Edward Smyth Pigott Papers

The papers consist of the following series:

1. Correspondence, Manuscripts & Documents (Boxes 1-8) are arranged alphabetically by author and title. This series includes a small number of manuscripts and documents; the majority of the collection consists of Pigott's personal and professional correspondence, both from his work as a journalist and as the Examiner of Plays. The majority of the correspondence is addressed to Pigott but there is also a significant group of letters addressed to his nephew, Henry Drummond Smyth Pigott. Notable correspondents include Wilkie Collins, Francis George Seymour (Marquess of Hertford), Richard Monckton Milnes (Baron Houghton), Henry Du Pré Labouchere, Theodore Martin, John Everett Millais, Spencer Cecil Brabazon Ponsonby-Fane, Goldwin Smith, and Edmund Hodgson Yates.

The personal letters include discussions of the leading topics, politicians, and "celebrities" of the day; the professional letters mainly deal with stories to be published in Pigott's newspapers and the workings and people of the Victorian theatre, including letters about plays which, for some reason, were not accepted for performance.

In 1873, Edward Pigott was put forward as a candidate for the position of Secretary for the Royal Academy; ultimately, he was not elected to the position but there are a large number of testimonial letters by people in the art, academic and political fields, supporting Pigott's candidacy.

2. Photographs (Box 8) are arranged alphabetically by subject. These include both cabinet card and cartes de visite photographs of Wilkie Collins, Henry Du Pré Labouchere, Edward Smyth Pigott, and Henry Drummond Smyth Pigott; there are also printed pictures of Collins and John Tulloch.

3. Ephemera (Box 8) is arranged by subject, then alphabetically by author and title. This series includes printed and autograph material related to Ernest E. Baker, Wilkie Collins, Edward Smyth Pigott, William Tinsley, and Edmund Hodgson Yates.