Rufus Wilmot Griswold Letter and Engraving
This collection consists primarily of a letter that Rufus W. Griswold wrote to rising Southern novelist John Esten Cooke on July 14, 1851. In it, he asks Cooke's pardon for not having acknowledged the biographical information that Cooke sent regarding Philip Pendelton Cooke (John Esten's brother) sooner, notes that he enjoyed his recent visit to Richmond, and mentions having received a note from Miss Talley. Also included is a woodcut depicting Rufus Griswold.
Dates
- 1851 July 14, undated
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Conditions Governing Use
The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Extent
0.1 Linear Feet (1 folder)
Abstract
This collection consists primarily of a letter that Rufus W. Griswold wrote to rising Southern novelist John Esten Cooke on July 14, 1851. In it, he asks Cooke's pardon for not having acknowledged the biographical information that Cooke sent regarding Philip Pendelton Cooke (John Esten's brother) sooner, notes that he enjoyed his recent visit to Richmond, and mentions having received a note from Miss Talley. Also included is a woodcut depicting Rufus Griswold.
Biographical/Historical Note
Rufus Wilmot Griswold was born to Rufus and Deborah (Wass) Griswold in Benson, Vermont on February 15, 1815. He was licensed to preach by the Baptist Church in 1837, but never held a regular pastorate. He was married three times: first to Caroline Searles in March of 1837, second to Charlotte Myers on August 10, 1845, and finally to Harriet Stanley McCrillis in 1853. Throughout his literary life, Griswold advocated the abolition of slavery and the repeal of laws mandating imprisonment for debt and capital punishment. He began his career as the publisher of the Vergennes Vermonter (1838-1839) and went on to work for Horace Greeley in New York City (1838-1840), to write for the Daily Standard and Gazette in Philadelphia (1840-1841), and to edit Graham's Magazine (1842-1843). Griswold later began writing literary criticism and is best known for his frank and unflattering descriptions of Edgar Allen Poe and his work. Rufus Griswold died in New York City on August 27, 1857 and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.
Arrangement
This collection consists of a single folder.
Acquisition Note
Richard Beale Davis donated this letter and etching to Special Collections on October 1, 1959.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository