W. Somerset Maugham correspondence
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of correspondence between W. Somerset Maugham and others, including Ken McCormick, an editor-in-chief, and a Mr. Shively. Several handwritten and typed letters are by William and a few are addressed to him. The letters discuss his writings and are dated from 1950-1961. All the letters are signed as W.S. Maugham. A typescript copy of W. Somerset Maugham's "Purely for My Pleasure" is included at the end of the collection with a list of paintings that appear in the book, dated 1961. This essay was written about the circumstances in which Maugham acquired paintings in his collection, and published as a book in 1962.
Dates
- 1950-1961
Creator
- Maugham, W. Somerset (William Somerset), 1874-1965 (correspondent, Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Open for public research.
Conditions Governing Use
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to use material from this collection must be obtained from Reference Services at specialcollections@byu.edu.
Biographical / Historical
W. Somerset Maugham was born on January 25, 1874, in Paris, France. He went to school in London and eventually became a medical student, after which he earned his qualifications as a physician in 1897. However, he went on to become a writer and never practiced medicine. Maugham was married to Syrie Wellcome, and had one child. He also had a partner, Gerald Haxton, who was his secretary, and later, after Haxton's death, Alan Searle, who also worked as his secretary. He wrote his first novel, "Liza of Lambeth," in 1897, and his last soon after WWII. He gained national fame as a playwright, creating 32 plays in his life, the last in 1933. Maugham worked for the British Secret Service in WWI and traveled extensively throughout his life. He died December 16, 1965.
Extent
1 folder (0.01 linear ft)
Language of Materials
English
Custodial History
Acquired in 1979.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Acquired; 1979.
Appraisal
Western history (Mormon and Western American Manuscripts Collection Development Policy V.B.5.c, 2020).
Processing Information
Processed; Isabella Titus; 2024.
- Title
- Register of W. Somerset Maugham correspondence
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Isabella Titus
- Date
- 2024 January 26
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English in Latin script
Repository Details
Part of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Repository
1130 HBLL
Brigham Young University
Provo Utah 84602 United States