William Wertenbaker on Edgar Allan Poe
This collection includes a reproduction of a handwritten page by William Wertenbaker in 1869 about his time with Edgar Allan Poe at the University of Virginia in 1826. Wertenbaker comments on Poe's temperament and work as a student. At the end of the writing, Wertenbaker includes a brief list of the books Poe borrowed from the library during the semester. The letter in this collection is not an original.
Dates
- 1869 January
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)
Overview
This collection includes a reproduction of a handwritten page by William Wertenbaker in 1869 about his time with Edgar Allan Poe at the University of Virginia in 1826. Wertenbaker comments on Poe's temperament and work as a student. At the end of the writing, Wertenbaker includes a brief list of the books Poe borrowed from the library during the semester. The letter in this collection is not an original.
Biographical/Historical Note
William Wertenbaker was born on June 1, 1797. He worked at the University of Virginia beginning in 1826 after being appointed by Thomas Jefferson to serve as the school's librarian. He worked in other capacities at the school as well including as a clerk and a secretary to the faculty. Wertenbaker died in 1882.
Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) was an American author best known for his poetry and short stories. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Poe attended the University of Virginia for one semester in 1826 before leaving due to lack of funds; it was at this time, however, that he began publishing some of writings. He is considered the inventor of detective fiction and an innovator of science fiction. Poe also wrote a great deal of essays, criticisms, and book reviews. Some of his best known works include "The Raven" and "The Tell-Tale Heart."
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository