Harry Crosby (1898-1929) was an American poet and publisher born in Boston, Massachusetts to a wealthy and socially prominent family. In 1922 Crosby married Mary Phelps Jacob Peabody, a Boston socialite and divorcee, then called "Polly", later known as Caresse Crosby. As members of the American expatriate community in Paris in the 1920s, they founded the
Caresse Crosby continued Black Sun Press and Crosby Continental Editions in to the 1940s.
Constance Atherton, the "Comtesse de Jumilhac", was sometimes referred to by Harry Crosby by the nickname "Queen of Pekin". In the 1932 San Francisco Social Register, her name and that of her husband appear as "Rogers, Mr. & Mrs. Eliot (Atherton-de Jumilac-Constance C. COOLIDGE), Santa Barbara, Cal.".
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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.
Harry Crosby Papers, Ms. 88.3, Brown University Library.
This collection is organized in 3 series.
Within each series, items are arranged by type of material.
The Harry Crosby Papers include 19 letters to Constance Atherton, Comtesse de Jumilhac; letters from Atherton and related correspondence; 2 notebooks with letter and unpublished aphorisms addressed to Atherton; book belonging to Harry and Caresse Crosby; 10 manuscript notebooks; page proofs (bound) for
The Harry Crosby Papers were a gift to Brown University from Caresse Crosby and received in 3 installments on Sept. 25, 1955 (A88-24, accession numbers HA4579-4587), Feb. 6, 1973 (A88-24, accession numbers HA23787-90), and Jan. 12, 1981 (A81-5). Additional material was purchased from George Robert Minkoff on June 3, 1988 (A88-24).
Brown University Library catalog record for this collection:
Salutation: Dear Constance.
Accompanied by an envelope addressed to Constance Atherton at 41, Quai d'Orsay. Not sent by mail. There is an autograph list of names in pencil on the back of the envelope.
On stationery with the names Harry and Caresse printed together in the form of a cross. Accompanied by an envelope addressed to Constance Atherton at 41, Quai d'Orsay. Not sent by mail.
On stationery with the names Harry and Caresse printed together in the form of a cross. Accompanied by an envelope addressed to Constance Atherton at 41, Quai d'Orsay. Not sent by mail.
On stationery with a letterhead reading, "95 Beacon Street". Contains autograph poem entitled, "Sunrise". Ends not with a signature, but with a drawing of a sun characteristic of Harry Crosby.
On stationery with a letterhead reading, "14, Place Vendôme/Paris".
On stationery with a letterhead reading, "43, rue Raynouard", and with the embossed initials "CAC" (?).
Accompanied by an envelope addressed to Constance Atherton at 41, Quai d'Orsay. Not sent by mail.
On stationery with the same letterhead as the letter in Folder 7.
There are several mathematical calculations written on the verso.
Note in French on two calling cards bearing the printed name "Mr. Henry Grew Crosby". Accompanied by an envelope addressed to Constance Atherton at 41, Quai d'Orsay, and bearing the note "6H". Not sent by mail.
On stationery with a letterhead reading, "95 Beacon Street".
Envelope addressed to Constance Atherton at 41, Quai d'Orsay. Not sent by mail.
With envelope addressed to Constance Atherton at 41, Quai d'Orsay, postmarked 1923 December 10.
With envelope addressed to Constance Atherton at 41, Quai d'Orsay. Not sent by mail.
On stationery with a letterhead reading, "Hotel Chambord/123 Avenue des Champs Élysées".
On stationery with letterhead reading, "11, rue [Avenue?] du Maréchal Maunoury". With envelope addresed to Constance Atherton as la Comtesse de Jumilhac, at 11, rue [Avenue?] du Maréchal Maunoury (?).
On stationery with a letterhead reading, "On Board the Cunard R.M.S. 'Berengaria'".
On stationery with a letterhead reading, "11, rue [Avenue?] du Maréchal Maunoury". Accompanied by an envelope addressed to Harry Crosby at 19, rue de Lille, postmarked 1926 [July 1?].
Written from "Ecuiry" (?). On stationery on which the initials "CJC" are embossed.
From Polly [i.e., Caresse Crosby]. The author's address is given as 71, [rue du?] Faubourg St. Honoré.
Telegram to Constance Atherton as Comtesse de Jumilhac, from her uncle Frank Crowninshield. Sent to Santa Barbara, CA.
Autograph letter signed, in English and French, to Constance Atherton from Harry Crosby. Written in a red leather notebook with a note at the end in CA's hand.
Addressed to Constance Atherton from Harry Crosby. Poems and passages in English and French copied, unattributed, from various sources. Written in a red leather notebook with a mounted photograph of Harry Crosby inside the front cover.
Red leather slipcase for "Queen of Pekin" in which were housed the notebooks in Folders 25 and 26.
Inscribed by Caresse Crosby, Paris, 1927, with a pencilled note assigning provenance to the Comtesse de Jumilhac, formerly CA.
Original Harris call number for the 10 volumes (Codex 2-11): 1926 C94923n Harris Rare
Autograph notes. On the spine are the title "Notes" and the numeral "1". Inside the front cover is a bookplate reading, "Ex Libris Harry/Caresse" with the two names forming a cross. (See the letterhead on the stationery in Box 1, Folder 3.) On the outside of the front and back covers is an embossed coat of arms with the names Harry and Caresse forming the cross within it.
Autograph notes. On the spine are the title "Notes" and the numeral "2". Inside the front cover is a bookplate reading, "Ex Libris Harry/Caresse" with the two names forming a cross. (See the letterhead on the stationery in Box 1, Folder 3.) On the outside of the front and back covers is an embossed coat of arms with the names Harry and Caresse forming the cross within it.
Autograph notes. On the spine are the title "Notes" and the numeral "3". Inside the front cover is a bookplate reading, "Ex Libris Harry/Caresse" with the two names forming a cross. (See the letterhead on the stationery in Box 1, Folder 3.) On the outside of the front and back covers is an embossed coat of arms with the names Harry and Caresse forming the cross within it.
Autograph notes. On the spine are the title "Notes" and the numeral "4". Inside the front cover is a bookplate reading, "Ex Libris Harry/Caresse" with the two names forming a cross. (See the letterhead on the stationery in Box 1, Folder 3.) On the outside of the front and back covers is an embossed coat of arms with the names Harry and Caresse forming the cross within it.
Autograph notes. On the spine are the title "Notes" and the numeral "5". Inside the front cover is a bookplate reading, "Ex Libris Harry/Caresse" with the two names forming a cross. (See the letterhead on the stationery in Box 1, Folder 3.) On the outside of the front and back covers is an embossed coat of arms with the names Harry and Caresse forming the cross within it.
Autograph notes. On the spine are the title "Notes" and the numeral "6". Inside the front cover is a bookplate reading, "Ex Libris Harry/Caresse" with the two names forming a cross. (See the letterhead on the stationery in Box 1, Folder 3.) On the outside of the front and back covers is an embossed coat of arms with the names Harry and Caresse forming the cross within it.
Autograph notes. On the spine are the title "Bible Notes". Inside the front cover is a bookplate reading, "Ex Libris Harry/Caresse" with the two names forming a cross. (See the letterhead on the stationery in Box 1, Folder 3.) On the outside of the front and back covers is an embossed coat of arms with the names Harry and Caresse forming the cross within it. 250 hand-numbered pages, with the remains of 3 pages at the end having been ripped out.
Autograph notes. On the spine are the title "Bible Notes" and the numeral "2". Inside the front cover is a bookplate reading, "Ex Libris Harry/Caresse" with the two names forming a cross. (See the letterhead on the stationery in Box 1, Folder 3.) On the outside of the front and back covers is an embossed coat of arms with the names Harry and Caresse forming the cross within it.
Autograph notes. On the spine is the title "Sun Notes". Inside the front cover is a bookplate reading, "Ex Libris Harry/Caresse" with the two names forming a cross. (See the letterhead on the stationery in Box 1, Folder 3.) On the outside of the front and back covers is an embossed coat of arms with the names Harry and Caresse forming the cross within it.
Autograph notes. On the spine are the title "Encyclopedia Notes" and the numeral "1". Inside the front cover is a bookplate reading, "Ex Libris Harry/Caresse" with the two names forming a cross. (See the letterhead on the stationery in Box 1, Folder 3.) On the outside of the front and back covers is an embossed coat of arms with the names Harry and Caresse forming the cross within it.
Typed poems and other writings. On the spine is the title "By Harry Crosby". Inside the front cover is a bookplate reading, "Ex Libris Harry/Caresse" with the two names forming a cross. (See the letterhead on the stationery in Box 1, Folder 3.) On the outside of the front and back covers is an embossed coat of arms with the names Harry and Caresse forming the cross within it.
Original Harris call number for this volume (Codex 12): 1926 C94923b Harris Rare.
Laid in Codex 12: "Illustrations of Madness" (2 pages), "Sorcery" (4 pages), and "Illustrations of Madness" (3 pages). The first two are signed.
Annotated page proofs and typed manuscripts. On the spine is the title "Chariot of the Sun [by] Harry Crosby". Inside the front cover is a bookplate reading, "Ex Libris Harry/Caresse" with the two names forming a cross. (See the letterhead on the stationery in Box 1, Folder 3.) On the outside of the front and back covers is an embossed coat of arms with the names Harry and Caresse forming the cross within it.
Annotated page proofs pasted onto bound leaves of codex, with title page reading, "Shadows of the Sun by Harry Crosby, The Black Sun Press, Deux Rue Cardinale, Paris, MCMXXVIII". On the spine is the title "Shadows of the Sun [by] Harry Crosby, Paris 1928".
Pasted to a page with autograph notes and Harry Crosby's signature.
Laid in the library's Harris Collection copy of Harry Crosby's "Aphrodite in flight : being some observations on the aerodynamics of love".
Album of photographs of Harry Crosby and others in the American Field Service during the First World War. This volume contains a bookplate, and its covers bear a coat of arms, like those on Codices 2-13. Original Harris Call number: 1926 C94923 xC94a Harris Rare.
Album of photographs of Harry Crosby and others in the American Field Service during the First World War. This volume contains a bookplate, and its covers bear a coat of arms, like those on Codices 2-13. Original Harris Call number: 1926 C94923 xC94a Harris Rare.
With the name Harry Crosby typed at the end.
Photostat of the notarized, holograph last will and testament of Harry Crosby of 19, rue de Lille, Paris.
Piece of paper, cut and joined with adhesive tape to another. The first piece bears a photostat of the signature of Harry Crosby, and the notation, "Paris/October 1929"; the second bears a photostat of an autograph list that includes the name of Hart Crane.
Mounted on a cardboard background. On the verso is a four-line, unsigned autograph poem written in pencil.
Salutation: Dear Mrs. Crosby. Accompanied by an addressed envelope with autograph notes on the front.
Addressed to "Dear Fellow Rebel Poet" from Hugh Hanley (writing in his capacity as treasurer of the organization Rebel Poets?).
Addressed to "Dear Mrs. Crosby" from Hugh Hanley.
Addressed to "Dear Mrs. Crosby" from Richard Johns, editor of Pagany magazine.
From [Norman] MacLeod to Jack (?). On stationery with a letterhead reading, "the morada" (magazine). Below the typed text of the letter is an autograph note signed from "H.H." (Hugh Hanley?) to "Mrs. Crosby".
Poem titles: "A Valentine for Harry Crosby", "The Complaint In It", and "The Refrain".
Typed biographical sketch of Henry Grew (Harry) Crosby by Caresse Crosby (?), with annotations and autograph notes.
Letter from Caresse Crosby to (David A.?) Jonah of Brown University Library. There is an autograph postscript below the typed text. At the top left is an autograph note signed by Caresse Crosby, dated [1955] Jan[uary] 10.
Letter from Caresse Crosby to David A. Jonah of Brown University Library. Includes autograph corrections and a note.
Letter from Caresse Crosby to David A. Jonah of Brown University Library. Includes autograph correction and postscript.
Letter from Caresse Crosby to (S.) Foster Damon of Brown University Library, with enclosed typed list by Caresse Crosby (?) of works by and about Harry Crosby. Accompanied by an addressed envelope.