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mcfee_w
William McFee Papers
An inventory of his
papers at Syracuse University
KM
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Aug 1987
[Derived from Summit]
12 Mar 2007
English
-
08 Dec 2008 - converted to EAD (LDC)
- 17 Oct 2012 - additions, promoted to regular collection (MRC)
Overview of the Collection
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McFee, William, 1881-1966.
William McFee Papers
1922-1958
0.25 linear ft.
Papers of the British novelist, author. Died 1966. Personal correspondence, signed/inscribed edition of Pilgrims of Adversity, requests for autographed copies of McFee's books, typescript of "On Keeping a Fool at Court," an essay written for
Shadowland magazine.
149339
English
Biographical History
William McFee (1881-1966) was a British novelist and author best known for his sea novels, such as
Casuals of the Sea (1916).
William McFee was born on June 15, 1881 on his father, John Henry McFee's ship,
Erin's Isle during a return trip from India. After completing school at East Anglian School in Suffolk, England, William McFee became an apprentice to the engineering firm of McMuirland's at Aldersgate in London. In 1905, he took a position as a junior engineer aboard a tramp steamer that travelled to Mediterranean, as well as African and Asian ports.
McFee served as a sublieutenant in the British navy during World War I. While serving in the eastern Mediterranean, he met Pauline Khondoff, a Bulgarian refugee. The couple wed in 1920, but divorced in 1932. After the war, McFee returned to his previous employer, the United Fruit Company, where he served as a chief engineer. However, in 1924, he decided to leave the organization to pursue a career in writing.
Most of McFee's works are nautical tales, inspired by his years at sea. He was married twice more, first to Beatrice Allender who died in 1952 and then to Dorothy North. His stepson, Richard McFee, was an electronics professor at Syracuse University. William McFee died on July 2, 1966 at his home in New Milford, Connecticut.
Selected Works
1916
Casuals of the Sea
1928
Pilgrims of Adversity
1930
North of Suez
1933
No Castle in Spain
1935
The Beachcomber
1938
Derelicts
1940
Watch Below
Scope and Contents of the Collection
The
William McFee Papers consist of Correspondence and Writings.
Correspondence is mostly of a personal nature, with the exception of the miscellaneous items which concern requests for autographed copies of McFee's books.
Writings consist of a copy of the 1928 edition of Pilgrims of Adversity, signed and inscribed to Wallace Maer, and a manuscript of "On Keeping a Fool at Court," an essay on American literature written for
Shadowland magazine. In the essay, McFee offers this opinion:
Another remarkable feature of the literary life in America, and making for its degeneracy, is the attitude of women toward books. A certain sensuous idolatory is by no means extinct in the United States. The whole of "modern" American literature, outside of a few supreme humorists, is feminine in texture.
Arrangement of the Collection
Correspondence is arranged alphabetically by recipient, and Writings alphabetically by title.
Subject and Genre Headings
Literature -- British
Evans, Montgomery, II.
Gaige, Crosby, 1882-1949.
Hansen, Harry, 1884-
MacDonald, Pirie.
McFee, William, 1881-
Pilgrims of adversity.Authors, English.
English literature -- 20th century.
Novelists, English.
Correspondence.
Authors.
Novelists.
Access Restrictions
The majority of our archival and manuscript collections are housed offsite and require advanced notice for retrieval. Researchers are encouraged to contact us in advance concerning the collection material they wish to access for their research.
Use Restrictions
Written permission must be obtained from SCRC and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.
Preferred Citation
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
William McFee Papers,
&su_name;
Inventory
Correspondence
Evans, Montgomery
20 Sep 1952
1 outgoing letter
1
Gaige, Crosby
22 Feb 1928
1 outgoing letter
1
Hansen, Harry
undated
1 outgoing letter
1
MacDonald, Duncan
letters between MacDonald and Wallace Maer about McFee; from McFee to MacDonald; from McFee to an unidentified person ("Renie") about MacDonald1954, 1956
1
See also [Writings : Pilgrims of Adversity](wpoa)
MacDonald, Pirie
31 Oct 1922
1 outgoing letter
1
Maer, WallaceSee [MacDonald, Duncan](duma).
Miscellaneous
1940,
1958
1 incoming letter; 2 outgoing letters
1
Writings
Pilgrims of Adversity
signed and inscribed to Wallace Maer
1928 (book), 1954 (inscription)1
On Keeping a Fool at Court
6 pages
typescript with author's corrections
1