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Special Collections

Finding Aid to the Collection of Celia Thaxter Materials, 1851-1984

Series 1. Correspondence, 1851-1894

Series 6. Clippings,


Descriptive Summary
Creator:	Celia Laighton Thaxter
Title:	Collection of Celia Thaxter Materials
Dates:	1851-1984
Extent:	1.5 linear feet
Abstract	Celia Laighton Thaxter, 1835-1894, was an American poet and prose writer. The collection contains Thaxter's letters, poems, prose fragments, an unfinished novel, scrapbooks, and first appearances in print.
Language	English

Celia Laighton Thaxter, 1835-1894, was an American poet and prose writer. Born Celia Laighton in Portsmouth, N.H., she spent her childhood on White Island Lighthouse, part of Isles of Shoals, and Appledore Island. At 16 she married Levi Thaxter and had three sons, Karl, John, and Roland. The family spent winters on the mainland in Massachusetts, where Celia felt imprisoned by domestic duties in a city house. Her first poem, "Land-locked," was published in 1860 and was an immediate success. Soon she became widely published, with poems appearing in Harper's, Scribner's, and the Atlantic. With the means to spend more time at her family's resort on Appledore Island, she enjoyed visits there from prominent artists, literary figures, and musicians. However, her preferred literary subjects continued to be drawn from the natural world. She is best known today for "An Island Garden" and "Among the Isles of Shoals."

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Collection Summary

The collection contains Thaxter's letters (1851-1894) to family, friends, various literary figures (such as William Dean Howells, Sarah Orne Jewett, John Greenleaf Whittier) and editors; manuscript poems, prose fragments, an unfinished novel "Romance," as well as scrapbooks, autograph book, and first appearances.

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Restrictions

Collection is not restricted. Contact Special Collections with questions regarding access.

Copyright

For more information online, please contact Special Collections.Some materials may be protected by copyright: for more information, please contact the Special Collections.

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Index Terms

LCSH Subjects

Gardeners -- United States

Poets, American --19th century

Personal Names

Howells, William Dean,1837-1920

Jewett, Sarah Orne,1849-

Thaxter, Celia, 1835-1894

Whittier, John Greenleaf, 1807-1892

Geographic Names

Isles of Shoals (Me. and N.H.)

Genre Terms

correspondence

drawings

letters

manuscripts

poetry

watercolor drawings

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Series 1. Correspondence, 1851-1894
	Orig.Ms.Box 222,
		Folder 1, 1870-72 2 ALS
			to John Albee, 2 ALS, 5 p.
		Folder 2, 1890 1 ALS
			to Alville of Grantis, 1 ALS sent from Portsmouth, NH, 2 p.
		Folder 3, 1883-85 3 ALS
			to Joshua Blake, Winthrop, 3 ALS sent from Kittery Pt., ME, 7 p. , accompanied by Boston Microscopical Society reception ticket
		Folder 4, 1885 1 ALS
			to Mr. Chandler, sent from Appledore, ME, 1 p.
		Folder 5, Feb. 24, 1874 1 ANS
			to Mr. Dearborn, 1 ANS sent from Appledore, ME, 1 p. , gift of Rosamond Thaxter
		Folder 6, Jan. 14, 1867 1 ALS
			to Mary A. Dodge, 1 ALS sent from Newtonville, MA, 1 p. , gift of Rosamond Thaxter; scanned
		Folder 7, July 18, 1894 1 ALS
			to Theodore J. Eastman, 1 ALS sent from Portsmouth, NH, 1 p., 1 env.
		Folder 8, Oct. 6, 1889 1 ALS
			to Richard Watson Gilder, 1 ALS sent from Isles of Shoals, NH, 1 p.
		Folder 9, Nov. 17, 1870 1 ALS
			to Mrs. Goodwin, 1 ALS sent from Newtonville, MA, 1 folded sheet, gift of Rosamond Thaxter
		Folder 10, 1880 1 ALS
			to Lizzy Greene, 1 ALS sent from Kittery Point, ME, 1 p. , removed from Poems by Celia Thaxter gift of Rosamond Thaxter
		Folder 11, June 28, 1880 1 ALS
			to Mrs. George Wallis Haven, 1 ALS sent from Isles of Shoals, NH, 1 p. , accompanied by an ink sketch by C.T.
		Folder 12, n.d. 1 ANS
			to Mr. Hayes, 1 ANS sent from Newtonville, MA, 1 p., gift of Rosamond Thaxter
		Folder 13, Oct. 14, 1870
			to Mrs. Hobson, 1 ANS sent from Newtonville, MA, 1 p. , gift of Rosamond Thaxter
		Folder 14, Sept. 24, 18-?
			to William Dean Howells, 1 ANS sent from Isles of Shoals, ME, 1 very small sheet, gift of Margaret Perry
		Folder 15, 1857-1882
			to Elizabeth Hoxie, 10 ALS, 1 ANS sent from Newtonville, MA, Winthrop, MA, 39 p. (11 sheets), gift of Rosamond Thaxter
		Folder 16, n.d.
			to Nannie Hoxie, 1ANS, 4 p. (1 folded sheet) , gift of Rosamond Thaxter
		Folder 17, Sept. 20, 1891
			to Mr. Hudson, 1 ACS sent from Appledore, ME, 1 p. , gift of Rosamond Thaxter
		Folder 18, 1867, 1868
			to Anson Jenks, 2 ALS sent from Newtonville, MA, 7 p. (2 sheets), gift of Rosamond Thaxter
		Folder 19, 1867, 1869, n.d.
			to Elizabeth Jenks, 3 ALS sent from Newtonville, MA, 12 p. (3 sheets), gift of Rosamond Thaxter
		Folder 20, 1883, 1886, n.d.
			to Mary R. Jewett, 3 ALS, sent from Portsmouth, NH, Boston, MA, 3 sheets, 2 env., gift of Rosamond Thaxter
		Folder 21, n.d.
			to Sarah Orne Jewett (as Pin), 2 ALS, 2 p., with sandpiper signatures, gift of Rosamond Thaxter
		Folder 22, Nov. 16, 1880
			to Kidder Peabody and Co., 1 ANS sent from Venice, 1 p. ; gift of Rosamond Thaxter
	OVRSZ Ms. Box 29,
		Folder 8, 1861 1 ALS
			to Eliza Rymes Laighton, sent from Newton, MA, 4 p. (1 large folded sheet), plasticized, gift of Rosamond Thaxter
		Folder 23, Feb. 12, 1856
			to Oscar Laighton, 1 ALS sent from Newburyport, MA, 4 p. (1 sheet) 1 env., gift of Rosamond Thaxter
		Folder 24, Sept. 6, 1863
			to Lucy Larcom, 1 ALS sent from Appledore, ME, 7 p. (2 sheets), gift of Rosamond Thaxter
		Folder 25, 1857, 1865, (1867), 1869
			to Mary Lawson, 4 ALS (1 is photocopy) sent from Newton, MA, 16 p. (3 sheets, 2 p. of photocopies) , gift of Rosamond Thaxter
		Folder 26, Nov. 8, 1882
			to Mrs. Locke, 1 ANS sent from Boston, MA., 1 p., gift of Rosamond Thaxter
		Folder 27, June 22, 1894
			to Thomas Neil, 1 ALS sent from Appledore, ME, 2 p. (1 sheet), gift of Rosamond Thaxter
		Folder 28, Dec. 6, 1886
			to Mr. Pratt, 1 ANS, 1 p. , gift of Colby Library Associates
		Folder 29, Aug.10, 1888
			to Mrs. Rice, 1 ALS sent from Appledore, ME, 1 p. , gift of Rosamond Thaxter
		Folder 30, Sept. 2, 1880
			to Mary Davis Stoddard, 1 ALS sent from Isles of Shoals, 2 p. (1 sheet), gift of Rosamond Thaxter
		Folder 31, 1876-1885
			to John Thaxter, 51 ALS sent from Isles of Shoals, Newtonville, and Boston, 133 p. (93 sheets), 31 env., gift of Rosamond Thaxter
		Folder 32, March 6, 1869
			to Roland (or John?)Thaxter, 1 ALS, in persona of dog "Silver", sent from Appledore, ME, 4 p. (2 sheets) and lock of dog hair , gift of Rosamond Thaxter
		Folder 33, 1866-1894
			to unidentified correspondents, 10 ALS, 1 ANS, sent from Newton, Newtonville, Boston, Portsmouth, and Appledore, 28 p. (11 sheets) , gift of Rosamond Thaxter
		Folder 34, Oct. 19. 1886
			to unidentified correspondent, 1 ALS, 1 p. (1 sheet) , removed from: An Island Garden by Celia Thaxter, Boston: Houghton Mifflin 1894, c.2
		Folder 35, March 2, 1851
			to Jennie M. Usher, 1 ALS, sent from Appledore, ME, 4 p. (1 sheet + 1 env.) , gift of Rosamond Thaxter
		Folder 36, Nov. 16, 1886
			to C.F. Waters, 1 ALS, sent from Appledore, ME, March 2, 1886 1 p. (1 sheet), gift of Rosamond Thaxter
		Folder 37, April 20, 1887
			to Mr. Weeks, 1 ALS, sent from Appledore, ME, 2 p. (1 sheet), gift of Rosamond Thaxter
		Folder 38, 1871-1875
			to John Weiss, 10 ALS , sent from Isles of Shoals, NH, Newtonville, MA, Montpelier, VT, 31 p. (10 sheets); 3 contain watercolor illustrations and have been scanned; gift of Rosamond Thaxter
		Folder 39, 1870-1874
			to Mabel Weiss, 7 ALS, sent from Isles of Shoals, NH, Newtonville, MA, 25 p. (8 sheets + transcript [2 copies] of letter regarding Isles of Shoals murder), gift of Rosamond Thaxter
		Folder 40, 1851-1875
			to Sarah Jennison Weiss, 72 ALS, sent from Appledore, ME, Newton, MA, 352 p. (transcripts of some letters included)
		Folder 41, 1893, 1894
			to Rosamond Dana Weld, 3 ALS, sent from Appledore, ME, Portsmouth, NH, 3 p. (3 sheets), gift of Rosamond Thaxter
		Folder 42, Oct. 7, 1869
			to Elizabeth Whittier, 1 ALS, sent from Newtonville, MA, 4 p. (1 sheet), gift of Rosamond Thaxter
		Folder 43, June 23, 1872
			to John Greenleaf Whittier, 1 ALS, sent from Newtonville, MA, 2 p. (1 sheet), gift of Rosamond Thaxter
		Folder 44, May 18, 1897
			to Youth's Companion editors, 1 ALS, sent from Appledore, ME, 1 p. , removed from: The Yule Log by Celia Thaxter


Series 2. Manuscripts,
	Orig. Ms.Box 223,
		Folder 1, n.d.
			[Autograph], "Celia Thaxter Appledore Isles of Shoals Maine" inscribed on piece of silk pasted on a card
		Folder 2, n.d.
			[Autographs], 3 cards, 2 visiting cards inscribed "Celia Thaxter" ; 1 slip of paper inscribed "C. Thaxter. Paris 28th Oct. 1880"
		Folder 3, 1880
			European notes, 2 sheets
		Folder 4, n.d.
			Poems in Heavenly Guest, 25 sheets, various sizes
		Folder 5, 1896
			Poems in Poems by Celia Thaxter, 20 sheets, various sizes
		Folder 6, n.d.
			Poems, miscellaneous, 28 sheets, various sizes
		Folder 7, n.d.
			Prose fragments, 3, 7 sheets, various sizes
		Folder 8, n.d.
			Romance, 53 sheets, two types of size


Series 3. Memorablia,
	Orig. Ms.Box 223,
		Folder 1, 1835-1894
			Scrap book, Clippings of published poems and typed scripts pasted into scrap book
		Bd.Ms.Th2 S3, n.d.
			Scrap book, Bound in pebbled cloth and black leather contains clippings, authographs, manuscript, poems, letters, photos, postcards and watercolor sketch
		Folder 2, 1926
			Celia Thaxter; poem, Eulogistic poem titled 'Celia Thaxter' and dedicated to 'Uncle Oscar'; 1 printed sheet, signed Alice Noerr Sherburne Star Island 1926


Series 4. Photographs,
	Orig. Ms.Box 223,
		Folder 1,
			Prints, negatives and slides, 7 prints, 24 negatives, 3 slides; Celia Thaxter the subject of 22 others the subject of 12
		Bd.Ms.Th2 P4, n.d.
			Photo album of European trip, Bound in brown leather containing numerous photographic print of European scenes


Series 5. Published Writings,
	Folio Ms Th2 S8, n.d.
		Publisher's "stamp" (block) for An Island Garden, 1904? Metal plate on wooden block for cover illustrations, An Island Garden in library-made box
	Orig. Ms.Box 223,
		Folder 1,
			Contributions to Youth's Companion, n.d. Computer print out of Celia Thaxter's writings published in Youth's Companion
		Folder 2, May 21, 1876
			Record of payment by Scribner's for article entitled "Song", Printed card filled out for $ 15 for "Rolls the log breaker in splender" pub, 9/76
	1st Appearances Thaxter M45, 1875
		" A Memorable Murder" reprinted from The Atlantic Monthly, p. 602-615, May, 1875 13 p.
	1st Appearances Thaxter M48, 1878-1894
		[Miscellaneous 1st Appearances], Appeal, At Freiburg Gates, Before sunrise, Elodea, Fern-Seed, Glad New Year, In Kitteny Churchyard, Life of All is One, Moonlight, My Holly Book, On the Beach, Path of Peace, Petition, Sandpiper's Happy Call, Scare Crow, Triumph, Warm Within, Wild Geese
	1st Appearances Thaxter S25,
		" The Sandpiper" Unit Poems no. 220, 1916 Single printed sheet; gift of William W. Hill
	1st Appearances Thaxter S45,
		"Sing Little Bird" words by Celia Thaxter, music by Julius Eichberg, 1876 Score published by Oliver Ditson, 3 p.


Series 6. Clippings,
	Orig. Ms. Box 223,
		Folder 1,
			Articles on Celia Thaxter's poems from magazine and newspapers, 1896-1990 Includes photographs and reproductions of paintings by Childe Hassam