(Nicholas) Vachel Lindsay papers

Finding Aid

Prepared for the WWW by Barbara Bass, March 19, 2002; Last Updated: April 2020

Inclusive Dates: Undated
Extent: .33 cubic foot (1 document case)
Physical Location: 11th floor

Biographical Note: Vachel Lindsay (1879-1931) began life as a sickly child, whose parents were determined that he become a doctor. Although he was much more attracted to art and poetry, he dutifully entered the medical program at Hiram College, only to pull out and embark on the life of a young "ne'er do well". In addition to his three walking trips across the United States, in the name of preaching the gospel of truth and beauty, Lindsay spent his young adult years courting numerous women (whom he called "inspiration girls") and writing poetry, which he frequently tried to offer up on the street. Lindsay's contemporaries became familiar with his poetry largely from his spirited public performances, by which he earned his living. He married late in life, but amid mounting problems with his marriage and his finances, Lindsay died (some sources contest that he committed suicide) in 1931. Some of his works include Rhymes to be Traded for Bread (1912), General William Booth Enters Into Heaven and Other Poems (1913), and The Chinese Nightingale and Other Poems (1917).

Scope and Content: The Nicholas Vachel Lindsay papers consists of 22 envelopes containing pictures of paintings, sculpture and other works of art, assembled by Lindsay for the daughter of M. L. Bates, President of Hiram College. The envelopes have annotations by Lindsay and some of the pictures are signed C. F. Lindsay, Esther Catherine Frazee Lindsay, his mother.

Box 1
Folder -- Contents

1. Art pictures: envelope 4: undated
2. Art pictures: envelope 5: undated
3. Art pictures: envelope 6: undated
4. Art pictures: envelope 7: undated
5. Art pictures: envelope 9: undated
6. Art pictures: envelope 11: undated
7. Art pictures: envelope 12: undated
8. Art pictures: envelope 13: undated
9. Art pictures: envelope 14: undated
10. Art pictures: envelope 15: undated
11. Art pictures: envelope 16: undated
12. Art pictures: envelope 17: undated
13. Art pictures: envelope 18: undated
14. Art pictures: envelope 19: undated
15. Art pictures: envelope 20: undated
16. Art pictures: envelope 21: undated
17. Art pictures: envelope 23: undated
18. Art pictures: envelope 24: undated
19. Art pictures: envelope 25: undated
20. Art pictures: envelope 26: undated
21. Art pictures: envelope 27: undated
22. Art pictures: unnumbered envelope: undated
23. Art pictures. Misc.-Egyptian, Greek, Roman, French & English architecture and sculpture: undated