Purchase, December 2009.
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MSS 099, F867, Raymond Ellsworth Larsson letters, poems, and manuscripts, Special Collections, University of Delaware Library, Newark, Delaware.
Processed and encoded by Anita Wellner, July 2010.
Raymond Edward Francis "Ellery" Larsson was an American Catholic poet whose work was best
known in the 1920s and 1930s. His poetry appeared in a 1927 issue of
American Catholic poet Raymond Larsson's letters to his friend James Gallagher include
handwritten copies and a galley proof of his poems. This small collection of letters reflect
the friendship between Larsson and Gallagher, as well as Larsson's encouragement of Gallagher
as a poet. Of the eleven pieces of correspondence, only two letters and one postcard have text
other than poetry. The other items are poems, usually inscribed, sent by the poet to his
friend.
In the 1941 letter, Larsson mentioned a recent move to 22nd Street in New York, discussed the publication of his book by Devin-Adair Company, and responded to the possibility of Gallagher being drafted. Larsson's 1953 letter encouraged Gallagher's poetry writing, asked of his whereabouts, and mentioned his own current writing, including experimenting with Japanese forms. The two Japanese forms were illustrated by the enclosed poem. In this letter he also mentioned that the libraries at the University of Notre Dame and Princeton were collecting his work and encouraged Gallagher to donate any of Larsson's work to these institutions.
Most of what Larsson sent to Gallagher were recently written poems, nine in all. Several of poems were composed to mark Christian Holy Days or seasons, including two each for Christmas Epiphany.
Arranged chronologically.
This item forms part of MSS 099 Miscellaneous Literary and Historical Manuscripts.
A two-page handwritten poem with the inscription: "Raymond E. F. Larsson copied for James Gallagher, Esq., The Feast of Our Lady of Ransom 1940."
The one sheet of galley proof includes the poems, "Letter Before Departure" and "And Day Awake Me," and bears autograph pencil corrections, printer’s notations, and an inscription to James Gallagher signed by Larsson.
A handmade and typed booklet with a four-page poem written by Larsson, dated 1940 and signed, with an envelope postmarked "Dec 19 1940" from Staten Island, New York. Includes a typed note: "Not to be opened please before the eve of Christ-Mass a gentle warning to you."
A typed copy of Larsson's poem, "Last Days: First Rain," with a title page. The poem is initialed by the author. An envelope with the item is postmarked January 2, 1941, Staten Island, NY.
A typed postcard bearing the poem, "Lines for Epiphany," which is dated and initialed by the author.
A typed postcard bearing the poem, "Lines for Epiphany," which is dated and initialed by the author.
Typed and initialed postcard with with a brief message, postmarked May 13, 1941.
Typed letter with autograph initials dated "St. Timothy’s 1941" (May 21), in which Larsson mentioned a recent move to 22nd Street in New York, the publication of his book by Devin-Adair Company, and the possibility of Gallagher being drafted.
In his letter Larsson encouraged Gallagher's poetry writing, asked of his whereabouts, mentioned his own current writing, including experimenting with Japanese forms, which is illustrated by the enclosed poems. He also mentioned that the libraries at the University of Notre Dame and Princeton were collecting his work. In addition to the text of the letter, Larsson includes an single-page of poetry titled "The Ancient Philosophers," with two handwritten poems in Japanese forms "Tanka" and "Hokku." Also includes an envelope.
Handwritten copy of Larsson's poem for Christmas 1953 titled, "A Poem Tranquil as the Snow," which is signed by Larsson. Poem bears an inscription: "copy for James Gallagher, Esq. Greetings! 16.XII.1953," plus an envelope.