Scope and arrangement

On April 10, 1889, Samuel Langhorne Clemens wrote this one-page letter in response to an invitation to speak at the University of Missouri. Walter Williams, founder of the university's journalism school, had attempted to arrange an appearance by Clemens and Henry Watterson, editor of the Louisville Courier-Journal. Clemens, who was living in Hartford, Connecticut, and engaged in several pursuits, declined. Using characteristic humor and knowledge gained during a recent visit to Thomas A. Edison's laboratory in New Jersey, Clemens quipped: "While Watterson, by himself, is a useless carbon loop, & I, by myself, am a useless wire, we are an electric light when we combine."

Administrative information

Custodial History

July 23, 1983, 1 item; Letter (April 10, 1889). Loaned by Ronald W. Hoag, Greenville, N.C., and George W. and Ruth N. Hoag, Needham, Mass.

Source of acquisition

Loaned by Ronald W. Hoag

Loaned by George W. and Ruth N. Hoag

Processing information

Processed by S. Morgan, May 1983

Encoded by Apex Data Services

Copyright notice

Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.

Key terms

Personal Names

Twain, Mark, 1835-1910--Correspondence
Williams, Walter, 1864-1935--Correspondence

Topical

Authors, American--19th century--Correspondence

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