Elva de Pue Matthews papers

Collection

Identifier: MSS 0114

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Elva de Pue Matthews Papers consist of two linear feet of correspondence, drafts of novels written by Matthews, poetry and essays by Matthews or others, clippings, and notes. The collection spans the dates 1917-1962, with the bulk of the collection dating between 1917 and 1949.

These papers contain Matthews' correspondence with a wide variety of literary figures, including Richard P. Blackmur, Jacques and Raissa Maritain, Genevieve Taggard, Gorham Munson, Waldo Frank, William Troy, and Floyd Dell. Of particular interest is the extensive correspondence with Waldo Frank, Richard P. Blackmur, and William Troy. In most cases the drafts or copies of letters which Matthews wrote in reply to the various correspondents are also present. Matthews' drafts display her extensive revisions.

The papers also include Matthews' drafts and notes toward three different novels, none of which were ever published. Excerpts from the novel "White River" were printed in an issue of The Figure in the Carpet, a magazine for which Matthews was an associate editor. Three issues of this magazine are found in this collection.

Dates

Creation: 1917-1962
Creation: Majority of material found within 1917-1949

Creator

Matthews, E. de P. (Elva de Pue) (Person)

Language of Materials

Materials entirely in English.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S.Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. Please contact Special Collections Department, University of Delaware Library, https://library.udel.edu/static/purl.php?askspec

Biographical / Historical

Elva de Pue Matthews was born in San Francisco, California, in 1889, to the wealthy de Pue family. From 1917, when she began studies at Columbia University, until her death in 1962, she resided in New York City. Her lifelong interest and the object of her studies was writing. Mrs. Matthews established relationships with a variety of literary figures, including Richard P. Blackmur, Waldo Frank, Genevieve Taggard, and William Troy.

Although little is recorded regarding Elva de Pue Matthews, it is known that some of her stories and essays were published in The Masses (1917?), The Seven Arts (July 1917), and in three issues of The Figure in the Carpet (1927-1928). The October 1927 issue of The Figure in the Carpet includes excerpts of Matthews' novel, "White River," which is included in these papers (see F58- 62).

Matthews served as one of the associate editors for The Figure in the Carpet from 1927-1928. This little magazine was published by The New School for Social Research in New York, where Matthews was a student.

The brief biographical note which prefaces Elva de Pue Matthews' article in The Seven Arts indicates that one of her dramas was produced by The Morningside Players. She had one daughter named Rowena. Matthews died in 1962 in the Cooper Nursing Home near New York City.

Biographical information was derived from correspondence in the collection or from correspondence in the collection folder.

Extent

2 linear foot (8 boxes)

Additional Description

Abstract

Arrangement

The Elva de Pue Matthews Papers are arranged in three series: I. Correspondence, II. Manuscripts Written by Matthews, and III. Printed Material Related to Matthews.

The correspondence section is first arranged alphabetically by name of the correspondent, and then chronologically within the files for each correspondent. Drafts and copies of letters from Matthews to the various correspondents are filed chronologically with the letters from each correspondent.

Section II. Manuscripts Written by Matthews has three subseries corresponding to her three unpublished novels, two of which are untitled.

Series III. Printed Material Related to Matthews consists of five folders. The first folder contains issues of The Figure in the Carpet and the four remaining folders contain material removed from books belonging to Matthews which have been cataloged for Special Collections.

The last segment of the finding aid provides a list of the books which were removed from the papers and cataloged with printed material for Special Collections. The list is arranged alphabetically by author of the book and then alphabetically by title.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchase, 1971.

Materials Cataloged Separately

The following were removed and cataloged with imprints in Special Collections. They can be accessed by searching the library catalog.

Frank, Waldo. Americana Hispana: A Portrait and a Prospect. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1931. Inscribed to Matthews by Frank, with clippings laid in. (Spec F 1408.3 .F86)

Frank, Waldo. The Art of the Vieux Colombier: A Contribution of France to the Contemporary Stage. New York: Editions de la Nouvelle Revue Française. Inscribed to Matthews by Frank. (Spec PN 2277 .N5 F73)

Frank, Waldo. The Bridegroom Cometh. New York: Doubleday, Doran & Company, Inc., 1939. (Spec PS 3511 .R258 B7)

Frank, Waldo. Chart for Rough Water: Our Role in the New World. New York: Doubleday, Doran & Company, Inc., 1940. Inscribed to Matthews by Frank, with autograph markings and notes by Matthews. (Spec E 744 F82)

Frank, Waldo. The Dark Mother. New York: Boni and Liveright Publishers, 1920. Inscribed to Matthews by Frank. (Spec PS 3511 .R258 D3 1920)

Frank, Waldo. The Re-discovery of America: An Introduction to a Philosophy of American Life. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1929. Extensive inscription to Matthews from Frank, with autograph notes by Matthews throughout text and laid in. (Spec E 169.1 .F824)

Frank, Waldo. Summer Never Ends: A Modern Love Story. New York: Duell, Sloan and Pearce, 1941. Inscribed to Matthews by Frank, with some autograph notes by Matthews. (Spec PS 3511 .R258 S95)

Frank, Waldo. Virgin Spain: The Drama of a Great People. New York: Duell, Sloan and Pearce, 1942. Inscribed to Matthews by Frank. (Spec DP 26 .F7 1942)

Maritain, Jacques. Christianisme et Démocratie. New York: Editions de la Maison Française, Inc., 1943. Inscribed to Matthews by Maritain. (Spec BR 115 .P7 M336)

Maritain, Jacques. Le Crépuscule de la Civilisation. Montreal: Editions de L'Arbre, 1941. Inscribed to Matthews (with drawing) by Maritain. (Spec B 821 .M32 1941)

Maritain, Jacques. De Bergson a Thomas D'Aquin: Essais de Metaphysique et de Morale. New York: Editions de la Maison Francaise, Inc., 1944. Inscribed to Matthews by Maritain, with autograph notes by Matthews. (Spec B 2430 .B43 M355)

Maritain, Jacques. Humanisme Integral: Problemes Temporels et Spirituels d'une Nouvelle Chrétienté. Paris: Fernand Aubier, 1936. Inscribed to Matthews by Maritain. (Spec B 821 .M34 1936)

Maritain, Jacques. La Pensée de Saint Paul. New York: Editions de la Maison Française, Inc. 1941. Inscribed to Matthews by Maritain, with autograph notes by Matthews. (Spec BS 2651 .M35 1941)

Maritain, Jacques. The Rights of Man and Natural Law. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1943. Inscribed to Matthews by Maritain. (Spec JC 571 .M344 1943)

Maritain, Raissa. Les Grandes Amitiés: Souvenirs. New York: Editions de la Maison Française, Inc., 1941. Inscribed to Matthews by Raissa Maritain, with autograph notes by Matthews on back flyleaf and some pages of the text.

Munson, Gorham B. Robert Frost: A Study in Sensibility and Good Sense. New York: George H. Doran Company, 1927. Inscribed to Matthews by Munson. (Spec PS 3511 .R94 Z8 [Frost])

Taggard, Genevieve. The Life and Mind of Emily Dickinson. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1930. Inscribed to Matthews by Taggard, with autograph notes by Matthews throughout the text and laid in. (Spec PS 1541 .Z5 T3)

Taggard, Genevieve. Long View. New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1942. Inscribed to Matthews by Taggard. (Spec PS 3539 .A266 A18 1942)

Taggard, Genevieve. Not Mine to Finish: Poems 1928-1934. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1934. Inscribed to Matthews by Taggard. (Spec PS 3539 .A266 A18 1934)

Taggard, Genevieve. Slow Music. New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1946. Inscribed to Matthews by Taggard, with autograph notes by Matthews throughout the text. (Spec PS 3539 .A266 A18 1946)