William James Linton (December 7, 1812-December 29, 1897) was born in London and spent a major portion of his life in England before leaving, in 1866, to come to the United States, where he spent the remainder of his life. From an early age he demonstrated an interest in artistic matters, poetry, and political activity--for which three interests he is chiefly regarded today. In his youthful days in England he studied wood engraving seriously, while at the same time involving himself significantly in the active political scene characteristic of the 1840s. He was much concerned with the Republican politics of the day, as his correspondence with the Italian political reformer Mazzini (specimens of which are in this collection) indicates. His marriage to the novelist Eliza Lynn, which ended in "amicable separation" (article on Linton in
Here he continued his literary and artistic endeavors in Hamden, Connecticut, a town near New Haven, where he established the Appledore Press, his own private press, where his "most ambitious pieces of imaginative work were produced" (local citation). From this press emanated many of his finest and most influential books of poetry and studies of wood-engraving, such as
Taken as a whole, the Linton Papers consists of a variety of materials in which all areas of Linton's interests, from his early maturity to old age, are represented.
The papers, beginning in the 1840s with early poems written in Linton's own hand, and ending in the 1890s with correspondence to his publishers regarding his last published works and an impassioned plea to an unnamed correspondent demanding his "vindication" before the world, illuminates Linton in so telling a way as only primary material of this sort can. The collection also contains the poetry (
In the area of correspondence there are five letters written by Linton himself and some eighteen addressed to him from various people, often noteworthy personalities. The letters of 1852-1896 for the most part were written during Linton's American period; some of the earlier ones were written to him while he was still in England. Important correspondents include the Italian political reformer Mazzini, the poets Lucy Larcom, Algernon Charles Swinburne and Christina Rossetti. The "artistic" letters were penned by such notables as John Ruskin and Winslow Homer. Most of the letters are dated and signed. It is rather regrettable that the correspondence from Linton to others is not larger, comprising as it does merely five items.
The final segment of the collection, some forty-four items of pictorial material--drawings by Linton and others, proofs of Linton engravings, and a generous selection of photographs of Linton, his associates, and his house, "Old Appledore", where he operated his Appledore Press, serves well to complete our picture of Linton by providing a pictorial vehicle for comprehending him.
Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested..
William James Linton Papers, Ms. 80.5, Brown University Library.
This collection of approximately 100 items has been divided into three main series which reflect the three major genres of material to be found here:
For the most part the series and subseries in the collection are arranged chronologically.
The main body of this collection was the gift of Miss Mary E. Mather and Mrs. Thaddeu Merriam in 1957. Another donation to the Linton Papers was made by Albert E. Lownes. Only one additional item has, so far, been acquired for the collection: a letter from Linton to "My dear Sterne", September 21, 1875. This purchase was made form a dealer in March 1980.
It is expected that the collection will continue to be expanded in the future by deliberate acquisition and, perhaps, also by gift.
Brown University Library catalog record for this collection:
The following organizations also have William James Linton collections:
Digital facsimiles of items from this collection are available from within the online finding aid.