Anton P. Chekhov Letters

Biographical Note:
Chekhov was a Russian dramatist and short story writer, born in 1860. He received his medical degree in 1884 and worked in and around Moscow, supporting his parents and sister, Mariya, much of his life. In 1901 he married the actress, Olga Knipper, who had appeared in his plays when they were produced by the Moscow Art Theatre. He had contracted tuberculosis in 1883 , became a semi-invalid in 1898, and died in 1904. He and Olga had no children.

Provenance: Received from George Kennan in 1985.

Quantity: one document binder.

Scope and Content Note:
The collection consists of a letter from Chekhov’s sister, a replica of Chekhov’s letter (November 2, 1903) to Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko (co-founder of the Moscow Art Theatre), and a note (June 14, 1985) from Kennan explaining the provenance of the Chekhov letter. Also included are photocopies in Russian.

Suggested citation: Anton Chekhov letters, Grinnell College Libraries, Department of Special Collections, Grinnell, Iowa. Ms.01.71.

Prepared by Leslie Czechowski,
September 1996