“Fanny Fales” was the pen name of the poet Frances Elizabeth Swift, who was born in Rockingham, Vermont in 1817 to Jarvis Brown Chase and Rhoda Corey Chase. She married George W. Swift in New Bedford, Massachusetts in 1841. Her poetry appeared in publications such as the Warren (R.I.) Star, Boston Post, Hartford Republican, Lady’s Book, New Bedford Bulletin, Republican Standard, and Saturday Evening Gazette. She died in Falmouth, Massachusetts in 1903.
The collection contains an incomplete set of 9 numbered manuscript leaves on which Fanny Fales composed poems from 1844-1847. The leaves contain 7 complete and 7 incomplete poems. The poems are “The war horde,” “The dying wife,” “The slanderer,” “Oh do you remember,” “Rebekah,” “Tones of the southern,” “The Wine King,” “Do not cry mother,” “Oh Minstrel Praise,” “The gambler’s wife,” “Dark as each jetty,” “The Frozen Child,” and 3 untitled poems. Also included is documentation about the poems compiled by researcher Stephen Gross indicating the order in which they were found and the possible place of publication for each poem.
Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.
Fanny Fales poems, Ms.2017.012, Brown University Library