Edith Willis Linn Forbes Papers Addition

Other Views:  Print/PDF  |  EAD Note: You may browse using the navigation on the left, or use Ctrl-F to search within this finding aid.

Edith Willis Linn Forbes papers addition
Creator: Forbes, Edith Willis Linn, 1865-1945
Call Number: D.401
Dates: 1869-1924
Physical Description: 9 boxes
Language(s): Materials are in English
Repository: Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester

Table of Contents:

Biographical/Historical Note
Subject(s)
Processing Information
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Access
Use
Citation
Related Materials
Content List
Series I: Correspondence
Series II: Photographs and photograph albums
Series III: Manuscripts and published works
Series IV: Genealogy and family items
Collection Overview
Title: Edith Willis Linn Forbes papers addition
Creator: Forbes, Edith Willis Linn, 1865-1945
Call Number: D.401
Dates: 1869-1924
Physical Description: 9 boxes
Language(s): Materials are in English
Repository: Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester

Biographical/Historical Note
Edith (Willis) Linn Forbes (1865-1945) was born in New York City. Her father, Frederick L.H. Willis, was raised in the same household as Louisa May Alcott and her sisters. According to Alcott Memoirs (1915), compiled from Dr. Willis's biographical writings, he provided the inspiration for the character Laurie in Little Women. Frederick Willis entered Harvard College Divinity School but was suspended in 1857 for his involvement with the Spiritualists. Dr. Wilis served as a Spriritualist minister before moving to Rochester to work as a physician, although he still continued with Spiritualist activities. Edith later described him as a Unitarian clergyman.

Love M. Whitcomb Willis, Edith's mother, came from a long line of Unitarian pastors. In addition to her accomplishments as a writer, artist, and musician, she edited Tiffany's Monthly Magazine and wrote for The Banner of Light, a "journal of Romance, Literature, and general intelligence." Love Willis also composed many songs and hymns and participated in the Rochester Art Club, where her works were often displayed.

Throughout Edith's lifetime, the family owned a summer home, Eden Glen, located at Seneca Lake in Glenora, New York. Included in Edith's papers is a manuscript for a long poem entitled, "To Seneca Lake," as well as many family photographs taken there.

Edith and Samuel Linn had two sons, Willis Linn, a future doctor, and Benjamin F. Linn. Edith's second husband was George Mather Forbes (1853-1934), a humanities professor (Greek, German, Ethics, and Philosophy) at the University of Rochester and member of the Class of 1875. She founded the Rochester Poetry Society in 1920 and was also active in the Women's Education and Industrial Union, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Door of Hope.

Edith Linn Forbes was buried with her parents, first husband, and brother-in-law in Mount Hope Cemetery. A biographical report on their headstones was compiled in 2004 by undergraduate Robyn Drucker for the UR Religion and Classics course, "Speaking Stones."

Subject(s):
Correspondence
Poetry
Photographs
Diaries
Albums (Books)
Forbes, Edith Willis Linn, 1865-1945
Linn, S. H. (Samuel Henry), 1843-1916
Poets, American
Processing Information
Processed by Eileen Fay.Immediate Source of Acquisition
This addition to the Edith (Willis) Linn Forbes Papers was donated in October 2010 by Bob Gallagher, a member of the Linn family. More papers were donated by Mr. Gallagher in August 2011. Sarah Morse donated several uncut, unbound published poems by Edith Willis Linn in October 2011.Access
The Edith Willis Linn Forbes papers addition is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.Use
Reproductions are made upon request but can be subject to restrictions. Permission to publish materials from the collection must currently be requested. Please note that some materials may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the researcher's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections. For more information contact rarebks@library.rochester.eduCitation
[Item title, item date], Edith Willis Linn Forbes papers addition, D.401, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of RochesterRelated Materials
See also: Edith Willis Linn Forbes Papers .


Administrative Information
Author: Finding aid prepared by Rare Books and Special Collections staff
Publisher: Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester
Address:
Rush Rhees Library
Second Floor, Room 225
Rochester, NY 14627-0055
rarebks@library.rochester.edu
URL:


Content List
Series I: Correspondence
Box 1, Folder 1-19Correspondence, before 1900-1920
Box 2, Folder 1-4Correspondence from Dr. Samuel Linn, 1885-1887
Box 2, Folder 5Correspondence from Dr. Samuel Linn, nos. 40-49
Box 2, Folder 6Correspondence from Dr. Samuel Linn, nos. 50-59
Box 2, Folder 7Correspondence from Dr. Samuel Linn, nos. 60-69
Box 2, Folder 8Correspondence from Dr. Samuel Linn, nos. 70-79
Box 2, Folder 9Correspondence from Dr. Samuel Linn, nos. 80-89
Box 2, Folder 10Correspondence from Dr. Samuel Linn, nos. 90-99
Box 2, Folder 11Correspondence from Dr. Samuel Linn, nos. 100-104
Box 2, Folder 12-14Dr. Samuel Linn's correspondence
Bound with ribbon or string

Box 3, Folder 1Correspondence, undated
Box 3, Folder 2Correspondence, bound together
Box 3, Folder 3Correspondence, loose envelopes
Box 3, Folder 4Parents' correspondence, circa 1869
Box 3, Folder 5Correspondence - Dr. Willis, 1893-1894
Box 3, Folder 6Correspondence, miscellaneous items
Series II: Photographs and photograph albums
Box 3, Folder 12Photograph copies
Box 3, Folder 13Miscellaneous photographs
Box 3, Folder 14Photographs - man and baby
Box 8, Volume 1-2Photograph albums
Box 9, Volume 1Photograph albums, Edith Willis, 1865-1880s
Series III: Manuscripts and published works
Box 4, Folder 1Prose manuscripts
Box 4, Folder 2-3Ursula Gordon manuscript
Box 4, Folder 4"Nadine Paulouna"
Box 4, Folder 5"To Seneca Lake"
Box 4, Folder 6Poetry manuscripts
Box 4, Folder 7Published works
Box 4, Folder 8"Love's prayer: a song"
Box 4, Folder 9Poetry manuscript book, 1904
Box 4, Folder 10Music manuscript book
Box 5, Volume 1-3Diaries
Box 6, Volume 1Scrapbook: financial records and clippings of illustrations, 1860s
Box 6, Folder 1Scrapbook: clippings, 1885-1892
Box 6, Folder 2Published poems by Edith Willis Linn, unbound, 1892
Box 7, Volume 1Scrapbook
Box 3, Folder 11Miscellaneous publications
Series IV: Genealogy and family items
Box 3, Folder 7"The Willis Linn family plot"
Box 3, Folder 8Genealogy
Box 3, Folder 9Memorials
Box 3, Folder 10Miscellaneous items
Box 6, Object 1Daughters of the American Revolution certificates: Love M. Willis and Edith Willis Linn, 1895


Other Views:  Print/PDF  |  EAD