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Gertrude Claytor Collection of Edgar Lee Masters

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Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Masters

Edgar Lee Masters, American poet, novelist, and biographer, is best known as the author of the Spoon River Anthology (1915). Born in Garnett, Kansas, in 1868, he maintained a successful law practice in Chicago, Illinois, from 1892 to 1920, and made his debut as a poet in 1898 with A Book of Verse. After retiring from practicing law, he devoted himself entirely to writing. He died in Philadelphia on March 5, 1950.

The collection consists of manuscripts and correspondence of Masters and correspondence, photographs, and printed material relating to him, collected by Gertrude Claytor, a friend and fellow poet. The collection contains manuscripts of 48 of his poems, the manuscripts of two articles he wrote on Samuel Clemens and Vachel Lindsay, and approximately 65 of his letters.

This collection donated by Gertrude Claytor (AM14827 with additions).

For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.

Folder Inventory added by Hilde Creager (2015) in 2012.

No appraisal information is available.

Publisher
Manuscripts Division
Finding Aid Date
2008
Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

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Collection Inventory

Masters, Edgar Lee (1868-1950). Manucripts of Edgar Lee Masters, 1933-1945. 7 folders.
Scope and Contents

Manuscripts of Masters, handwritten and typewritten.

Masters
Biographical / Historical

Edgar Lee Masters, American poet, novelist, and biographer, is best known as the author of the Spoon River Anthology (1915). Born in Garnett, Kansas, in 1868, he maintained a successful law practice in Chicago, Illinois, from 1892 to 1920, and made his debut as a poet in 1898 with A Book of Verse. After retiring from practicing law, he devoted himself entirely to writing. He died in Philadelphia on March 5, 1950.

Physical Description

7 folders

Letter to the Editor of Evening Sun by Padraic Colum on Masters' "The New World." Typewritten manuscript, 4 pp., undated. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Masters, Edgar Lee (1868-1950). Letters of Edgar Lee Masters to Gertrude Claytor, 1939-1950. 2 folders.
Masters
Biographical / Historical

Edgar Lee Masters, American poet, novelist, and biographer, is best known as the author of the Spoon River Anthology (1915). Born in Garnett, Kansas, in 1868, he maintained a successful law practice in Chicago, Illinois, from 1892 to 1920, and made his debut as a poet in 1898 with A Book of Verse. After retiring from practicing law, he devoted himself entirely to writing. He died in Philadelphia on March 5, 1950.

Physical Description

2 folders

Masters, Edgar Lee (1868-1950). Letters of Edgar Lee Masters to Nathan Haskell Dole, 1915-1916. 1 folder.
Masters
Biographical / Historical

Edgar Lee Masters, American poet, novelist, and biographer, is best known as the author of the Spoon River Anthology (1915). Born in Garnett, Kansas, in 1868, he maintained a successful law practice in Chicago, Illinois, from 1892 to 1920, and made his debut as a poet in 1898 with A Book of Verse. After retiring from practicing law, he devoted himself entirely to writing. He died in Philadelphia on March 5, 1950.

Physical Description

1 folder

Masters, Edgar Lee (1868-1950). A.L.S. Edgar Lee Masters to Nathan Haskell Dole, 1920 March 27. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

A.L.S. dated March 27th 1920. along with copy of said letter from Margaret Dole McCall to Gertrude Claytor.

Masters
Biographical / Historical

Edgar Lee Masters, American poet, novelist, and biographer, is best known as the author of the Spoon River Anthology (1915). Born in Garnett, Kansas, in 1868, he maintained a successful law practice in Chicago, Illinois, from 1892 to 1920, and made his debut as a poet in 1898 with A Book of Verse. After retiring from practicing law, he devoted himself entirely to writing. He died in Philadelphia on March 5, 1950.

Physical Description

1 folder

Masters, Edgar Lee (1868-1950). Letters of Edgar Lee Masters to persons other than Gertrude Claytor, 1915-1940. 1 folder.
Masters
Biographical / Historical

Edgar Lee Masters, American poet, novelist, and biographer, is best known as the author of the Spoon River Anthology (1915). Born in Garnett, Kansas, in 1868, he maintained a successful law practice in Chicago, Illinois, from 1892 to 1920, and made his debut as a poet in 1898 with A Book of Verse. After retiring from practicing law, he devoted himself entirely to writing. He died in Philadelphia on March 5, 1950.

Physical Description

1 folder

A.L.S. signed of John Cowper Powys to Gertrude Claytor, 1961 July 26. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence of Gertrude Claytor, 1939-1953. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Photographs of Edgar Lee Masters, 1924--1942. 2 folders.
Scope and Contents

A collection of photographs, many by A.M. Sullivan.

Physical Description

2 folders

Masters, Edgar Lee (1868-1950). Photostats of inscriptions, in books presented to Gertrude Claytor, 1898-1942. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Negative photostats with versos (left hand-side pages) available only on microfilm.

Masters
Biographical / Historical

Edgar Lee Masters, American poet, novelist, and biographer, is best known as the author of the Spoon River Anthology (1915). Born in Garnett, Kansas, in 1868, he maintained a successful law practice in Chicago, Illinois, from 1892 to 1920, and made his debut as a poet in 1898 with A Book of Verse. After retiring from practicing law, he devoted himself entirely to writing. He died in Philadelphia on March 5, 1950.

Physical Description

1 folder

Printed Materials, 1914-1961. 4 folders.
Scope and Contents

Articles about Masters as well as publications of his work, etc.

Physical Description

4 folders

Pictures of Masters (non-photographic), 1940-1941. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Print, Suggest