Henry David Thoreau (christened as David Henry Thoreau), was born in 1817, the second of three children. His father, John Thoreau, was a shopkeeper of modest means in Concord, Massachusetts. John Thoreau ran a string of unsuccessful businesses before establishing a profitable pencil factory. His wife, Cynthia, supplemented the family income by keeping a boarding house.
As a child, Henry David Thoreau enjoyed the beauty of the woods in Concord and excelled at school. He was the only child in the family to receive a college education, entering Harvard College in 1833 and graduating near the top of his class in 1837. After college, he worked in the family pencil factory for a year, and then taught briefly in the public schools of Canton (Massachusetts) and at the Center School. However, he found himself disinclined to the common practice of applying corporal punishment as a means of discipline and, as a result, soon lost his position as a teacher. Unable to find another teaching job, Thoreau and his older brother John, who had helped put Henry through college on his teacher's pay, established a private school using the progressive educational methods advocated by Bronson Alcott. Henry also began writing essays and poetry, some of which were printed in
The Thoreau brothers' school closed down in 1841, primarily because of John Thoreau's ill health. Later that year, Emerson invited Thoreau to live with his family as a handyman. Thoreau accepted, seeing the opportunity to both write and earn his keep. At Emerson's home he came into frequent contact with a number of Transcendental luminaries, including George Ripley and Margaret Fuller. He took up the study of Hindu scriptures, and contributed to
John Thoreau died in 1842. A grieving Henry moved to New York the following year, serving as tutor to William Emerson's sons, but returned to Concord in 1844. His move to the cabin on Walden Pond, part of Emerson's property, took place in 1845 and lasted for two years. While there, he wrote much of
Returning from Walden Pond, Thoreau earned his living as as Emerson's handyman and later as a surveyor. By the early 1850s, however, Thoreau had begun to fear that he had not fulfilled his literary calling. The publication of
Thoreau had developed tuberculosis in 1835 but managed it successfully for 20 years. However, when the disease flared up in 1860, his immune system proved too weak to combat it and he finally succumbed to the disease. He died at Concord on May 6, 1862.
The Lownes Thoreau collection as a whole contains a wide variety of materials, the vast majority of which are Albert Lownes' collections of books, pamphlets and reviews concerning Thoreau, natural studies and New England. It should be noted here that while certain items are Thoreau's own personal manuscripts or possessions, most items in the collection only pertain to Thoreau.
The books and pamphlets number approximately 600 items; they consist of works by and about Thoreau, various editions of his writings, and volumes from his personal library. The collection also contains over 200 reviews and clippings concerning Thoreau and his works, many of which are from scholarly journals and magazines. In respect to these printed items, much more expansive and detailed information can be obtained from the Library's online catalog, Josiah, and from the Special Collections Card Catalogue, under the listing of Thoreau, Henry David, 1817-1862.
The Thoreau papers themselves consist of various pieces of his works, and related material. Included are pieces of correspondence, various drafts from his journal, poems and college essays, all in his hand, and some signed. Related material includes a letter from Emerson, obituaries and memoria appearing in newspapers at the time of Thoreau's death, and small pieces of visual memorabilia.
Mr. Lownes' personal Thoreauvian memorabilia, including photographs of Thoreau, his family, his associates and his homes, are also included in boxes accompanying the manuscript collection as are some correspondence and lists related to the collection.
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..
Albert Edgar Lownes collection on Henry David Thoreau, Ms. 80.1, Brown University Library.
Thoreau's correspondence appears first, followed by college essays, and other writings. Following are letters concerning Thoreau written by Ralph Waldo Emerson and Alfred Hosmer; newspaper clippings, and finally, rough drafts of four essays on Thoreau written by Samuel Arthur Jones. Furthermore, the collection includes bibliographical material, a large selection of photographs, and other miscellaneous items. Correspondence and lists related to the collection, written presumably by Albert Edgar Lownes, are located in folder 25.
This collection is organized into the following series and is arranged chronologically within each series.
Donated to the Brown University Library in 1967 by Albert E. Lownes (Class of 1920).
Arranged and described by Barbara Filipac in 1980.
The Thoreau collection was compiled by Albert E. Lownes over a period of many years. The original provenance of these materials, prior to their coming into the possession of Mr. Lownes, is unrecorded.
Brown University Library catalog record for this collection:
RESOURCES AT BROWN UNIVERSITY
Manuscript materials related to Thoreau in the collections of the John Hay Library include a sheet of Thoreau's autograph manuscript tipped in volume 1 of:
RESOURCES BEYOND BROWN UNIVERSITY
Digital facsimiles of items from this collection are available from within the online finding aid.
Letters in folders 1-6 have been published in
Thoreau writes to his brother John Thoreau about life at the private school he had opened in Concord, Mass., the previous month.
Includes a photostat copy.
Thoreau writes to Henry Vose discussing certain items of local news in Concord, including the endeavors of his sisters in Roxbury.
Includes a photostat copy.
Thoreau accepts an invitation from E. G. Dudley to lecture on October 9, 1859, and states his preference for reading "Life Misspent" instead of "Autumnal Tints".
Includes a photostat copy.
Thoreau describes his last visit to Monadnock on a camping trip.
Includes a photostat copy.
Greeley responds to an earlier request of Thoreau's, and discusses Thoreau's hopes that Greeley place an article for him on Carlyle.
Includes a photostat copy.
Letter fragment.
On verso, an autograph fragment in Thoreau's hand dated April 3, 1859 (see Series 3. Journal excerpts).
This series contains personal essays dating from Thoreau's years at Harvard College, 1833-1837.
Thoreau offers his opinions on how truth, sincerity and candor are sacrificed to politeness.
Thoreau writes a senior essay of some unappreciated erudition.
A mathematical proof.
The pieces in this series are characteristic of Thoreau's journal entries: long, detailed and lively descriptions of events, natural phenomena and seasonal conditions which he observed around Concord, Walden Pond, or on other trips. The excerpts date from June 11, 1851 to April 3, 1859. Included are the page and volume references from
Writings, Walden ed., volume 8, pages 239, 298-299, 475.
Writings, Walden ed., volume 8, pages 298-301; volume 9, page 7; volume 12, page 387.
Writings, Walden ed., volume 8, page 373.
Writings, Walden ed., volume 9, pages 272-275.
Writings, Walden ed., volume 9, pages 275-276, 277-278, 323.
Writings, Walden ed., volume 10, pages 469-471.
Writings, Walden ed., volume 18, page 111.
On front, autograph letter fragment from unidentified author to Thoreau, dated January 25, 1858 (see Series 1. Correspondence).
One page: see Writings, vol. 3, page 122.
Four pages: see Writings, vol.3, pages 90-92.
See Writings, vol.1, page 121 and 173; vol. 5, pages 150-151 (with this are identifying notes).
Published in Thoreau, Henry D.
A second poem,
Includes a photostat copy.
Published in
A second poem,
Includes a photostat copy.
Published in
Includes a photostat copy.
Copies of poems by British poets; lists of names and dates of British poets. With signed autograph note by
With this is a transcript and a note by
These are tipped-in manuscript fragments found in books, all in Thoreau's hand.
Autograph manuscript tipped in front cover of Writings of Henry David Thoreau, Manuscript Edition (Call #: PS 3040 Fo6a 1).
Autograph manuscript tipped in front and back covers of A week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers (Call #: PS 3049 A1 1849 copy 3).
Autograph manuscript tipped in B.F. Sanborn's The personality of Thoreau (Call #: PS 3053 S 46 copy 2).
Autograph manuscript inserted at page 396 of A week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers (Call #: PS 3049 A1 1849 copy 2).
Autograph note written in back endpiece of The private journal of Captain C.F. Lyon (Call #: C 650 P 27 1821 Rare Books).
H.D. Thoreau as he presented himself at the door of Brooklawn, Dec. 25 1854, age 37.
Glossy print and negative film; original sketch and notes found in Thoreau, Henry D., A week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers (PS 3049 A1 1849 - Rare Books)
These either originated in newspapers on the day of Thoreau's death, or commemorated him at a later date; they are arranged in chronological order.
Printed in the Commonwealth
With a typed note by Samuel Arthur Jones
Obituary notice for Thoreau, appeared in the Boston Daily Advertiser; with a typed note by Samuel Arthur Jones.
Obituary notice for Thoreau; with a typed note signed by Samuel Arthur Jones.
Printed in The Liberator
From an unpublished manuscript; printed in The Commonwealth
Printed in The New York Tribune
Printed in The Commonwealth
Emerson discusses his concerns for the finding and editing of a quantity of Thoreau's field notes, and the last edition of his letters.
Transcription of letter is available.
Hosmer writes concerning a limited edition of a Thoreau work.
Manuscripts of works on Thoreau by the distinguished Thoreau scholar, Samuel Arthur Jones.
Article, with notes on its reception.
Article, with a letter of transmittal. Published in the Thoreau Society Bulletin, number 135 (Spring, 1976).
A bound photostat copy of Thoreau's notebook.
The original notebook is held by Columbia University Library.
Three maps which were originally used by Thoreau, including a map of the Mediterranean Sea, and nearby lands; map of the White Mountains, New Hampshire; and railway map of New England, including on verso a map of New York City.
Three different broadsides or pamphlets reprinting works by Thoreau:
Cards sent to A.E. Lownes from: Charlotte and Raymond Adams (35 cards); Fred S. Piper (1 card); Paul W. Emerson (1 card); Bill Cummings (1 card). Many of the cards include obscure quotations from Thoreau's works.
General invitations to meetings of the Grolier Club (4 items) and the Club of Odd Volumes (1 item) where Thoreau was topic of lectures to be given; also, an invitation to the unveiling of a bust of Thoreau at the Hall of Fame of Great Americans at New York University (1 item).
In arrangement similar to F.H. Allen's
Two typewritten letters and one postcard from Walter Warding, secretary to the Thoreau Society to A.E. Lownes concerning a book which had been stolen previous to Lownes' purchase of it. Also, two carbon copies of Lownes' responses to Warding are included.
Partial page proofs to two unidentified bibliographies of Thoreau's work, and one autograph manuscript listing "Thoreau's Works" possibly by Alfred Hosmer.
Photographs and engravings of Thoreau, his associates, and his homes and family. Also included are correspondence and miscellaneous items found within this series originally, which are either directly or indirectly related to the photographs.
Twelve engravings and photographs of Thoreau, as well as one photograph with engraving of his brother John on verso (from Thoreau Society Booklet no. 2) and another with photo of William Garrot Brown on verso (from Thoreau Society to A.E. Lownes, 28 Jul 1943). Also there is a first day cover with the stamp of Thoreau designed by Leonard Baskin, released 12 Jul 1967, featured on the front. Photograph of bust of Thoreau designed by Walton Ricketson.
Mrs. Minot (silhouettes of Thoreau's grandmother and her second husband); Cynthia Dunbar, Thoreau's mother (3 items); Louisia Dunbar, Thoreau's aunt (2 items); Maria Thoreau (2 items); Jane Thoreau, Thoreau's aunt (2 items); John Thoreau, Thoreau's borther; John Thoreau, Thoreau's father (2 items).
A. Bronson Alcott (with letter from Alcott to [unidentified], 30 Jan 1872); Jas. T. Fields; Calvin H. Greene; Alfred H. Hosmer; Horace Hosmer; Dr. Samuel Arthur Jones; Ann Ricketson, 1836- ; Daniel Ricketson (2 items), 1813-1892; Walton Ricketson; F.B. Sanborn.
Helen [ ] (1 item), and Sophia [ ] (2 items), both of whom could possibly be Thoreau relations.
"A corner in the 'Thoreau' room of the Concord Antiquarian Society"; "Thoreau's cairn" (4 items), on verso of one is note from [unidentfied] to Philip W. Freeman, residence of Thoreau's grandfather, built "by him", 1770; Thoreau's grave.
Old Wright Tavern, flyer and business card; The Colonial Inn; Merriam's Corner; Thoreau, or Alcott House (2 items); Texas House (2 items); Thoreau's home.
Thoreau's monument; Walden Pond (2 items); Walden, drawn by James Hosmer (1880).
Includes a photostat copy of the Hosmer drawing.
F.B. Sanborn's home; home of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Concord; illustrations for Thoreau's
A series of letters from either dealers or Thoreau enthusiasts regarding photographs and other Thoreau memorabilia (listed in chronological order):
General material either referring to or quoting Thoreau and his work. Of particular note are: a map to Concord, MA, denoting Thoreau sites (1906, H.W. Gleason); tearsheets from a book apparently on R.W. Emerson which has an issue by issue contents listing for The Dial, a journal where Thoreau published extensively, and which was edited by Emerson.
Flyers from book and manuscript dealers all featuring material by or about Thoreau.
Printed invitations and notices all dealing with meetings and lectures primarily on Thoreau. The majority are from the Thoreau Society.
Exhibition labels used for a display of Thoreau books and manuscripts at the John Hay Library, 1944 Nov.
This series consists of pencils, a door knocker, and a door latch
(1) Items acquired by Albert Edgar Lownes in 1928: Single round Thoreau pencil, sharpened, with glass-fronted wooden display case; envelope from Goodspeed's Book Shop, postmarked 7 Sept. 1928, containing printed card, "Pencil made by Thoreau", and sheet of 4 relief-printed labels for "Thoreau's improved drawing pencils …". (2) Items acquired by Albert Edgar Lownes in 1965: Bundle of 12 Thoreau pencils (round, length 6.5 in.), tied round with string and with printed label, as originally sold; in corked glass test tube; also a copy of The month at Goodpseed's, Oct. 1965, with description of the pencils on p. 3-5, headed "Walden pencil-maker. One doz. mint originals", which also refers to the single pencil and labels sold "going on thirty-two years" before (i.e. 37 years before).
Brass door knocker, scallop-shell design. Ms. label attached, "Brass knocker from Thoreau's 'Texas House' Concord, Mass. From Alexander Greene." Includes bolts (of more recent manufacture?).
Iron thumb latch, with separate interior bar and catch. Ms. Label attached, "Latch from Thoreau's birthplace, Concord (3 pieces)".