Edith Willis Linn Forbes papers

Collection

Identifier: A.F68

Staff Only

Biographical/Historical note

Edith (Willis) Linn Forbes (1865-1945) was born in New York City. In 1857 her father, Frederick L. H. Willis, was suspended from Harvard Divinity School for spiritualistic activities. Letters in folder 1 from Thomas Starr King, Thomas Wentworth Higginson, and others relate to the incident, as do the newspaper clippings in folder 33.

Edith Forbes's first husband was Dr. Samuel H. Linn who served as the official dentist at the court of Czar Nicholas II of Russia. Her second husband, George Mather Forbes (1853-1934) was a member of the University of Rochester faculty.

Mrs. Forbes was a writer and in 1920 she founded the Rochester Poetry Society. She was also active in the Women's Education and Industrial Union, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Door of Hope.

Scope and Contents

The collection contains correspondence, including letters from Thomas Wentworth Higginson and Thomas Starr King concerning her father Frederick L.H. Willis and his suspension from Harvard Divinity School in 1857 for spiritualistic activities. Much of the collection consists of her writings on various literary and historical topics and her poetry.

Creator

Forbes, Edith Willis Linn, 1865-1945 (Person)
Higginson, Thomas Wentworth, 1823-1911 (Person)
King, Thomas Starr, 1824-1864 (Person)

Dates

Creation: 1854-1935

Language of Materials

English

Extent

2 box(es)

Access

The Edith Willis Linn Forbes Papers is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact the Rare Books Special Collections & Preservation Department prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.

Use

In consultation with a curator, reproductions may be made upon request. Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from a curator. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions.

Preferred Citation

[Item title, item date], Edith Willis Linn Forbes Papers, A.F68, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester