of "Casuals of the Sea"; Joseph Conrad and Richard Curle's work on Conrad; royalties for "An Engineer's Notebook"; unauthorized reprints of his work; works on World War I; and his health and visits to England and Florida.

He also mentions "Command" as his favorite novel; Stefan Zeromski's "Ashes"; Joseph Henry Shorthouse's "John Inglesant"; Charles Reade's "The Cloister and the Hearth"; a Modern Language Association meeting in Chicago; Archibald Henderson; and George Bernard Shaw.

Correspondents include Lillian B. Bennett, Glen Walton Blodgett; Montgomery Evans, Crosby Gaige; Everett L. Getchell; E. J. Halter, Edward Lazare, Henry Goddard Leach, Christopher Morley, Howes Norris, Myriam Sieve, Harold Sinclair, and Paul M. Wheeler.

Provides autograph. Describes self as "a sea-going engineer."

Is grateful for invitation to submit a topic; asks for suggestions and number of words. Is anxious to finish novel before taking on fresh work.

Has located ms. of [Letters From] an Ocean Tramp, about which John had inquired.

Replies to prospective buyer of ms. of The Ocean Tramp. Has asked his mother to send all other of his mss. from London. Invites Gaige to visit him in Westport, Conn.

W/clipping of the letter as printed in the paper.] Printed 1925 April 25 in The World.Complains that wireless operators on ships and aircraft are called "heroic" while others more worthy are not.

Intends to get "Max" to autograph book; plans return to England for summer.

Complains about attacks of lumbago and rheumatism. May go on a cruise to England. Would like to sell his [Westport, Conn.] house.

Has just returned from hospital. Sends compliments.

Replies to letter received while in England. Discusses merits of several books on the late war and remarks on the need to resist aggressors. Would like to read Ashesby Stefan Zeromski.

Discusses historical novels. Mentions The Cloister and the Hearthby Charles Reade. Recommends John Inglesantby J[oseph] H[enry]Shorthouse. Gives travel plans.

Refuses to spend $25 for a first edition for a friend who wants only "an ordinary copy." Dislikes New York.

Comments to professor at Boston University on subject of posterity. Enjoys the notice of his contemporaries.

Complains that his material has been reprinted so often without his receiving payment. Illustrates point with examples. Refers to the "mimeograph mind" of the book compiler.

Describes events of past year as a reason for not writing earlier. Had gone to Florida for winter, thence to London because of family illness, death.

Intends to revise copy of his early book containing poem "About the Apprentices." Desires to change some of the prose; regrets previous issuance of this book.

Invites Lazare to visit at new house; asks about possible job opening for son of an old friend.

[Relates publishing history of Casuals of the Sea.]

Says that while Casuals of the Sea has been his best selling novel, his own preference has always been Command.

Refers to [Richard Henry Parnell] Curle's work on [Joseph] Conrad, and to Conrad's visit to New York. Mentions Archibald Henderson, [George Bernard] Shaw; his deafness.

Greetings. Thanks for letter.

Sends two books: the Lewis book is to go to president of United Fruit Co., the other to George Keating. Refers to latter's $25 Conrad memorial.

McFee can be reached in Westport.

Asks C. M. how to get to Chicago for meeting of the Modern Language Assn; would like a reduced fare. Complains of publishers' bad treatment of authors and rails against "free lunch counters in literature."

Annotated and signed in author's hand.

Acquisition information:
This collection was deposited on 22 Jun 1965.
Physical description:
This collection consists of 26 items.