[page xi, unnumbered:]

“THE world shall be my theatre” and “I must either conquer or die” were rather prophetic words of the youthful Edgar Allan Poe. And he epitomized his entire life a few weeks prior to his death with these words: “I do beljeve God gave me a spark of genius, but he quenched it in misery.”

Poe's spark of genius is destined to remain in the world of literature a bright and shining light, as will always be remembered his invincible courage in meeting such misery as came to him by reason of man's inhumanity to man.

With no attempt for literary effects in this very human document of intense and thrilling interests, time and closest reference followings have been urnsparingly given to make as accurate as possible this simple life-story of Edgar Allan Poe, the ‘Man. It has also obtained, for accuracy's sake, the ablest and most selfless scrutiny prior to print from the highest Poe authorities for every incident and statement, as well as the complete illustrations in its text. By inspiration of the poet's name, a phalanx of noble souls — [page xii:] one hundred twenty-seven or more — were enlisted in this service of correcting endless misstatements within the range of mortal possibility — made in print and not in print, concerning Edgar A. Poe, the Man, and thereby presenting to literary posterity concise, interesting, and reliable records of the subject treated. A present-day writer on Poe who saw the manuscript, where only chalice enabled it to be seen, wrote that no other biography of the poet contained so many facts.

Poe, the Man, normal, needs no defense! From stated facts or viewpoints, he — under years of nervous pressure, aggravated by early faulty training in the Allan family, later fractional rations, overwork, cares, worry, social or remedial indulgence beyond human power to control, and which, ofttimes unconscious to himself, seemed periodically to change his nature — should have no accusers!

But normal or otherwise — when disturbing effects definitely appeared in his handwriting — the working years of the poet's brief forty were so filled with energetic literary efforts of highest qualities that the utmost condensation — to the limits of clear reading — of all writings concerning him, including his own, is required to prevent any narrative of Poe's personality obtaining prohibitive length for print issue. The utmost care has been taken to retain the exact sense of all items from which indirect quotations of facts — from sentences, paragraphs, and some few pages — have been made.

The so-called “morbidness,” or mental depression, of Edgar Allan Poe was caused by neither sexual infirmity, liquor, nor opium. It possibly came from the [page xiii:] burden of isolation, the most hopeless of all causes. Was this isolation imposed on Poe the Man by the hypersensitive temperament of genius? In the text will further be read the opinions of such eminent and distinguished specialists as Dr. Charles Gilbert Davis of Chicago, Illinois, and Dr. Edward B. Lane of Boston, Mass., well worthy of consideration. Dr. John W. Robertson also shows painstakingly a professional's side of the poet's case in his “Edgar A. Poe A Psychopathic Study.”

Ten or more physicians, who knew Poe well at different times of his life and in various localities, definitely asserted that he “was not addicted to the opium habit” ;(1) all these statements stand firm, notwithstanding his cousin, Miss Herring, was said to have credited his Philadelphia health disasters to “a free use of opium.“(2) Dr. Thomas Dunn English, close associate of Poe during this period but his later antagonist, noted in 1896: “Had Poe the opium habit when I knew him, I should, both as a physician and a man of observation, have discovered it during his frequent visits to my rooms, my visits at his house, and our meetings elsewhere. I saw no signs of it.”

Other records are: that in Poe's June, 1846, brain congestion attack, ending in days of illness at Fordham Cottage, it is said that he begged Mrs. Clemm for morphine.(3) When he was stricken with [page xiv:] approaching “brain congestion” (according to Dr. O. H. Oakie, of Providence, R I.) at Boston, November, 1848, in a dazed condition, Poe either sought relief in laudanum or dreamed that he did; also, during his July, 1849, Philadelphia severe attack, he begged this relief from Mr. Sartain. But as to opium, Dr. George E. Woodberry records: “Dr. John Carter [Richmond, Va.] also wrote me, June 16, 1884, ‘Poe never used opium in any instance that I am aware of, and if it had been an habitual practice, we certainly would have detected it, as he numbered amongst his associates a half dozen physicians. ... I never heard it hinted at before, and if he had contracted the habit, it would have accompanied him to Richmond.‘“(4)

From the foregoing and other similar records it might seem safe to conclude that Poe, or others — under the pressure of bewildering brain congestion — might instinctively turn to the nearest, and what they believed to be the most effective, remedy for relief. Yet, not by a toper's habit, but as recurrences of this congestion's irresistible force for relief dictate. To avoid such effects on social scores — in Poe's day — exacted the penalty of utter isolation from a man who loved his friends and a littérateur who enjoyed the personal touch of his associates in the world of letters.

CREDITS

Because Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston, Mass., it seems fitting that the aid of the generous and good of his native city should be first inscribed on this [page xv:] scroll to the poet's honor, upon which appear names of his admirers from everywhere.

During the twelve or more years’ progress of this Poe memorial the Boston Public Library — from its Executive-in-Chief, Charles F. D. Belden, throughout its entire force — has placed, with ceaseless interest, its many rare reference values at the poet's full service. Director Belden has had in his leading, for such effects, Messrs. Otto Fleischner, Samuel A. Chevalier, Frank H. Chase, Walter Rowlands, F. C. Blaisdell, Francis J, Hannigan, Pierce E. Buckley, M. J. Conroy, W. J. Ennis and the late Walter G. Forsyth; also the Misses Mary C. Sheridan, M. Louise Cassidy, Barbara Duncan, Theodosia E. Macurdy, Mary A. Reynolds and others.

As to special individual tributes to Poe's memory, able Dr. Edward B. Lane has rendered this work positive scientific values. Rare records in official, early 1814 map of Boston, sectional chart, and picture, also a rare Poe-portrait reference, are due to Mr. Samuel B. Doggett. This portrait was discovered by Mr. Murdock Macaulay, L.S.N., Curator of the Lyceum at Charlestown, Massachusetts, Navv Yard, of which Commandant Rear Admiral Albert Gleaves allowed photographic reprint of this Poe portrait in these pages. Special thanks are due to Dr. George E. Woodberry not only for quotations from his able “Life of Edgar Allan Poe” (2 vols., Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 1909), and other print issues, but also for his inestimable aid in directing the present writer to the highest living authority on Poe and his works, Mr. James H. Whitty of Richmond, Va. To the [page xvi:] Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Poeana issues of both biographers named, and on other accounts, credits are due for generous reprint permissions allowed to these Poe pages. To their service the “Life of Edgar A. Poe,” by William Fearing Gill, has been kindly placed for quoting use by that biographer. Professor Truman H. Bartlett commands special credit for his technical authentification [[sic]] of Henry Inman's oil miniature of “Edgar A. Poe in 1831,” owned by Robert C. Vose, who allows its first print appearance in this memorial to the poet. Thanks are due to Miss Lilian Whiting, M. A. DeWolfe Howe, Esq., and Mr. Charles E. Goodspeed for rich and rare letter- and picture-print Poe items. Not a few unusual and new Poe interests have been added to this work by the able research made by Mrs. Jennie E. Fitzpatrick of this city. For various criticisms thanks are clue to Mr. M. J. Canavan. Several Poe values have come from Mrs. Carrie Bancroft Arbecam and Mr. Nixon Waterman. Very special credit is clue to Miss Helen Todd Hammond for her artistic, altruistic, psychological study of ” The Raven.” For several rare Poe items, including a silhouette of Mrs. Usher, credits are due to the Reverend Anson Titus, Somerville, Mass.

CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS

For continuous fostering care of the technical excellence and various other adjustments for the welfare of this Poe-work, special credits are due to Mr. Edwin T. Stiger, of The University Press, Cambridge, Mass., and to his able literary assistant, Miss Adelaide A. Baxter. To the constant watch and guard of [page xvii:] Mr. Walter H. Bowker, President of the Suffolk Engraving Company, Cambridge, is owing the fine, unique values obtained in the many illustration plates.

Leading the individual credits: Dr. H. W. L. Dana has most courteously served this Poe life-story on all its Longfellow scores of research and reprints. To Mr. Merrill Griswold credits are due for various reprint interests from “R. W. Griswold MSS. Collection” and prints in the Boston Public Library. To Mrs. George P. Lawrence of Cambridge, and Miss Harriet B. Rogers of Billerica, Mass., are owing most personal, attractive incidents and pictures of Poe's genuine friend “Annie” — Mrs. Charles Richmond of Lowell, Mass. — and her homes. For text items and rare pictures of the artist, S. S. Osgood, and his children thanks are clue to Mr. George H. Curtis, Beverly, Mass. From Mr. Osgood's niece, Mrs. M. E. Porter, Portland, Maine, came a letter of much Poe-importance.

Credits are clue to Miss Ethel P. Hall, Librarian of Maine State Historical Society, for interesting research items of the poet's mother and her mother.

PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND

Little Edgar Poe — of some months old — in his transit from Boston to New York City, by sea or land, passed Providence, R. I., where later on was stranded his brief romance of 1848. There, in this connection, special credits are due to Mrs. Henry R. Chace, to whom Mrs. Sarah Helen Whitman left most of her Poeana. Much of this has been placed in “Poe's Helen,” by Miss Caroline Ticknor, and issued by [page xviii:] Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1916. The double grace of reprint permission is allowed these Poe life-story pages by the author and publishers. Mrs. Chace adds to her print-text of the poet an early, strong photo-print of her daguerreotype of Poe, and another like print of Mrs. Whitman's mother, Mrs. Anna Power, as she appeared in early daguerreotype days. To Dr. Harry L. Koopman, Librarian of Brown University, are due various interesting items from his several printed articles on Edgar A. Poe; also photo-prints from a daguerreotype of the poet owned by Brown University, and from a fine portrait of William J, Pabodie, Poe's friend for all time. From Dr. Koopman's special research came the rare old print of the Earl House, Providence, from which was made Mr. Milton R. Halladay's wash-drawing for this Poe memorial. From Miss Grace Leonard, Librarian of the Athenæum, Providence, come Poe-interest pictures of its exterior and interior views.

NEW YORK CITY

From Providence, R. I., these credits are carried to New York City. There, on watch and guard for the poet's memory, have stood for some years many scholarly Poe-aides of generous grace. Among the foremost of these benefactors stands Victor Hugo Paltsits, Esq., Keeper of MSS. and Chief of American History Department of New York Public Library, and Mr. Alexander J, Wall, Librarian of the New York Historical Society. By courtesy of the Librarian, Miss Belle Da Costa Greene, and her aide, Miss Ada Thurston, the rare Poeana of the J. Pierpont [page xix:] Morgan Library was placed at the research service of this Poe memorial. A similar generous bestowal of unique print values was obtained from the Henry E. Huntington Library through George Watson Cole, Esq., the Librarian. By special grace of scholarly Dr. William P. Trent, of Columbia University, then President of the Council of the Authors’ Club, New York, also by courtesy of Curator Henry Stephen Thayer, there came from the Authors’ Club rich Poeana, many rare values of this life-story of Poe. And various like benefactions came to it from Dr. Trent's own print issues on the poet. To the late Mr. George H. Story, Curator Emeritus of the Metropolitan Museum of Fine Arts, is due the positive identification of Henry Inman's 1831 oil miniature of Edgar A. Poe : this has been affirmed as Poe by Mr. Leroy Ireland, the many years’ friend of its former owner, also verified by investigations of the present owner, Robert C. Vose of Boston, and others. Very definite credits are clue to Robert B. Kegerries, Esq., of The Players, New York, whose steadfast interest in this memorial of Poe has placed the finest known and growing print collection of the poet at his constant service. Most precious are the late Miss Susan V. C. Ingram's personal reminiscences and pictures concerning the poet, with whom she came into living touch September, 1849. Thomas Ollive Mabbott, M.A., Ph.D., editor of Poe's “Politian,” has made and continues his scholarly steadfast Poe-research, which has brought to light many new, attractive interests of the poet that have enriched these pages. To Mr. Raphael A. Weed are due marked credits for his fine examples of [page xx:] draughtsmanship and other Poe-values, in pictures and letter quotings. Special credit is due to Mr. Arthur G. Learned for his very attractive “Virginia” portrait and the two New York City homes of Mrs. Marie Louise Shew. Through Mr, Albert E. Davis, sometime Chairman of the Bronx Society of Arts and Sciences, was traced Mrs. Thomas B. Paton, niece of Miss Sarah F. Miller, and her brother, Mr. John LeFevre Miller, of Ottawa, Kansas; from Miss Miller's 1909 Poe-prints and Mr. Miller's later letters came, 1846, New York City personal recollections of the poet. From Mr. J. L. Clawson, Buffalo, N. Y., came a reprint permission of John A. McDougall's watercolor miniature of Poe from life; also a Poe-letter (copy) of 1849 date. Quoting permission from Mr. Henry Goldsmith comes with a copy of his original Poe letter, dated Philadelphia, Aug. 18, 1840, to Lucian Minor, Esq., Charlotteville, Va. Sincere thanks are due for Mr. Chauncey L. C. Ditmars’ Poe-items concerning Mrs. Shew-Houghton's true friendship for the poet and his family during their Fordham Cottage days. For Fordham Cottage and St. John's College press-print Poe clippings, true appreciation is given to Reverend Clarence S. McClellan. From Mr. P. E. Madigan have come rare auto graphic values of Poe. And from Mr. Thomas F. Madigan came eleven Eveleth letters to Poe (now with the New York Public Library) and other letters concerning the poet. Important Poe data, which include his last days in Baltimore, come from Mr. William C. Barnes. For new light on Poe's last days, special appreciation is due to Mr. Dallett Fuguet, B.A., [page xxi:] Upper Montclair, N. J. To Mrs. Archie C. Fisk, sometime Chairman of Poe's Fordham Cottage Memorial, and its former able Secretary, Mrs. W. H. Shaw, many special Poe values are clue. To Dr. Appleton Morgan, President of the New York Shakespeare Society, special credits are due for various text prints from his scrapbook, pictures, and directions as to military quests at several localities, including the United States Military Academy at West Point. There the librarians, and Assistant Librarian William L. Ostrander, and his successor, Miss Ruth Brown, placed all Poeana, including Poe autograph of March 10, 1831, owned there, at the full service of this memorial of the poet. To Mr. Landon C. Bell, Columbus, Ohio, credits are due for his effective research identification of “Old K —— ;” of West Point, Poe-Gibson adventure; and the successful pursuit of a picture of Lieutenant Locke, instructor of tactics there in Poe's time. Mr. Bell obtained reprint permission through courtesy of Major C. S. Hardee, and grace of its owner, Mrs. W. B. J. Adams, both of Savannah, Ga. Through active devotion to Poe interests, far and near, come attractive values from Dr. Roger Gregory Lewis. And various rare Poe items — autographic, pictures, and print of “English Notes” — have come from Mr. Lewis M. Thompson to enrich these pages. Definite, legal-record items of Poe's lawsuit against the Evening Mirror were obtained by O. H. Droege, Councillor at Law, for Mrs. Alberta Gallatin Childe, President of the New York Edgar Allan Poe Society, as her tribute to this Poe life-story. From Mr. M. A. Lesser come some exact notings on Poe's “Barnaby [page xxii:] Rudge” review. From Mr. Burton T. Beach's “Poe” article in the New York Herald of Nov. 27, 1910, is allowed the reprint of its rare “Mt. Tom” picture, whence the poet went out to swim in the Hudson. To Dr. Henry Noble MacCracken, President of Vassar College, special thanks are due for authenticated statistical statements of Poe's Fordham Cottage, and sympathetic expressions concerning the poet himself. From Edwin Markham, who crowned “The Man with the Hoe” of all countries with immortality, come throughout these pages strong, intellectual and comprehensive standardizations of Edgar Allan Poe's literary worth. For photographic reprint of Edmund T. Quinn's bronze Bust of Poe, sincere thanks are due the sculptor. To Mrs. George Wilson Smith's effective efforts are due the 1849 personal reminiscences of the poet sent by the Reverend Epher Whitaker with his own 1847 picture to these pages from his Southold, Long Island, home. Strong Poe interests are also due to Miss Rebekah Crawford and her gifted sister “Alethea.” The early print of St. John's College, Fordham, came from the late General James Grant Wilson.

PUBLISHERS

From Dr. George Haven Putnam's personal prints, and the G. P. Putnam's Sons’ various other issues, have come unique, important values in text and pictures reprint permissions. To the courtesy of The Century Company, well represented by Miss Harriet Lindsey, many credits are clue for reprints of missing links of this Poe life-story, found in text and picture forms [page xxiii:] in The Century Company's various prints of Edgar Allan Poe. To the Charles Scribner's Sons, special reprint credits are clue for a stated number of quotations from their 1916 issue of “Poe's Helen,” a photograph (seemingly ) of their print-picture of Mrs. Anna Power and a picture of “Poe's Rocky Ledge,” the early Fordham Cottage near view. Thanks are due to The Outlook for quoted items from “A Prohibitionist Shakes Dice with Poe,” in the issue of September, 1920. Sincere appreciation is expressed to the Thomas Y. Crowell & Company, New York, Publishers, for adding their permission to that of the late James A. Harrison for reprints from his several Poe issues. The Bookman's May, 1910, print of “Nadar” — Felix Tournachon — picture, copy permission was kindly allowed by the George H. Doran Company.

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK

Poe credits, passing from New York City to Brooklyn, first fall due to the librarian of Long Island Historical Society, Miss Emma Toedteberg, not only for reprints of Poe items owned by others, but first prints of her own Poe-letters and personal visiting card of 1847 or later. Miss Toedteberg's influence obtained attractive press-print items for Poe work, owned by Miss Jennie E. Macarty and others. Mr. Sidney V. Lowell sent from his Poe interests in Brooklyn, text items of Mr. and Mrs. S. D. Lewis and a picture of their house upon the steps of which the poet made his last farewell in New York State. Therein, at Geneva, Dr. Lyman P. Powell, President of Hobart College, sent a print of Thomas Sully's fine [page xxiv:] portrait of Mrs. George R. Graham, Mrs. Powell's aunt and a frequent Philadelphia hostess of Poe.

CHICAGO AND ELSEWHERE

From Chicago, Illinois, has been sent an able scientific dicta — as a valued Poe-aid — from Charles Gilbert Davis, M.D. And many definite credits for continuous devotion to this Poe life-story are there clue to Mr. Oliver R. Barrett, not only from his own rare Poeana, but by virtue of his effective influence on others, including Mr. Slason Thompson's copyrighted Poe-prints allowed to appear in these pages.

Madison, Wisconsin, locates an interesting Poe-credit to Carl A. Weyerhauser, junior, who, with Edwin Orr Denby, made a good translation from the German of Dr. Fre‘d Non Spielhagen's “Edgar Poe gegen Henry Longfellow,” in Vol. 52 of Westermann's Monatshefte. This translation allows a clearing of the German atmosphere from several errors concerning Edgar Allan Poe. From the Misses Deborah B. and Sarah Martin, Green Bay, Wis., come Poe text, and miniature of his Fordham friend Mrs. Osborne. From the heart of our Middle-West country Poe credits take onward flight to the city of the Golden Gate and the poet's parody-prophecy, “El Dorado,” of that gold-fever year, 1849. At San Francisco, California, Dr. John W. Robertson has given the world on his own account an attractive volume on Poe, and gave besides, several unusual values to this life-story of the poet.

Floating in their turn to the southeast, Poe credits tarry at Austin, where Professor Killis Campbell, of [page xxv:] the University of Texas, has furnished, by his very dose research of the Ellis & Allan MSS. in the Library of Congress, the first clue to the Misses Dubourg's School, “146 Sloane St., Chelsea,” London, England, which was attended by Poe the boy. Dr. Campbell's many and various prints on the poet, including his edition of “Poems and Memoir of Edgar A. Poe,” Ginn & Company, Boston, 1917, have been most generously placed at the service of this memorial of Poe.

Winding up along the Atlantic coast, Poe life-story credits find entry at Charleston, S. C., where Miss Mabel Webber, Librarian of the State Historical Society, made many notings of her close research of all found items in that locality concerning Poe, his parents, and his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Elizabeth Arnold Tubbs.

For various quotations from certified copies of the poet's letters, sincere appreciation is hereby expressed to Mr. Francis Winslow Poe, of Greenville, S. C., and of the poet's family.

From coasting off the Carolinas, Poe-credits find their anchorage at Old Point Comfort, Virginia. Through the grace of Mr. Richard L. Forrest and Miss Susan V. C. Ingram came from her cousin, Mr. Minton W. Talbot, photographic prints of his early pictures of the old Hygeia Hotel of Poe's time — its front and water view — for these pages. From Old Point Comfort to Norfolk, Va., Poe credits are carried to two fine souls whose services rendered them a heavenly welcome by our poet, not long ago. The late [page xxvi:] Librarian, William Henry Sargeant, of Norfolk, Va., made close local research concerning Poe, his parents and his sister, from which many items have come to this Poe narrative. From the late Mr, Richard L. Forrest have come several very rare items: one is a picture — which Mr. Forrest had redrawn to the date of the appearance — of the old Forrest home on Brewer Street, when it was the birthplace of Rosalie Poe, December 20, 1810. To Dr. Philip Alexander Bruce sincere thanks are due for condensed quotations from his many interesting Poe-prints sent by their writer and Mr. J. H. Whitty for this use. Credit is due to Librarian H. D. Todd, Junior, of Coast Artillery School, Fort Monroe, Va., for Morning Report, for Jan. 2, 1829, “Artificer Perry, [had been] promoted to Sergt. Major.”

Credits for Poe-period plans of Fort Independence, Boston Harbor, Fort Moultrie, Charleston (South Carolina) Harbor, and other items are due to General William M. Black, War Department, Washington, D. C.

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

Up the broad James river to rare old Richmond City, Poe-credits are piloted to a rich anchorage. There, dominating all Poe-aides from everywhere, and with fostering care of this entire work from the break of its dawn, has stood Mr. James H. Whitty, in selfless, steadfast scrutiny for its vital interests and avoidance of errors. Mr. Whitty has placed his many years’ study of the poet in numerous and various prints, and book form of “Complete Poems of Edgar A. Poe,” [page xxvii:] with Memoir, of many issues, by the Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, Mass., also a London issue, at the service of this Poe memorial. Mr. Whitty's “Memoir” of the poet includes very definite facts, in text and pictures, that were brought to light by his pioneer discoveries in the annals of the Allan family, and other records that, by force of proof documents, have essentially changed not a few heretofore accepted estimations of Edgar Allan Poe the Man.

Mr. William G. Stanard, Curator of the Virginia Historical Society, and his gifted wife, Mary Newton Stanard, author of “The Dreamer” and other works, have stood steadfast sponsors for this Poe life-story, and brought to its pages various rare values. One of these was to win for its welfare the personal, active interest of Richmond's distinguished sculptor-scholar Mr. Edward V. Valentine, who, as a boy, saw Edgar A. Poe. From Mr. Valentine's “Diary of Years,” in MS. form for near-to-print issue, and personal letters, from which with utmost care and patience he made pages of written excerpts, drew maps, verified statements and pictures of persons and places for it; also allowed the printing of his treasured Sully portrait of Frances K. Valentine, foster-mother of the poet, to this memorial of him. Mr. Valentine's sister, the late Mrs. E. A. V. Gray, also gave two or more very personal Poe items to it.

As a member of Judge Stanard's household the late Miss Jane Stith Stanard affirmed the unique Poe“Helen” association and friendship existing between Judge Stanard's wife and family and Edgar Poe from [page xxviii:] early boyhood. A picture of his schoolmate in later life, Robert C. Stanard, was a special tribute to these Poe pages from Mr. and Mrs. William G. Stanard.

Mr. Otis M. Alfriend and his sisters have kindly given full permission to quote from their late uncle's “Unpublished Recollections of Edgar Allan Poe,” by Edward M. Alfriend, in the August, 1901, Literary Era. This Poe-print covers items of special charm in personal touches. From Miss Julia Sully came both text and pictures concerning Poe's intimate association with his beloved schoolmate Robert M. Sully, her grandfather, to this narrative of the poet.

Direct and indirect quotations have been allowed from March, 1878, Scribner print and Century Company copyright of “The Last Days of Poe in Richmond,” by the late Mrs. Susan A. Talley Weiss, author of “Home Life of Poe.” Mrs. Weiss, as Miss Talley, met the poet frequently in the summer and autumn of 1849, and gave items of special charm and personal Poe-interest in this periodical print as well as in later 1907 issue. Sincere thanks are due to Mr. Stuart Archer Weiss for the photographic reprint of his mother's picture in these Poe pages. To Mr. C. F. Sauer kind acknowledgment is due for reprint permission of interior and exterior views of his house, the long-ago Talavera home of the Talleys, visited by Poe in 1849. From Samuel P. Cowardin, Jr., have come various revitalizing tributes to the poet and his mother. For personal, active interest and excellence of photographic prints of many rare Richmond subjects, credits are due to Mr. Heustis P. Cook of that city. [page xxix:]

OVERSEAS CREDITS

With “little Edgar,” the child of six years, in 1815, this story's credits are carried across the sea, where their first lien falls due for many inestimable transatlantic values upon the energetic, effective research of the Honorable R. M. Hogg, Provost (or Mayor) of Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland. Straying south to London, Poe credits are shared by Dr. Lewis Chase of Pekin University, in his own persistent, able research which located “little Edgar's” London homes and schools, and pictures of them and their sites, also of other Poe interests, all generously allowed these pages. For many rare items concerning Poe-period, Stoke Newington, in the Manor House School, its master the Reverend Mr. Bransby, Old St. Mary's and the Rector Dr. George Gaskins, credits are due to Dr. Chase's able aide, scholarly F. W. Baxter, Esq., residing in that historic locality. To the late John H. Ingram's London, 1880, issue of “Edgar Allan Poe” (two volumes), many notings of interest and worth are due. For Gaverni's 1835 water-color portrait of Paul-Emile Daurand Forgues, 1813-1833 (“Old Nick”), credit is due to reprint of the frontispiece of Un Aine de Stendhal: Le Critique E. D. Forgues. Lucien Pinvert, Paris, 1915. In 1922 France sent a bronze palm tribute to Poe from his French friends. An attractive German translation of “Poe's Works” was issued at Berlin in 1922.

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA

With Edgar's return to American shores in 1820, this narrative's credits pass beyond prior-given Richmond [page xxx:] dues to his ten or more months spent at the University of Virginia. Of this Poe-period Mr. Whitty has unearthed some heretofore and important unknown records. Others are owned by the Valentine Museum at Richmond. Some of these are of Poeletters form and (late of that time, and some later, and upon these letters appear notings made by Mr. John Allan. The University of Virginia Poe-credits are first due to the late Professor James A. Harrison for quoting from his able, comprehensive to its 1903 issue date (Thomas Y. Crowell & Company, New York), “Biography and Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe” (in seventeen volumes), and Dr. Harrison's other prints on the poet, also for several pictures. Sincere thanks are due to the late Dr. Charles W. Kent, during his time the Dean of Poe interests in that locality, for permission to use all needed values from his various prints on the poet. To the late Dr. C. Alphonso Smith, literary authority on Poe of all localities and many prints, including “Edgar Allan Poe,” is due deep appreciation for granted tributes to this Poe memorial. To the old University's present Librarian, Mr. John Shelton Patton, are owing very special dues for various valued tributes to this Poe narrative. From Assistant Librarian Miss Mary Louise Dinwiddie comes an especially taken photograph of the interior of Poe's room there, No. 13 West Range, for these pages. Dues there are also in order for personal introductions and other Poe-courtesies given by Samuel P. Cowardin, Junior, of The Raven Society there, and Chairman of the Elizabeth Arnold Poe Association, of Richmond, Virginia. [page xxxi:]

RICHMOND IN 1829

With Edgar Poe, then eighteen years of age, these life-story's credits return to Richmond, on the James, and to Mr. Whitty's records of the lad's brief stay there, which terminated in his early, 1827, cross-seas transit and May return to Boston, Massachusetts. ‘[his much-doubted, doubled voyage appears definitely affirmed by Poe's own letter, dated Baltimore, July 28, 1829, and written to Carey, Lea & Carey of Philadelphia. This important letter makes its first reprint and full appearance in these pages by the kindness of the owner, Mr. Charles Bromback, of Philadelphia, and it reveals several significant, heretofore unknown, Poe items.

PHILADELPHIA

At Philadelphia, Pa., Dr. Ellis Paxon Oberholtzer, author of ” The Literary History of Philadelphia,” etc., stood the earliest benefactor, in that city, to this Poe memorial, by placing his entire MS. of “The Philadelphia Homes of Poe” at its full service. To the Pennsylvania Historical Society are due many values by kindness of Assistant Librarian Mr. Ernest Spofford. There, letter clues for finding a Poe MS. copy of “The Raven,” also other important items, were furnished by the personal, active interest of Mr. Albert J. Edmunds. His clues, followed through letter-quests of Isaac R. Pennypacker, Esq., brought the address of his cousin, Mr, Joseph C. Whitaker, owner of the only known-to-date Poe MS. copy of “The Raven.” Joseph Jackson, Esq., author of “Market Street, Philadelphia,” and other important works, has [page xxxii:] had this Poe memorial's interest under constant following, in the supply of authenticated text and pictures, for eight or more years. And through directions of his friend, Mr. Franklin S. Edmonds, is owing the rare reprint picture of Henry B. Hirst (poet friend of Poe) from an original daguerreotype owned by his niece, Miss Lina Saxe, of Philadelphia, who most kindly allowed its reprint. To the late Matthew Woods, M.D., are owing pictures of the upper and lower halls of his Broad Street home, in the ‘walls of which were placed two mantelpieces upon which Poe had leaned when under his Spring Garden roof at No. 234 (old number) North Seventh Street. Judge Charles B. McMichael has sent some of his boyhood recollections of Poe to these pages. To Mr. Charles S. Bradford credits are due for excellent photographic effects, amongst which are Poe's Spring Garden home, and one upper room of it, in which lie did much writing on “The Raven,” “The Gold-Bug,” and other subjects. These pictures were taken by the kindness of Mrs. William P. Owens, who with her family occupies the premises. The exterior of this Poe-home has been redrawn under definite directions of Mrs. Mary Walker and Miss Margaret Alburger, daughters of Poe's landlord, who saw the poet, and well remembered this home as he saw it. Their address was obtained through the kindness of Mr, Charles F. Jenkins, as also was obtained a picture of the three chairs they had, which Poe owned in this home. To Colonel Henry W. Shoemaker, McElhattan, Pennsylvania, very special credits are due for facts, traditions and pictures he had taken (on purpose for this life- story) that illuminate Poe's romantic heritage venture into the heart of “The Seven Mountains” country of Pennsylvania. To the late George O. Seilhamer, Chambersburg, Pa., are due rare and important items on Poe's paternal and maternal ancestry. From Mr. Henry Graham Ashmead, Chester, Pa., comes a very personal and interesting touch of the poet's latest years.

BALTIMORE

From Philadelphia these Poe life-story credits pass to Baltimore City, where rests all that is mortal of Edgar Allan Poe, the Man. The first Baltimore appeal for this memorial of the poet obtained immediate and effective attention from The Maryland Historical Society, in personal letter response from its Secretary, Colonel Richard H. Spencer, and many later helpful letters of its then Acting Librarian, Robert F. Hayes, Junior. The latter placed the present writer in letter and personal touch with Mr. William J. McClellan, whose marvelous research-command of family, church, court, and press Poe-records has obtained results surpassing all others who have attempted to throw authentic light upon the poet's so-called “obscure years in Baltimore.” Mr. McClellan also brought this Poe life-story work to the kindest consideration of some of the Baltimore family of Poe. And many unique, rare values have come to it by the grace of the late Major Neilson Poe, his nephew General, Edgar. Allan Poe, and his wife; also from Mrs. Josephine Poe January of Ferguson, Missouri. Mr. McClellan also obtained reprint-permissions from the daughters of the [page xxxiv:] late Mr. Eugene L. Didier for use of his “Poe Cult,” and other prints on the poet. Through the kindness of Dr. Thomas S. Cullen. whose wife placed a memorial tablet of the poet in Church Home, or Washington College Hospital, where he died, Oct. 7, 1849, Mrs. George K. McGaw became an early, interested, energetic and successful benefactress to this Poe-work; and special personal values of Poe have come to it from her sister, Miss Ella L. Warden. Mrs. McGaw obtained for these pages a picture of the poet's “Cousin Elizabeth” Herring Smith, later in life than he knew her, from her daughter, Mrs. Esther Haskins, of Baltimore. Mr. John Parker has added many authenticated rare research values, as Librarian of Peabody Institute Library and otherwise, to this life-narrative of Poe, which several scholarly, significant expressions from Dr. Henry E. Shepherd's eloquent addresses on Poe's literary equipments have enriched. From Dr. Basil Gildersleeve, who saw the poet, and heard him lecture in 1849, come personal comments on observations made at that time. For reprints of text excerpts, and frontispiece portrait by Thomas Sully, from “John H. B. Latrobe and his Times,” sincere thanks are clue the author, John E. Semmes, Senior. From Mr. William J. High several unusual and attractive Poe items have come in letters and press-prints to this life-story of the poet. To Miss Harriet P. Marine sincere appreciative thanks are due for effective Poe tributes of early prints of the Old Shot Tower and the Old Lighthouse; photographs of Ezekiel's statue of the poet, Poe's headstone replaced, and some interesting text items. But all in all the [page xxxv:] touching, personal devotion to the poet's memory that was made manifest in countless ways by the late Orin [[Orrin]] Chalfont Painter was a noble soul's sweet and enduring tribute to an undaunted soul of an “enduring” immortality: and such an unquestioning devotion in his earthly life would have been of thrilling delight and unspeakable comfort to EDGAR ALLAN POE THE MAN.

MARY E. PHILLIPS

   April, 1926,
BOSTON, MASS.

[[Footnotes]]

[The following footnotes appear at the bottom of page xiii:]

1. “Reminiscences of Poe.” Thomas Dunn English. The Independent, October 15, 1886.

2. Page 429, Vol. II, “Life of E. A. Poe.” Dr. George E. Woodberry. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston and New York, 1909.

3. Page 128, “Home Life of Poe.” Mrs. Susan A. T. Weiss.

[The following footnote appears at the bottom of page xiv:]

* Page 430, Vol. II, “Life of Poe.” Dr. George E. Woodberry.