All Items 29

Poem describing a perfect school

Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892

A poem by Walt Whitman describing a perfect school, printed from the original wood blocks on a broadsheet and illustrated by George Illian. The illustrations are hand colored.

Poem describing a perfect school
Walt Whitman letter to Helen E. Price, 1881 April 21

Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892

A letter to Helen Price in which Walt Whitman reminisces about Helen's mother, Abby, who had been a good friend of Whitman's until her death in 1878. He also gives Helen information on how to contact Dr. Richard Maurice Bucke, mentions his recent trip to Boston, and discusses his health, living situation, and family. The envelope for the letter is included as well.

Walt Whitman letter to Helen E. Price, 1881 April 21
Walt Whitman letter to Peter Doyle, [1876] March 17

Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892

A postal card to Peter Doyle in which Walt Whitman tells him that everything is "going on about as usual" with him.

Walt Whitman letter to Peter Doyle, [1876] March 17
Walt Whitman letter to John Swinton

Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892

A brief letter to John Swinton in which Walt Whitman tells Swinton he will call on him at noon the next day and will also call at the offices of the Galaxy the day he is writing.

Walt Whitman letter to John Swinton
Fancies at Navesink

Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892

A galley proof sheet containing a portion of Walt Whitman's "Fancies at Navesink" with corrections in Whitman's hand in pencil. Four of the eight poems that make up "Fancies at Navesink" are printed on this sheet, including "The Pilot in the Mist," "Had I the Choice," "You Tides with Ceaseless Swell," and "Last of Ebb, and Daylight Waning." Whitman has also signed and dated the sheet.

Fancies at Navesink
Walt Whitman unidentified prose

Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892

Twenty lines of prose by Walt Whitman that mentions advertisements for an exhibit, the cost of admission ("half a dollar, front seats twelve and a half cents extra"), and that it is recommended by clergymen. Many edits have been made to the manuscript, with lines crossed out and insertions throughout.

Walt Whitman unidentified prose
Walt Whitman notation of page location for "Drum-Taps"

Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892

A note written in blue pencil and gray pencil by Walt Whitman indicating where the poem or poems under the title "Drum-Taps" should go in an unidentified manuscript. The note, written on lined notepaper, indicates that Drum-Taps should be placed after page 404 and before page 405, but it is unclear what poetry collection this note was intended for.

Walt Whitman notation of page location for "Drum-Taps"
Walt Whitman notes on consciousness

Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892

A fragment of writing by Walt Whitman discussing religion and the indemonstrable nature of consciousness.

Walt Whitman notes on consciousness
Walt Whitman, head-and-shoulders portrait, 1887

Cox, George C., (George Collins), 1851-1902

A head-and-shoulders portrait of Walt Whitman facing front by photographer George C. Cox, mounted on gray paper. Whitman's signature is on the mount beneath the portrait.

Walt Whitman, head-and-shoulders portrait, 1887
Walt Whitman's caution

Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892

Original manuscript by Walt Whitman of his poem "Walt Whitman's Caution," which was first published in the 1860 edition of "Leaves of Grass." The poem encourages individuals, cities, and states to "Resist much, Obey little."

Walt Whitman's caution
Walt Whitman, head-and-shoulders portrait, 1884

Rockwood, George Gardner, 1832-1911

A portrait of Walt Whitman on a cabinet card mount, signed by Walt Whitman and dated 1884. The verso of the mount bears the name and image for George G. Rockwood's photography studio: Rockwood Photographer, 1440 Broadway N.Y., Holland Building.

Walt Whitman, head-and-shoulders portrait, 1884
National literature

Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892

The first page of an original manuscript by Walt Whitman for an article published in March 1891 as "Have We a National Literature?" This page appears to be made up of two fragments, and only includes part of Whitman's first paragraph of the article. The manuscript is written in purple and blue pencil, with revisions made in pencil and ink. A note on the mount indicates that this page was sent to William Gable in 1907 by Horace Traubel.

National literature
Walt Whitman, three-quarter length portrait, seated, 1887

Cox, George C., (George Collins), 1851-1902

A three-quarter length portrait of Walt Whitman, seated, facing right, wearing a hat, by photographer George C. Cox, mounted on gray paper. Whitman's signature is on the mount beneath the portrait. In the photo, Whitman holds a cane in his left hand while his right hand is in his coat pocket.

Walt Whitman, three-quarter length portrait, seated, 1887
Walt Whitman notes about rorquals

Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892

Notes written in ink by Walt Whitman on the subject of rorquals, which are the largest group of baleen whales. The notes discuss the length of the wales, their blubber, their abundance, and where they can be found. On the verso is the name William Campbell and the address 1623 Chestnut written in pencil.

Walt Whitman notes about rorquals
Walt Whitman letter to Talcott Williams, 1891 September 22

Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892

A postal card sent by Walt Whitman to Talcott Williams. On the card, Whitman writes that Williams should visit, as should Mr. [Edward Smith] Willard. He notes that he is the same as usual. Willard was an English actor and the accounts of Horace L. Traubel indicate that Williams and Willard telegraphed the next day to say they would be unable to visit.

Walt Whitman letter to Talcott Williams, 1891 September 22
Walt Whitman notes on a book

Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892

A manuscript fragment by Walt Whitman. On the recto are 8 lines in which Whitman claims his intention in writing a book (the identity of which is unknown) was to "express and tally" his "days and lands" rather than composing anything particularly melodious or technically fine. On the verso are 23 lines of what appear to be a letter not in Whitman's hand, though the name in the signature is illegible. The lines of the letter have been crossed out with a long black line through the middle of the page.

Walt Whitman notes on a book
Walt Whitman, half-length portrait, circa 1882

Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892

An intaglio print of a portrait of Walt Whitman by Herbert Gilchrist. The print bears two of Whitman's signatures, one in pencil and the other in blue crayon. The image appeared as the frontispiece for Richard Maurice Bucke's book, "Walt Whitman," published in 1883.

Walt Whitman, half-length portrait, circa 1882
Thoughts 4

Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892

Original manuscript for the fourth part of Walt Whitman's poem "Thoughts" as it was published in the 1860 edition of "Leaves of Grass." In later editions these lines are broken up and used in new poems.

Thoughts 4
Walt Whitman fragment from draft of "Prayer for Columbus"

Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892

A manuscript fragment by Walt Whitman. The asterisk at the beginning of the text suggests this was an interpolation that has been mislaid from its original text. The fragment appears to be an early draft of the introductory paragraph for his poem "Prayer of Columbus."

Walt Whitman fragment from draft of "Prayer for Columbus"
Walt Whitman envelope to Thomas Donaldson, 1890 June 17

Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892

An enveloped addressed to Thomas Donaldson of Philadelphia from Walt Whitman. The envelope bears postmarks from Camden, New Jersey, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Donaldson and Whitman had become friends in the 1880s. The envelope cannot be readily connected with a particular letter.

Walt Whitman envelope to Thomas Donaldson, 1890 June 17