Longfellow
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It would be an exaggeration to say that Longfellow invented America. But that he imagined and perfected and made memorable so many aspects of how America is conceived remains his most enduring achievement.
NOTES
Abbreviations
BC: Special Collections, Bowdoin College.
Hilen: Andrew Hilen, The Letters of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. 6 vols., 1966–1982. [References are to letters by sequential number, not by page.]
LNHS: Longfellow Family Papers, Longfellow National Historic Site, Cambridge, Mass.
LP: Longfellow Papers, Houghton Library, Harvard University.
MHS: Wadsworth-Longfellow Papers, Maine Historical Society, Portland, Maine.
ZLP: Zilpah Longfellow Papers, Longfellow National Historic Site, Cambridge, Mass.
Craigie House
the subject of Salome Longfellow had depicted Salome dancing for the head of John the Baptist in “Herod’s Banquet Hall,” Christus: A Mystery. Part I: The Divine Tragedy (Boston, 1872).
Queen Victoria at Windsor Quoted in Ellmann, Oscar Wilde, 181. For details of the tour, see Lloyd Lewis, Oscar Wilde Discovers America, 1882. Manchester, N.H.: Ayer Co. Publishers, 1967.
himself a beautiful poem Holland, The Complete Letters of Oscar Wilde, 137, note 4.
The City by the Sea
Longfellow had not been born in this house On the later fate of the now demolished birthplace in the hands of an early-twentieth-century Portland eccentric, see Barry, “Arthur Charles Jackson,” Down East (April 1990), 52–55, 61–63.
the Falmouth Gazette Butler, “The Wadsworths,” 4–5.
his letters from Washington Wadsworth Papers, MHS, Box 1, Folder 3.
trotting on the knee ZLP, LNHS, Sept. 27, 1807.
the only American officer Leamon, Revolution Downeast, 122–23.
a party of Loyalist raiders His daughter Zilpah said her mother had told her the general had been “greatly distressed” by having to order the execution. Zilpah, like her son Henry, opposed capital punishment, saying “there exists no power on earth to empower one man to take the life of another.” She was writing her son-in-law, who had sent her the autograph of Gen. Wadsworth’s proclamation of martial law in 1780. ZLP, LNHS, Feb. 5, 1834.
To add to the sufferings Dwight, Travels, Vol. II. Reprinted in MHS Collections, VII, 232.
Preferring death to slavery Samuel Longfellow, Life, I, 3–4.
My dress was simple ZL to Nancy Doane, April 25, 1799. ZLP. For the cultural significance of Zilpah’s presentation, see Ulrich, “From the Fair to the Brave,” in Sprague, Agreeable Situations, 215–25.
It is now evening. ZLP, LNHS, Nov. 29/Dec. 19, 1797.
the room in which we used to read ZLP, LNHS, Dec. 31, 1801.
I presume you know of which room I speak ZLP, LNHS, Sept. 1, 1801.
growing old ZLP, LNHS, Aug. 9, 1801.
the family name had provoked mirth Willis, History of the Law, 360.
His interleaved almanacs Clifford Shipton, New England Life in the Eighteenth Century: Representative Biographies from Sibley’s Harvard Graduates (1742), Cambridge, Mass.: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1996, 157.
in his addresses to the jury Willis, History of the Law, 360.
there was money to be made On the legal culture of the District of Maine in the early republic, among many other topics, an essential source is Jordan, Index to Portland Newspapers, passim. On the debate over Maine’s statehood, see Banks, Maine Becomes a State, passim. On the cultural differences between coast and backcountry, see Taylor, Liberty Men and Great Proprietors, 9–10.
no political event in American life Theodore Dwight, History, 1. The standard modern account argues that the Federalists at Hartford were for the most part moderates, seeking to amend the Constitution but not to leave the Union. Banner, To the Hartford Convention, 294–350. Zilpah showed better political instincts than her husband or father: Gen. Wadsworth thought it prudent for the delegates “to deliberate with closed doors.” But Zilpah asked Stephen: “. . . would not a secret consultation give more plausibility to the cry of treason? . . . We are assured here that we shall have peace before spring.” ZLP, LNHS, Dec. 17, 1814. She correctly predicted the public reaction.
Do you not want to kiss Henry? ZLP, LNHS, Oct. 4, 1809.
Henry is ready to march Lucia Wadsworth to Stephen Longfellow, May 6, 1812. Copy in Materials on Childhood, LP, Box 166, MHS.
Writing amid his legislative duties LP, MHS, Box 166.
the American brig Enterprise The battle is described in the Eastern Argus (Portland), Sept. 8, 1813.
Henry’s closest brush ZLP, LNHS, July 30/Aug. 6/Aug. 17, 1815.
another painful accident ZLP, LNHS, Sept. 25, 1817.
This certifies Portland Academy certificate, Materials on Childhood, LP, Box 166, MHS.
some friendly gesture Note dated 1821, Materials on Childhood, LP, Box 166, MHS.
He was a very handsome boy Elijah Kellogg, Bowdoin Orient, February 1885, BC.
Henry took delight in Don Quixote Samuel Longfellow, Life, I, 11.
Deering’s Woods For a description and history, see Theo Holtwijk, ed., Bold Vision: The Development of the Parks of Portland, Maine (Greater Portland Landmarks, 1999), passim.
Every reader has his first book HWL, “Remarks . . . upon the death of Irving.” 1859. Reprinted in Samuel Longfellow, Life, I, 12.
Henry was visiting that evening Samuel Longfellow, Life, I, 23. Lawrance Thompson confuses the eighteenth-century poetic practice of imitation—the rewriting of an admired work in one’s own language—with plagiarism in “Longfellow’s Original Sin of Imitation,” The Colophon, New Series, I (Autumn 1935), 97–106.
Neither poem is good Thomas Cogswell Upham, “Lovellspond,” American Sketches (New York, 1819); HWL, “The Battle of Lovell’s Pond,” Portland Gazette, Nov. 5, 1820. Reprinted in Samuel Longfellow, Life, I, 21–22.
A Small College in Maine
an excursion into the woods ZLP, LNHS, June 16, 1825.
the brightly colored book Wadsworth Papers, Box 1606, MHS.
In Lawrence Buell’s words New England Literary Culture, 30.
make the desert bloom Calhoun, A Small College in Maine, 3–27.
Writing from Hiram ZLP, LNHS, 1809.
This dear son ZLP, LNHS, Sept. 25, 1817.
a Mrs. Brown ZLP, LNHS, May 10, 1824.
the education of your sons ZLP, LNHS, Jan. 10, 1824.
the truth and the whole truth Letters from Zilpah Longfellow, LP, March 9, 1824.
feel great anxiety ZLP, LNHS, Jan. 25, 1824.
My dear husband ZLP, LNHS, March 4, 1824.
a few hours in your society ZLP, LNHS, Nov. 20, 1824.
What can have made the difference ZLP, LNHS, Feb. 20, 1825.
Henry James was to dismiss Bowdoin James, “Hawthorne,” 332.
a country college Hawthorne, Fanshawe, 3.
his sister Elizabeth Hilen 28 (Oct. 12, 1823).
the Peucinian librarians The only known surviving copy is in BC.
his first public criticism Loring Hart, “The Beginning of Longfellow’s Fame,” New England Quarterly 34:1 (1963), 67.
I most eagerly aspire Hilen 56 (Dec. 5, 1824).
The Passionate Pilgrim
enlivened only by their chattering Hilen 93 (June 15, 1826).
divers fits of laughter Hilen 94 (June 15, 1826).
Paris is a gloomy city Hilen 97 (July 10, 1826).
the takeover of the college Calhoun, 84–90.
little else than run Hilen 96 (July 10, 1826).
a jauntier letter Hilen 100 (July 23, 1826).
you have changed your costume Letters from Zilpah and Stephen Longfellow Sr., LP, Sept. 24, 1826.
your elastic step ZLP, LNHS, May 7, 1826.
great confidence in your uprightness ZLP, LNHS, Dec. 19, 1826.
Your expenses are much more Letters from Stephen Longfellow Sr., LP, Aug. 11, 1826.
You cannot conceive
Hilen 100 (July 23, 1826).
the village’s dark streets Hilen 102 (Aug. 17, 1826).
by breaking off the head Hilen 108 (Oct. 26, 1826).
He was alone Hilen 152 (June 18, 1829).
Your ulterior objects Letters from Stephen Longfellow Sr., LP, Dec. 3, 1826.
the most beautiful city Hilen 113 (Feb. 26, 1827).
the great literary mart Hilen 114 (March 20, 1827).
who put you at ease Hilen 114.
Nor was I doomed Mackenzie, A Year in Spain, 174.
The Spanish woman Mackenzie, 391.
our fairy life at Naples George Washington Greene Letters, LP, April 7, 1865.
all at the hotel Hilen 141 (Dec. 19, 1828).
the misery of the people Hilen 137 (Sept. 1, 1828).
his Aunt Lucia ZLP, LNHS, 1828.
he exploded in a letter Hilen 141 (Dec. 19, 1828).
melancholy and down-hearted Hilen 143 (Dec. 27, 1828).
In one account of the University Letters from Zilpah Longfellow, LP, Oct. 26, 1826.
In the antechamber Journal for 1829, LP, Feb. 23, 1829.
his Bowdoin memorialist Edward Preble File, Alumni Records, BC.
a vehicle of amusement The only known surviving copy of the Old Dominion Zeitung (Göttingen, 1829) is in LP.
a noble river Hilen 156 (May 15, 1829).
Bungonuck Days
a true Christian Letters from Zilpah Longfellow, LP, May 7, 1829. Stephen’s comments are added to Zilpah’s letter.
a timid feeble girl Letters from Zilpah Longfellow, LP, May 7, 1829.
the guardians of the Institution Letters from Zilpah Longfellow, LP, April 24, 1829.
wrote to the president Hilen 155 (Aug. 27, 1829).
he accepted the professorship Hilen 156 (Sept. 2, 1829).
an ideal university Hilen 147 (March 10, 1829).
the public controversy Calhoun, 84–90.
New curricular arrangements Catalogue of Bowdoin College, 1829.
The prospect before me Hilen 161 (Dec. 20, 1829).
small comedies in French Hilen 158 (Oct. 15, 1829).
the life of an instructer Hilen 161 (Dec. 20, 1829).
nostalgia for Italy Hilen 173 (Jan. 27, 1830).
a Little Man in Gosling Green Reprinted in Hatfield, “An Unknown Prose Tale,” American Literature 3:2 (May 1931), 136–48.
His Bowdoin classmate Cheever, American Common-Place Book of Poetry, 203.
Its chief characteristics North American Review LXXIV (April 1831), 316.
To Englishmen North American Review LXXIV (October 1831), 325.
the peculiarities of national character North American Review LXXV (April 1832), 36.
the language of a nation North American Review LXXV (October 1832), 283.
how other nations have thought North American Review LXXV, 283.
the spirit of the age North American Review LXXV (January 1832), 59.
You can have no idea Letters from Zilpah Longfellow, LP, May 27, 1827.
the reviews were friendly Loring Hart, “The Beginnings of Longfellow’s Fame,” New England Quarterly 36:1 (1963), 67.
a kind of Sketch-Book Hilen 150 (May 15, 1829).
pure heart and guileless disposition Hilen 179 (Sept. 26, 1830).
much pleased with this engagement ZLP, LNHS, April 19, 1831.
surrounded by shrubbery Zilpah Longfellow Papers, LNHS, July 14, 1833.
a “black girl” ZLP, LNHS, Oct. 10, 1833.
a wild drama Journal for 1834, LP.
he contemplated a tragedy Journal/Commonplace Book for 1829–34, LP.
The Journey North
an exceedingly agreeable man Hilen, Longfellow and Scandinavia, 14.
pleasant little thing Crowninshield, Diary, xii-xxxi.
Shall I go? Hilen, Longfellow and Scandinavia, 15.
how little can be accomplished here Hilen 307 (May 14, 1835).
landlich, sittlich Journal for 1835–36, LP, May 22, 1835.
a true dandy Journal for 1835–36, LP, May 21, 1835.
went to a soiree Journal for 1835–36, LP, May 23, 1835.
naked almost to the waist Journal for 1835–36, LP, May 23, 1835.
a sweet, simple, lovely woman Journal for 1835–36, LP, May 22, 1835.
tall and awkward Crowninshield, 11.
a face that reminds you of Burns Journal for 1835–36, LP, May 30, 1835.
a work of rare merit Journal for 1835–36, LP, May 31, 1835.
Breakfasted at Mr. Carlyle’s Journal for 1835–36, LP, June 3, 1835.
Our conversation glanced Journal for 1835–36, LP, June 3, 1835.
his great goggle eyes Journal for 1835–36, LP, June 2, 1835.
Lamps gleaming Journal for 1835–36, LP, June 9, 1835.
a feeling of gloom and loneliness Journal for 1835–36, LP, June 17, 1835.
a classical smell Journal for 1835–36, LP, June 22, 1835.
There is no night Journal for 1835–36, LP, June 28, 1835.
two persons gone from town Journal for 1835–36, LP, July 1, 1835.
The moment you leave Journal for 1835–36, LP, July 1, 1835.
leaning over the railing Crowninshield, 75.
Everybody takes a dram Hilen 318 (Aug, 10, 1835).
near a stable yard Journal for 1835–36, LP, Aug. 12, 1835.
blazing from its open mouth Hilen, Longfellow and Scandinavia, 125–28.
If I were not in such a hurry Journal for 1835–36, LP, Sept. 8, 1835.
How different this city looks Journal for 1835–36, LP, Sept. 10, 1835.
an unpleasant sound Journal for 1835–36, LP, Sept. 10, 1836.
I began to read aloud Crowninshield, 114–15.
like a cat in a strange garret Journal for 1835–36, LP, Sept. 20, 1835.
Mary is sick Crowninshield, 136.
Was up before daylight Journal for 1835–36, LP, Oct. 6, 1835.
the most disagreeable sounding language Hilen 331 (Oct. 25, 1835).
four kinds of meat Crowninshield, 167.
The doctor called Crowninshield, 176.
a miscarriage Hilen 333 (Nov. 28, 1835).
her breathing more difficult Crowninshield, 183–84.
I gave him some wine Crowninshield, 184.
An Alpine Interlude
short, thick, commonplace Wagenknecht, Mrs. Longfellow, 44.
Why do I travel? Journal for 1836, LP, July 20, 1836.
sends up his card Wagenknecht, Mrs. Longfellow, 32.
so kind to William Wagenknecht, Mrs. Longfellow, 35.
Miss Mr. L Wagenknecht, Mrs. Longfellow, 36.
Castle Craigie
the dignified Georgian house For the story of the house’s previous owners, see Dana, “The Craigie House,” in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
a local eccentric The Craigie House Ms. Notes, LP, 12.
I live in a great house Hilen 437 (Aug. 6, 1838).
For generation after generation Adams, The Education of Henry Adams (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1971), 54.
a long battle with the institution For details, see Johnson, Professor Longfellow, 1–15.
the attribute of great genius Lectures on Goethe, Harvard College, 1837–38, LP.
first lecture on Goethe’s Faust Hale, A New England Boyhood, xx.
good fortune to study French Higginson, Old Cambridge, 142.
too gay a look Craigie House Notes, 10.
curl your hair Hilen 421 (April 30, 1838).
genuine poetic feeling Hart, 74.
it came into my mind Complete Poetical Works (1894), 13.
their 17th-century ancestor Hilen 555 (Oct. 25, 1840).
on the back of a letter Complete Poetical Works, 19.
one of Longfellow’s most obscure works Hyperion was not included in the Library of America 2000 edition of Longfellow’s poetry and prose. A paperback edition was published in 2002 by Wildside Press, Doylestown, Penn.
The Water Cure
I am reluctantly co
mpelled Hilen 659 (Jan. 24, 1842).
a glorious fellow Hilen 660 (Jan. 30, 1842).
Will this parting note reach you? Charles Sumner Papers, Houghton Library, April 23, 1842.
it made my heart swell Hilen 681 (April 26, 1842).
growing a little web-footed Hilen 690 (June 8, 1842).
to work upon my nerves Hilen 694 (June 24, 1842).
not out of my berth Hilen 743 (Jan. 6, 1843).
How do you like the Slavery Poems? Hilen 739 (Jan. 1, 1843).
negrophilic old ladies Poe, Essays and Reviews, 762.
A Wedding in Beacon Street
a better dawn Wagenknecht, Mrs. Longfellow, 83–84.
amid the blossoms Journal for 1844, LP, May 10, 1844. Longfellow’s journal for 1843 does not survive.
true love is very apt to win its reward Wagenknecht, 84.
a very lovely woman Hilen 780 (May 11, 1843).
Life was too lonely Hilen 781 (May 21, 1843).
long-tried affection Wagenknecht, 86.
the groom was handsome as usual Wagenknecht, Longfellow: A Full-Length Portrait (New York, 1955), 231.
A Seaside Idyll
this grand old mansion Wagenknecht, Mrs. Longfellow, 92. Longfellow’s instincts as a preservationist had deep roots: one of his earliest poems is his 1824 protest against the replacement of his family’s church by the present building. See “Old Parish Church,” Little, Longfellow’s Boyhood Poems, 43–44.
every modern comfort Wagenknecht, 93.
decidedly conservative Journal for 1844, LP, April 9, 1844.
which Washington has rendered sacred For details of their work on the house, including painting it yellow, see Historic Furnishings Report: The Longfellow House (U.S. Department of the Interior/National Park Service, 1999), esp. 45–51 and passim for individual rooms. Copy in Longfellow National Historic Site Archives, Cambridge, Mass.
so many great events Among these was a literary event whose significance was not appreciated until much later: While living at the Craigie House during the Siege of Boston, General Washington wrote his now famous letter to the young African American poet Phillis Wheatley. Whether she accepted his invitation to call is unknown.