Rufus W. Griswold Papers, 1834-1857 | Boston Public Library Archival and Manuscript Finding Aid Database

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Collection Overview

Title: Rufus W. Griswold Papers, 1834-1857

Collection Identifier: MS Gris.

Primary Creator: Griswold, Rufus, W., 1815-1857

Extent: 1285.0 Items

Arrangement: Arranged alphabetically.

Date Acquired: 00/00/1900

Subjects: American Literature — 19th Century — History and Criticism, Authors, American — 19th Century — Correspondence, Authors and publishers -- Correspondence, Carey, Alice, 1820-1871, Fields, James Thomas, 1817-1881, Graham's Magazine, Griswold, Rufus, 1815-1897, Hoffman, Charles Fenno, 1806-1884, Poe, Edgar Allan, 1809-1849., Poets, American — 19th Century — Correspondence, Poets and Poetry of America, Tucker, Beverley, 1784-1851, Whittier, John Greenleaf, 1807-1892

Languages: English

Abstract

This collection contains the letters of Rufus Griswold (1815-1857), editor of Graham’s Magazine and publisher of American literature and poetry in the mid 19^th century. The letters document his relationships – both professional and personal – with his contemporaries. Most notable is the correspondence between Griswold and Edgar Allan Poe.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

This collection contains the near entirety of Rufus Griswold’s correspondence between the years 1834 and 1857. In particular, it reflects his business dealings as editor of Graham’s Magazine, and publisher of The Poets and Poetry of America. Correspondence is primarily letters to Griswold from poets, authors, and other editors regarding publications and reviews.

The majority of the letters are related to either Graham’s Magazine or The Poets of America and include requests for publication or critical review. While the correspondence is business in nature, the letters also discuss the personal lives of such people as Rufus Griswold, Edgar Allen Poe, Elizabeth Ellet, and Frances Sargent Osgood.

Griswold’s publication, The Poets and Poetry of America, was the first anthology of American poetry and was published in 1842. From this publication stemmed others that are mentioned in the letters, among them The Female Poets of America, Prose Writers of America, Poets and Poetry of England.

Many of the letters in the collection have been printed in Passages from the Correspondence and Other Papers of Rufus W. Griswold, published by W. M. Griswold at Cambridge in 1898, and The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe, New York, 1902.

Subject/Index Terms

American Literature — 19th Century — History and Criticism
Authors, American — 19th Century — Correspondence
Authors and publishers -- Correspondence
Carey, Alice, 1820-1871
Fields, James Thomas, 1817-1881
Graham's Magazine
Griswold, Rufus, 1815-1897
Hoffman, Charles Fenno, 1806-1884
Poe, Edgar Allan, 1809-1849.
Poets, American — 19th Century — Correspondence
Poets and Poetry of America
Tucker, Beverley, 1784-1851
Whittier, John Greenleaf, 1807-1892

Administrative Information

Repository: Boston Public Library Archival and Manuscript Finding Aid Database

Access Restrictions: Collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions:

Items in this collection may be subject to copyright restrictions. The Boston Public Library does not hold copyright on the material in this collection. Researchers are responsible for identifying and contacting the persons or organizations that hold copyright.

When reproducing material from this collection please include the credit line "Courtesy of the Trustees of the Boston Public Library/ Rare Books."

Acquisition Method: Donated to the Boston Public Library by Mrs. Rufus Griswold in 1900.

Preferred Citation: Rufus W. Griswold Collection, MS Gris. Courtesy of the Trustees of the Boston Public Library. Courtesy of the Trustees of the Boston Public Library/Rare Books.

Processing Information: Finding aid prepared by Honor McCusker, c. 1963.

Finding Aid Revision History: Updated by Bethany Hirsch, November 2011.

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Box 15

Folder 940: Schoolcraft, Henry Rowe, 1793-1864. A.D. for R. W. Griswold, n.d.: N.p. Biographical data.
Folder 941: Schoolcraft, Mrs. Mary (Howard). A. L.S. to R. W. Griswold, 27 September 1854: Washington, D.C. Accepts for herself and her husband a previous invitation to visit the Griswold's in October.
Folder 942: Scott, Sir Walter, 1771-1832. L.S. to Henry Brevoort, 23 April 1813: Abbotsford. Expresses the writer's delight in Washington Irving's History of New York, by Diedrich Knickerbocker.
Folder 943: Sedgwick, Catharine Maria, 1789-1867. A.L.S. to George R. Graham, 18 August 1843: Lenox, (Mass.) Sends a third article for Graham's Magazine; also a notice to be inserted in the magazine, explaining that William Ellery Channing, the poet, whose poems Poe has reviewed, is not the son but the nephew of William Ellery Channing, the divine.
Folder 944: Sedgwick, Catharine Maria, 1789-1867. A.L.S. to R. W. Griswold, 29 January 1855: Boston, M.A. Requests six copies of the engraving of her mother [Pamela Dwight Sedgwick] used in Griswold's The Republican Court.
Folder 945: Sedgwick, Charles. A.L.S. to R. W. Griswold, 2 July 1842: Lenox, (M.A.) Transmitting Catherine Maria Sedgwick's permission to borrow the sketch of her by Ingham, now in the possession of Dr. William Russell of Brighton on Staten Island.
Folder 946: Sedgwick, Charles. A.L.S. to Editor of Graham's Magazine, 6 May 1843: New York. Offers an article by his sister, Catherine Maria Sedgwick. States her terms.
Folder 947: Sedgwick, Pamela (Dwight), n.d.: N.p. Biographical sketch.
Folder 948: Seward, Mary L. (Mumford). A.L.S. to Frances Sargent (Locke) Osgood, 23 November 1846: New York. Describes a visit to her sister, Angelina, and a literary evening at Miss Lynch's. Gives news of Mrs. Hewitt, [Nathaniel P.] Willis, Mrs. Ellet, Miss Fuller, and the Poes. The Poes are extremely poor.
Folder 949: Seward, William, Henry, 1801-1872. A.L.S. to Horace Greeley, 1 October 1847: Auburn, N.Y. Offers to negotiatie confidentially to prevent Greeley's libel suit against Redfield and Pringle.
Folder 950: Seward, William, Henry, 1801-1872. A.L.S. to Horace Greeley, 15 February 1850: Washington, D.C. Thanks Greeley for "suggestions."
Folder 951: Shreve, Thomas H., 1808-1853. A.L.S. to William D. Gallagher, 11 March 1852: Louisville, (K.Y.) Denies writing the attack on Griswold in the Journal, and is annoyed that Gallagher attributed it to him. Resents [Gamaliel?] Bailey's failure to notice his book, Drayton shortly after its publication.
Folder 952: Sigourney, Lydia Howard (Huntley), 1791-1865. A.L.S. to Edgar A. Poe, 23 April 1836: Hartford, C.T. Thanks Poe for his letter of the 12th, sent with the January number of the Southern Literary Messenger. Protests against Poe's charge that she imitates Mrs. Hemans.
Folder 953: Sigourney, Lydia Howard (Huntley), 1791-1865. A.L.S. to Edgar Allan Poe, 11 June 1836: Hartford, C.T. Assures him of her good will. Is impressed by Poe's favorable review of [Grenville] Mellen's poems. Sends a poem of her own, "Death cometh to the chamber of the sick," for the Messenger. Asks for surplus copies of her Letters to Young Ladies to supply the demand in Hartford and New York.
Folder 954: Sigourney, Lydia Howard (Huntley), 1791-1865. A.L.S. to George R. Graham, 20 December 1842: Hartford, C.T. Thanks Graham for giving her numbers of his Magazine and for copies of an engraving. Comments on the excellence of Graham's Magazine; would like to become a regular contributor.
Folder 955: Sigourney, Lydia Howard (Huntley), 1791-1865. A.L.S. to George R. Graham, 13 November 1844: Hartford, C.T. Regrets that her poem "The Stockbridge Bowl" was printed in [the October 1844 issue of] Graham's Magazine without her knowledge; in its stead she will supply another. Praises engraving of Mrs. [Ann Sophia] Stephens, which appears in the November issue. Regrets "political disappointment."
Folder 956: Sigourney, Lydia Howard (Huntley), 1791-1865. A.L.S. to R. W. Griswold, 29 December 1848: Hartford, C.T. Thanks him for sending her pages from his forthcoming work; calls attention to typographical errors in "Napoleon's Epitaph," "The Mother of Washington," "The Indian Girl's Burial," and "Indian Names."
Folder 957: Simms, William Gilmore, 1806-1870. A.L.S. to R. W. Griswold, 21 October [1842?]: Charleston, (S.C.) Thanks Griswold for sending him a copy of English Poets. Hopes to receive a copy of the Works of Milton. Will comment editorially on it.
Folder 958: Simms, William Gilmore, 1806-1870. A.L.S. to R. W. Griswold, 16 January 1846: Midway, (S.C.) Sends Griswold the promised "order." The "collection" [not explained] is a valuable one in natural history and the arts. Sends a copy of the Sonnets.
Folder 959: Simms, William Gilmore, 1806-1870. A.L.S. to Edgar A. Poe, 30 July 1846: New York. Encourages Poe, giving him moral advice about literary quarrels and his choice of friends.
Folder 960: Simms, William Gilmore, 1806-1870. A.L.S. to R. W. Griswold, December 1846: Woodlands, (S.C.) A survey of the writer's works, with descriptions of many, with quotations from contemporary reviews, including one in Poe's Literary Messenger.
Folder 961: Simms, William Gilmore, 1806-1870. A.L.S. to R. W. Griswold, 15 July, [1847?]: Charleston, (S.C.) Describes the writer's studies on the careers of Generals [Isaac] Huger, [Andrew] Pickens, and other Southern generals [for Washington and His Generals?]. States he has forwarded a biography of [General] Charles Lee to the publishers, and has sent Frederick Saunders the proofs of Bayard [The Life of Chevalier Bayard, 1847] with a dedication.
Folder 962: Simms, William Gilmore, 1806-1870. A.L.S. to R. W. Griswold, 29 May: New York. States that the writer's article on [General Nathaniel] Greene is ready.
Folder 963: Simms, William Gilmore, 1806-1870. A.L.S. to R. W. Griswold, 21 December [1847]: Woodlands, (S.C.) Asks if the Independent Chronicle, published in 1785, can be seen in Philadelphia, and if the matter relating to Colonel John Laurens of South Carolina, which appears in its columns, is worth transcribing.
Folder 964: Simms, William Gilmore, 1806-1870. A.L.S. to R. W. Griswold, 24 June n.y.: N.p. Requests that material for the writer's memoir of [General Charles] Lee be sent soon.
Folder 965: Skinner, J. S. A.L.S. to ----, n.d.: Gordon's "135 miles en route from Savannah." Requests a set of questions to put to one rice and cotton planter in order "to draw out from them the whole economy of a plantation as respects their slaves," for the purpose of comparing the condition of the slaves with those of English laborers.
Folder 966: Smith, Elizabeth Oakes (Prince), 1806-1893. A.L.S. to Miss [Caroline?] May, n.d.: N.p. Autobiographical sketch [for Female Poets of America, 1849?].
Folder 967: Smith, Elizabeth Oakes (Prince), 1806-1893. A.L.S. to R. W. Griswold, [1849]: N.p. Deeply regrets [Charles Fenno] Hoffman's madness, and her own possible connection with it. Asks Griswold to visit him and inform her on his condition.
Folder 968: Snelling, William Joseph, 1804-1884. A.L.S. to R. W. Griswold, 24 September 1841: 60 W. Broadway, (N.Y.) Promises to give his autobiography viva voce. Complains that his poem "Osceola" was garbled by the Dublin University Press. Offers another poem for consideration.
Folder 969: Soden, S. S. A.L.S. to R. W. Griswold, 13 June 1842: Boston, M.A. Offers Griswold the editorship of the [Boston] Miscellany, and inquires about terms.
Folder 970: Soden, S. S. A.N.S. to R. W. Griswold, 5 July 1842: Boston, M.A. Again offers Griswold the editorship of The Boston Miscellany.
Folder 971: Southern, Edward. A.L.S. to R. W. Griswold, 4 March 1845: Jamaica, V.A. Sends a "poetical manuscript" for publication and includes other specimens of his verse; offers a projected new edition of [Lindley] Murray's Grammar.
Folder 972: Southworth, Emma Dorothy Eliza (Nevitte), 1819-1988. A.D.S., n.d.: Manuscript story for the National Era, "The Thunderbolt to The Hearth." Incomplete. 7 mounts.
Folder 973: Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866. A.L.S. to R. W. Griswold, 5 August 1846: Salem. Sends an "engraved head," also the first number of an illustrated Life of Washington containing "the best engraving from Stuart's Washington that has ever been executed."
Folder 974: Speer, F. J. Ms. poem, n.d.: "On the Death of Capt. Ralph Voorhees, U.S.N."
Folder 975: Sprague, Charles James, 1823-? Ms. poem, 16 February [1843?]: "Truth."
Folder 976: Sprague, William Buell, 1795-1876. A.L.S. to R. W. Griswold, 24 November 1848: Albany, (N.Y.) Promises a sermon in response to Griswold's request and biographical information, if it must be given.
Folder 977: Stansbury, E. A., d. 1873. A.L.S. to R. W. Griswold, 12 January 1839: Richmond, V.T. Asks about the printer whom Griswold promised to secure for him, and the reason for Griswold's "back hand thrust" at N. P. Willis.
Folder 978: Stansbury, E. A., d. 1873. A.L.S. to R. W. Griswold, 15 May 1839: Richmond, V.T. Comments on a slander on Griswold in the Middlebury Argus. Inquires why the "Vermonter plan" has been abandoned. Discusses Griswold's "Tory" enemies.
Folder 979: Stansbury, E. A., d. 1873. A.L.S. to R. W. Griswold, 11 May 1849: Burlington, V.T. Sends a eulogy and description of John Godfrey Saxe (1816-1887) for the new edition of Poets in America.
Folder 980: Starkey, Digby P. A.L.S. to Wiley and Putnam, 13 April 1847: Dublin, (Ireland). Asks whether a poem by W. George Hill, "The Fall of the Oak," included in Griswold's Poets of America, 1842, had been published previously.
Folder 981: Stebbins, Mary Elizabeth (Moore) Hewitt, 1818-? A.S.L. to Edgar A. Poe, 15 March 1845: Athenaeum Hotel (N.Y.) Comments on the "remarkable coincidence" between the publication of Poe's "Raven" and a poem of her own about a white bird ["Tale of Luzon"?]. Sends her poem at Poe's request.
Folder 982: Stebbins, Mary Elizabeth (Moore) Hewitt, 1818-? A.S.L. to Edgar A. Poe, 21 March 1845: Athenaeum Hotel, (N.Y.) Authorizes Poe to print her poem "A Tale of Luzon."
Folder 983: Stebbins, Mary Elizabeth (Moore) Hewitt, 1818-? A.S.L. to Edgar A. Poe, 10 November [1845?]: Athenaeum Hotel, (N.Y.) Thanks Poe for his favorable notice of her volume [Songs of Our Land?] in the Broadway Journal. Encloses "a little song" for the Journal.
Folder 984: Stebbins, Mary Elizabeth (Moore) Hewitt, 1818-? A.S.L. to Edgar A. Poe, 22 December 1845: N.p. Encloses a sonnet for the Broadway Journal.
Folder 985: Stebbins, Mary Elizabeth (Moore) Hewitt, 1818-? A.S.L. to Edgar A. Poe, 29 May [1845?]: Athenaeum Hotel, (N.Y.) Sends a translation from the French of Madame [Anne Lefevre] Dacier. Is happy to have made the acquaintance of Mrs. Poe.
Folder 986: Stebbins, Mary Elizabeth (Moore) Hewitt, 1818-? A.S.L. to Edgar A. Poe, 14 April 1846: Athenaeum Hotel, (N.Y.) Expresses sympathy on his illness. Mentions conversations about Poe with Mrs. Frances Osgood.
Folder 987: Stebbins, Mary Elizabeth (Moore) Hewitt, 1818-? A.S.L. to Mrs. Frances Sargent (Locke) Osgood, 20 December 1846: New York. Gives news of mutual friends, including Mrs. [Mary L.] Seward, Miss Ann Lynch and her soirée, and the Misses Sedgwick. The Poes are "living in the greatest wretchedness."
Folder 988: Stebbins, Mary Elizabeth (Moore) Hewitt, 1818-? A.S.L. to Mrs. Sarah Helen Whitman, 2 October 1850: New York. Describes her interview with Edgar Allan Poe shortly before his engagement to Mrs. Whitman was broken.
Folder 989: Stebbins, Mary Elizabeth (Moore) Hewitt, 1818-? A.S.L. to R. W. Griswold, 24 March [1856]: 483 Broadway. Sends a poem for the International [Magazine]. Asks for a "first rate notice" for her Heroines of History.