John Howard Payne papers, 1780-1952

Creator:: Payne, John Howard, 1791-1852
Extent:: 26 boxes (26 boxes 1 portfolio)
Language:: English .
Scope and content:: Manuscripts by Payne, including plays, poems, journals, essays, account books, correspondence, letter books (to and from) including a large group of letters from Washington Irving. Also, pictorial material, scrapbooks, biographies, portraits, passports, and other documents; and materials on the Cherokee incident, 1835-1838, and Payne's arrest in Georgia. Other material include letters of various members of the Payne family and of related families. Of greatest interest is a group of fine letters and manuscripts of Eloise Richards Payne (1787-1819), a sister of the playwright. These present a sensitive and revealing portrait of the social, cultural, and political life of the time. Among the manuscripts and documents are many items of genealogical interest on the Paine, Shippen, Lynch, Luquer, and Lea families. Two boxes of the papers of Col. Thatcher Taylor Payne Luquer contain correspondence on various aspects of John Howard Payne's career, and on "An Unconscious Autobiography" the letters and diaries of William Osborn Payne (1783-1804), a brother of the playwright, edited by Col. Luquer.
Biographical / historical:: Actor, playwright, U.S. Consul at Tunis, and champion of Indian rights.

Acquisition information:

Source of acquisition--Luquer family. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--1960. Accession number--M-60.

2 letters: Badams, L.H. J.H.P., 9 Apr 1815: Source of acquisition--2293B (Rare Book)-Auerbach. Method of acquisition--Purchase; Date of acquisition--03/09/1994. Accession number--M-94-03-09.

Processing information:

Cataloged Christina Hilton Fenn 08/--/1989.

2 letters: Badams, L.H. & J.H.P., 9 Apr 1815 Cataloged HR 03/17/1994.

The original printed finding aid was converted into an EAD document in October 2020. There is additional description in the printed finding aid that was not included in the EAD document, specifically a family tree that cannot be duplicated in the online finding aid. The family tree from the original printed finding aid is available here as a pdf.

Arrangement:

Selected materials cataloged remainder arranged.

Accruals:

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

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Related material:

The St. Matthew's Church collection in Bedford, NY, has materials related to Payne and the Luquer family. Payne was Eloise P. Luquer's granduncle.

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is located on-site.

This collection has no restrictions.

Terms of access:

Reproductions 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); John Howard Payne papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Location of this collection:: Rare Book & Manuscript Library

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Collection