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American Bibliography By Charles Evans. Volume 3: 1751-1764, Charles Evans

Electronic Reference Materials

A Chronological Dictionary of all Books, Pamphlets and Periodical Publications Printed in the United States of America from the Genesis of Printing in 1639 Down to and Including the Year 1820 with Bibliographical and Biographical Notes

VOLUME 3: 1751-1764

The Heart Of Happy Hollow, Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar Books

In his final collection of short stories, Dunbar’s focus remained on life in America for African-Americans, but rather than a singular focus on plantation society, this set of stories presented a variety of perspectives. One story, which grew in favor during the 20th century, focused on the immorality, or what he called the "folly," of lynching.

Li'l' Gal, Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar Books

Illustrated with photographs and decorations, the majority of poems in this book had been previously published. However, Dunbar did include four new poems: "The Plantation Child's Lullaby," "Blue," "Charity," and "Curiosity." The title poem, "Li'L' Gal," was later recorded as a vocal performance by internationally known concert singer, Paul Robeson.

American Bibliography By Charles Evans. Volume 2: 1730-1750, Charles Evans

Electronic Reference Materials

A Chronological Dictionary of all Books, Pamphlets and Periodical Publications Printed in the United States of America from the Genesis of Printing in 1639 Down to and Including the Year 1820 with Bibliographical and Biographical Notes

Volume 2: 1730-1750

January 22, 1903: To Geneva Cornell, Archives, Honori Cornell

The Lucinda Lenore Merriss Cornell Collection – Letters

Letter to Geneva Cornell from sister Honori Cornell; discussing Geneva's romantic life and the latest fashions.

American Bibliography By Charles Evans: Volume 1: 1639-1729, Charles Evans

Electronic Reference Materials

A Chronological Dictionary of all Books, Pamphlets and Periodical Publications Printed in the United States of America from the Genesis of Printing in 1639 Down to and Including the Year 1820 with Bibliographical and Biographical Notes

Volume 1: 1639-1729

Lyrics Of Love And Laughter, Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar Books

Lyrics of Love and Laughter was crafted following another severe round of pneumonia. With this work, however, Dunbar secured his reputation as the premier African-American poet in the United States at the time. Like earlier volumes, this book contained poems in both dialect and standard English, reflecting its mix of both sentimental and realistic depictions of African-American life. The book included eleven poems not previously collected within a book.

In Old Plantation Days, Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar Books

With this collection of short stories, Dunbar sought to draw on the success of his dialect poems by recreating and portraying the southern plantation during slavery. The stories focus on the stereotypical portrait of slaves as obedient workers happy to spend their lives in service of their benevolent owner. His attempt to find success was only partially realized, as his stories drew not only criticism but, in some cases, anger at their very stereotypical nature. The book itself, however, proved to be more lucrative than previous fiction works had been for the author.

When Malindy Sings, Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar Books

When Malindy Sings is illustrated with photographs taken by the Hampton Institute Camera Club, and also features decorations created by Margaret Armstrong. The title for this book comes from one of Dunbar's most well-known dialect poems, one which emphasizes the more soulful aspects and the heartfelt, impromptu music of many of his poems. The poem was inspired by his mother Matilda's habit of singing in the kitchen and was first published in 1896.

The Sport Of The Gods, Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar Books

Perhaps a reflection of the turmoil Dunbar faced personally as his health continued to decline and his marriage ended, Dunbar's fourth and final novel, The Sport of the Gods, is considered a protest novel. Received far better by critics than any previous novel, the book tells the story of Berry Hamilton, a black butler charged with theft by his white employers. The story follows the family through the hardships they encounter as a result of this experience.

October 15, 1901: To Lucinda Cornell, Archives, Otto Cornell

The Lucinda Lenore Merriss Cornell Collection – Letters

Postcard to Lucinda Cornell from son Otto Cornell; talking about Otto's Niagra trip.

1901 Ruby Yearbook, John Alexander, William Samuel Keiter, Ursinus College Junior Class

The Ruby Yearbooks, 1897-2020

A digitized copy of the 1901 Ruby, the Ursinus College yearbook.

Candle-Lightin' Time, Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar Books

Candle-Lightin' Time is another illustrated publication, containing photographs taken by Leigh Richmond Miner of the Hampton Institute Camera Club. Further decorations were created by Margaret Armstrong.

James Barron Hope : Virginia's Poet-Laureate, Cullen S. Pitt

Master's Theses

Previous to the Civil War comparatively little literary work had been done in the south. Of course if we take into consideration all kinds of composition, such as narratives of adventure, diaries, histories, speeches, sermons and the like, we are forced to admit that the total amount was very large. But when we speak of literature in the higher and more restricted sense, we mean that which stimulates the imagination, awakens thought and aims to please as well as to instruct. And, using the word in this narrow and more restricted sense, it is quite evident that there had been …

Date Unknown: Letter From William And Mary Strain, Mary Strain, William Strain

The Lucinda Lenore Merriss Cornell Collection – Letters

A handwritten letter from William and Mary Strain to their niece, likely a member of the Cornell family. After the letter concludes, the rest of the parchment is filled with notes about an oil painting.

The Love Of Landry, Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar Books

Recovering from a strong bout with pneumonia, Dunbar spent time in Colorado attempting to recoup his health. One result of his time there was his second novel, The Love of Landry. The heroine, much like Dunbar, is in Colorado to recuperate and falls in love with a cowboy. Like his previous novel, his second attempt did not find favor with critics, and many focused on what they considered a weak presentation of characters.

The Strength Of Gideon, Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar Books

Dunbar's second collection of short stories echoed his works of poetry in that it was a combination of works full of sentimental humor and works that told of the harsher sides of the African-American experience, both before and after emancipation. Critics tended to promote the sentimental stories at the expense of his harsher accounts of that experience. Later critics, however, suggest these stories demonstrate Dunbar's criticism of racial inequality in American society.

Lyrics Of The Hearthside, Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar Books

Several of the poems in Lyrics of the Hearthside had appeared previously in magazines such as The Ladies' Home Journal, The Century Magazine, and Cosmopolitan Magazine. The book also contains one of Dunbar's most famous poems, "Sympathy," which later inspired the title to Maya Angelou's autobiography, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings. Many of the covers of Dunbar's published works reflect the tone of the works inside. Here, for example, the cover design incorporates cotton, connecting with Dunbar's descriptions of plantation agriculture and life.

Poems Of Cabin And Field, Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar Books

Illustrated with Photographs by the Hampton Institute Camera Club and Decorations by Alice Morse.

Steinbeck Newsletter Summer 1989, San Jose State University

Center for Steinbeck Studies Newsletter

Summer 1989 includes: Los Gatos: Gem City of the Foothills / Susan Shillinglaw; Lark on a Barbed-Wire Fence: Ruth Comfort Mitchells "Of Human Kindness" / Joan B. Barriga; Woody Sez: Woody Guthrie and the Grapes of Wrath / H. R. Stoneback

A Soldier's Valentine Written The Spanish-American War By C. L. Wedding (Sc 3053), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Primary Sources

"A Soldier's Valentine," a Spanish-American War-era poem by C. L. Wedding from Ohio County, Kentucky. Also includes clippings about the poem.

Folks From Dixie, Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar Books

Dunbar's first collection of short stories was published in 1898. Much like his earlier books of poetry, Dunbar's stories examined the lives of African-Americans both before and after emancipation. While his poetry tended to portray more sentimental situations, this collection of stories offered a harsher look at the realities of the situation, especially regarding racial prejudice. His first work of fiction was well-received, which encouraged him to publish more.

The Uncalled, Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar Books

The Uncalled was Dunbar's first novel, and many consider it to be semi-autobiographical in nature. The book told the story of fictional pastor Frederick Brent, a man plagued by childhood family issues whose adventures in the ministry proved less than successful. The book was much criticized as being dull and unengaging.

Lyrics Of Lowly Life, Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar Books

Lyrics of Lowly Life contains primarily works from Dunbar's two previous books, Oak and Ivy and Majors and Minors. The book was supported financially by Henry A. Tobey and Charles A. Thatcher, two gentlemen from Toledo, Ohio, who had also assisted with the funding of Majors and Minors. The book also contained an important introduction, written by William Dean Howells. The success of this book prompted Dunbar to travel on a six-month reading tour of England.

Majors And Minors, Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar Books

Majors and Minors reflects the dual styles of Dunbar's poetry. The "major" poems were works written in standard English, while the "minor" poems were his dialect poems. However, it was the "minors" section which caught the attention of reviewer William Dean Howells, editor of Harper's Weekly. Howells' review of the book singled out and praised Dunbar's use of dialect, bringing national attention to those works to the detriment of his poetry in standard verse.

August 23, 1893: To F. H. Cornell, Archives, Otto Cornell

The Lucinda Lenore Merriss Cornell Collection – Letters

Postcard from the World's Columbian Exposition to F. H. Cornell from Otto Cornell; giving details for picking up Geneva and Ori.

Oak And Ivy, Paul Laurence Dunbar

Paul Laurence Dunbar Books

Oak and Ivy was Dunbar's first published volume of poetry. He self-published the book and sold it for $1 to the people who rode in the elevator he operated in the Callahan Building in downtown Dayton. Dunbar also took the book to the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois, where he worked for Frederick Douglass in the Haitian exposition.

Annals Of The Cobweb Club, Margaret Jane Mussey Sweat

Annals of the Cobweb Club

Book containing hand-written notes from meetings of the Cobweb Club, a women's organization with which Margaret Jane Mussey Sweat was heavily involved. Contents include lists of special guests, notes on meeting discussions, and a drawing of flowers and a cobweb in the front of the book. Inserts and clippings are included in the order they are found within the book.

1890'S Subscriber List Of The Westerville Opinion, Archives

The Lucinda Lenore Merriss Cornell Collection – Letters

A handwritten list of the names and addresses of people subscribed to The Westerville Opinion, date unknown.

December, 3 1886: To Lucinda L. Merriss Cornell, John Rodebaugh

The Lucinda Lenore Merriss Cornell Collection – Letters

A piece of professional correspondence, written on stationary with company letterhead, from John Rodebaugh to Lucinda Cornell informing her that she might be entitled to pension after the death of her husband.