Orrick Johns & William Marion Reedy, 1905 - 1920
Scope and Contents
A collection of materials from the personal papers of St. Louis publisher William Marion Reedy as it pertains to his relationship with American poet Orrick Johns between 1905 and 1920. 38 letters, both handwritten and typed, from Reedy to Johns, almost exclusively rejection letters, though some deal with the details of publication; 1 letter from Johns to Reedy expressing his frustration and anger with the editor’s attitude toward him and his work; 1 letter from Reedy to a mutual friend discussing Johns; magazine clippings by Johns about Reedy. Johns worked for Reedy at The Mirror as a drama critic early in his career, and the letters reveal something of a contentious relationship, with Reedy treating Johns in a rather avuncular manner, often chastising his work while arguing it is for the young poet’s own good. Of particular note is one letter from Reedy advising Johns on handling the Lyric Year scandal, and a second letter with a poem in pencil on the verso. A curatorial file compiled by Scheetz is also included.
Dates
- 1905 - 1920
Conditions Governing Access
Most manuscripts collections at the Georgetown University Booth Family Center for Special Collections are open to researchers; however, restrictions may apply to some collections. Collections stored off site require a minimum of three days for retrieval. For use of all manuscripts collections, researchers are advised to contact the Booth Family Center for Special Collections in advance of any visit.
Biographical / Historical
Orrick Glenday Johns (June 2, 1887 – July 8, 1946) was an American modernist poet of the so-called Lyrical Left, notorious for winning the Lyric Year poetry contest in 1912 over Edna St. Vincent Millay’s famed “Renascence” – an accolade he himself greatly regretted receiving. In the 1930s Johns was the supervisor of the WPA Writers’ Project in New York City, but he resigned in 1937 after his commitment to the Communist Party drew criticism. Johns died by suicide in 1946.
Extent
From the Collection: 30 Cubic Feet (68 boxes)
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
From the Collection: Latin
From the Collection: French
From the Collection: Italian
From the Collection: Welsh
From the Collection: Danish
From the Collection: Swedish
From the Collection: Spanish
From the Collection: German
From the Collection: Norwegian
From the Collection: Persian
From the Collection: Japanese
From the Collection: Russian
From the Collection: Greek, Ancient (to 1453)
Creator
- From the Collection: Scheetz, Nicholas B., 1952-2016 (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Georgetown University Manuscripts Repository
Lauinger Library, 5th Floor
37th and O Streets, N.W.
Washington DC 20057
speccoll@georgetown.edu