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Poe mss., 1811-1934

Summary Information

Repository
Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
Lilly Library
Indiana University
1200 E. Seventh St.
Bloomington, IN 47405-5500
Phone: 812-855-2452
Fax: 812-855-3143
Email: liblilly@indiana.edu

Creator
Poe, Edgar Allan, 1809-1849

Title
Poe mss., 1811-1934

Collection No.
LMC 2446

Extent
56 items

Language
Materials are primarily in English.

Abstract
The Poe mss., 1811-1934, contain primarily correspondence written by Edgar Allan Poe to the poet Sarah Helen Whitman, 1803-1878.

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research.

Biographical Note

Poe was born in Boston, MA, and raised in Richmond, VA. He dropped out of the University of Virginia due to lack of funds, and failed out of the Army at West Point before embarking on an enduring literary career. He is known as the founder of the modern detective story and a master of the horror genre through stories like "The Pit and the Pendulum," "The Masque of the Red Death," and "The Tell-Tale Heart," and poems like "The Raven." He died in 1849.

Scope and Content Note

The letters convey the romantic relationship between Poe and Whitman, initially kept secret and controversial among family and friends up to their aborted engagement. Also included are carte de visite photographs, including the only known full-length daguerreotype of Poe; crayon portraits and other artwork; and locks of Poe's hair.

Related Material

Whitman mss., also located at the Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information
Acquired: ca. 1940s
Usage Restrictions
Prior arrangements are not necessary before coming to the Library, however, patrons from out of town are encouraged to communicate with the Library in advance of their visits to ascertain availability of materials.

Photocopying permitted only with permission of the Curator of Manuscripts, Lilly Library.

Preferred Citation
[Item], Poe mss., Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
Processing Information
Processed by Staff.

Completed in 2013

Box 1 [Poe, Mrs. Elizabeth (Arnold) to Tazewell, Mrs. Anne Stratton N.] [1811, Sept. ?] 
Bassett, Margaret. Autograph album. 1827, Jan. 1-1828, Mar. 
Thomas, Calvin F. S. Receipt to Loew, A. L. 1827, Feb. 19 
Poe, Edgar Allan to Tazewell, Littleton Waller. 1836, Jul. 16 
Poe, Edgar Allan to Roberts, George. 1842, Jun. 4 
Poe, Edgar Allan to Carter, Robert. [1843] Feb. 16 
Poe, Edgar Allan to Smith, William P. 1845, Nov. 

(facsimile)

Poe, Edgar Allan to Duyckinck, Evert Augustus. [1846], Jan. 30 
Poe, Edgar Allan to Isbell, George E. 1848, Feb. 29 
Poe, Edgar Allan to Helen. [1848], Mar. 2 

(printed)

Poe, Edgar Allan to Blackwell, Anna. 1848, Jun. 14 

(copy)

Poe, Edgar Allan to Osborne, Mrs. Mary. 1848, Jul. 15 
Poe, Edgar Allan to Whitman, Mrs. Sarah Helen. 1848, Sept. 15 
Poe, Edgar Allan to Whitman, Mrs. Sarah Helen. 1848, Oct. 1 
Poe, Edgar Allan to Whitman, Mrs. Sarah Helen (Power). [1848, Oct. 18] 
Poe, Edgar Allan to Whitman, Mrs. Sarah Helen (Power). 1848, Nov. 7 
Lock of Edgar Allan Poe's hair to Whitman, Mrs. Sarah Helen (Power). [1848, Nov. 8] 
Poe, Edgar Allan to Whitman, Mrs. Sarah Helen. 1848, Nov. 14 
Poe, Edgar Allan to Whitman, Mrs. Sarah Helen (Power). [1848, Nov.] 22 
Poe, Edgar Allan to Whitman, Mrs. Sarah Helen. Contains Poe hair. 1848, Nov. 24 
Poe, Edgar Allan to Whitman, Mrs. Sarah Helen (Power). 1848, Nov. 26 
Whitman, Mrs. Sarah Helen (Power). Document conveying property rights. 1848, Dec. 15 
Poe, Edgar Allan to Whitman, Mrs. Sarah Helen (Power). 1848, Dec. 17 
Poe, Edgar Allan to "My own dear Mother" [Clemm, Maria]. [1848? Dec. 23] 
Poe, Edgar Allan to Crocker, Reverend Dr. [1848, Dec. 23?] 
Botta, Mrs. Anne Charlotte (Lynch) to Pabodie, William J. [1848] 
Box 2 Poe, Edgar Allan to Whitman, Mrs. Sarah Helen (Power). [1849, Jan. 21?] 
Poe, Edgar Allan to Whitman, Mrs. Sarah Helen (Power). [1849, Jan. 21?] 
Poe, Edgar Allan to Heywood, Sarah. 1849, Mar. 1 
Poe, Edgar Allan to Brooks, Nathan Covington. 1849, Apr. 7 
Patterson, Edward Howard Norton to Poe, Edgar Allan. 1849, May 7 

(draft of letter)

Clemm, Mrs. Maria (Poe) to Richmond, Mrs. Nancy Locke (Heywood). [1849, Oct. 8] 
Griswold, Rufus Wilmot to Thompson, John R. 1849, Oct. 25 
Griswold, Rufus Wilmot to Pabodie, William J. 1852, Jun. 8 
Pabodie, William J. to Griswold, Rufus Wilmot. 1852, Jun 11 
Chivers, Thomas Holley to Pabodie, William J. 1852, Jun. 21 
Robins, Sarah Elizabeth to Rudd and Carleton. 1860, Mar. 23 
Baudelaire, Pierre Charles to Levy, Michel. 1864, Aug. 31 
Collyer, Robert to [?]. 1896, Mar. 5 
McCarthy, Justin to [?]. 1896, Mar. 25 
Leigh, Oliver to Stedman, Edmund Clarence. 1906, May 8 
Leigh, Oliver to Stedman, Edmund Clarence. 1906, Jun. 10 
Bewley, Sir Edmund Thomas to Green, Thomas G. H. 1907, Oct. 12 
Hubner, Charles William. "Edgar Allan Poe." 1909, Jan 
Scollard, Clinton. "At the grave of Poe" (poem). 1915, May 20 
Warner, J. to Lilly, Josiah Kirby. 1934, Jan. 4 
Thompson, Lewis M. to Lilly, Josiah Kirby. [1934, Jun. 26] 
McIntosh, Maria Jane to Field, Mrs. [?], Aug. 30 
Carte de visite of Edgar Allan Poe from S. H. Whitman daguerreotype. undated 
Carte de visite of Sarah Helen Whitman from a portrait by J. K. Arnold. undated 
Miscellaneous. undated 
Carte de visite of Edgar Allan Poe from "Ultima Thule" daguerreotype. undated 
Carte de visite of Edgar Allan Poe. undated 

(full-length photo)

Box 3 Artwork
Unboxed

Materials

1

Brooch Enclosing Lock of Edgar A. Poe's Hair Sent to Annie Richmond by Maria Clemm
Crayon Portrait of Virginia Clemm by E. A. Poe
A Self Portrait in Crayon by E. A. Poe
Crayon Portrait of Mrs. Shelton by E. A. Poe
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