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James Whitcomb Riley Collection

An inventory of the collection at Syracuse University


Finding aid created by: KM
Date: July 1988

Biographical History

James Whitcomb Riley (1849-1916) was an American poet, known for "simple sentiments that come direct from the heart." He has also been called the Hoosier Poet and the children's poet. He published many collections of verse, among them Pipes o' Pan at Zekesbury (1888), Old-Fashioned Roses (1888), A Child-World (1896), and Home Folks (1900). His best-known poems include "Little Orphant Annie" and "The Raggedy Man." A complete collection of his poems was published in 1916.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The James Whitcomb Riley Collection comprises correspondence and miscellany. Correspondence consists of six outgoing letters. In one of the letters, to fellow poet James Newton Matthews, Riley praises African-American poet Paul Dunbar (1892 Nov. 28):

Yesterday picked up one of Paul Dunbar's poems way out here; and have just wrote him about it, and to lend a hand, if possible, toward the initial boost you gave him. Certainly he deserves applause, and if he can stand it, there's the making of a very novel type of poet in him -- a credit not only to his own race but Freedom's everywhere.

The single item of Miscellany is a list, in pencil, with annotations.

Arrangement of the Collection

Letters are in chronological order, followed by the single item of miscellany.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

The majority of our archival and manuscript collections are housed offsite and require advanced notice for retrieval. Researchers are encouraged to contact us in advance concerning the collection material they wish to access for their research.

Use Restrictions:

Written permission must be obtained from SCRC and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

Subject Headings

Persons

Finley, John, 1797-1866.
Matthews, James Newton, 1852-1910.
Riley, James Whitcomb, 1849-1916.

Subjects

American poetry.
Poets, American.

Genres and Forms

Letters (correspondence)

Occupations

Poets.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

James Whitcomb Riley Collection,
Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Piskor, and Sol Feinstone.

Table of Contents

Correspondence

Miscellany

Inventory