Poetry Archive
New York: 1938. Archive of five items. Typed manuscript with title page and 7 sheets, housed in a blank envelope, three postcards, 4-page printed program. Manuscript folded in thirds, fastened with a rusting paper clip, blank envelope worn, embrowned and splitting. Postcards embrowned but quite legible. Program folded in quarters, faded with heavy central crease, staining, and closed tears. Very good indeed. Item #1363
"TO PRESERVE THESE UNITS OF CELTIC TRADITION IN THE MIDST OF CHANGING IDEOLOGIES AND MATERIALISMS IS TRULY A WORK OF THE SPIRIT"
Collection of five items from the Gaelic poet Joseph Campbell—a fascinating window into the literary culture of the Irish Diaspora in New York City.
A Nationalist and Catholic from Belfast, Campbell moved to Dublin in 1905 where he was part of the Celtic Revival renaissance in Arts and Letters. His Republican sympathies led him to take part in both the Easter Uprising of 1916 and the Civil War and he was imprisoned during 1922-23. Campbell emigrated to America and lived in New York from 1925 to 1939, where he founded the School of Irish Studies program at Fordham University.
The collection consists of 1. Typed Manuscript of verse entitled "Dánta" (with Campbell's name typed as Seosamh Liath Mac Cathmhaoil). The manuscript contains the following Gaelic poems with English translations underneath: Spring Conceit, Triad of Summer Night, Riddle, Woman Poet, Angel Flann with Devil Flann, The Old Woman, Epitaph. 2. three Manuscript Postcards (April and May 1938) from The Irish Foundation on Riverside Drive in New York. The postcards were all written to Ben Greenwald, the editor of the Celtic Digest, residing in the Bronx. 3. a Program for "Feis Oidhche Bhealtaine," a May Night Festival of Irish Poetry and Music held at the Hotel Great Northern in New York City on May 1, 1938. Beltane is the English name for the May Day festival, common to the Celtic regions of northwestern Europe, marking the beginning of the summer pastoral season. This copy of the program includes Campbell's handwritten notes.
Price: $1,500.00