Title: Charles D. Stewart Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1870-1965

Creator:

• Stewart, Charles D. (Charles David), 1868-1960

Call Number: Local History Manuscript Collection 323

Quantity: 1.6 cubic ft. (4 boxes)

Repository:

Milwaukee Public Library, Frank P. Zeidler Room

Archival Location:

Milwaukee Public Library (Map)

Abstract:

Charles D Stewart was an author, book engraver, columnist and reporter from Wisconsin. He was a scholar of Shakespeare, focusing on cruxes of Shakespeare. He also wrote poems and short stories, many of which were inspired by Milwaukee. The collection contains mainly his published materials, correspondence, and research notes.

Note:

To request materials from this collection, create/login to your Special Collections Account.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.mwpl-lhmc0323

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Charles David Stewart was born 18 March 1868 in Zanesville, Ohio. The family moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1881. Stewart attended the Fourth Ward School. After his mother decided he should become a preacher, he attended Wayland Academy, in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. Stewart, however, was more interested in life on the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. Once Stewart had saved enough money, he found work in St. Louis, Missouri on a riverboat. He wrote about his observations as he traveled between St. Louis and Fort Benton, Montana. A later trip to New Orleans, Louisiana inspired part of his book Partners of Providence, a favorite of President Grover Cleveland.

When he returned to Milwaukee, there was little interest in his writings so Stewart found work with Marr and Richards where he learned the art of book engraving. He then took this skill and applied it to a position with Rand McNally Co. in Chicago. At the age of 26, he was a columnist and reporter for the Chicago Daily News. Stewart continued writing and in 1905, his first novel, The Fugitive Blacksmith, was published. From there Stewart went on to write magazine articles, over 50 of which were published in the Century and Atlantic magazines. He was a scholar of Shakespeare, focusing on cruxes of Shakespeare. He also wrote poems and short stories, many of which were inspired by Milwaukee.

Stewart lived on Pike Lake, near Hartford, Wisconsin. He also spent time with his widowed sister, Mrs. Stella Davies in Centralia, Washington. He died 27 October 1960.

The collection consists mostly of Stewart’s published materials, correspondence, and research notes. There are some photographs and clippings throughout the collection. The materials focus mainly on Stewart’s life as published writer. There is little to relate to his time spent on the rivers, as an engraver, or journalist in Chicago. There is little material in the collection related to Stewart’s personal life.

The subjects are arranged alphabetically and then chronologically within each folder.

Stewart, Charles D., Papers, 1870-1965, Collection 323. Local History Manuscript Collections, Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Essays on the Spot

Fellow Creatures

Some Textual Difficulties in Shakespeare

Partners of Providence

Valley Waters

The Fugitive Blacksmith

Finerty of the Sand-House

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials. The collection is open to all in accordance with state law. The public may view Local History Manuscript Collections by appointment at the Central Library. To request an in-person appointment, create/login to your Special Collections Account. If you have any questions, please contact the Archives and Special Collections Department at mplarchives@milwaukee.gov.

Use Restrictions

The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

Acquisition Information

The original collection was donated by Charles D. Stewart on 13 January 1953. In 2013 a folder of materials regarding Stewart was merged into this collection. The materials were accessioned as Local History Manuscripts.

Processing Information

Processed by Rachel Arndt, 2013 and Casey Lapworth, 2019.

	Correspondence
Box   1 Folder   1	Cleveland, Grover, 1907
Box   1 Folder   2	General, 1957-1958
Box   1 Folder   3	Ingersoll, Robert, 1896-1989
Box   1 Folder   4-10	Publishing and Authorship, 1897-1958
Box   1 Folder   11	Skinner, Otis & Maud (includes clippings), 1928
	General
Box   2 Folder   1	Articles and clippings, 1905-1959, undated
Box   2 Folder   2	Certificate, International Photo Engravers Union of N. A., 1956
Box   2 Folder   3	“Dinner of the Press Veterans”, 1933
Box   2 Folder   4	Miscellaneous, 1916, 1950, undated
Box   2 Folder   5	Photographs, 1870-1906, undated
Box   4 Folder   1-3	Scrapbooks, 1897-1955
	Writings
Box   2 Folder   6	August Willich, 1878-1965, undated
Box   2 Folder   7	August Willich – Photographs, undated
Box   2 Folder   8	“Essays and Articles”, undated
Box   2 Folder   10	List of contributions, 1890-1909
Box   3 Folder   1	Miscellaneous, 1890-1931, undated
Box   3 Folder   2	“Poems and Proverbs”, 1890-1909
Box   3 Folder   3-4	Shakespeare, 1914-1948, undated
Box   3 Folder   5	“Short Stories”, 1903-1918
Box   3 Folder   6	Tree as an Invention, 1929
Box   3 Folder   7	Wisconsin Magazine of History, 1940