Rufus W. Griswold Papers
Collection — Container: MS Gris.
Call Number: MS Gris.
Scope and Contents
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.
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.
Dates
- 1834-1857
- Other: Date acquired: 00/00/1900
Creator
- Griswold, Rufus, W. (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
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."
When reproducing material from this collection please include the credit line "Courtesy of the Trustees of the Boston Public Library/ Rare Books."
Extent
1285.00 Items
Language of Materials
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 19th century. The letters document his relationships – both professional and personal – with his contemporaries. Most notable is the correspondence between Griswold and Edgar Allan Poe.
Arrangement Note
Arranged alphabetically.
Method of Acquisition
Donated to the Boston Public Library by Mrs. Rufus Griswold in 1900.
Processing Information
Finding aid prepared by Honor McCusker, c. 1963.
- American Literature — 19th Century — History and Criticism
- Authors and publishers -- Correspondence
- Authors, American — 19th Century — 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 and Poetry of America
- Poets, American — 19th Century — Correspondence
- Tucker, Beverley, 1784-1851
- Whittier, John Greenleaf, 1807-1892
Creator
- Griswold, Rufus, W. (Person)
- Title
- Rufus W. Griswold Papers
- Date
- 11/18/2011
- Description rules
- Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- 2011-11: Updated by Bethany Hirsch, November 2011.
About this library
Part of the Boston Public Library Archives & Special Collections Repository
