Quaint and Curious Forgotten (Copyright) Lore ALISON HALL

As we approach October, thoughts often turn to colorful foliage, cozy hoodies, and pumpkin spice everything. Some thoughts also drift toward the spooky season, bringing to mind scary stories and maybe even “many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore.” Nothing in literature is as spooky or as culturally relevant as the afore-quoted Edgar Allan Poe.

Poe’s influence on our culture is mind found myself surrounded by great people The Bronx Society of Arts and Sciences blowing. His works have inspired and while being offered remarkable resources gave a plaster cast of Quinn’s sculpture to appeared in film, television, theater, comic and unforgettable experiences. the Edgar Allan Poe Museum in Richmond, books, artwork, and music ranging from A copyright deposit for a sculpture of Virginia, in 1931, where it was on display as American folk (Joan Baez set Poe’s “Annabel Edgar Allan Poe, for example, might not a part of the Poe shrine in the museum’s

Lee" to music) to German funeral doom sound very nerve-pinching or thought- garden – that is, until it mysteriously SARTAIN WILLIAM BY PHOTO metal (the band Ahab set Poe’s “Evening provoking to many at a glance, but taking vanished from its pedestal years later in Edgar Allan Poe portrait. Star” to music). While Poe created his a second look could lead you to think 1987. Sometime later, the bust turned up original works before our current copyright otherwise. The specific photo of a bust that at the Raven Inn, where police found it system existed, many thousands of Poe- I came across, which is now stationed in allegedly sitting at the bar with a mug of inspired works have been registered with the Edgar Allan Poe cottage in the Bronx in beer and a transcription of Poe’s poem, the Copyright Office. New York City, was submitted for Copyright “The Spirits of the Dead”: Several years ago, Library of Congress registration on June 22, 1909, by Edmond Junior Fellow Gina Apone researched T. Quinn, an established artist and sculptor And the mist upon the hill copyright registration applications from from Philadelphia. His prominent work Shadowy, shadowy, yet unbroken, the 1900s and uncovered some amazing earned him gallery displays in various, well- Is a symbol and a token. artifacts in the Office’s archives. The regarded places like the Art Institute of How it hangs upon the trees, following is an excerpt from her blog, “The Chicago and commendations by 1919 issues A mystery of mysteries! Wandering Sculpture of a Thirsty POEt: of the New York Times and the New York A Look into Copyright Archives,” which Tribune. He is best known for his bronze Whether a comedic museum thief was appeared in both the Library of Congress sculpture of “Edwin Booth as Hamlet” exercising a peculiar sense of humor or Blog and From the Catbird Seat: Poetry & located in New York’s Gramercy Park. the post-life Poe just got really thirsty, how Literature at the Library of Congress. In Quinn’s application are his and why the bust wandered off in such a As a Junior Fellow in the Copyright handwritten notes describing the piece: puzzling, unexplainable fashion remains Office, I spent the summer examining “This is a bust portrait of Edgar Allan Poe. to be known. But the dark and haunting copyright registration applications from The poet is shown in his costume of about demeanor of the poet and his work only the 1900s and uncovering various artifacts 1840…his head is inclined forward in a adds to the gripping curiousness of this Edgar Allan Poe sculpture by Edmond T. Quinn. that have long been waiting in the archives pensive attitude and the hair is somewhat account. 1 of the U.S. Copyright Office. I repeatedly disheveled.”