A Guide to the Papers of Florence Dickinson Stearns 1920-1955 Stearns, Florence, Dickinson 7494

A Guide to the Papers of Florence Dickinson Stearns 1920-1955

A Collection in
The Special Collections Department
Accession Number 7494


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Funding: Web version of the finding aid funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Processed by: Sharon Defibaugh and Nina Aslan

Repository
Special Collections, University of Virginia Library
Accession number
7494
Title
Papers of Florence Dickinson Stearns, 1920-1955
Physical Characteristics
This collection consists of 3,500 items (4 Hollinger boxes, 1.5 linear feet).
Collector
Sharon Defibaugh and Nina Aslan
Language
English

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Papers of Florence Dickinson Stearns, Accession #7494 , Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

This collection was given to the University of Virginia Library by Mrs. J. Stuart Reynolds, Richmond, Virginia, on April 30, 1964.

Biographical/Historical Information

Stearns was a graduate of Columbia University and lived in Fredericksburg, Virginia, prior to the death of her husband, Franklin Stearns. Later she became associated with a metropolitan newspaper and became advertising manager of corporation in New York City. After she returned to Virginia, she again turned to newspaper work, writing sketches of Virginia poets (see news clippings 1934-1935, etc.) for The Richmond News Leader , articles on poetry, book reviews, and a series of articles entitled "Three Cornered Rendezvous," attempting to popularize the classic tradition in poetry. She also taught poetry technique at the Richmond Extension of the College of William and Mary. Stearns was a former president of the Poetry Society of Virginia, and member of the Catholic Poetry Society of America and Poetry Society of America. She first began seriously writing poetry in 1930, with her poetry appearing in various poetry magazines and anthologies, and a selection was published in book form in Strange Dimension in 1938.

Scope and Content Information

This collection consists of the papers of Virginia poet, Florence Dickinson Stearns (1883- ?), of Richmond, Virginia, ca. 3,500 items (4 Hollinger boxes, 1.5 linear feet), ca. 1920-1955, including manuscripts of her poetry, essays, articles, plays, speeches & lectures, reviews, and radio serials; a collection of poems used in her book, Strange Dimension (1938) published by G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York; correspondence; photographs; news clippings; printed and miscellaneous material.

Topics in the correspondence (Box 1) include: Stearns receiving The Richmond Academy of Arts Award (Andrews, 1932 Jun 22); composing music for three poems of Stearns to be used in a ballad and mention of Jean & John Powell (Annabel 1932 Oct 1); mention of his poem The Anniversary Ode and his book on psychics (Anspacher 1946 Feb 1, May 3, Oct 3); accepts position as a member of the Advisory Board of the Poetry Society of Virginia (Cabell 1934 Jun 29); the election of Stearns as a Regional Vice-President of the Poetry Society of America (Davidson 1951 Jul 16, Oct 3); discussion of the poetry of Stearns and a vicious review of Archibald MacLeish (Dillon 1953 Oct 3); high opinion and detailed discussion of Robert Frost (Dillon 1952 Feb 8); long discussion of John Nerber and mention of Dwight D. Eisenhower and the election (Dillon 1952 Feb 8); admiration for the poetry of Stearns (Freeman 1946 Jan 22); declines position as a member of the Advisory Board of the Poetry Society of Virginia but admires Stearns poetry (Glasgow 1934 Jun 18); inclusion of Stearns in an anthology of Virginia poets, Lyric Virginia To-day (Leitch 1931 Sep 22, Oct 1; 1932 Mar 10; May 18); criticism of Stearn's poetry (Leitch 1932 May 18); two poems by Mary Sinton Leitch (Leitch 1932 Nov 4); mention of Carl Sandburg and his goats (Leitch 1946 Sep 21); discussion of death and eternity (1952 Mar 9); mention of William Carlos Williams and W.H. Auden (Leitch 1952 Dec 7); an opinion of John Ciardi (Leitch 1953 Nov 25 & 28); and mention of Marianne Moore (Meacham 1955 Jun 9).

Contents List

Correspondents of Florence Dickinson Stearns
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Manuscripts & Other Papers
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