Overview
Papers compiled on Universalist writer and poet, Julia Fletcher Carney, by Martin Litvin. The papers span 1843-1988.
Dates
- Creation: 1843-1988.
Access
There are no restrictions on access to this collection.
Extent
1 boxesThis collection consists of three copies of Martin Litvin's manuscript entitled A Poet the World Forgot, the Story of Julia Fletcher Carney, the most complete version of which is dated circa September 30, 1987. Also included are photocopies of original correspondence (1843-1850) between Julia and her husband, Thomas Carney; a transcribed version of this correspondence by Litvin entitled Seventy-Four Letters; a photocopy of Julia Fletcher Carney's 1846 journal; an edited version of this journal by Litvin with narrative, entitled A Journal of Julia Abigail Fletcher (December 22, 1987); and another edited version of this journal with the same title by Litvin but with parenthetical narrative (January 2, 1988). The collection also includes a substantial amount of Litvin's research material, which consists of newspaper articles, poems, letters, and prose pieces, all of which were written either by or about Carney. Some biographical material and a few original letters from members of the Carney family, as well as Julia Fletcher Carney's 1871 bible, are also included.
Biographical / Historical
Martin Litvin (1928-2000) was born in Galesburg, Illinois, and graduated from the University of Southern California in 1949. After serving with the United States Army in Great Britain, he attended the University of Iowa Law School for one year and then settled in New York, where he acted as a correspondent for The Galesburg Post and the Knoxville Journal. He had several novels, biographies, and other works of nonfiction published.
Julia Fletcher Carney (1823-1908) was a writer, primary school educator, feminist, Universalist, and Boston-area resident. She achieved world fame for her poem "Little Things," written in 1845. Born in Lancaster, Massachusetts, and educated at Lancaster Academy, she became a teacher at the age of 21. In 1849, she married Universalist minister Thomas J. Carney, and the couple had nine children, four of whom died in infancy. Julia wrote many articles and poems for the religious periodicals of her denomination and the various periodicals of her day. She also wrote a series of Sabbath school instruction books which were used for many years in the liberal churches. A number of her verses were also set to music and used in worship services.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Martin Litvin, 1995.
General note
The number after the slash in each entry in the following list indicates the box number, and the number in parentheses is the folder number.
- Title
- Litvin, Martin. Papers on Julia Fletcher Carney, 1843-1988: A Finding Aid.
- Author
- Andover-Harvard Theological Library
- Language of description
- und
- EAD ID
- div00669
Repository Details
Part of the Harvard Divinity School Library, Harvard University Repository
Special Collections at Harvard Divinity School Library preserves and makes accessible primary source materials documenting the history of religion and theology, with particular historical emphasis on American liberal religious traditions. Though the historical strengths of the collections have been in the field of Christianity, other religious traditions are increasingly reflected, in step with Harvard Divinity School's evolving focus on global religious studies. Known as Andover-Harvard Theological Library since 1911, it was renamed the Harvard Divinity School Library in 2021.
45 Francis Avenue
Cambridge MA 02138-1911 USA
(617) 496-2485
ask@hds.harvard.libanswers.com