Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard
University
b
MS Eng 1579
Kingdon, Mary Kathleen Weld, 1874-1953.
Papers,
1901-1969.
2 boxes (1 linear ft.)
Papers of Henry James's secretary, Mary Kathleen Weld
Kingdon, primarily relating to James.
Processed by:
Bonnie B. Salt
*2003M-38 Purchased with the Louis J. Appell
Junior Fund for British Civilization in the Harvard College Library and the
Bayard Livingston and Kate Gray Kilgour Fund; received: 2003 Dec. 17 and 2004 Jan. 13.
Mary Kathleen Weld Kingdon, also known as "May"
(1874-1953), was a professional typist, one of the principal secretaries to
American-born author and literary critic Henry James (1843-1916). She
worked for James from 1901 April 16 through the summer of 1904 when
she left to be married (1905 Feb. 14). Kingdon was his secretary during
the period between secretaries William MacAlpine and Theodora
Bosanquet. James dictated his literary works of this period to Kingdon,
who typed them as he spoke, including his novels: Wings of
the dove (1902), The golden bowl (1904), and
the last part of The ambassadors (1903). Kingdon
was also a bookbinder.
Organized into the following series:
- I. Correspondence
- II. Compositions
- III. Printed materials
Primarily letters from Henry James to Mary Kathleen Weld Kingdon
(MKWK) 1901-1908 and correspondence between MKWK and others
concerning James. Also includes MKWK's pocket diaries for 1901-1904,
kept during the years she worked with James and annotated with her
comments about the work they did together and his activities at the time.
All other materials are about Henry James including: fliers, leaflets,
pamphlets, clippings, obituaries, and photographs. Materials dated after
Kingdon's death, were assembled by her family.
I. Correspondence
(1)
Aberdeen, Leopold. Letters to MKWK, 1950.
1 folder.
(2)
Benson, E. F. Letter to MKWK, 1938.
1 folder.
Concerns locating a book at Lamb House.
(3)
Bird, Theodocia Walton. Letters to MKWK, 1952 and undated.
1 folder.
(4)
Brien, Donald G. Letter to MKWK, 1952.
1 folder.
(5)
Cobden-Sanderson, T. J. (Thomas James),
1840-1922. Notecard to MKWK, 1904.
1 folder.
From the Doves Bindery.
(6)
Fleet, Simon. Letters to MKWK, 1947-1949.
1 folder.
Includes a 1967
clipping
about Simon Fleet and 4 photographs of
MKWK from 1949.
(7)
Hammond, Ada L. E. Letters to MKWK, 1951-1952.
1 folder.
Includes clipping on the marriage of Edward John Cory and Rose Anna Georgiana d'Almeida.
(8)
Hunter, Ellen James Temple Emmet, 1850-1920. Letter to MKWK, between 1901-1905.
1 folder.
Addressed to "Miss Weld."
(9)
Hyde, H. Montgomery (Harford Montgomery), 1907-. Letter to Mary Peternel Kingdon,
1967.
1 folder.
(10)
James, Alice Howe Gibbens. Letter to
MKWK, 1916.
1 folder.
Includes leaflet,
Funeral Service for Henry James.
(11)
James, Dorothea. Correspondence with
MKWK, 1948-1949 and undated.
1 folder.
Includes a Christmas card.
(12)
James, Henry, 1843-1916. Letter to Miss d'Almeida : AMsS, ,
1906 Sept. 10.
1 folder.
(13)
James, Henry, 1843-1916. Letter to MKWK
: AMsS, ,
1901 Dec 7.
1 folder.
With
envelope.
(14)
James, Henry, 1843-1916. Letters and telegrams to MKWK, 1902 Feb.-Apr.
1 folder.
Includes letters:
- Telegram, , 1902 Feb. 25
- AMsS, , 1902 Mar. 2
- AMsS, , 1902 Mar. 4 with envelope
- AMsS, , 1902 Mar. 31 with envelope
- AMsS, , 1902 Apr. 20 with envelope
(15)
James, Henry, 1843-1916. Letters and telegrams to MKWK, 1902 May-July.
1 folder.
Includes letters:
- AMsS, , 1902 May 30 with envelope
- AMsS, , 1902 June 15 with envelope
- AMsS, , 1902 June 25 with envelope
- Telegram, , 1902 July 17
(16)
James, Henry, 1843-1916. Letters to
MKWK, 1902 Oct.-Dec. and undated.
1 folder.
Includes
letters:
- AMsS, , 1902 Oct. 29 with envelope
- AMsS, , 1902 Dec. 2 with envelope
- AMsS, , 1902 Wednesday [no month, no day]
(17)
James, Henry, 1843-1916. Letters to
MKWK, 1903.
1 folder.
Includes letters:
- AMsS, , 1903 Feb. 16 with envelope
- AMsS, , 1903 Apr. 5 with envelope
- AMsS, , 1903 May 10 with envelope
(18)
James, Henry, 1843-1916. Letters to
MKWK, 1904.
1 folder.
Includes letters:
- AMsS, , 1904 Apr. 26 with envelope
- AMsS, , 1904 Oct. 8 with envelope
- AMsS, , 1904 Nov. 16 with envelope
(19)
James, Henry, 1843-1916. Letters to
MKWK, 1907-1908.
1 folder.
Includes letters:
- AMsS, , 1907 Feb. 16
- AMsS, , 1908 Aug. 16
(20)
James, Henry, 1843-1916. Letters and
notes to MKWK, undated.
1
folder.
Includes:
- "Dear Miss Weld, Saturday pm" : AMsS letter on Reform
Club stationery
- "Dear Miss Weld, Thursday" : AMsS note on Reform Club notecard
- "Dear Miss Weld, Saturday" : AMsS note
- "Please take this opportunity for the new ribbon. ..." [first line] :
AMs note
- Address of William James in Cambridge, Mass. : AMs note
- "Miss Weld" : AMs address on envelope
(21)
James, Margaret M. Letter to MKWK, 1901.
1 folder.
Thanks Mary Weld for gift of a doll. Margaret
James was Henry James's niece.
(22)
Kingdon, H. Paul. Letter to Times (London, England),
1965.
1 folder.
Kingdon
(son of MKWK) notes that he inherited a photograph of Henry James.
Letter typed on verso of earlier letter from Veronica J. Beaumont
to Revd. H. P. Kingdon, 1962.
With a 1965
letter from Benjamin Sonnenberg to H. P. Kingdon,
mentioning Sonnenberg's advertisement in the Times,
and asking to examine Kingdon's photograph.
Also with a photograph of Henry James inscribed on verso:
"Henry James presented to his secretary M K Weld afterwards M K
Kingdon."
(23)
Kingdon family, recipient. Letters from
MKWK, 1924 and 1940.
1 folder.
1924 is
fragment only and is signed from "Your loving Mother."
Letter of
1940 is sent to "Dearest Paul" [H. Paul Kingdon] from
"Yr loving Mother."
(24)
Kingdon, H. P., Esq., recipient.
Picture postcards from MKWK, 1924.
1 folder.
Photographs on 2 postcards: (1) portrait of "Henry James" painted by John
Singer Sargent, and (2) "The James Brothers," portraits of Henry James
with his brother, William James.
(25)
Lane, Marian Spiers, 1923-. Letter to
MKWK, 1953.
1 folder.
(26)
Petherbridge, Miss. Letters to MKWK, 1901.
1 folder.
From the Secretarial Bureau
(London).
Offers Mary Weld secretarial work for Henry
James.
(27)
Sheridan, Clare, 1885-1970. Letters to MKWK,
1946-1947.
1 folder.
Letter of
1946 has an enclosed 1946 letter from Alice James to
Seymour Leslie, concerning making Lamb House a
memorial to Henry James. Sheridan mentions that Seymour Leslie is her
cousin.
(28)
Ubsdell, Nellie. Correspondence with
MKWK, 1951-1953 and undated.
1 folder.
(29)
Weld, Mary. Letter to MKWK, 1902.
1 folder.
Signed: "Your ever loving Mother." Includes a clipping review of
Wings of the dove.
II. Compositions and photographs
For additional photographs see items (6), (22), and (24).
(30)
Fleet, Simon.
In search of Henry
James at Rye : Ts transcript, ca. 1964-1965.
1 folder.
Excerpts from article published in Modern Age Quarterly Review, Winter 1964-1965.
(31)
Kingdon, Mary Kathleen Weld, 1874-1953.
The master or a glimpse Henry James : AMsS draft,
undated.
1 folder.
Part of title crossed out: "as seen by an amanuensis."
Also with untitled AMs draft on Henry James,
There is a quaint little
Town in Sussex with an ordinary charm ... [first line].
(32)
Kingdon, Mary Kathleen Weld, 1874-1953. Pocket diaries : AMs, 1901-1904.
2 folders.
4 volumes, one each for 1901, 1902, 1903, and 1904.
Also with Ts carbon transcript (5p.) listing dates and
details of the diary entries. This list is authored by: "H.P.K." [H.
Paul Kingdon] 1969 Nov. 5. Listing also includes
detailed notes about MKWK's life.
(33)
Kingdon, Mary Kathleen Weld, 1874-1953.
"Who killed Ruddy Kip?" : AMsS, 1902 Oct.
1 folder.
Signed and annotated: "MKW. Apropos of article in Daily News by
Chesterton. 'Who Killed Rudyard Kipling?' Montford House, Rye, Oct.
23rd."
With envelope addressed to: Miss M. K. Weld, Montford
House, Rye, Sussex; and annotated: "Not James."
(34)
The lion of Lamb House : Ts mimeograph, undated.
1 folder.
An
outline for a presentation? or play? on Henry James.
(35)
Vidler, Leopold Amon, d. 1954.
The
story of Lamb House, Rye : Ts mimeograph, 1950 Nov. 16.
1 folder.
Also includes photograph of Lamb
House titled on verso:
Henry James House, Rye.
(36)
Watchbell Street Studio Bookbindery, Rye : photographs, between 1901-1904 and 1970.
1
folder.
6 photographs of Marian Spiers Lane and MKWK in the Watchbell Street
bookbindery:
- (a) Miss Weld and Miss Lane working in the bindery, view 1
- (b) Miss Weld and Miss Lane working in the bindery, view 1;
cropped view of (a)
- (c) Tea in the bindery: Miss Weld, Miss Lane, unidentified woman,
and a dog
- (d) Tea in the bindery: Miss Weld, Miss Lane, unidentified woman,
and a dog; 1970 copy print of (c)
- (e) Miss Weld and Miss Lane working in the bindery, view 2
- (f) Miss Weld and Miss Lane working in the bindery, view 2; 1970
copy print of (e)
III. Printed materials
(37)
Bosanquet, Theodora.
Henry James
at work : printed pamphlet,
1924.
1 folder.
Printed and published by Leonard and Virginia Woolf at The
Hogarth Press, London.
Includes annotation: "M. K. Kingdon."
Cover is partially obscured by a pasted-on picture of a rose.
(38)
Clippings on Henry James, various dates.
1 folder.
Most clippings collected by MKWK. Includes obituaries, reviews, articles, etc...
(39)
Dolphin Theatre (Brighton).
Ruth
Draper "Character Sketches" : printed program, ca. 1947-1952.
1
folder.
2 duplicate programs.
(40)
Fleet, Simon.
The nice American
gentleman : printed article,
1 folder.
Article on Henry
James clipped from
Vogue, 1949 Oct. 1.
(41)
Lubbock, Percy, 1879-.
The novels
and stories of Henry James. New and complete edition in 35 volumes
issued in two styles : printed flier, ca. 1920.
1 folder.
Announcement of publication of set. Includes
annotations in the hand of MKWK.
(42)
Remington Rand, Inc.
A brief history
of the typewriter : printed pamphlet,
1955.
1 folder.
Includes 1969 notes by M. Paul Kingdon about MKWK's typewriter.
(43)
Thomas, A. Brumwell (Alfred Brumwell), 1868-1948.
Henry James : printed flier,
1946 May.
1 folder.
Flier "to endeavor to obtain support to a
proposal for a Memorial to Henry James ... by the acquisition of Lamb
House ..."