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Summary

Abstract

Charles Grant Blairfindie Allen (Grant Allen), Canadian-born novelist and essayist, emigrated to England and wrote a series of guide books which supported his intellectual bent as a freethinker, agnostic, and socialist. Allen published more than thirty works of fiction, as well as poetry and short stories, under his own name and pseudonyms. Novels included The Woman Who Did, The British Barbarians, What's Bred in the Bone, Linnet, and The Scallywag. The collection contains the personal and professional papers of Grant Allen, including correspondence, original works, publications, newspaper clippings, photographs, and biographical works on Allen. Correspondents include family, friends, and his publisher.

Dates

  • Creation: 1872-1937

Extent

2 Linear Feet

Background

Biographical / Historical

Charles Grant Blairfindie Allen (Grant Allen), novelist and essayist, was born near Kingston, Ontario, Canada and emigrated to England. Allen loved to travel and his series of guide books gave him monetary support and time to follow his intellectual bent as a freethinker/socialist. He was a highly respected figure in the group of late Victorian agnostics. Allen published more than thirty works of fiction, as well as poetry and short stories, under his own name and pseudonyms. Novels included The Woman Who Did, The British Barbarians, What's Bred in the Bone, Linnet, and The Scallywag.

Scope and Contents

The collection contains the personal and professional papers of Grant Allen, including correspondence, original works, publications, newspaper clippings, photographs, and biographical works on Allen. Correspondents include family, friends, and his publisher. There are letters received from readers of the controversial The Woman Who Did (1895). Publications include manuscripts of poems, magazine articles, short stories, a play, and novels, as well as proofs of magazine articles and short stories.

Arrangement

This collection is organized in 2 series: Personal and Writing.

Personal is divided into 5 subseries: Biographical, Correspondence, Genealogy, Newsclippings, and Photographs.

Writings is divided into 9 subseries: Magazine Articles, Magazine Articles: Manuscripts, Magazine Articles: Proofs, Manuscripts, Novels: Manuscripts, Play: Proof, and Poems.

Location

For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Penn State University Libraries catalog via the link above. Archival collections may be housed in offsite storage. For materials stored offsite, please allow 2-3 business days for retrieval.

Processing Information

Processed by Special Collections staff.

Subjects

Using These Materials

Repository Details

Part of the Eberly Family Special Collections Library Repository

https://libraries.psu.edu/specialcollections
Contact:
104 Paterno Library
Penn State University
University Park 16802 USA
(814) 865-1793

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Photocopies of original materials may be made available for research purposes at the discretion of the Eberly Family Special Collections Library. Photocopies or reproductions of original materials may be subject to fees as outlined by the Pennsylvania State University Libraries reproduction policies.

Copyright is retained by the creators of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law. Patrons seeking advice on the availability of unpublished materials for publication should consult relevant copyright law and laws of libel.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Grant Allen literary manuscripts and correspondence, 02282, Eberly Family Special Collections Library, Pennsylvania State University.

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Guide to the Grant Allen literary manuscripts and correspondence
Status
Published
Author
Prepared by Special Collections Library faculty/staff
Date
2011
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Revision Statements

  • 2023: Lexy deGraffenreid updated standardized notes to current standard, October 2023