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1850-1886 | 1887-1900 | 1901-1932
| 1887 |
Passes Ohio bar examination with the highest grade in his group. Works at law firm of Henderson, Kline, and Tolles as a stenographer. Begins publishing sketches and anecdotes in humor magazines Tid-Bits ("A Soulless Corporation") and Puck. "The Goophered Grapevine" appears in the August Atlantic Monthly (the first fiction by an African-American to be published there). Chesnutts become members of the Cleveland Social Circle, an exclusive social club of "better-educated people of color."
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| 1888 |
"Po' Sandy" published in May Atlantic Monthly. Builds successful business as a court reporter but is unable to find clients for law practice. Sister Lillian comes to live with family and help with stenography work.
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| 1889 |
Begins correspondence with George Washington Cable and participates in his "Open Letter Club," forum for circulating letters and essays on racial questions. Visits Cable in Northampton, Massachusetts. Declines offer to become Cable's secretary. Leaves Henderson, Kline, and Tolles and sets up his own stenographic office. Family moves into newly built house at 64 Brenton Street and begins attending Emmanuel Episcopal Church. Publishes essay "What Is a White Man?" (New York Independent, May 30) and short stories "The Conjurer's Revenge" (Overland Monthly, June), "Dave's Neckliss" (Atlantic Monthly, October), and "The Sheriff 's Children" (Independent, November 7). Writes "Rena Walden," story that later becomes novel The House Behind the Cedars.
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| 1890 |
Daughter Dorothy born in December
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| 1891 |
Publishes essay "A Multitude of Counselors" in the Independent, April 2. Proposal for collection of stories is rejected by Houghton, Mifflin
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| 1893 |
"A Deep Sleeper" published in magazine Two Tales in March. Visits Chicago World's Fair. Declines to invest $2,500,in Albion Tourgée's proposed journal The National Citizen.
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| 1896 |
Visits Paris and travels through England in late summer.
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| 1897 |
Walter Hines Page, editor of Atlantic Monthly and an editor at Houghton, Mifflin, accepts "The Wife of His Youth" (published July 1898) and "The March of Progress" (eventually published in Century, January 1901). Houghton, Mifflin rejects novel Mandy Oxendine (published in 1997). Daughters Ethel and Helen enter Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. At Page's request, Chesnutt sends him copies of 20 published and unpublished stories. Visits Boston and meets Page in the fall.
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| 1898 |
Novel "A Business Career" rejected by Houghton, Mifflin. After Page proposes publishing a collection of conjure tales, Chesnutt sends him six new stories in May.
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| 1899 |
The Conjure Woman published by Houghton, Mifflin in March. Chesnutt begins giving public lectures and readings. Visits Boston in August and arranges publication of a second story collection. Meets with M. A. DeWolfe Howe, editor of the Beacon Biographies of Eminent Americans, and proposes writing a biography of Frederick Douglass for the series. Closes stenographic business on September 30 and sets up literary office at home, intending to become a full-time writer and lecturer. Frederick Douglass published by Smith, Maynard on November 27; The Wife of His Youth and Other Stories of the Color Line published by Houghton, Mifflin, November 29.
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| 1900 |
Reviews Booker T. Washington's The Future of the American Negro for The Critic. Meets William Dean Howells in New York in February and is pleased when Howells praises his stories in an essay published in the May Atlantic Monthly. Southern Workman publishes stories "Lonesome Ben" (March) and "Tobe's Tribulations" (November). Novel "The Rainbow Chasers" is rejected by Houghton, Mifflin in March and by Robert Underwood Johnson of the Century in April. Publishes "The Future American," controversial three-part essay on racial amalgamation, in the Boston Evening Transcript, August 18–September 1. Works on The Marrow of Tradition, novel inspired by November 1898 riot in Wilmington, North Carolina, during which white supremacists overthrew the city government and killed an estimated 20 African-Americans. Novel The House Behind the Cedars published by Houghton, Mifflin on October 27. Brothers Lewis and Andrew (Jack) establish a successful photography studio in Cleveland.
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