Scope and Content Note
The papers of Gustav Davidson (1895-1971) span the years 1909-1992, with the bulk of the material dating from 1931 to 1971. The papers consist primarily of correspondence, writings, research material, and items related to the Poetry Society of America. The papers are organized in the following series: General Correspondence , Personal Name File , Writings , Subject File , and Oversize . The Oversize consists of scrapbooks of articles and reviews published in The Daily Mirror , 1931-1932.
The General Correspondence consists of miscellaneous personal and routine professional correspondence, primarily incoming.
The Personal Name File holds material Davidson collected concerning his frequent correspondents, personal friends, fellow poets, theological scholars, and professional associates. Correspondence with these individuals is located in this series, in addition to news clippings, writings, photographs, and printed matter. Notable correspondents include Charles Angoff, Joseph Auslander, Clarence Raymond Decker, Alfred Dorn, Max Eastman, Harry Meyer Orlinsky, Theodore Roethke, Ernest R. Trattner, and Louis Untermeyer.
The Writings series contains drafts and published copies of Davidson's writings as well as publicity, reviews, and correspondence with publishers. Davidson wrote in many genres: poetry, plays, reviews, newspaper columns, and academic writings primarily about angels. Included in the collection are annotated copies of books. A file labeled “Pseudonymous writings” contains items written by Davidson under the name W. Gordon Drake for the Free Thought publication The Age of Reason Magazine.
The Subject File is organized topically and includes biographical material, items pertaining to Davidson's “Fine Editions Press” and other publication projects, material from his youthful trips to the South Sea islands, research files, correspondence from various organizations and publications, photographs, and news clippings. Of particular note is a large file on the Poetry Society of America, an organization that Davidson served for many years. Poetry Society awards, dinners, trips, membership lists, publication projects, board meetings, and elections are documented in the file.
Dates
- Creation: 1909-1992
- Creation: Majority of material found within ( 1931-1971)
Language of Materials
Collection material in English
Access and Restrictions
The papers of Gustav Davidson are open to research. Researchers are advised to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use.
Copyright Status
Copyright in the unpublished writings of Gustav Davidson in these papers and in other collections in the custody of the Library of Congress is reserved. Consult a reference librarian in the Manuscript Division for further information.
Biographical Note
Biographical Note
- 1895, Dec. 25
- Born, Warsaw, Poland
- 1897
- Family immigrated to the United States and settled in New York, N. Y.
- 1915
- Published with Joseph Koven Melmoth, the Wanderer; a Play in Five Acts . Boston: The Poet Lore Co.
- 1917 - 1918
- Founder and editor, Madrigal Magazine
- 1919
- B.A., Columbia University, New York, N. Y.
- 1920
- M.A., Columbia University, New York, N. Y.
- 1922 - 1923
- Founder and editor, Rhythmus Magazine
- 1924
- Published A Half Century of Sonnets. New York: N. L. Brown
- 1927 - 1929
- Leader of the Australasian expedition to the South Seas
- 1929 - 1931
- Book and music critic, editorial writer, and associate editor, The Daily Mirror , New York, N. Y.
- 1938 - 1939
- Bibliographer in children's literature, Library of Congress
- 1940
- Founded the Fine Editions Press
- 1942
- Married Mollie Strauss
- 1942 - 1953
- Founder and publisher, The Poetry Chap-Book
- 1945
- Published Thirst of the Antelope. La Porte, Ind.: The Dierkes Press
- 1949 - 1965
- Executive secretary, Poetry Society of America
- 1950
- Published Moment of Visitation. Denver, Colo.: Alan Swallow
- 1965
- Elected executive secretary emeritus, Poetry Society of America
- Published Ambushed by Angels . London: Outposts Publications
- 1967
- Published A Dictionary of Angels, Including the Fallen Angels . New York: Free Press
- 1970
- Published All Things Are Holy. Georgetown, Calif.: Dragon's Teeth Press
- 1971, Feb. 6
- Died, New York, N. Y.
Extent
8,000 items
27 containers
1 oversize
12 linear feet
Abstract
Poet, writer, publisher, and secretary of the Poetry Society of America. Primarily writings and correspondence concerning Davidson's work in poetry, publishing, and research on angels.
Organization of the Papers
The collection is arranged in five series:
Catalog Record
Provenance
The papers of Gustav Davidson, poet, writer, publisher, and secretary of the Poetry Society of America, were given to the Library of Congress by Babette Bandler in 1997.
Source
- Davidson, Gustav, 1895-1971 (Creator, Person)
Subject
- Angoff, Charles, 1902-1979--Correspondence. (Person)
- Auslander, Joseph, 1897-1965--Correspondence. (Person)
- Davidson, Gustav, 1895-1971. (Person)
- Decker, Clarence Raymond, 1904-1969--Correspondence. (Person)
- Dorn, Alfred, 1929- --Correspondence. (Person)
- Eastman, Max, 1883-1969--Correspondence. (Person)
- Orlinsky, Harry M., 1908-1992--Correspondence. (Person)
- Roethke, Theodore, 1908-1963--Correspondence. (Person)
- Trattner, Ernest R. (Ernest Robert), 1898-1963--Correspondence. (Person)
- Untermeyer, Louis, 1885-1977--Correspondence. (Person)
- Poetry Society of America. (Organization)
Geographic
Occupation
Topical
- Title
- Gustav Davidson Papers
- Subtitle
- A Finding Aid to the Collection in the Library of Congress
- Author
- Prepared by Karen Linn Femia
- Date
- 2001
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Part of the Manuscript Division Repository
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