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Sherwin Cody (AC 1889) Correspondence

 Collection
Identifier: MA.00223

Scope and Contents

The collection consists almost entirely of incoming correspondence, mostly concerning social affairs, editorial work, and publishing. Correspondents include a wide range of writers, editors, and artists, including Edmund Gosse, Walter Blackburn Harte, William Dean Howells, Arthur Curtiss James (AC 1889), Henry James, Rudyard Kipling, Edgar Lee Masters, and William Butler Yeats.

Dates

  • Creation: 1893-1916

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

There is no restriction on access to the Sherwin Cody Correspondence for research use. Particularly fragile items are restricted for preservation purposes.

Conditions Governing Use

Requests for permission to publish material from the Sherwin Cody Correspondence should be directed to the Archives and Special Collections. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights.

Biographical / Historical

Alpheus Sherwin Cody (November 30, 1868-April 4, 1959) was an American writer and entrepreneur who developed a long-running home-study course in speaking and writing and a signature series of advertisements asking "Do You Make These Mistakes in English?" A critic of traditional English education, Cody advocated colloquial style and grammar. His course, presented in a patented workbook format which he described as "self-correcting," was purchased by over 150,000 students from its inception in 1918. He published essays, books and articles virtually nonstop from 1893 through 1950. As an Amherst undergraduate, he studied with Professor John Franklin Genung and worked as a secretary to President Julius Hawley Seelye. He was the father of Morrill Cody (AC 1921).

Extent

0.5 Linear feet (1 archives box)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The collection consists almost entirely of incoming correspondence, mostly concerning social affairs, editorial work, and publishing. Correspondents include a wide range of writers, editors, and artists, including Edmund Gosse, Walter Blackburn Harte, William Dean Howells, Arthur Curtiss James (AC 1889), Henry James, Rudyard Kipling, Edgar Lee Masters, and William Butler Yeats.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of E. Morrill Cody (AC 1921), 1965.

Related Materials

Morrill Cody (AC 1921) Papers

Processing Information

In 2011 the collection was removed from the Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection to form its own collection.

Status
Completed
Author
Miranda Marraccini (AC 2012), Peter A. Nelson
Date
2012
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Amherst College Archives and Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Amherst College Archives & Special Collections
Robert Frost Library
61 Quadrangle Drive
Amherst MA 01002-5000
(413) 542-2299