Contents
Collection Overview
Biographical Note
Scope and Contents of the Collection
Organization of the Collection
Search Terms
Series I. Correspondence,
1915-1927
Series II. Writings,
1915-1934
Series III. Photographs,
1915
Series IV. Robert Browning Manuscript,
n.d.
Series V. Memorabilia,
1912-1924
Series VI. Articles,
1861-1934
Series I. Correspondence,
1915-1927
Series II. Writings,
1915-1934
Series III. Photographs,
1915
Series IV. Robert Browning Manuscript,
n.d.
Series V. Memorabilia,
1912-1924
Series VI. Articles,
1861-1934
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Dellah Harris Vail Papers On Robert Browning's Desk, 1861-1934
Finding Aid
Finding aid prepared by Karen V. Kukil.
Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
2003
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Creator:
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Vail, Dellah Harris, d. 1935 |
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Title:
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Dellah Harris Vail Papers on Robert Browning's Desk |
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Dates:
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1861-1934 |
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Abstract:
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Woman who owned Robert Browning's writing desk and bequeathed it to Smith College in memory of her daughter. Includes photographs of the desk, Vail's manuscript notes and printed writings, a note in Robert Browning's autograph, memorabilia, and flowers collected from Elizabeth Barrett Browning's grave in Florence and the Browning residence in Venice from a trip to Europe in 1924. |
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Extent:
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1 box(0.25 linear ft.) |
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Language:
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English. |
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Identification:
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MS 13 |
Derrick T. Vail was born on October 2, 1864 in Franklin, Ohio. After graduating from Miami Medical College in 1890, he practiced ophthalmology in Cincinnati, Ohio. His discovery of Tularemia-Conjunctivitis in man with Dr. William B. Wherry was his major contribution to medicine.
Dr. Vail married Dellah Harris of Franklin, Ohio, on April 14, 1891. The couple lived at 2219 Park Avenue, Walnut Hills, in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Their daughter Charlotte Farrell Vail attended Smith College with the Class of 1923. She died in Northampton, Massachusetts, on March 11, 1923. Dr. Vail died on October 29, 1930. Mrs. Vail died on December 7, 1935. They were survived by their daughter Rosalind Vail Dwight of Cincinnati, Ohio.
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The Dellah Harris Vail Papers contain Vail's correspondence with scholars and dealers about Robert Browning's writing desk. The papers span the dates 1861 to 1934 and also include photographs of the desk, as well as Vail's manuscript notes and printed writings.
Dr. Derrick T. Vail purchased Robert Browning's writing desk from E. P. Dutton & Company on February 20, 1915 for his wife. Mrs. Vail bequeathed the desk to Smith College in memory of her daughter, Charlotte Farrell Vail, Class of 1923, who died at Smith College on March 11, 1923. When the College received the desk after Mrs. Vail's death on December 7, 1935, her papers and a note in Robert Browning's autograph were stored inside.
While the bulk of Mrs. Vail's papers are about the desk, there are some printed articles about Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning (Folder 6). Memorabilia from meetings of the Browning Circle of the Cincinnati Woman's Club include a poem by Calvin Dill Wilson entitled "The Writing of Robert Browning" (Folder 5). Mrs. Vail also collected flowers from Elizabeth Barrett Browning's grave in Florence and the Browning residence in Venice during her trip to Europe in 1924 (Folder 5). These papers are arranged in six series.
Return to the Table of Contents
Return to the Table of Contents
This collection is organized into six series:
These papers are arranged in six series.
Return to the Table of Contents
Series I. Correspondence,
1915-1927 (8 Items)
Arranged alphabetically by correspondent and then chronologically.
Series II. Writings,
1915-1934 (3 items)
Arranged chronologically.
Series III. Photographs,
1915 (7 items)
Series IV. Robert Browning Manuscript,
n.d. (3 items)
Series V. Memorabilia,
1912-1924 (2 items)
Arranged alphabetically.
Series VI. Articles,
1861-1934 (12 items)
The articles are about Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
Arranged alphabetically by main entry or title.
Series I. Correspondence,
1915-1927
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Breed, F. Gordon
Feb. 5, 1925 (1 letter and 6 pages of "Browning's Luria")
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Browning, Fannie
1915-1916 (4 letters)
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Dodd, Robert H.
Apr. 24, 1916 (1 two-page letter and two pages of "Browning Items")
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Dutton & Company
1915-1916 (3 letters and a card stating the amount for which the desk was sold).
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Goewey, Kate
Feb. 27, 1918 (1 letter)
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Jackson, Margaret
Jan. 30, 1927 (1 letter)
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Merrill, Bess H.
n.d. (1 letter)
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Stewart & Kidd Co.
Feb.-May, 1915 (7 letters)
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Series II. Writings,
1915-1934
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"Robert Browning's Writing Desk in Cincinnati": typescript & printed articles
1915 (3 items)
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Bequest information about Robert Browning's desk
1934 Jan 1
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Series III. Photographs,
1915
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3 |
Photographs of Robert Browning's writing desk
1915 (7 photographs)
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Series IV. Robert Browning Manuscript,
n.d.
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4 |
A note in Robert Browning's autograph about an 1888 casting of a bust which Pen Browning sculpted of his father in 1882
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A printed autograph of Robert Browning, annotated by Dr. Derrick T. Vail.
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A photograph of Browning's note and printed autograph, annotated by Dr. Derrick T. Vail.
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Series V. Memorabilia,
1912-1924
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The Browning Circle. The Cincinnati Women's Club, (cards, programs, certificates, and a poem about the writing desk by Calvin Dill Wilson)
1912-1915
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Flower specimens gathered at E. B. Browning's grave (Florence) and at the Browning home (Venice)
1924
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Series VI. Articles,
1861-1934
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6 |
"Addressed to Wimpole Street." Letters edited by William Rose Benét; illustrated by Mario Cooper. From Woman's Home Companion
Sep 1935, Oct 1935, Nov 1935, Dec 1935 p. 15-17, 76-80; p. 13-14, 38, 40, 42, 44, 47-48, 50; p. 10-11, 52, 54, 56; p. 22, 36, 38.
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"The Barretts of Wimpole Street": advertisement for motion picture. From Ladies Home Journal
Oct. 1934 p. 58.
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Bentzon, Th. (Mme. Blan). "A French Friend of Brownings--Joseph Milsand. From Scribner's, vol. 20
Jul. 1896 p. [108] - 120.
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The Boston Browning Society 1910-1911. Boston: Puritan Press
1911 Pamphlet: 23 p.Inscribed on top: "Compliments F.S.B. Whitaker."
Includes by-laws, programs, list of members.
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Bronson, Katherine C. "Browning in Asolo." With sketches by Clara Montalba. From The Century Magazine, vol. LIX
Apr. 1900 p. 920-931.
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Bronson, Katherine de Kay. "Browning in Venice." With sketches by Clara Montalba. From The Century Magazine, vol. LXIII, no. 4
Feb. 1902 p. 572-584.
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Egypt Exploration Fund,
1915 [4]p.
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"Elizabeth Barrett Browning." From The Atlantic Monthly
Sep. 1861 p. 368-376.
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Hellman, George S. "Some Unpublished Papers of Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning. From Harper's Monthly Magazine.
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"Last Days of Walter Savage Landor." From The Atlantic Monthly, vol. XVII, no. CII
Apr. 1866 p. [385]-395].
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"Paraselsus": typescript
n.d.
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Phelps, William Lym. "Robert Browning as Seen By His Son." From The Century Magazine, vol. LXXXV
Jan. 1913 p. 417-420.
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