Maryland Poets collection

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: MS-0321

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Two poets, Lizette Woodworth Reese and John Banister Tabb, are represented in the Maryland Poets Collection. Both writers were closely associated with Baltimore and had formed friendships with persons affiliated with Hopkins. The bulk of the collection consists of clippings from newspapers related to Miss Reese and Father Tabb. The largest group is about Miss Reese; only one folder contains Father Tabb items.

The articles (1915-1947) about Miss Reese were removed from Baltimore newspapers. Included are reminiscences from friends, R. P. Harriss, John French, and Victoria Gittings. Other subjects are the dedication of memorials to Miss Reese in Baltimore (Eastern H.S., Western H.S., Enoch Pratt Library, Johns Hopkins University); published poetry; programs from the Woman's Literary Club of Baltimore and the Lizette Woodworth Reese Memorial Association; and several obituaries. Of interest in the collection are two typescript drafts of a short story by Miss Reese, "Cornelia's Birthday," and the printed version (Harper's, June, 1903, V. 107, pp. 25-31) with the author's corrections. A final item is a scrapbook containing published verses of Miss Reese, obituaries, and two photographs of the poet.

In the John Banister Tabb material (1888-1945) are six clippings. An essay entitled "The Rebel's Ruse" written by John B. Tabb, (July 12, 1888) and published in The Independent relates his escape from Point Lookout Prison. The remaining articles discuss his teaching at St. Charles College and his poetry.

Dates

Creation: 1888-1947

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions. It is not necessary to seek our permission as the owner of the physical work to publish or otherwise use public domain materials that we have made available for use, unless Johns Hopkins University holds the copyright.

Biographical Note

Lizette Woodworth Reese, American poet, was born in the Waverly section of Baltimore, Maryland in 1856. Miss Reese compared Waverly of that period to village life in England and the area served as an inspiration for much of her writings. She studied in St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church School and in public schools in Baltimore. At age 17, Miss Reese became a teacher in the St. John's school and later taught in the Baltimore city schools for twenty-three years. She taught English and literature at Western High School and retired in 1921.

Miss Reese's first book of poems A Branch of May was published in 1887.

John Banister Tabb was an American Roman Catholic priest and poet. He was born in Amelia County, Virginia in 1845. He entered Confederate service during the Civil War, was taken prisoner, and confined in the prison at Point Lookout, Maryland. During his imprisonment, he met fellow poet, Sidney Lanier, with whom he formed a life-long friendship. When the war ended, Tabb taught school in Richmond and Baltimore and later devoted himself to theological studies. He was ordained a priest in 1884 and the rest of his life was spent teaching at St. Charles College in Ellicott City, Maryland. Father Tabb's verse ranged from the frivolous to the serious. He was fond of nonsense rhymes and limericks. He is the author of Poems (1894), Lyrics (1897), Later Lyrics (1902), and The Rosary in Rhyme (1904). Father John Banister Tabb died in 1909.

Extent

0.38 Cubic Feet (1 letter size document box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Provenance

The collection was the given to the University by John French, Kenneth Rede, Freida C. Theis, John S. Short, and Charles D. Lanier during the 1940s.

Related Materials

John Banister Tabb was acquainted with Johns Hopkins University professor of English, University librarian, and author, William Hand Browne (1828-1912). Tabb valued Brown's editorial judgment and sent him manuscript copies of his poems. Manuscript and published material of Father Tabb can be found in The William Hand Browne Collection, MS.0011.

Also in Special Collections is the Lizette Woodworth Reese Collection (MS.0182) which contains manuscripts material and a letter.