William James Linton papers (Ms.80.5)

Taken as a whole, the Linton Papers consists of a variety of materials in which all areas of Linton's interests, from his early maturity to old age, are represented.

The papers, beginning in the 1840s with early poems written in Linton's own hand, and ending in the 1890s with correspondence to his publishers regarding his last published works and an impassioned plea to an unnamed correspondent demanding his "vindication" before the world, illuminates Linton in so telling a way as only primary material of this sort can. The collection also contains the poetry ( Love's Diary), and plays ( Mr. Joseph and Blue-Beard) written in Linton's own hand and, as yet, unpublished. There are also other plays and literary efforts in manuscript form which are most likely not by Linton himself but very likely influenced by him, having been written by members of his circle and illustrated by them as well. Mama's Own Nursery Rhymes and Another Jack the Giant Killer are examples of these literary-artistic collaborations of Linton and his circle, and good examples of juvenilia too. Also intended for children are sketchbooks with watercolor illustrations such as Vegetables: 12 a Penny and The Good Child's Sketchbook.

In the area of correspondence there are five letters written by Linton himself and some eighteen addressed to him from various people, often noteworthy personalities. The letters of 1852-1896 for the most part were written during Linton's American period; some of the earlier ones were written to him while he was still in England. Important correspondents include the Italian political reformer Mazzini, the poets Lucy Larcom, Algernon Charles Swinburne and Christina Rossetti. The "artistic" letters were penned by such notables as John Ruskin and Winslow Homer. Most of the letters are dated and signed. It is rather regrettable that the correspondence from Linton to others is not larger, comprising as it does merely five items.

The final segment of the collection, some forty-four items of pictorial material--drawings by Linton and others, proofs of Linton engravings, and a generous selection of photographs of Linton, his associates, and his house, "Old Appledore", where he operated his Appledore Press, serves well to complete our picture of Linton by providing a pictorial vehicle for comprehending him.