Frost (Robert) Collection of Letters and Poems, Approximately 1891-1958, bulk 1894-1916

Printable guide [HTML]
Request items

Summary

Title:
Collection of Robert Frost Letters and Poems
Dates:
Approximately 1891-1958, bulk 1894-1916
Creators:
Frost, Robert, 1874-1963
Abstract:
This collection contains 59 pieces of correspondence and poems of American poet Robert Frost (1874-1963), chiefly consisting of handwritten poems and letters sent by Frost to Susan Hayes Ward (1835-1916), poetry editor for The Independent, from the mid 1890s to the 1910s.
Extent:
59 pieces in 1 box
Language:
English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Collection of Robert Frost Letters and Poems, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains 59 pieces of correspondence and poems of American poet Robert Frost, chiefly consisting of handwritten poems and letters sent by Frost to Susan Hayes Ward (1835-1916), poetry editor for The Independent, from the mid 1890s to the 1910s.

Items consist of:

  • Thirty letters from Robert Frost to Susan Hayes Ward (HM 7656, HM 25338-25366)
  • Eighteen loose poems signed by Robert Frost (HM 7638-7646, HM 7648-7655, HM 7657)
  • Two poems whose authorship was repudiated by Frost; apparently in the hand of Elinor M. Frost (HM 1201, HM 7647)
  • A collection of 17 handwritten poems presented by Frost to Ward for Christmas 1911 (HM 7237)
  • A letter from Robert Frost to William Hayes Ward, the editor of The Independent (HM 25337)
  • Two letters from Elinor Frost to Susan Hayes Ward (HM 25367-25368)
  • Three letters from Frost to Huntington Library staff authorizing access to his papers (HM 10799, HM 47622, HM 48305)
  • Two letters from Frost related to autographs (HM 13810, HM 59545)

Biographical / historical:

Robert Lee Frost (1874-1963) was an American poet. Frost sold his first poem, "My Butterfly. An Elegy" to the Independent, a weekly New York magazine, where it appeared in the November 8, 1894, issue. Frost was married to Elinor (White) Frost from 1895 until her death in 1938.

Acquisition information:

Received from various sources.

The bulk of the collection was purchased from P. K. Foley in 1923 (HM 1201, HM 7237, HM 7638-7657, and HM 25337-25368). HM 13810, purchased from A.A.A. Conant Sale (Lot #25), November 1923. HM 10799 was presumably transferred from Reference Department Files. HM 47622 was transferred from Reference Department Files, January 1981. HM 48305 was transferred from Manuscript Department Files, February 5, 1982. HM 59545 was removed from North of Boston by Robert Frost (Call number 491731) in June 1991.

Arrangement:

Arranged in one box in call number order.

Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Bibliography:

For more information about The Huntington Library's Robert Frost Collection, see Leslie Monsour, "Robert Frost at The Huntington," Huntington Frontiers (Spring/Summer 2017)

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Processed by Huntington Library Staff. Finding aid prepared by Diann Benti.
Date Prepared:
© 2017
Date Encoded:
Machine readable finding aid encoded by Diann Benti in June 2017 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Terms of access:

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Collection of Robert Frost Letters and Poems, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Website