on fellow ous L g ulletinH e Volume 10 No. 1 A Newsletter of the Friends of the Longfellow House and the National Park Service June 2006 Reverend Samuel Longfellow’s Papers CataloguedB and Finding Aid Completed he National Park Service is proud to grand family-tour of Europe in 1868-69, he and Verses, and gathered his journals and cor- Tannounce the publication of the find- took his three nieces on special side trips. respondence written and received. Other ing aid for the papers of the Reverend Sam’s writings provide much insight into nieces and his great-nephew Harry Dana Samuel Longfellow (1819-1892) in the Long- life at the Longfellow House. added materials to the fellow House archives. The finding aid After Henry died in 1882, collection, at times buy- describes and helps researchers navigate the Sam returned to the House to ing them from antiques documents pertaining to Henry Longfel- work on his brother’s biogra- dealers or obtaining pho- low’s youngest brother, a renowned transcen- phy. He stayed on with the tostats of documents. dentalist clergyman, writer of hymns, social poet’s eldest daughter, Alice Margaret Welch, the reformer, and his brother’s biographer. (See Longfellow, and resided in author of this new find- related articles throughout this issue.) the back bedrooms until his ing aid, organized, pre- Samuel Longfellow lived in the House death in 1892. During his last served, and catalogued off and on throughout his adult life begin- decade Sam edited and tran- twelve and a half linear ning in the 1840s when Sam moved in with scribed many selections from feet of journals, corre- newlyweds Henry and Fanny. In the early Henry’s journals and letters, spondence, sermons, and 1860s he resided with the family and was an ultimately publishing three poetry. The archives also attentive uncle to Henry’s children. Sam volumes entitled the Life of hold many of Samuel traveled to Europe with his nephew Ernest, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Samuel Longfellow, 1880 Longfellow’s sketches, remaining in Paris with him while the After Sam’s death, Alice Longfellow pub- watercolors, and travel notebooks with twenty-year-old studied art. While on the lished a selection of her uncle’s works, Hymns pencil drawings of buildings and scenery. New Biography of Samuel Longfellow in Progress hile researching and writ- own walking tour company in Wing a history of the nine- Lisbon, Abdo is now writing a teenth-century Dabney family’s biography of Sam Longfellow. life in the Azores, Joseph Abdo “My research on Samuel became intrigued by the twenty- Longfellow started several years three-year-old tutor for the Dab- ago with Joseph May’s [1894] ney children, Samuel Longfellow. Samuel Longfellow Memoir and Letters, Originally from Boston, the which contains letters to and Dabneys provided three genera- from Sam, and May’s comments,” tions of American consuls to the said Abdo. “I read articles about Azores, nine islands west of Por- Sam by his contemporaries, fol- tugal, and had a number of lowed a comment here and a hint friends in common with the there, and was able to trace Sam Longfellows. After his first year on an interesting trip through at Harvard Divinity School in the major nineteenth-century 1843, Sam was at loose ends and “Port of Horta [Faial] from the Sea Wall,” Samuel Longfellow’s sketchbook, 1843 social and cultural movements.” concerned about his ill health, which was to and “cultivated and hospitable”employers, “Samuel Longfellow is not an easy per- plague him throughout his life. Harvard Sam agreed to accept the position. son to find out about,” Abdo continued. professor John Webster recommended him Author of the recently published Dabney “Most written material about Sam refers to as a tutor for the four children of Consul chronicle called On the Edge of History, an him as Henry’s biographer or the author, Charles Dabney and his wife Frances on the American and naturalized Portuguese citi- along with Samuel Johnson, of the Book of island of Faial. Attracted by the fine climate zen, hospital administrator, and head of his (continued on page 2) 1 - Samuel Longfellow Biography by Joseph Abdo (continued from page 1) Hymns. This was largely because Sam did as a courageous martyr,” Abdo said. not write much about himself, and when Samuel Longfellow achieved fame in the VWX others wrote about the Longfellows, he was Unitarian church for the Book of Hymns for Friends of the Longfellow House hidden in his brother Henry’s shadow.” Public and Private Devotion that he wrote with Board of Directors Though he wrote numerous letters, Sam his soul-mate Samuel Johnson. In 1882 after Heather S. Moulton, President was not conscientious about his journals the death of Johnson and his brother Barclay Henderson, Vice President and could let a year go by without an entry. Henry within five weeks, Sam Longfellow Robert C. Mitchell, Treasurer His last journal ended in 1852, forty years left Germantown and retired from preach- Polly Bryson, Clerk before his death. Nevertheless, he wrote ing. He spent much of the remainder of his Frances Ackerly books, sermons, and words to hymns. His life writing about these two men who had Diana Der-Hovanessian friend Thomas Went- been closest to him, pro- Frances J. Folsom Maura Graham worth Higginson said of ducing the memoirs of Edward Guleserian him that “he was also a Samuel Johnson and a Carol Johnson genuine poet, like his biography of Henry. Sarah B. Jolliffe elder brother.” Always interested in Linda Almgren Kime During his year living progressive causes, Sam Layne Longfellow with the Dabneys in the supported women’s rights Laura Nash Azores, Sam wrote prodi- and spoke at national Lynne Spencer giously to friends and women’s movement con- family. “I wanted to know ventions. He espoused Advisory Board Ruth Butler if there was something the idea that “women LeRoy Cragwell more than improved should have the right to Diana Korzenik health he was seeking in do the same work as men Richard Nylander Faial,” said Abdo. “Con- and receive the same pay Stephen D. Pratt sidering that he wanted to for doing it,” Abdo found Marilyn Richardson know everything that was in his research. Marc Shell going on back in Cam- Sam Longfellow’s Brooklyn residence Abdo also speaks of Charles Sullivan bridge, what really interested him most?” Sam’s interest in science. As a child in Port- Lowell A. Warren Jr. Abdo’s biography will focus on Sam’s land, he attended lectures on the latest Administrator wide range of interests, with religion front advances. With some friends at Harvard, he J.L. Bell and center. Sam regained his health in the formed the Octagon society where they Azores and returned to complete Harvard took turns presenting different scientific Newsletter Committee Divinity School, where most faculty fol- topics. Photography particularly fascinated Glenna Lang, Editor, Writer & Designer lowed Unitarian theology. After graduation Sam. He and his roommate, Edward Everett James M. Shea in 1846, he substituted in a number of Uni- Hale, experimented with the calotype nega- tarian pulpits before accepting a permanent tive, the first practical method of produc- opq pastorate in Fall River, Massachusetts, ing prints on paper from a camera exposure. National Park Service where he was ordained. He left there in 1852 Unfortunately for researchers, Sam kept Myra Harrison, Superintendent to travel to Europe to recover his strength. little of his incoming correspondence, per- James M. Shea, Museum Manager Reverend Longfellow’s other two per- haps because he moved and traveled fre- Nancy Jones, Education and Visitor Services manent pastorates were in Brooklyn, New quently and never owned a home. Only some Paul Blandford, Museum Educator York, and Germantown, Pennsylvania. “I of the letters he wrote to his family came Anita Israel, Archives Specialist had the pleasure of visiting both these back to the House after his death. In a letter David Daly, Collections Manager churches, although they’ve been re-located dated June 29, 1882, Sam told Reverend A.M. Lauren Malcolm, Museum Technician in new buildings since the time Samuel Haskell that he had destroyed twenty-five to C. Sue Rigney, Planning & Communications preached there,” said Abdo. “The former thirty of his diaries (as opposed to his jour- Liza Stearns, Education Specialist had published a book on the history of nals), in which he had recorded his intimate Ed Bacigalupo, Chief of Maintenance Scott Fletcher, Facility Manager Unitarian churches in Brooklyn and men- feelings. Only one remains in the archives. tioned Sam. They had a painting of him, as Printed by Newprint Offset, Waltham, Mass. did the Germantown church.” A combination of health problems and Samuel Longfellow to Henry W. the dissatisfaction of congregation members Longfellow, October 20, 1861: 1234 who disagreed with Sam’s ideas pushed him “[I] can be reconciled to the [Civil] war All images are from the Longfellow National Historic to leave Brooklyn in 1860. Sam was opposed only if it shall bring an end to the nation’s Site collections, unless noted otherwise. to slavery, as was his whole family. “His wrongdoing & Freedom & Clear assur- strong feelings on the abolition of slavery ance of freedom to the Slave.” got him in trouble in Brooklyn because of a sermon in which he supported John Brown - 2 Interview with a Friend…Meet Margaret Welch, NPS Archivist Margaret Welch has worked since 2001 Probably our longest and biggest client has ally live at the mill, where my brother now for the National Park Service as an archivist been Longfellow. lives. It’s been a family home since 1820. with the Northeast Museum Services Cen- LH:We have benefited so much over the Margaret Curzon is probably my great-great ter. She helped catalog 10,000 photographs years from the Museum Services Center aunt or some such relation. and created a searchable database in the and particularly your work. Can you tell us LH: What’s next with the finding aids? House archives, funded by a Fidelity Foun- about the papers you’ve catalogued here? MW: I’ve come now to think of the dation grant as part of Save America’s Trea- MW: I’ve concentrated on the Longfel- finding aids as our monuments. My col- sures. Most recently, she prepared The Rev- low family. With Lauren Malcolm’s exper- leagues and I work together, and it’s not erend Samuel Longfellow Papers finding aid. tise, I worked on the Wadsworth-Longfel- unlike writing a book. One exciting thing Longfellow House: How did you come low Family Papers. They were truly an about the final stage of our project is to work for the Park Service? intermixed mess. That was a real highlight putting together the finding aids so that Margaret Welch: After receiving a doc- to get those papers in order. When you have they relate to one another—much as the torate in American Studies from Penn, I five Stephens, that is no small task. We were family members did. The family does inter- worked at the Maryland Historical Society lucky enough to have the time to do lock and corresponds with one another. As in their prints and photographs department. genealogical charts, to really set things up a librarian/archivist, what excites me is to I took a bit of a sidetrack when I left to write put these finding aids in their entirety on a book about ante-bellum America and nat- the World Wide Web. This will be one way ural history called The Book of Nature: Natural to solidify the prominence of the archives. History in the United States, 1825-1875. To be- When we send the final copy of the find- come an archivist, I went back to library ing aid over to Harvard Divinity School, I school and graduated in 1996, and then went think it will interest some of their graduate up to the Winterthur Library, another haven students and scholars using their library. Sam of nineteenth century America and all its and his circle are just dying for some kind of material culture. After four years, I really scholarly big monograph, an intellectual his- wanted to move back home. My parents had tory or biography. Nobody—not even left my sisters and me a place in Newbury- Harry Dana—ever really looked at the ser- port, and my brother lives next door, so I mons. They’re voluminous. They’re certainly moved up. Luckily, I replied to a job ad I saw about the life of Sam’s mind and such a nice on the internet for historic photographs. complement to the letters and journals. Janice Hodson, the NPS curator, responded, LH: You’ve steeped yourself in Samuel and I was fortunate to get the position. Longfellow. What sense do you get of him LH: Can you tell us about the major as a person? photo project you first took on? MW: He was a mentor to his nieces and MW:We had 10,000 photographs in the nephews. He’s such a gentle understated House archives to be worked on at an item so a researcher knows exactly where to go. figure that they must have loved his com- level. Each photograph was different in Lauren did Henry’s papers. Then we did pany. You get this feeling from his letters terms of conservation concerns and writ- Alexander Wadsworth Longfellow and his and from that wonderful image of Alice ten inscriptions. But talk about a wonderful children. And now the Reverend Sam. throwing him his seventieth-birthday party introduction to Longfellow! Not only Hen- LH: Were there any revelations about here. The care and thought she put into it. ry, but Henry’s family, Henry’s grandchil- Sam Longfellow that especially excited you? How much she must have loved him! To dren, and particularly Alexander’s [Henry’s MW: I came across a letter from Sam to have the kind of music he wanted played. brother] family, who loved photography. his family saying that he had stayed at a And then her labor of love of putting You get to know everybody very, very well. pretty place called Curzon’s Mill “where together his hymns and verses after he died. To date the photographs, you are thrown there’s an old-fashioned house under fine old Sam performed the marriage of his headlong into their biographies. trees and on the banks of a little stream by niece Anne Allegra and Joseph Gilbert LH: You actually work for the Museum the poetic name of ‘The Artichoke.’” Well, Thorp, and that same ceremony was used Services Center yet you are here at the House. it so happens that I now live in that house. by Anne Allegra’s daughter when she got MW: Northeast Museum Services Cen- LH: Tell us more about the house both married. The funeral service that Sam put ter is a broad name of a branch that’s not you and Sam lived in. together for his brother Henry the family really well-known even within the Park Ser- MW: Sam visited for just one day. Mar- continued to use, even for his nephew vice. We are part of the Northeast region, garet Curzon, the owner (and coincidentally Charley’s funeral. It’s a sign of respect not and we are a services center just like Harpers an ancestor of mine), was a Unitarian. She only for Sam as a person, but also for his Ferry and other places that do conservation may have asked him down for a visit. He may religious views. services. We do certain museum-related ser- have known about Curzon’s Mill through his LH: You worked with the photo collec- vices like cataloguing objects, planning for friend Thomas Wentworth Higginson who tion and then the family papers, so you collections, and historic furnishing research. was forced out of his position as pastor at came to this project with a deep under- The Park Service provides annual project Newburyport Unitarian Church in the late standing of the family. I don’t think any- funds, and we go out and do the project. 1840s and went to lick his wounds and liter- one else could have done the work you did. 3 - Samuel Longfellow, Radical Unitarian Minister and Social Reformer aving graduated from Harvard College labors of love,” said Welch. “He did not another term for Theology….” Hin 1839, Samuel Longfellow entered write the music, but used existing scores in Following a tenet of Unitarianism, Sam Harvard Divinity School, whose faculty and the easygoing days before copyright.” Sam Longfellow stressed the importance of students were with few exceptions Unitar- sometimes changed other authors’ lyrics to social responsibility and focused his own ian. Prominent Harvard divinity professor eliminate references to Jesus and convey his energies on social reform. Sam worked and liberal Unitarian Henry Ware declared, more liberal religious views. His words locally as well as nationally. While a pastor “Even in the worst men good feelings and were “songs of hope and cheer” to many. in Germantown, Pennsylvania, he was a principles are predominant.” At divinity After the Civil War, Samuel Longfellow pioneer in community help. He started a school Sam also encountered the first gener- was a frequent guest and speaker at the Rad- Women’s Alliance group, which took shape ation of transcendentalists and learned the ical Club, an informal association of New first as the Samuel Longfellow Alliance. In new thinking about religion. England Unitarian 1871 Sam was a founding member and first Here Sam Longfellow met and transcendentalist president of the Cambridge Social Union, fellow student Samuel John- thinkers intent on one of many such organizations formed son of Salem, and the two making religion pure after the Civil War to provide a free read- formed an extremely close of meaningless ritual ing room and a means of social and intel- life-long friendship, reflected and superstition. He lectual improvement for all. in their roughly one hundred wrote numerous arti- Sam championed women’s rights, in- letters in the House archives. cles for the The Radi- cluding their right to vote. At the Tenth Often they wrote of their reli- cal, the magazine of National Woman’s Rights Convention in gious and political beliefs. the Free Religious New York in 1860, Sam spoke just before “They were so similar and Association, which Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Nervous before spoke so clearly to each believed in a com- speaking, she recorded in her journal, “My other,” said Samuel Longfel- plete openness to all emotion was so apparent that Rev. Samuel low archivist Margaret Welch. religious sentiments Longfellow…who sat beside me, whis- Samuel Johnson was never and persuasions, and pered in my ear, ‘Nevertheless you are right, ordained and was opposed to Samuel Longfellow, 1864 he spoke often at and the convention will sustain you.’” organized religion, although in 1853 he their meetings. “In some ways the articles Both Sam Johnson and Sam Longfellow founded the Free Church of Lynn, Massa- Sam wrote for the The Radical, published here were abolitionists. “In some ways they had chusetts, and was its pastor until 1870. He in Boston, were where he most coherently their biggest challenges with their own audi- went on to write a history of Oriental reli- and vigorously put together his own view on ences in their churches,” Welch said. “For gions, comparing them with Christianity. religion, the soul, and mor- instance, Fall River in Sam Longfellow graduated from divinity ality,” said Welch. “His ser- the late 1840s was not school in 1846 and two years later became an mons are general, but these a big intellectual cen- ordained Unitarian minister. He presided in are very tight, logical arti- ter. Abolition had churches in Fall River, Massachusetts (1848); cles. He goes beyond Uni- nothing to do with Brooklyn, New York, (1853) where he built a tarianism to free religion these people’s lives, and chapel; Germantown, Pennsylvania; (1860) and doesn’t speak of Jesus Sam really got under and held guest pastorates in various places. Christ as much. It’s his people’s skins. I think Both Samuel Longfellow and Samuel direct relationship with God it’s in these parishes Johnson have been referred to as “second- that really preoccupies him.” where you admire their generation transcendentalists,” a group who Reverend Sam’s religious bravery. It would have worked to keep transcendentalist ideas alive writings inspired others, been easier just to hang and evolving, and included among others including followers of He- out with other aboli- their fellow divinity student Thomas Went- lena Blavatsky, who in 1875 tionists. Like Emerson worth Higginson, William H. Furness, founded Theosophy with a and Thoreau, Samuel Charles T. Brooks, and Theodore Parker. mission of spreading East- saw John Brown as While in Fall River and Brooklyn, Sam ern religions and the occult Samuel Longfellow, 1888-1892 almost a Christ-like hosted a series of “conversations” at his to the Western world. In her 1909 essay figure and therefore was comfortable look- home with Bronson Alcott, Walt Whitman, “Why I Became a Theosophist,” Katherine ing beyond John Brown’s violent past. You and others. “The conversation is spirited Hillard explained: “Then came…when I was could see how far abolition had driven Sam.” and meta-physical,” Alcott recorded in his about fourteen, the teachings of Rev. Samuel Reverend Sam expressed his abolitionist journal on December 28, 1856. Longfellow, a brother of the poet. Of him it views in many pulpits. In 1847 he was one Sam continued to profess transcenden- was said that while Henry W. Longfellow of a series of abolitionist ministers who talist philosophy as a minister through the was made a poet, Samuel was born one, and preached at the First Unitarian Church in pulpit and the hymns he wrote, many of also it was said that he was good enough to southern-sympathizing Washington, D.C., which are still sung today. He gained fame be a saint and interesting enough to be a sin- with Edward Everett Hale, Joseph Henry for his lyrics. “They could touch people’s ner. He was certainly a mystic, and his teach- Allen, Moncure Daniel Conway, William souls in such a basic way and really were ings were like those of other mystics, but D. Haley, and William Henry Channing. - 4 Samuel Longfellow’s Observations About the Family and Life at the House rom the 1840s to 1890s, Samuel Long- cal alterations at the House: “We have had And on February 20, 1863: “I think there Ffellow wrote about 200 of his almost great change in the Craigie. The Great is nothing special to write you of the 900 letters now in the House archives to his Library has at last been fitted up & the Craigie House inmates. We go on quietly. sister Anne Longfellow Pierce, who lived in books moved in. Henry’s large book case is Henry is busy translating Dante. Charley Portland, Maine. He always concluded his placed between the columns. Henry has has his lessons, his Boston parties, his danc- letters to Anne with news from Craigie deserted the old study which is soon to be ing class, & his riding school. Erny his House, as it was known then. In Sam’s own made new with paper & paint. Thus we Geometry, his life of Washington, his words, these letters reveal much drawing, in which he has quite a about day-to-day life in his talent—his headaches, & his brother’s home and show Sam unencouraged desire for West actively participating in the lively Point. Alice her school, her events within and outside Henry superlatives, her school girl and and Fanny’s household. school-boy friendships, her Cam- While still a student living at bridge parties. The little girls, the House, Sam confided in his separately devoted to each other, sister Anne on November 2, 1844: have their studies & plays. The “I find myself very comfortably other day came numerous valen- & pleasantly situated here. I like tines. And there was a wonderful the Divinity School better than I party of thirty paper dolls, all expected to do. At the Craigie named and known. It was a birth- House all goes on well. Mr. day party in honor of certain [Charles] Sumner has been mak- Sam Longfellow with (l to r) Anne Longfellow Thorp, Harry Dana, Edith Long- patriotic soldiers—family at ing us a visit a fortnight, while fellow Dana, Richard Henry Dana IV, Mary King Longfellow, 1882 home on a furlough….” recovering from a bad cold. Henry is busy turn over a new leaf. Fanny is expecting her Sometimes his letters to Anne went with his two books & makes us all serve sister & children in the steamer of the mid- beyond daily life and included his philo- him as scribes.” dle of this month; but is uncertain whether sophical views. On Independence Day 1845, Sam noted other important visitors to they will be able to come so soon.” Sam described and mulled over the mean- the House, for example on November 23, Other letters, such as one on November ing of the holiday: “It is twelve o’clock: 1848: “All is well here…. Hawthorne & 16, 1845, portray characters and daily activi- from all sides through my open windows Ellery Channing dine with Henry today.” ties in the House quite vividly. “In Cam- comes the jangling of bells & the crash of And in 1886: “Mrs. Fields [Annie, widow bridge here we are as well as usual & go on the cannon—two of the most melancholy of publisher James Fields of Ticknor and in the same quiet way. Fanny reads aloud in sounds in the world; I think-in honor of Fields] & Miss [Sarah Orne] Jewett are the evening—Aunt Martha makes cake & this joyful and glorious Fourth. It is a glo- coming to dine with us today & W. Hal, a knits tidies & corresponds with Miss rious day in one sense for after days of rain pastor. Alice & I took tea Sunday evening [Catharine] Beecher. I take my daily walks the sun is shining on a grandly clean & with WF to meet Madame Modjeska, the to Divinity Hall & write my essays & ser- green earth. Henry & Fanny have gone into Polish actress, who is interesting.” mons when my turn comes round. Henry Boston to hear Mr. Sumner’s oration. Mr. In 1845, he described to Anne the physi- hears his classes & writes poetry. His new Sumner, I am glad to say, leaving the usual volume of Poems “The Belfry of Bruges” topic of the day, is going to utter a strong will be out about the first or middle of protest against war, & show its utter incon- Fanny Longfellow to Emmeline Austin December. He has written several poems sistency with Christianity & with the true Wadsworth, June 16, 1846: lately—one about the bridge that leads into policy & true glory of a Country.” “It [Sam’s preaching] was the first public Boston—one long one addressed to a Along with other family members, Sam performance I ever witnessed of any one child—to Charley. He, quite unconscious took an interest in the planting and care of connected to me, but apart from that, except of poetry, runs about & chatters & scolds the formal garden. In his letter of April 24, marriage and first communion, I cannot & comes in after dinner in great glee to be 1845 he wrote to Anne: “Henry is busy recall a ceremony which ever moved me so fed with pear or figs.” putting the grounds in order about the much, gave me such deep, delicious joy. He Sam’s letters observe the children grow- house; & having a large number of trees set prayed and preached like a young apostle ing up and their interests. On January 31, out, principally evergreens, a buckthorn with such tenderness and fervor that I could 1863 he told Anne: “…the little girls have hedge has been made between us & Mr. not help shedding tears. He has just the right just been in, having dressed themselves in Hastings— and Mr. Worcester, not satis- spirit for a preacher—most firm and cou- all their jewelry. They are sweet & bright. fied with the rustic open fence which sepa- rageous and independent, shrinking not Edie is a very active & inventive mind and rates us, demands a hedge there also which from rebuking public, as well as private, they are very much attached to each other. will cover up entirely the glimpse that I get sin, and yet with a gentleness which is all They have been out with their sleds all the of the brook from my window & which I subduing….” morning—Charley is lively and good do not at all like to lose. Then we are talk- natured. He asks me out to walk every ing of a little flower garden—in which your afternoon. Erny and I are good friends.” advice and assistance would be invaluable.” 5 - Samuel Longfellow: Crafting His Brother’s Image Longfellow House in the Media hen Henry W. Longfellow died in portfolios, and throws the contents into the From the University of Virginia Press, Re- WMarch 1882, the family immediately streets for the public to scramble after.’ creating the American Past: Essays of the Colonial requested that his younger brother Samuel “The remark is true generally, and applies Revival contains two essays related to the Longfellow work on Henry’s biography. with so much pertinence to the poet’s own House: “Ellen Biddle Shipman's Colonial Henry, however, had wanted George Wash- biography, that it may be regarded as pro- Revival Garden Style” by Judith B. Tankard ington Greene, a historian and close friend, phetic. From a somewhat barren diary, writ- and “‘To Keep Up the Delusion’: Henry W. to take on this job. Greene resided in ten as an aid to memory, Mr. Samuel Longfellow's House and Furnishings and Rhode Island and was in fragile Longfellow has made extracts on so the Colonial Revival” by Sarah H. Heald. health, and the family doubted large a scale, that whole pages are l that Greene could complete the inserted which contain a bushel In March 19, 2006’s Boston Sunday Globe, Jan project. At the time there were of chaff to a grain of wheat. Gardner in “Shelf Life” wrote about the several other biographies of That the daily incidents of life, new tour offered to the public at the Long- Henry in the works, none of making up the common round, fellow NHS, which focuses on Henry which the family approved. may be important to the writer, Wadsworth Longfellow’s book collection. Sam gave up his pastorate in while comparatively valueless to l Pennsylvania to move back to the the reader, does not seem to have Responding in a letter to the editor of the House and assume the responsibil- occurred to the biographer. The Boston Globe, April 21, 2006, Judith S. Hober- ity of working on the biography, result is that the narrative is too man deftly refuted historian Gordon “reading, sifting, deciding, rejecting,” he long….” Wood’s opinion piece in the Globe four days wrote to his sister Anne as he transcribed and In addition to two volumes of Henry’s earlier where he had asserted that “no one edited the poet’s journals and letters for pub- excerpted journals and letters, Sam pro- reads Longfellow anymore.” The newspa- lication. In the process he edited out fifty duced a third volume which contained rem- per highlighted the letter by printing an percent of the entries, including those reveal- iniscences from other people called Final 1869 photo of the poet next to it. ing Henry’s dark side, details of his relation- Memorials. Together they were published in ship with his wife Fanny, conflicts, and even 1887 as The Life of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Photo in oval to the left: Samuel Longfellow, 1882 humor. Samuel’s version of Henry “became sanitized and not terribly interesting,” ac- cording to NPS manager Jim Shea. In an Recent Research at the House effort to preserve a certain image of his brother, Samuel created what Henry’s most The Longfellow House archives contain over 700,000 manuscripts, letters, and signed documents and recent biographer, Charles Calhoun, called are used extensively by researchers from around the world. Here are a few recent researchers of the sev- an “embalmment” of the poet. eral hundred who use the archives annually. “Sam’s editing out portions of Henry’s journals for his biography was just so typi- For her book on Native American women who taught in boarding schools for Native cal of that time,” Margaret Welch stated. Americans at the turn of the last century, Anne Ruggles Gere, Professor of English “For example, the relationship between and Education at the University of Michigan, looked at Alice Longfellow's correspon- Henry and Fanny was so personal to them dence and the Sarah Watson Dana Swayne Papers. Alice’s correspondence included a both. In the nineteenth century, they were number of letters about/to Indian boarding schools. Sarah, the oldest daughter of very reticent about such things. And Richard Henry Dana Jr., taught at the Hampton School, one of these schools. Henry’s health—he was having such a dif- l ficult time emotionally during his court- William Veilette is researching the use of Sadler & Green tiles in eighteenth-century ship of Fanny. The nineteenth century was American fireplaces. He learned of tiles in the Longfellow House’s “Blue Room” (or not going to write about depression.” guest room) fireplace through Longfellow’s poem “To a Child.” Using our website A contemporary review of Sam’s biogra- and published references, he has tried to identify the four tiles the poem mentions. phy of his brother reflects dissatisfaction l with the work. The Literary Supplement, Lon- Lauren McCormack, Research Coordinator at the USS Constitution Museum, don, May 8, 1886, commented: “Every pop- sought a copy of a letter from Alexander Scammel Wadsworth to Stephen Longfel- ular writer has a biography in these days, low, Esq., dated July 26, 1812 for a new exhibit about life at sea during the War of and this tribute to his fame was not likely to 1812.Written from the USS Constitution,Wadsworth’s letter describes the ship's escape be omitted in the case of Longfellow. That from a British squadron and may provide some pertinent information. the story of his life would be told, he seems l to have anticipated. Writing in his Journal, Rebecca Middleton is writing a book on the centennial of the Ojibway Hotel in he says:-‘How brief this chronicle is, even Pointe Au Baril, Ontario. She wishes to include information about Longfellow’s Song of my outward life. And of my inner life not of Hiawatha and its influence on the hotel, which operated from 1906 until the 1960s. a word. If one were only sure that one’s jour- Now deemed a historic site, it is run as a club with cottages for rent. It is one of 110 nal would never be seen by anyone, and such lodges built at the turn of the century in this region—fewer than ten remain. never get into print, how different the case would be! But death picks the locks of all - 6 Educational Programs he exciting new Historic House Ex- Recent Visitors & Events at the House Tplorers program for engaging eighth People from all walks of life have always come to the Longfellow House for cultural activities. Today graders in the study of history through inves- the House continues to host numerous people and events. The following items represent only a small tigative field experiences at house museums portion of what has taken place here recently. will take place at the Longfellow House. NPS’s Liza Stearns is developing a unit Friends of the Longfellow House board members Linda Kime, Polly Bryson, Maura called “Charley Longfellow and the Civil Graham, and Edward Guleserian hosted a well-attended holiday reception in the War: Coming of Age in a Time of Turbu- Carriage House. Guests viewed the Concordant Junior Volunteers’ re-enactments. lence” to teach students through analysis of r original sources in the House and its archives, In partnership with Simmons College, the House offered student internships to Dov and in the Longfellow collection at Harvard. Frede and Joelle Burdette. They worked through the spring months in the House Recently, five sixth-graders from the archives on developing a detailed finding aid for the Dana Family correspondence. Haggerty School in Cambridge chose the r Longfellow House as one of two sites to The Longfellow Bicentennial Committee now meets monthly to plan for Henry film material related to U.S. Senator Charles W. Longfellow’s 200th birthday in 2007. Marian Carlson and Charles Calhoun Sumner, Henry Longfellow’s close friend. co-chair the executive board, made up of members of the Friends and the NPS. The team of students prepared a documen- r tary video to enter in National History In March 2006 the House launched a new theme tour developed by staff member Day’s annual national student contest. The Jeanne Dumas entitled “Books were His Passion and Delight.” The tour focuses contestants are required to conduct exten- on the Longfellow family library of over 12,000 books in approximately fifty lan- sive research about an annual theme and guages, on related stories about well-known writers who visited, and favorite fam- present their findings as an exhibit, docu- ily books. Highly popular, the tour has a waiting list through the spring. mentary, performance, or paper. Although r they did not win the prize, the students On May 19 and 20 for the third consecutive year, the Dante Society of America gained much from the experience, said their met at the House for their annual meeting. Henry W. Longfellow was the first pres- teacher Karen Kosko. They studied several ident of the society, which was founded in 1881. biographies of Sumner and his speeches, and they learned camera, audio-recording, and editing skills. (See photo below.) Samuel Longfellow’s Interest in the Arts amuel Longfellow was an avid connois- high school in York, Pennsylvania. He went Sseur of art and a supportive friend to on to study with Thomas Eakins at the artists as well as a practicing artist himself. Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. “When In 1905 Cambridge historian Frank Preston Barnitz was trying to make it as a portrait Stearns recalled that Samuel knew “almost painter,” Welch continued, “Sam tells him every picture in the galleries of Europe.” [in his letters]: you are good, hold on, your Sam accompanied fellow life is tough. Sam bought connoisseur Thomas Gold paintings from him and other Appleton to New York and younger artists.” While we visited its many galleries and know that Sam bought many Fellowship Awarded artists’ studios. According of Barnitz’s portraits, land- he Friends of the Longfellow House to Margaret Welch, Sam’s scapes, and pastels, research Tawarded the fourth annual Korzenik/ appreciation of art “was will determine which of the Paterson Fellowship to Christopher N. self-taught, like everybody unsigned artworks now in the Phillips, a doctoral candidate in English at in America at that time, but House are by Barnitz. Stanford University. This grant will enable he was confident enough in Sam often lent moral sup- Phillips to travel to the House archives to his abilities that he wrote a port to and also bought the conduct research for his dissertation called critique of Thomas Cole. In works of other young artists. “Longfellow’s Epic Literature: Rereading France, he went to the Lou- Drawing by Henry Wilson Barnitz Among them were Stephen Heroic Form in Longfellow’s Career.” vre, but he also loved going to see contem- Wilson Van Schaick, William H. Hodge, Focusing on the long narrative poems, porary artists and went with his nephew and Wyatt Eaton, who made two prints of which outsold many novels of the time, Erny [then an art student] to Paris. As an Henry Longfellow (now at the House). Phillips seeks to answer the question: How older man, he encouraged younger artists.” Throughout his entire life, Sam anno- did a professor of modern languages—an Several years ago, a descendant of Henry tated his travel notebooks with hundreds of authority on Dante, Goethe, and Tasso— Wilson Barnitz (1864-1916) donated to the sketches of European scenes and his beloved come to write epic poetry accessible to House archives forty-four letters from Sam White Mountains in New Hampshire. “He readers as disparate as American homemak- to this young artist friend. The correspon- was the most accomplished amateur artist in ers and German literary critics? dence begins when Barnitz graduated from the family,” said NPS manager Jim Shea. 7 - potlight on an bject New Look for Longfellow NHS Website nS each issue of the newsletter,O we Ifocus on a particular object of inter- On August 25, Longfellow NHS will join parks and people across America in est in the Longfellow House collection. celebrating the 90th anniversary of the National Park Service. To mark this This time our spotlight shines on a important milestone, every unit in the Park Service will launch its own newly charming little painting once owned by designed website. Visitors to the Longfellow website will discover more in-depth Samuel Longfellow called “Peasant Girl content and visual information in an attractive and easy to navigate format. More from Brittany.” convenient links to other websites will also be available, such as the one managed Birge Lovell Harrison (1854-1929) by the Friends of the Longfellow House. Look for this exciting new design at: painted this approximately thirteen- www.nps.gov/long inch-square oil on canvas. An American landscape and figure painter born in Philadelphia, Harrison studied art in Paris at the École des Beaux-Arts in 1877 and worked in Pont-Aven at the same Longfellow National Historic Site, National Park Service time as Paul Gauguin in 1886. Beginning Longfellow National Historic Site joined the national park system in 1972. Its in 1882, he spent his summers in Brittany many layers of history, distinguished architecture, gardens and grounds, and exten- and in Giverny, Normandy. sive museum collections represent the birth and flowering of our nation and con- Harrison became the director of the tinue to inspire school children and scholars alike. The Vassall-Craigie-Longfellow Art Students League in New York City House most notably served as headquarters for General George Washington in the and founded their summer school in early months of the Revolutionary War. It was later the home of Henry Wadsworth Woodstock, New York, which led to the Longfellow, one of America’s foremost poets, and his family from 1837 to 1950. formation of an art colony there. He was Friends of the Longfellow House elected to the National Academy in 1910. Since 1996, the Friends of the Longfellow House, a not-for-profit voluntary group, It is not clear when Sam Longfellow has worked with the National Park Service to support Longfellow National Historic acquired the painting, but it is possible Site by promoting scholarly access to collections, publications about site history, he purchased it while traveling in France educational visitor programs, and advocacy for the highest quality preservation. in the late 1880s. He gave the painting to his niece, Alice Longfellow, and it now hangs in her bedroom. Friends of the Longfellow House 105 Brattle Street Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138