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VCU James Branch Cabell Library
Special Collections and Archives 901 Park AvenueSpecial Collections and Archives staff
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The collection is open to research.
James Branch Cabell collection, Collection # M 214, Special Collections and Archives, James Branch Cabell Library, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.
Donated by Margaret Freeman Cabell in 1976.
Richmond author James Branch Cabell (1879-1958) is best known for his controversial book, Jurgen (1919), a fantasy set in Cabell's mythical medieval world of Poictesme (pronounced Pwa-tem). The New York Society for the Suppression of Vice contended the book was obscene. A trial over its content brought the reclusive writer national fame. Throughout the 1920s, Cabell's literary peers, including H.L. Mencken and Sinclair Lewis, praised his works.
Cabell was born April 14, 1879, at 101 E. Franklin St., the present site of the Richmond Public Library. His father was Robert Gamble Cabell, II (1847-1922), a physician; his mother Anne Harris (1859-1915), daughter of Col. and Mrs. James R. Branch. Cabell's great grandfather was William H. Cabell, governor of Virginia from 1805-1808. Cabell had two brothers, Robert Gamble Cabell, III (1881-1968) and John Lottier Cabell (1883-1946). His parents divorced in 1907.
After attending the College of William and Mary (1893-1898), where he taught courses in French and Greek while an undergraduate, Cabell worked briefly at the Richmond Times as a copyholder. In 1899 he moved to New York City and worked for the New York Herald as a social reporter. He returned to Richmond in 1901 and worked several months on the staff of the Richmond News . During the next ten years, he performed genealogical research and wrote numerous short stories and articles, which he contributed to national magazines such as Harper's Monthly Magazine and the Saturday Evening Post .
In 1911, Cabell worked as a bookkeeper for his uncle James R. Branch's coal mine in West Virginia. Returning to Richmond in 1913, he married Rebecca Priscilla Bradley Shepherd (1874-1949), a widow with five children by her previous marriage. They had one son, Ballard Hartwell Cabell (1915-1980).
Although he had written for newspapers, Cabell's first published nonfiction work was "The Comedies of William Congreve," which appeared in the April 1901 edition of International . He published his first book, The Eagle's Shadow , in the autumn of 1904 after it appeared serially in the Saturday Evening Post during that summer. His work was slow to draw critical attention. However, by 1918 he had published ten major works and began attracting critical admirers. In an article for the New York Evening Mail , H.L. Mencken described Cabell as "the only first-rate literary craftsman that the whole South can show." Cabell's stature and fame as an author increased with the 1919 publication of Jurgen.
On January 14, 1920, the New York State Society for the Prevention of Vice charged Cabell's publishing editor, Guy Holt, with violating the anti-obscenity provisions of the New York State Penal Code by publishing Jurgen . The controversy over the charges and the attempt at censorship brought Cabell much notoriety. Writers defended the artistry of Jurgen and Cabell's right to publish it.
The obscenity trial over Jurgen began October 16, 1922, and ended three days later with an acquittal of all charges. The presiding judge, Charles C. Nott, stated in his decision "...the most that can be said against the book is that certain passages therein may be considered suggestive in a veiled and subtle way of immorality, but such suggestions are delicately conveyed" and that because of Cabell's writing style "...it is doubtful if the book could be read or understood at all by more than a very limited number of readers."
Throughout the 1920s, he continued to publish in the style of Jurgen , a combination of satire, symbolism, and fantasy, set in a mythical medieval French province of Poictesme. The name was a compound of two provinces located in the South of France, Poitiers and Angouleme. Cabell blended an assortment of myths and legends laced with puns, anagrams, and allegories in these books. These works eventually became part of an eighteen-volume collection entitled The Biography of the Life of Manuel ; the last volume was published in 1930.
Cabell had become well regarded by prominent writers of the period and maintained an extensive correspondence with a wide circle of literary artists and friends, including Mencken, Joseph Hergesheimer, Burton Rascoe, Theodore Dreiser, Sinclair Lewis, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Carl Van Vechten, and fellow Richmonder and close friend Ellen Glasgow (1873-1945). He had known Glasgow since his days at William and Mary. He served as editor of the Virginia War History Commission (1919-1926) and later joined Dreiser, Eugene O'Neil, and others on the editorial board of the American Spectator (1932-1935). In 1937, Cabell was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
While the controversy over Jurgen ensured Cabell an audience throughout most of the 1920s, interest in his books dropped sharply in the New Deal era of the 1930s and continued to decline. In 1932, in an attempt to break away from his past, he began publishing under the name Branch Cabell. During the next three decades, he wrote and published nearly twenty more books. They were grouped in a series of trilogies. He returned as James Branch Cabell in 1947 with the publication of Let Me Lie . It was the first installment of his fifth and last trilogy, consisting mainly of semi-autobiographical essays filled with remembrances of Virginia.
Cabell continued to live and work in Richmond, residing at 3201 Monument Avenue. By 1935 he and his family began spending most of their winter months in St. Augustine, Florida, due to Cabell's reoccurring bouts of pneumonia. During their stay in Florida in 1949, his wife died of heart failure. In 1950, he married Margaret Waller Freeman (1893-1983), whom he had known for many years. Cabell suffered a cerebral hemorrhage in 1958, and on May 5, he died at his home in Richmond.
Cabell's writings, published in various magazines, newspapers, and anthologies, included numerous short stories, poetry, essays, book reviews, and one play. He authored more than 52 volumes of work, including three devoted to genealogy. Cabell is recognized as one of the first contemporary writers from the South. Like his friend, Ellen Glasgow, Cabell was not afraid to satirize what he saw as the South's contradictions. Others, noting Cabell's unique blending of classic myths and legends with his imagination, consider him a pioneer of fantasy writing.
Soon after the establishment of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in 1968, created by the merger of the Medical College of Virginia (MCV) and Richmond Professional Institute (RPI), the University began construction for a new library on the Monroe Park Campus. RPI had already planned for a new library and approached Margaret Cabell about naming it for her husband. VCU approved the name, and in 1970, the James Branch Cabell Library opened its doors.
The collection contains James Branch Cabell's personal papers along with materials by other creators related to Cabell. Cabell corresponded with a number of American and British authors such as H.L. Mencken, Ellen Glasgow, Sinclair Lewis, and Theodore Dreiser, as well as with family, friends, editors and publishers. Other materials of note include his manuscripts with Cabells handwritten edits, his notebooks containing information about his published works along with poems and other writings, and the materials found inside the books of his personal library. The materials provide insight into Cabell's writings and personal interests based upon the content he placed within the books of his collection.
Series I contains correspondence between Cabell and his contemporaries in the literary world, family and friends.
Series II includes various Cabell manuscripts as story ideas, notes, early drafts, school work, essays and poems.
Series III is composed primarily of materials found placed inside Cabell's books and includes ephemera, pamphlets, newspaper clippings, etc.
Series IV are materials from the Cabell Society and contain correspondence between its founders and correspondence between Cabell and Nelson Bond and Cabell and Frederick Eddy.
Series V has materials related to the book Between Friends: Letters of James Branch Cabell and Others, edited by Padraic Colum and Margaret Freeman Cabell.
Series VI consists of various criticisms of Cabell's writings, most of which were collected by Jean Maurice Duke while writing James Branch Cabell: A Reference Guide.
Series VII includes works by Cabell printed in various periodicals. He often published essays, short stories, and other fiction in periodicals before later revising them into book form. The majority of this series is made up of bound volumes. Each volume is named for a published Cabell book and contains the full periodical where the content originally appeared before he developed it into a book.
Series VIII contains plays, poems, and other works inspired by Cabell's work.
Series IX includes scrapbooks and notebooks containing clippings, letters, notes, poems, and other writings by Cabell.
Collection is arranged alphabetically. Series I -- Correspondence (1860s-1960s); Series II -- Manuscripts; Series III -- Ephemera, printed material, illustrations, newspaper clippings, etc.; Series IV -- Cabell Society (1963- 1971); Series V -- Between Friends; Series VI -- Criticisms of Cabell's work; Series VII -- Periodicals (essays, reviews and fiction by Cabell); Series VIII -- Dramatic and musical interpretations of Cabell's work; Series IX -- Scrapbooks, notebooks and oversized items.
The collection includes materials removed from books in Cabell's personal library. When Jean Maurice Duke cataloged the book collection he assigned a number (written in pencil) to each item indicating what volume the materials was taken from. Please see James Branch Cabell's Library: A Catalogue by Duke, for reference.
Letters from the governors of six different states each thanking Cabell for autographing a copy of one of his books. Pinchot, Gov. Gifford (Pennsylvania); Pollard, Gov. John Garland (Va.); Ritchie, Gov. Albert C. (Maryland); Seligman, Gov. Arthur (New Mexico); Wilson, Gov. Stanley C. (Vermont).
Manuscripts of various Cabell writings, many heavily edited in Cabell's handwriting, are contained in these folders. Most of the material has Duke numbers written in pencil on it. Materials include story ideas, notes, early drafts, drawings, school work, essays, poems, and prefaces. Folders 72-76 are labeled with Duke numbers. See also Series IX.
Much of the material in this series was taken from the books in Cabell's library. It includes printed material, newspaper clippings, illustrations, and other ephemeral.
In Goudy Text celebrating the 35th anniversary of The Village Press
Taken from books in Cabell's library.
Includes Papers of the Cabell Society, correspondence between its founders, a collection of correspondence between Cabell and Nelson Bond, Cabell and Frederick Eddy.
Materials concerning Between Friends: Letters of James Branch Cabell and Others edited by Padraic Colum and Margaret Freeman Cabell, published in 1962.
The majority of these criticisms of Cabell and his work were copied from various periodicals (many from microfilm) for Jean Maurice Duke's James Branch Cabell: A Reference Guide published in 1979. Others have been collected by Special Collections & Archives.
Most of the material contained in this series is located in twenty-two bound volumes containing magazines where many of Cabell's book reviews, essays, short stories and other fiction originally appeared before they were later revised into book form. Each volume is named for a published Cabell book and contains the original magazine contribution. There are also two boxes of non-bound journals.
Twenty-two blue bound volumes containing magazines where many of Bell's book reviews, essays, short stories and other fiction originally appeared before they were later revised into book form. Each blue bound volume is titled after a Bell book and contains the original magazine contribution.
A 51 sheet (8 1/2 x 10 1/2) bound volume of material about Cabell. Contains many newspaper and magazine articles by and about Cabell, most regarding his published fiction and book reviews at this time. They are pasted in the volume and many are identified and dated. Most of the dates are 1902-1905. It also contains a letter to Cabell from an editor at Smart Set, dated Sept. 30, 1902, suggesting Cabell write them a novelette.
It also has a 15 page (7 1/2 x 10 1/2) folder in which several newspaper advertisements of The Eagle's Shadow are pasted. All are dated 1904.
The first 35 sheets contain newspaper clippings of articles written by Cabell for the Richmond News during the first few years of the century.
The next 25 sheets are newspaper clippings about Cabell and his family, dated around 1910. These pages also include genealogical articles written by Cabell and others.
The remaining sheets contain letters to Cabell regarding genealogy dating form 1909 to 1919; obituaries and articles about John R. Branch, newspaper society columns; a New York Herald style pamphlet; a 1895 Navy Department letter to Cabell regarding a post for him in the Navel Academy; a 1906 letter from the U.S. State Department regarding an appointment for Cabell as Secretary of Legation in Athens, Greece or in South America and a 1906 letter from the White House regretting Cabell's decision not to accept the position in the State Department. There are also programs of plays performed in 1896 by the Virginia Comedians. Cabell was in five of them.
On the verso of p. 82 and recto of p. 83 is pasted a printed article entitled "That Opera Bouffe Court Martial." It describes a court martial at the U.S. Naval Academy where midshipman James Robinson Branch, Jr. died after a boxing match with another student named Meriwether. Branch was the son of James R. Branch, James Branch Cabell's uncle.
This is a bound volume of 112 sheets (8 1/2 x 10 1/2) containing a large amount of many kinds of material concerning Cabell and his writings.
There are almost 100 letters to him. Many are from publishers to whom he had sent, or offered to send, a manuscript. In some of these the publishers offered to read his book. In others they gave their opinions of it and their decision on publishing. Most of these say that while they appreciated the quality of his work they cannot publish it, usually because they do not think it would be profitable. There are a few letters asking him to submit material to them. Many others are from individuals who have read something by or about him. Most of this material is dated from 1911-1917.
There are also more than 100 newspaper and magazine clippings about him, his family and his books. Some are advertisements, some are reviews. They come from all over the country and nearly all are dated and have the name of the source. It appears that a clipping service must have supplied many of them. There are also a few photographs of Cabell.
Pages 3-34 are missing. Cabell's notes including lists of stories written year by year, where published, amount paid him, books published, copies received, number sold, royalties, etc. Also, poems, genealogical materials on his family; wills of family members, notes on his books, including to whom submitted and results, other material on his writing, such as "Suppressed Foreword to the Cords of Vanity: rough draft. "
Inscription on the first page reads: "Verses, etc., as written 1896-1898. Selected, revised, and copied in this book 1898-1899. James Branch Cabell. "
Most of this material concerns The Majors and Their Marriages (1915). Includes genealogical notes, lists, etc. and correspondence concerning these families. Includes a little material on the Cabells.
Unbound material which was found in notebook two.
This has Cabell materials inserted in the covers of two typewriter paper covers.
In the first typewriter paper cover material includes two typewritten Cabell manuscripts of poems, "The Ways of Women." There are some textual differences and some pencil changes (9 & 7 pages). There is also a two-page typewritten manuscript of Cabell's reminiscences written when he was 77. Has a few pencil corrections and additions. A one page Cabell typewritten manuscript entitled "Frail Rymes, with Studrdy Morals. "
In the second typewriter paper cover material includes two copies of a four page list of manuscripts, etc. of his writings. A 15 page typewritten manuscript entitled "Composition book No. 341." An eight page typewritten manuscript entitled "List of Horses in the collection." A four page typewritten manuscript entitled "Unpublished Matter." and a one page typewritten list of some of his books, some including the color of binds, etc.
Contains photocopies Cabell manuscripts, both poetry and prose. Some are identified.
Contains information on the ancestry of Priscilla Bradley (Mrs. James Branch Cabell) including genealogical notes, abstracts from books and magazines, correspondence, etc. Some of the items are dated after the publication of the genealogy of her family, The Majors and Their Marriages (1915). One folder includes an essay written by Cabell when he was 77 years old, discussing his lack of literary recognition and awards.
Includes information on Cabell family genealogy.
A bound volume containing a 37 page check list of Cabell's books and other material held by ULS' Special Collections & Archives made by Daniel E. Jones in 1973.
A bibliography of the later writings of Cabell, 1932-1956, written by Cabell.
A folder containing copies of nine Cabell letters to Desmond Tarrant, 1953-1959, and one letter to Tarrant from Margaret Freeman Cabell, 1964. They are concerned with Tarrant's proposed book on Cabell, later published as James Branch Cabell: The Dream and the Reality , 1967. Also contains copies of two letters Cabell wrote to Guy Holt, 1917 and 1918.
Decorative book box labeled Cabelliana . Materials in this box were transferred to Series III. A list of those items is with the box.
Contains the letters labeled "Apfelbaum-Cabell Letters ", which include Cabell letters to the editor of The Literary Review , 22 letters to Mourice Speiser, one letter from Herbert Speiser to Robert McBride & Co., and an answer to it from McBride.
A 14 page photocopied list of Cabell books taken from The National Union Catalog Pre-1956 Imprints
23 pages of genealogical oversized photocopied notes on the Branch family. Material includes photocopies of family Bibles, lists of marriages and births with dates up until 1981.
A 24 x 9 inch poster of Cabell's review of The Adventures of the Black Girl in her search for God by Bernard Shaw. A book review reprinted from the New York Herald Tribune Books Section, Sunday, February 26, 1933.
Painting of Family Tree by Cabell
Miscellaneous Drawings and Advertisements