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4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. A nice small archive of holograph and typed manuscript poems from the early years of Pulitzer Prize-winning American poet Robert Hillyer (1895-1961). Present are 13 poems on 10 leaves (which includes a duplicate and 3 poems which appear unpublished), among them a poem in tribute to his friend Robert Frost. The collection is from the personal papers of LeBaron Russell Briggs, one of the great figures in the history of Harvard, Radcliffe, and the NCAA. Briggs was first Dean of Men at Harvard College, where he also served as dean of the faculty. He was also president of Radcliffe College and the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Briggs' influence on writers such as e. e. cummings, Conrad Aiken, John Dos Passos, and others has long been legendary. Included in this collection are some of Hillyer's notably scarce early work, including poems published in his first book.The poems are, unless noted otherwise, on sheets approximately 8.5 x 11 inches, and include: (1) 'The Death of the Washerwoman (in the best manner of Mr. Robert Frost). A Sample of Modern Poetry.' 1 page, typed in red and black, with two holograph corrections (first line: 'I was hard up that year, and so I boarded'). This long poem, 39 lines in 5 stanzas, apparently remains unpublished. Hillyer years later was to issue a book titled A Letter to Robert Frost and Others, composed of verse letters to Frost. Given the noted friendship and literary relationship between Hilllyer and Frost, this poem (apparently from 1915-1917, quite early for Hillyer), has particular appeal. Signed by Hillyer on verso. (2) 'Song'. 1 page, entirely in Hillyer's hand in black ink on a white sheet measuring 6 x 8.75 inches, signed in full. This is either the original manuscript, or an early draft, of the poem issued with slight changes under this title in Sonnets and Other Lyrics, Harvard University Press, 1917. (3) 'A Heron'. 1 page, typed. Later published in Sonnets and Other Lyrics, 1917. (3b)---- another copy. Carbon typescript. 'Three Songs'. 1 page, typed. This group of three poems (numbered I, II, III) were later broken out as separate poems: (4a) 'I' (first line 'My heart is happy'), is apparently still unpublished. 16 lines. (4b) 'II' became 'Song', published in Sonnets and Other Lyrics, 1917. (4c) 'III', with textual changes, became 'Winter Night', also published in Sonnets and Other Lyrics, 1917. (5) 'Sonnet'. 1 page, typed. ('R. Hillyer Sonnet:' 'Used in 1923-4' in pencil on verso). Appears with minor changes as Sonnet XXXI in Sonnets and Other Lyrics, 1917. (6) 'Sonnet III'. 1 page, typed in blue and red with one ink correction, dated at foot February, 1915. Appears with some changes as 'Sonnet III' in Sonnets and Other Lyrics, 1917. (7) 'Sonnet'. 1 page, typed with ink corrrection and underscore ('Hillyer' in Briggs' hand on recto and verso). Published in Five Books of Youth, Brentano's, 1920. (8) 'Epilogue'. 1 page, typed, also published in Five Books of Youth, 1920. (9) 'La Mare Des Fees'. 1 page, typed (with some typed corrections), also published with some changes in Five Books of Youth, 1920. (10) 'To My Cat Pasht'. 1 page, typed (first line 'Here by my side a gracious little sphinx'). This sonnet (a poetic tribute to his cat) apparently remains unpublished. Seller Inventory # 005492748
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