Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Urmy, Clarence, 1858-1923
- Abstract:
- Clarence Thomas Urmy was born 10 July 1858 in San Francisco, California, and was considered "the first native poet of California." He published several volumes of collected verse and wrote dramatic and music criticism for the San Jose Mercury Herald.
- Extent:
- 2 Linear Feet (4 boxes)
- Language:
- English .
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item] Clarence Urmy Papers, M0020, Dept. of Special Collections, Stanford Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
Collection contains the following: Correspondence to Urmy from publishers concerning his poetry. 1897-1922 (ca. 35 items) ; correspondence primarily to Mabel Urmy Seares from many sources largely concerning Clarence's works and various memorials set up in his honor. A number of these are from Alfred Lindsay and Helen Millar Lehman. (ca. 60 items) ; manuscript and typescript of his poems and collected volumes (ca. 100 items) ; clippings of his works in print, both poetry and prose, criticism of music and drams by Urmy, and a number of clippings about him, including programs etc. (ca. 260 items) ; six photographs of Urmy ; scrapbook of autographs ; biography of Urmy by Mabel Urmy Seares ; Ina Coolbrith letters, poems, and clippings (ca. 7 items).
- Biographical / historical:
-
Poet Clarence Urmy (1858-1923) was born in San Francisco on July 10, 1858. He was the grandson of Elea Thomas who was one of the founders of the Methodist church in the state of California. Urmy's father was a Methodist minister for 50 years. Urmy attended San Francisco public schools and then Napa College where he studied music and received a bachelor's degree. He worked for a number of years in music houses including Sherman and Clay in San Francisco. Urmy continued to study voice at this time and did some performing in San Francisco and San Jose. He was the organist at Santa Clara Methodist Church and later at Trinity Episcopal Church in San Jose. He taught piano at the College of the Pacific and four years at San Jose Teachers' College.
Urmy was the first native poet of California. He published three volumes of collected verse: A Rosary of Rhyme, Vintage of Verse, and California Troubadour. Two more volumes were nearly ready for publication at his death: Wild Willow and Under the Toyon Tree. His poems appeared in a large number of national magazines. He also did dramatic and music criticism for the San Jose Mercury Herald.
Urmy died on June 3, 1923 in San Jose. A Clarence Urmy Memorial was established at Stanford in 1930, which consists of a prize given each year to the student submitting the best original poem.
- Acquisition information:
- Gift of Urmy family, 1945.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use.
- Terms of access:
-
While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns. Most of these materials are believed to be in the public domain. There are no restrictions on use of public domain materials.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item] Clarence Urmy Papers, M0020, Dept. of Special Collections, Stanford Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
- Location of this collection:
-
Department of Special Collections, Green Library557 Escondido MallStanford, CA 94305-6004, US
- Contact:
- (650) 725-1022