]> markham_e Edwin Markham Collection An inventory of the collection at Syracuse University KM &su_name; &su_address; Dec 1996 Michele Combs 6 Oct 2008 English 29 Sep 2015 - Martha Ash gift added (MRC)7 Dec 2016 - extent corrected (MS) Overview of the Collection &su_name; &su_address; Markham, Edwin, 1852-1940. Edwin Markham Collection 1914-1942 6 folders (SC) Correspondence, manuscripts, miscellany of the American poet and author. 2639547 English Biographical History

Edwin Markham (1852-1940) was an American author and poet. Born and raised in California, he taught literature there until 1879 when he became Superintendent of Education for El Dorado County. Five California schools are named for him. In 1901 he relocated to Staten Island in New York, where he established the Poetry Society of America in 1910. In addition to his teaching, he wrote poetry and essays and lectured in numerous venues.

 Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Edwin Markham Collection consists of correspondence, manuscripts, and a small amount of miscellany.

Correspondence contains four letters, two outgoing and two incoming. In one, writing to John Elfreth Watkins, he says of his mother that she "held her ground alone...as the head of a family for thirty years," and that "...the first and only play she ever took me to from our mountain home was Ten Nights in a Bar Room. None of her boys ever took to strong drink."

Manuscripts contains manuscripts for two essays and a poem, as well as one stanza of his well-known poem "Outwitted."

Miscellany consists of a broadside, a cancelled check, and a few clippings.

 Arrangement of the Collection

Letter are in chronological order. Manuscripts are in alphabetical order by title. Miscellany is in alphabetical order by type.

 Subject and Genre Headings Literature -- American PoetryMarkham, Edwin, 1852-1940. Evening prayer.Gray norns.Sidney Lanier. American poetry -- 20th century.Poets -- American. Clippings (information artifacts)Correspondence.Manuscripts (document genre) Poets. 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.

 Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Edwin Markham Collection, &su_name;

Acquisition Information

Original collection gift of Sol Feinstone, John S. Mayfield.

"Outwitted" stanza gift of Martha Ash, 2015.

 Inventory Correspondence to Elfreth, John7 Apr 1914148 Desmond, A. E. (to John S. Mayfield)14 Nov 1925148 Markham, Anna Catherine (to John S. Mayfield)15 Jun 1930148 to Mayfield, John S.15 Jun 1930148 Manuscripts "Evening Prayer"autograph manuscript poem148 "The Gray Norns"autograph manuscript poem25 Nov 1917148 "Outwitted", single stanzawritten in Markham's hand148

Gift of Martha Ash, 2015. Formerly belonged to her stepmother, Amy Vanderbilt.

"Sidney Lanier"autograph manuscript essay148 Miscellany Broadside advertisement for Markham's California the Wonderful148 Cancelled check for $5, payable to Markham148 Clippings1924, 1932, 1942148