• Introduction
• Collection Description
• Series
• Box/Folder Listing

• Portrait in oils of Ridgely Torrence '97 by Jean de Paleologue --> Princetoniana Collectionn (GC047) [B-floor vault, unit L1]
• Photograph of drawing of Ridgely Torrence by Morris Henry Hobbs --> Museum Objects Collection (MOC01) [Room 1-17-D-3, unit 6I]
• Plaster bust/head of Ridgely Torrence by Frances Grimes --> Laurence Hutton Collection of Life and Death Masks (C0770) [Tower]
• Death mask of Ridgely Torrence by Ettore Salvatore --> Laurence Hutton Collection of Life and Death Masks (C0770) [Tower]
• Pencil and charcoal sketch by Robert Edmund Jones of original stage design for Ridgely Torrence's Simon the Cyrenian --> ?

Introduction

    Date Range: 1833-1952 (bulk, 1890-1951)

    Size: 55.00 cu. ft. (114 boxes, 3 cartons)

    Language: English

Provenance: The Papers were presented to the Library in 1953 by Miss Jessie Dunbar and Findley M. Torrence, in accordance with the wishes of Frederick Ridgely Torrence, Princeton Class of 1897. Some of the papers were in the possession of Olivia Torrence, Ridgely's wife, at the time of her death; the rest had been sent by Ridgely to his brother, Findley, in Xenia, Ohio. Portions of them were selected from both places by Theodore Maynard, who at one time intended to write a life of Ridgely, and were received by the Library from him on the understanding that he might borrow them. The rest were collected by Miss Dorothea Perkins, Ridgely's secretary, and through her initiative were deposited in the Library. Additional papers, the gift of Olivia H. Tartleton (great-niece) were added in 2006.

Photocopying, literary rights, and citation: No photocopies may be made from the photocopies (Xeroxes, photostats) of material in the collection where Princeton University Library does not own the originals; however, single photocopies of original material from the collection must be requested from the Associate University Librarian for Rare Books and Special Collections. Researchers are responsible for determining any question of copyright. Citations should be as follows: Ridgely Torrence Papers, Box #, used by permission of the Princeton University Library.

Collection Description

Scope Note

The Papers illustrate the literary activity and relationship of a large group of American writers, primarily poets, between the years 1890 and 1950. Approximately 10,000 letters between Torrence (Princeton Class of 1897), his family and friends, plus manuscripts of his work and those of his literary friends, exist in the collection. In addition, there are documents, scrapbooks, diaries, report cards from Torrence's Miami College (Oxford) and Princeton University days, daguerreotypes and photographs, memorabilia, and genealogical records, some dating as early as 1833.

Torrence's career as poet, playwright, and editor (New Republic) is documented through manuscripts and/or typescripts of his poems, plays, and short stories, lecture notes, and personal and business (editorial) correspondence. Manuscripts for Torrence's biography The Story of JohnHope (1948), The Selected Letters of Edwin Arlington Robinson (1940), and his plays Abelard and Heloise, El Dorado, and The Madstone are among those present. Letters and manuscripts of numerous literary friends and other poets submitting poems to the New Republic are included in the correspondence series.

In the series for papers of others are works and correspondence of Olivia Dunbar Torrence, including her Life of William Vaughn Moody; works, correspondence, and other material about Moody, such as his The Great Divide, Letters to Harriet, and Sabine Women; Boris Todrin's At the Gate and Other Poems; Alice Beal Parson's John Merrill's Pleasant Life; Joy to My Soul and Little Ham by Langston Hughes; and a complete holograph copy of Edwin Arlington Robinson's Matthias at the Door.

Among the writers well-represented in the collection are Robert Frost, Margaret Fuller, Louis Vernon Ledoux, Nicholas Vachel Lindsay, Percy MacKaye, Edwin Markham, Daniel Gregory Mason, William Vaughn Moody, Josephine Preston Peabody, Edwin Arlington Robinson, and Laura Stedman.

Arrangement

Series: I. Works, II. Correspondence, III. Papers of Persons Other Than Ridgely Torrence, IV. Torrence Family, V. Printed Matter and Clippings, VI. Christmas Cards and Envelopes, VII. Genealogical and Biographical Information, and VIII. Ephemera.

Added Entries

The following added entries have been assigned to this collection to highlight significant sources (other than the main
entry), subjects, and forms of the collection's materials. Where possible, Library of Congress Subject Headings have
been used, and the forms of names reflect international cataloging standards. As a result, all of these entries may be
searched in the Department's database (MASC), in the Library's online catalog, and the public card catalog to find
other related material.

    Person Added Entries:

    Moody, William Vaughn, 1869-1910
    Torrence, Olivia Dunbar

    Subject Headings (in uppercase) / Form Headings (in upper and lower case):

    Abelard and Heloise / Ridgely Torrence
    Afro-American poets--20th century--Correspondence
    Afro-American poets--20th century--Poetry
    American drama--20th century
    American poetry--20th century
    At the gate and other poems / Boris Todrin
    Daguerreotypes
    Diaries, American--20th century
    Dorado / Ridgely Torrence
    Dramatists, American--20th century--Works
    Editors--United States--20th century--Correspondence
    Great divide / William Vaughn Moody
    HOPE, JOHN, 1868-1936
    John Merrill's pleasant life / Alice Beal Parsons
    Joy to my soul / Langston Hughes
    Letters to Harriet / William Vaughn Moody ; Percy Mackaye (ed.)
    Life of William Vaughn Moody / Olivia Dunbar Torrence
    Little Ham / Langston Hughes
    Madstone / Ridgely Torrence
    Matthias at the door / Edwin Arlington Robinson
    Miami University (Ohio)--Students--19th century--Report cards
    Moody, William Vaughn, 1869-1910--Photographs
    MOODY, WILLIAM VAUGHN, 1869-1910
    NEW REPUBLIC
    Poets, American--20th century--Biographies
    Poets, American--20th century--Correspondence
    Poets, American--20th century--Poetry
    Princeton University--Alumni (Class of 1897)--Correspondence
    Princeton University--Alumni (Class of 1897)--Works
    Princeton University--Students (Class of 1897)--Report cards
    Report cards--New Jersey--Princeton--19th century
    Report cards--Ohio--19th century
    ROBINSON, EDWIN ARLINGTON, 1869-1935--CORRESPONDENCE
    Sabine woman / William Vaughn Moody
    Selected Letters of Edwin Arlington Robinson / Edwin Arlington Robinson ; Ridgely Torrence (ed.)
    Torrence, Ridgely, 1875-1950--Bibliographies
    Torrence, Ridgely, 1875-1950--Photographs
    TORRENCE FAMILY
    Women authors, American--20th century--Correspondence
    Women authors, American--20th century--Works
    Women poets, American--20th century--Correspondence
    Women poets, American--20th century--Poetry

Series

Box/Folder Listing