Collection ID: 4079683 MS#0304
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Collection context

Summary

Creator:
Crane, Hart, 1899-1932
Extent:
27 linear feet and 23 manuscript boxes; 1 tall manuscript box (box 17); 1 small flat box (box 16); 3 reels motion picture; 1 framed painting; 1 oversized folder; 12 boxes of books (BOOKS 1-12)
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Hart Crane papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Background

Scope and Content:

Correspondence, manuscripts, and memorabilia of the American poet, Hart Crane, range in date over most of his active life. This collection includes over 500 letters written by Crane to members of his family and close friends and received by him from his family and contemporary authors including Eugene O'Neill, Sherwood Anderson, T. S. Eliot, Alfred Stieglitz, Waldo Frank, and Allan Tate. Among these is a group of letters written to Mrs. Crane upon Crane's death. There is correspondence and documents relating to his books, THE BRIDGE, WHITE BUILDINGS, and THE COLLECTED POEMS. Also present are most of the original manuscripts of Crane's major works ("The Bridge" "White Buildings" "West Indies Poems" etc) with corrections and additions in Crane's hand. Included here are a number of drafts of poems of his earlier period. The is also a copy of the 16mm motion picture "In Search of Hart Crane."

In addition there is one box of notes by Jethro Robinson relating to his Ph.D. dissertation, as well as a large group of photographs taken by Crane in Mexico with inscriptions and identifications in his hand, family photographs, and mementoes. Accompanying the collection is a group of books from Hart Crane's library many of which are signed copies (series IX) and a group of periodical material which relates to Crane.

Biographical / Historical:

American poet.

Harold Hart Crane was born at Garretsville, Ohio on 21 July 1899 He went to New York City to become a poet but was often without money. After failing in New York Crane became a writer of advertising copy in Cleveland until he returned to the East in the spring of 1923. Eventually Allen Tate and Waldo Frank recognized his poetic abilities. With the help of Otto Kahn he was able to continue his long poem The Bridge as an answer to Eliot's The Waste Land. His masetrwork was published in 1930 but by that time his nerves and drinking had reduced his capacity to function. He sailed for Mexico in the spring of 1931 with hopes of writing a poem on the Conquest. However sinking into depression he decided to return to New York. After an evening of heavy drinking he jumped off the ship from Vera Cruz to New York and drowned.

Acquisition information:

Method of acquisition--Purchase; Date of acquisition--1953. Accession number--M-1953.

Florian-Parmentier book from Crane's library: Source of acquisition--2293B-(Rare Book). Method of acquisition--Purchase; Date of acquisition--03/29/94. Accession number--M-94-03-29.

Custodial history:

Gift of the Mildred Andrews Foundation (via Peter Putnam), 1985 (motion picture film).

Processing information:

Entered in AMC 09/17/90.

Florian-Parmentier book from Crane's library Listed HR 03/30/94.

In 2019, former series IV, V, and VI were collappsed into subseries of series III (cataloged materials not on microfilm). In addition, series IX (Library) and series X (motion picture) were added. kws

Arrangement:

This collection is cataloged, and arranged into 7 series. Former series IV, V, and VI were collappsed into subseries of series III, as they all contain cataloged materials not on microfilm.

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

Online content

Access

RESTRICTIONS:

Box 26 of this collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

This collection has no restrictions.

Unique time-based media items have been reformatted and are available onsite via links in the container list. Commercial materials are not routinely digitized.

TERMS OF ACCESS:

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); Hart Crane papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
6th Floor East Butler Library
535 West 114th St.
New York, NY 10027, United States
Link to repository site
CONTACT:
(212) 854-5590
rbml@library.columbia.edu