In Their Own Words (and Images): Women Authors, Poets, and Story-tellers

Letter from British author, Victoria Cross [Annie Sophie Cory (1868-1952)] to "Mr. Massie," asking him to read and provide feedback for her novel Life's Shop-Window. Hughes Massie was a literary and dramatic agent based in London with whom Cross had some business dealings.

Although we are no longer broadly collecting rare and unique American editions of books (with some exceptions), we do already have a wonderful group of materials on our shelves. Some of our literary favorites are even signed, as with this copy of Willa Cather's A Lost Lady. 

The diary of Art League of Philadelphia Elsa Marie Rupp Hofheinz, later the secretary of the League in 1944, contains entries for 1928, detailing her comments on fashion, her experiences learning to drive, her daily activities at school and around the house, as well as her artistic endeavors. The diary also contains many illustrations and doodles.

The photocopy of a memoir by Harriet Eliza Lathrop recounts her experiences living in Tazewell County, Virginia, from 1881 until 1885. Her husband, a mining engineer, was sent brought south by the Norfolk & Western Railway Company to work on the Pocohontas Coal Fields. The memoir includes stories of the formation of the Pocahontas Coal Field and the town of Pocahontas, Virginia, and the explosion of the coal mines in March 1884.

Another signed literary volume is our copy of Katherine Anne Porter's collection of three short novels, Pale Horse, Pale Rider. 

Lucy Herndon Crockett travelled as a speech writer and secretary for the chairman of the American Red Cross during World War II. She was the author and illustrator of nine books adults and children, as well as an illustrator for other authors. After her travels, she lived in Seven Mile Ford in Virginia. Our collection includes unpublished manuscripts, typescripts, illustrations, and photographs. Our book collection includes copies of all of her works. 

Oh, and we have a signed copy of Eudora Welty's Delta Wedding.

Poem, "Varium et Mutbaile Semper Femina" by Lucy Dickinson Urquhart. Urquhart was a poet, short story writer, and an advertising copywriter in Lynchburg, Virginia. You can see a few other examples of her work in the Lucy Dickinson Urquhart Papers, 1865-1973 (Ms1987-046) online or by visiting the collection in-person.