Archive Record|Table of contents
G. K. CHESTERTON PAPERS. VOLS. XV-XLII. Correspondence with Messrs. A. P. Watt and Son, literary agents, of London, agents for royalties and rights of reproduction for the works of G. K. and Frances Chesterton, concerning proposals for new work, reprinting, translation, radio, television and theatrical performances; 1907-1982. Partly French, Spanish and German. Mostly signed, partly typewritten copies. From 1907 to 1927 the correspondence is addressed to Frances Chesterton (also occasionally to various secretaries, and on four occasions directly to G. K. Chesterton); between 1927 and Sept. 1932 partly to Frances Chesterton and partly to Dorothy Collins, secretary to G. K. and Frances Chesterton, and after the death of Frances sole literary executor of G. K. Chesterton's work. From Oct. 1932 to 1938 Dorothy Collins undertook most of the correspondence, Frances Chesterton only intervening when Dorothy Collins was sick or on holiday, and one letter is addressed to Frances Chesterton's cousin, Rhoda Bastable. From the company, most letters until 1937 are signed by J. Hansard S. Watt as H. Watt, and also by Alexander Strahan Watt, William P. Watt, Ronald P. Watt, from 1937 to 1949 by W. P. Watt and also by A. S. Watt, R. P. Watt and A. Peter F. Watt, and thereafter by various partners and associates of the firm. Responses to the letters are sometimes made in brief annotations by Frances Chesterton or Dorothy Collins on the letters, and occasionally by typed or manuscript copies of their replies on or with the letters from the agents. Some letters are accompanied by copies of letters sent and agreements drawn up by the agents on behalf of their clients. There are only three letters for 1931, no letters for 1979, only one for each of the years 1972, 1978, 1981 and only two for each of the years 1971, 1980 and 1982. Other letters to the firm are on Add. 73270, ff. 1v, 2v and Add. 73296 A, f. 173v. The firm's copies of its correspondence are now in the library of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27514-8890, U.S.A. Twenty-eight volumes in thirty-four parts. Not fully indexed.Add MS 73200-73227 C. General Correspondence. 73235-73241. G. K. CHESTERTON PAPERS. VOL. L-LVI. Miscellaneous correspondence of various persons with G. K. Chesterton; [1892]-1962, n.d. Partly signed, partly typewritten copies, partly printed. Unless otherwise stated, the letters are written to Chesterton, and are mostly of a social nature, requests for meetings and interviews, letters reacting to books and articles by Chesterton. They include social and business correspondence addressed to Frances Chesterton or to Dorothy Collins and later letters which enclosed letters to or from Chesterton. For letters on Chesterton's reception into the Roman Catholic Church see Add. 73187. For correspondence on his publications, including requests for contributions to periodicals, royalties and requests for publishing rights, etc., see Add. 73200-73234. For other correspondence of Frances Chesterton and other members of the Chesterton and Blogg families see Add. 73193, 73454-73456, for other correspondence of Dorothy Collins see Add. 73471-73475. Seven volumes.Add MS 73235-73241 