Family of Scottish-English origins which came to the United States in the middle of the nineteenth century. The family settled
on the East Coast, later moving West; the Andersons contributed to society in the fields of theology, education and literature.
Melville Best Anderson was an author, translator and teacher whose particular interest was the work of Dante. From 1891-1910,
he taught in the English Department at Stanford University, serving as first chairman of the department.
THE ANDERSON FAMILY PAPERS cover the history of a distinguished family that, up to a point, followed a somewhat typical pattern
in America. Of Scottish-English origins, with a short history in the Maritime Provinces, Canada, the family came to the United
States in the middle of the nineteenth century. They settled on the East coast, later moving West. Here the Andersons diverged
from the usual pattern. They made major contributions to society in the fields of theology, education and literature. They
were intellectual people rather than industrialists. They did not lay railroads or pan for gold or wage wars with the Indians
on the frontier. They did, however, found schools, preach sermons, write books and make substantial scholarly and scientific
contributions to the community.
32 linear ft (ca. 45,000 items).
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