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Vachel Lindsay collection

 Collection
Call Number: YCAL MSS 493

Scope and Contents

The Vachel Lindsay collection contains original correspondence and manuscripts by early twentieth-century American poet Vachel Lindsay. The collection features letters from Lindsay to the poet Sara Teasdale, dating from 1913 to 1931, documenting their early courtship and ongoing friendship. Many of the writings appear to have been sent to Teasdale as enclosures to the letters. There are also letters from Lindsay's widow, Elizabeth Connor Lindsay, following his death in late 1931.

Dates

  • 1913-1932

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The materials are open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The Vachel Lindsay Collection is the physical property of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. For further information, consult the appropriate curator.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Vachel Lindsay's letters and writings to Sara Teasdale purchased from Margaret Conklin, Teasdale's executor, in 1958, with additional gifts and purchases from other sources, 1944 to 1961.

Arrangement

Organized into two series: I. Margaret Conklin Purchase, 1913-1932. II. Material From Other Sources, 1917-1921.

Extent

1.54 Linear Feet (5 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Catalog Record

A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog

Persistent URL

https://hdl.handle.net/10079/fa/beinecke.lindsay

Abstract

The Vachel Lindsay collection contains original correspondence and manuscripts by early twentieth-century American poet Vachel Lindsay. The collection features letters from Lindsay to poet Sara Teasdale, dating from 1913 to 1931, documenting their early courtship and ongoing friendship. Writings appear to have been sent to Teasdale as enclosures to the letters. There are also letters to Teasdale from Lindsay's widow, Elizabeth Connor Lindsay, following his death in late 1931.

Vachel Lindsay (1879-1931)

Vachel Lindsay, American poet and writer, was born on November 10, 1879, in Springfield, IL. He attended Hiram College (1897-1900), Chicago Art Institute (1900-1903), and New York School of Art (1904-1905). Lindsay married Elizabeth Conner in1925, and they had two children, Susan Doniphan and Nicholas Cave. Lindsay died in Springfield, IL on December 5, 1931.

Processing Information

The collection received preliminary processing around the time of acquisition in 1958. During baseline processing of the collection in 2011, the small number of original letters and manuscripts acquired from sources other than Margaret Conklin were removed from the existing alphabetical runs of correspondence and writings and established in Series II. Material from Other Sources.

Formerly classed as Za Lindsay.

Title
Guide to the Vachel Lindsay Collection
Author
by Beinecke staff
Date
2011
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Part of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library Repository

Contact:
P. O. Box 208330
New Haven CT 06520-8330 US
(203) 432-2977

Location

121 Wall Street
New Haven, CT 06511

Opening Hours

Access Information

The Beinecke Library is open to all Yale University students and faculty, and visiting researchers whose work requires use of its special collections. You will need to bring appropriate photo ID the first time you register. Beinecke is a non-circulating, closed stack library. Paging is done by library staff during business hours. You can request collection material online at least two business days in advance of your visit, using the request links in Archives at Yale. For more information, please see Planning Your Research Visit and consult the Reading Room Policies prior to visiting the library.