Collecting the Untold Stories - Reed professor wins grant to compile the outstanding stories of Charles Chesnutt

For fifty years, African-American author Charles W. Chesnutt (1858-1932) wrote stories that chronicled the complexities of race in America. A formidable craftsman, he published in newspapers and elite magazines such as The Atlantic. While some of his stories have appeared in major anthologies, they represent just a tiny fraction of his literary output. Most of his writing—writing that provides key insight into America after the Civil War—is out of print and hard to find.

Now, thanks to a $206,330 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), Prof. Sarah Wagner-McCoy will work with Prof. Stephanie Browner of The New School to edit The Complete Short Stories of Charles W. Chesnutt, the first two volumes of a nine-volume scholarly edition of Chesnutt’s work for Oxford University Press. Drawing on a rich archive, the scholarly print edition will provide an authoritative text for each work, shed light on Chesnutt's writing process, and offer detailed annotations on historical background, literary allusions, and relevant literary, cultural, political, and social contexts.

This story was updated and corrected on June 16, 2022.