Chambers, Robert W. (Robert William), 1865-1933

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Artist and illustrator; author of romance fiction and military articles and sketches.

From the description of An International Affair, undated. (University of Arizona). WorldCat record id: 30676537

Popular New York romance and historical fiction writer; most productive period between 1890 and 1930.

From the description of Papers, 1885-1933, 1890-1930 (bulk) (Colgate University). WorldCat record id: 31626943

Novelist and artist.

From the description of The Little Misery, ca. 1929. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 145435776

American author and artist.

From the description of Autograph letter signed : "Century Club", to Mr. Whipple, 1922 Mar. 25. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270622109

Chambers was an American novelist, short-story writer, and illustrator.

From the description of Compositions, ca. 1906-ca. 1916. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 122505746

From the guide to the Compositions, ca. 1906-ca. 1916., (Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University)

Robert W. Chambers was born in Brooklyn, and trained as an artist in Paris. While working as an illustrator for Life, Truth, and Vogue magazines, he found success as a writer, and abandoned art for literature. He became a prolific and exceedingly popular author of forgettable historical romances, but his lasting literary legacy remains the supernatural stories from his second book, The King in Yellow. These imaginative, haunting stories represent a keystone in the development of the Gothic short story, and influenced such writers as H.P. Lovecraft.

From the description of Robert W. Chambers correspondence, 1900-1901. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 63664606

Robert W. Chambers was a novelist and illustrator. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on May 26, 1865, he was the elder son of William and Caroline Boughton Chambers. He attended the Brooklyn Polytechnic Institue, where he showed an aptitude for painting. He then studied at the Students' Art League and while there was befriended by Charles Dana Gibson. Chambers traveled to Paris in 1886, studied art at Julian's Academy, and exhibited his work at the Salon in 1889. In 1893, he returned to the United States and set up a studio in New York City. Chambers soon became known for his illustrations in Life, Vogue, and other magazines. By 1894, he began writing stories in the evening. Finding that he could work better in the country, Chambers moved to Fulton County, N.Y., where his grandfather had established the family estate. In 1898, he married Elsa Vaughn Moller; theyraised one son. Chambers produced novels and short stories in rapid succession. By the time of his death, he was credited with 72 books, numerous short stories, serials, a drama, and two librettos for operas. Chambers also collected furniture, Chinese and Japanese antiques, and butterflies.

From the description of Sketchbook, [188?]. (Winterthur Library). WorldCat record id: 122568397

Robert William Chambers was born in Brooklyn, New York on May 26, 1865 to William and Caroline (Boughton) Chambers. Chambers attended the Art Students' League in New York, as well as the École des Beaux-Arts and the Académie Julien in Paris, France. In 1898, he married Elsa Vaughn Moller, with whom he had one son.

Chambers is known as being an author and novelist, as well as an illustrator for publications such as for Life, Truth, and Vogue magazines. Perhaps his best known work is his 1895 collection, The King in Yellow . Chambers is remembered for his supernatural horror fiction and his best-selling romance novels of the early 20th century.

From the guide to the Robert W. Chambers Collection, 1903-1932, (Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf D. Appleton-Century Company. Records, 1846-1962. Indiana University
creatorOf Richter, Conrad, 1890-1968. Conrad Richter papers, 1849-1995 (bulk 1903-1968). Pennsylvania State University Libraries
creatorOf Chambers, Robert William, 1865-1933. Autograph letter signed : "Century Club", to Mr. Whipple, 1922 Mar. 25. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Chambers, Robert W. (Robert William), 1865-1933. Correspondence to Van Wyck Brooks, 1918. University of Pennsylvania Library
creatorOf Jack-O-Lantern. Statements by notable people for the Celebrities issue, 1916 May. Dartmouth College Library
referencedIn Compositions, ca. 1906-ca. 1916. Houghton Library
creatorOf Robert W. Chambers letters, 1898-1931 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Chambers, Robert W. (Robert William), 1865-1933. Papers of Robert W. Chambers [manuscript], 1896-1932. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Compositions, ca. 1906-ca. 1916. Houghton Library
creatorOf Glaenzer, Richard Butler, 1876-1937. Papers of Richard B. Glaenzer [manuscript], 1885-1936. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Chambers, Robert W. (Robert William), 1865-1933. An International Affair, undated. University of Arizona Libraries
creatorOf Nordhoff, Charles, 1830-1901. Letters of Charles Nordhoff [manuscript], 1888-1893. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Chambers, Robert W. (Robert William), 1865-1933. The pickets, 1900 (ca.). University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Robert W. Chambers Collection, 1903-1932 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
creatorOf Nye, Bill, 1850-1896. Papers of Bill Nye [manuscript], 1870-1900, bulk 1870-1895. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Chambers, Robert W. (Robert William), 1865-1933. The Little Misery, ca. 1929. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Joseph Arthur Moore Papers, 1910-1927 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Chambers, Robert W. (Robert William), 1865-1933,. Autograph letters signed from Robert William Chambers to Augustin Daly [manuscript], 1896-1898. Folger Shakespeare Library
referencedIn Art Poster File, [1890]-1910, (bulk 1895-1896) New-York Historical Society
creatorOf Chambers, Robert W. (Robert William), 1865-1933. The silent land : manuscript, [19--?]. Princeton University Library
creatorOf Chambers, Robert W. (Robert William), 1865-1933. Papers, 1885-1933, 1890-1930 (bulk) Colgate University, Everett Needham Case Library
referencedIn Century Company records New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Appleton-Century mss., 1846-1962 Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
creatorOf Chambers, Robert W. (Robert William), 1865-1933. Compositions, ca. 1906-ca. 1916. Houghton Library
creatorOf New York (State). Education Dept. Division of Archives and History. Unpublished lists and monographs submitted to the state historian, [ca. 1911-1928] New York State Archives
referencedIn A.P. Watt (Firm). A.P. Watt & Son correspondence, 1883-1917. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Fred A. Rosenstock autograph collection L. Tom Perry Special Collections
creatorOf Chambers, Robert W. (Robert William), 1865-1933. Operator 13 / by Robert W. Chambers. Dartmouth College Library
creatorOf Chambers, Robert W. (Robert William), 1865-1933. Sketchbook, [188?]. Winterthur Library
creatorOf Wilcox, Ella Wheeler, 1850-1919. Papers of Ella Wheeler Wilcox, 1884-1919. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn A. P. Watt & Son, 1883-1917. Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Compositions, ca. 1906-ca. 1916. Houghton Library
creatorOf Chambers, Robert W. (Robert William), 1865-1933. Robert W. Chambers correspondence, 1900-1901. Pennsylvania State University Libraries
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith A.P. Watt (Firm) corporateBody
associatedWith Aylesworth, Barton O. (Barton Orville), 1860-1933 person
associatedWith Burkhardt, Charles A., person
correspondedWith Century Company corporateBody
associatedWith Chamabers, Robert W. (Robert William), 1865-1933. person
associatedWith Chambers, Robert W. (Robert William), 1865-1933 person
associatedWith Chambers, Walter Boughton, 1866-1945, person
associatedWith Daly, Augustin, 1838-1899. person
associatedWith D. Appleton-Century Company. corporateBody
correspondedWith Dellenbaugh, Frederick Samuel, 1853-1935 person
associatedWith Glaenzer, Richard Butler, 1876-1937. person
associatedWith Harper & Brothers, corporateBody
associatedWith Jack-O-Lantern. corporateBody
associatedWith Johnson, William, Sir, 1715-1774. person
associatedWith Lamson, Gardner, 1916-2002, person
correspondedWith Moore, Joseph Arthur, 1879-1937. person
associatedWith New York (State). Education Dept. Division of Archives and History. corporateBody
associatedWith Nordhoff, Charles, 1830-1901. person
associatedWith Nye, Bill, 1850-1896. person
associatedWith Pilgrim, Charles Winfield, 1855-1934, person
associatedWith Putnam, George Haven, 1844-1930 person
associatedWith Richards, Grant, 1872-1948, person
associatedWith Richter, Conrad, 1890-1968. person
associatedWith Rosenstock, Fred A., b. 1895 person
associatedWith Stokes, Frederick Abbot, 1857-1939. person
associatedWith Stone & Kimball, corporateBody
associatedWith Streamer, Volney, 1850-1915, person
associatedWith Von Kienbusch, Carl Otto Kretzschmar, 1884-1976, person
associatedWith Whipple, Mr, person
associatedWith Wilcox, Ella Wheeler, 1850-1919. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Florida
United States
United States
United States
Subject
American literature
American literature
Advertising
Authors, American
Novelists, American
Art, Amateur
Authors and publishers
Buildings in art
Caricatures and cartoons
Dwellings in art
Guard duty
Illustrators
Landscape in art
Literature
Male authors, American
Manuscripts, American
Satire
Soldiers in art
Occupation
Artists
Illustrator
Novelists
Activity

Person

Birth 1865-05-26

Death 1933-12-16

Americans

English

Information

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Ark ID: w6mp5jmw

SNAC ID: 21853185