Emma Lazarus letters, 1868-1929, bulk 1868-1887

Summary Information

At a Glance

Arrangement

Arrangement

Cataloged.

• Emma Lazarus letters

Description

Summary

Correspondence of Emma Lazarus. While the letters are primarily of a personal nature, they also reflect both her literary career and, after the traumatic effect on her of the perssecution of Russian Jews, 1879-1883, her role as American champion of Jews. There are original autograph letters from John Burroughs, Ralph W. Emerson, Henry James, William Morris, Tommaso Salvini, and Ivan Turgenev, and twenty other prominent figures. Also, one letter from Lazarus to William Wetmore Story and the letter of her sister, Annie Johnstone, presenting this collection to Columbia University.

• Emma Lazarus letters

Using the Collection

Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Restrictions on Access

You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

This collection is located on-site.

This collection has no restrictions.

Reader must use printed copy of these letters, except for those of Henry James and John Greenleaf Whittier, which were not published.

Letters to Emma Lazarus in the Columbia University Library

Also PS 2234 .A45 1966

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Emma Lazarus letters; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Related Materials

Letters to Emma Lazarus in the Columbia University Library

Accruals

Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

Ownership and Custodial History

This collection was left by Emma Lazarus to her sisters and subsequently given by them to Columbia University Libraries.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Source of acquisition--Johnstone, Annie Humphreys. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--1929. Accession number--M-29.

Publications About Described Materials

Lazarus, Emma. Letters to Emma Lazarus in the Columbia University Library, edited by Ralph L. Rusk. New York : Columbia University Press, 1939.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

Cataloged Christina Hilton Fenn 07/--/89.

Revision Description

November 2020 PDF replaced with full finding aid, YH

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches at Columbia University through the Archival Collections Portal and through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, as well as ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

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Genre/Form

Subject

History / Biographical Note

Biographical / Historical

Poet, essayist.