Letter from Camus to Victor Butterfield, February 18, 1959

The Albert Camus papers consist of correspondence, manuscript and typescript drafts of Camus writings, photographs, and a questionnaire completed by Camus, which was sent to him by Wesleyan Professor Carl Viggiani.

The four pieces of correspondence are all from Camus. One is to Wesleyan English professor Fred B. Millett, dated 1946, in which he declines an invitation. A second piece of correspondence, dated 1957, is addressed to Romance Languages and Literatures professor Carl Viggiani, and addresses questions that had been posed by Viggiani. The final two letters are to Wesleyan President Victor Butterfield, dated 1959. In the first, dated Feburary 18, Camus declines an honor that has been offered him by Wesleyan University--possibly an honorary degree. The second letter, dated March 18, thanks Butterfield for his gift of a set of William Faulkner books.

The circa 1957 questionnaire is fourteen pages, and inquires about Camus' family, studies, experiences, opinions, and feelings, specifically for the time period 1913 to 1943. Camus has replied to all questions in pencil.

"Hellenisme et Christianisme," written about Plotinus and St. Augustine, was Camus' thesis for the University of Algeria, submitted to the Faculty of Letters. A manuscript and typescript of this work can be found in this collection. A two page manuscript of aphorisms, and a piece of writing entitled "Les Mines de Tipasa" is present in both manuscript and typescript.

The photographs include pictures of Camus, his friends, his mentor Jean Grenier, and his work in directing "Caligula" and "Requium." One photo features his children, Catherine and Jean. There is also a photograph of a manuscript page from The Rebel.