Quantity: | 7 boxes and 1 extra-large folder (3.5 cubic ft.) |
---|---|
Access: | Open to research |
Acquisition: | Gift of Barbara Bouton, Ashburn, Virginia, October 2018 |
Processed By: | Elizabeth Jakubowski, Senior Librarian for Manuscripts and Special Collections, April 2019 |
Josephine Bouton Bleecker was born in Sherburne, Chenango County, New York, on August 3, 1898, to Dr. Eugene Bouton (1850-1951) and Elizabeth Rumrill Gladwin (1865-1960). She had three older siblings: Katharine (1889-1984), Gladwin (1891-1960), and Elizabeth (1893-1990). The family moved several times in Josephine’s youth. She graduated from Bloomfield High School, Bloomfield, New Jersey, in 1917; she then attended but did not graduate from Teachers College, Columbia University.
In the early 1920s Josephine moved to New York City, eventually becoming secretary and assistant to Carolyn Sherwin Bailey who was then editor of American Childhood magazine and who would go on to be awarded the 1947 Newbery Medal for excellence in American children's literature for her book Miss Hickory. Josephine later became the poetry editor of the magazine.
In 1927, the Milton Bradley Company published Poems for the Children’s Hour, a collection of poems Josephine compiled; the foreword was written by Carolyn. That same year Carolyn sponsored Josephine for membership in the Pen and Brush, an organization founded in 1894 to bring together creative women for mutual support and advancement.
Josephine married William Augustus “Bill” Bleecker on September 16, 1927, at the Church of the Transfiguration (Little Church Around the Corner) in New York City. The couple remained for a time in New York City then travelled for Bill’s work, eventually settling in Florida sometime in the mid-1960s. They were married for 54 years until Bill’s death in 1981.
During World War II, Josephine began a small business selling handmade items such as sunbonnets, bags, and aprons to several New York City department stores including Hammacher Schlemmer, Gimbel’s, and Lord and Taylor. This venture ended about the same time as the war but Josephine continued to be involved in small-craft enterprises throughout her life, most notably Bleecker Miniatures, a doll-making company she ran with her husband.
Josephine passed away on April 22, 1995, at the age of 96.
Though primarily known for compiling Poems for the Children’s Hour, Josephine wrote throughout her life. Poems, short stories and essays penned by her were printed in a variety of publications, including The New York Sun, Vogue magazine, American Home magazine, and The Christian Science Monitor. She also wrote several longer, autobiographical novellas which were never published.
This collection contains writings, published and not, as well as other papers, correspondence, clippings, pamphlets, patterns, sheet music, and photographs. Three unpublished autobiographical novellas – “Trade Entrance,” “The Superintendant’s [Superintendent’s] Daughter,” and “Working Girl” – and one fictional short story – “Mrs. Frisky Longtail” – make up the bulk of Josephine’s writing. Also included are two unpublished collections of her poetry, clippings of her published poems and short works, unpublished poems and short works, notes and ideas pertaining to existing writing and unwritten works, and two interviews conducted by Josephine – one with Lillian Leitzel (1892-1931), a circus aerialist, and one with writer and editor E.V. Lucas (1865-1938). There is also a short journal kept by Josephine during a 1925 five-week trip to Europe organized by the University Travel-Study Club of Albany, Albany County, New York.
Some of the writings Josephine collected were authored by family members, including a short story by Josephine’s mother, Elizabeth Gladwin Bouton, and a genealogical history of her husband William A. Bleecker’s family written by her mother-in-law, Emily R. Olssen Bleecker.
This collection also contains materials relating to Josephine’s membership (1927-1995) in the Pen and Brush, including bulletins and calendars; a 70th anniversary brochure (1963), and Josephine’s remembrance of Ida M. Tarbell for the organization’s memorial for Ms. Tarbell, longtime president of the Pen and Brush. There also are two photographs of Ms. Tarbell in the collection which were contributed by Josephine for the memorial.
The correspondence in the collection contains letters from Josephine’s family, friends, and several literary agents and publishers, including a large amount of correspondence with publisher Platt & Munk Company concerning the fourth edition of Josephine’s book, Favorite Poems for the Children’s Hour. Josephine corresponded regularly (ca. 1933-1974) with artist and designer Lydia Bush-Brown Head (1887-1984). Josephine also received several letters and newsletters (1975-1988, n.d.) from Dudley Frasure (1912-1992), a basket maker based in Sherburne, New York, who made Adirondack pack baskets.
Other items in the collection are sewing patterns, mostly for bags, some of which were created by Josephine, and some correspondence and records related to her small-bag business; and several photographs, including two autographed photographs of Alfredo Codona (1893-1937), husband of Lillian Leitzel, and two portraits of Mrs. Eleanor Fellowes (1891-?), wife of Air Commodore Peregrine F. M. Fellowes, expedition leader of the first flight over the summit of Mt. Everest (1933).
This collection may be of interest to those studying mid-twentieth-century women’s history, small entrepreneurial ventures, and publishing.
Box | Folder | Description |
---|---|---|
Autobiographical Novellas | ||
1 | 1 | “Trade Entrance,” an original and a carbon typescript are interfiled and annotated; contains title page, table of contents, and chapters 1-9 (missing pages 4-7); ca.150 pages |
1 | 2 | “Trade Entrance,” an original and a carbon typescript are interfiled and annotated, contains chapters 10-18, ca.160 pages |
1 | 3 | “Trade Entrance,” possibly an early draft, an original and two carbon typescripts are interfiled and annotated, contains chapters 1-8 (missing chapter 9), ca.150 pages |
1 | 4 | “Trade Entrance,” possibly an early draft, an original and two carbon typescripts are interfiled and annotated, contains chapters 10-18 (missing chapter 13), ca.140 pages |
1 | 5 | Miscellaneous chapters and pages from “Trade Entrance,” including a copy of chapter 5 with a letter dated 11 Aug 1947 attached concerning the chapter in question, 33 pages |
1 | 6 | “(Book Title to be Decided): A Century Begins – A Family Story by the Youngest” [“The Superintendant’s [sic] Daughter”], annotated typescript, ca. 190 pages |
2 | 1 | “The Superintendant’s [sic] Daughter,” typescript, ca. 190 pages |
2 | 2 | “The Superintendant’s [sic] Daughter,” photocopied typescript, ca. 190 pages |
2 | 3 | Miscellaneous Chapters and Pages from “The Superintendant’s [sic] Daughter,” 92 pages |
2 | 4 | “Working Girl: 1917 - 1927,” annotated typescript, ca. 95 pages |
2 | 5 | “Working Girl,” annotated typescript, ca. 95 pages |
2 | 6 | Miscellaneous pages and notes from “Working Girl,” 52 pages |
Short Stories, Short Works, and Poems | ||
2 | 7 | “Mrs. Frisky Longtail,” annotated typescript, ca. 70 pages |
2 | 8 | “Mrs. Frisky Longtail,” annotated typescript, ca. 70 pages |
3 | 1 | “Mrs. Frisky Longtail,” annotated typescript, 62 pages |
3 | 2 | Miscellaneous pages and notes from “Mrs. Frisky Longtail,” including a draft copy of a letter addressed to Walter Retan inviting him to read the short story n.d., 32 pages |
3 | 3 | Short Works, typescripts, some with annotations, one – “The Wedding Ring” – has a letter attached dated 10 Nov 1969, and contains a critique of the affixed story and another – “Not Meant for Diamonds” – has a note, n.d., attached with a critique of the affixed story, 16 items |
3 | 4 | Short Works, typescripts, some with annotations, one – “Retirement. A Game of Skill” – has simple stick figure illustrations drawn in pen and pencil and another – “Martine” – is a draft of a story which was later published as “In Remembrance of Martine”, 12 items |
3 | 5 | Published Short Works; three annotated typescripts with a note on where the work was published; one issue of The Doll Collector magazine, Aug 1964, featuring an article by Josephine Bouton Bleecker along with a photocopy of that same article; the rest are clippings from various publications, 14 items |
3 | 6 | Poems, typescripts, some with annotations, one – “Hands” – is handwritten, 44 items |
3 | 7 | Published Poems: mostly clippings, three mounted on cardstock; one volume of Prairie Schooner, winter 1930, featuring a poem by Josephine Bouton Bleecker, 9 items |
3 | 8 | Published Short Works and Poems: clippings which are torn or brittle, along with a photocopy of each, 14 items |
3 | 9 | Journeyings – American Childhood stories, one story by Josephine Bouton Bleecker clipped from American Childhood magazine and a folder labelled “Journeyings by Josephine Bouton” with three stories clipped from American Childhood magazine fastened inside, 2 items |
3 | 10 | “One Day Telleth Another: A Homekeeper’s Journal” by Josephine Bouton, typescript, a collection of poems, some with annotations, 45 pages |
3 | 11 | “Life’s Door”, typescript, a collection of poetry by Josephine Bouton Bleecker fastened inside a folder along with a loose copy of the collection and an introduction written by a friend of Josephine’s named Alice, (both copies of the collection are missing page 2), ca. 120 pages |
3 | 12 | Notes about “Life’s Door”; a copy of a letter dated 9 Sep 1989 to Josephine Bouton Bleecker from her friend Alice discussing the organization of the “Life’s Door” collection; Josephine’s reply, dated 18 Nov 1989; an undated letter to Alice regarding the poems’ appearance on the computer; copies of several poems in the collection; and a note pad with a draft of a first lines index to the collection; 15 items |
3 | 13 | Interview: “Behind Circus Scenes with Lillian Leitzel” annotated typescript, ca. 1928, 10 pages |
3 | 14 | E.V. Lucas Interview and Notes, annotated typescript, ca. 1930, 5 pages, miscellaneous notes and two news clippings (one photocopied), 16 items |
Other Writings | ||
3 | 15 | Short Author Biography, typescript, one original, three pages long, and five photocopies (one missing the last page), 6 items |
3 | 16 | The Forge of Life – Father, four pages of handwritten notes and a photocopied picture of Dr. Eugene Bouton, 5 items |
4 | 1 | Article Proposal and Rejection Letter, 1967; includes an article proposal submitted to Venture by Josephine Bouton Bleecker featuring Moore Seafoods, a restaurant in Florida known for serving stone crab claws, an illustration of a stone crab claw by Josephine, letterhead from the restaurant, and a photocopied image of Josephine holding a doll as well as the rejection letter from Venture; 5 items |
4 | 2 | Greeting Card Ideas: 18 notecards with typescript sentiments, 16 notecards with handwritten sentiments, notes and draft sentiments, one typescript page of greeting card company names and addresses with submission instructions, return envelopes and addressed envelopes, 55 items |
4 | 3 | University Travel – Study Tour Summer 1925; itinerary with enclosure – luggage label; souvenir program; journal with enclosures – two luggage labels, postcard, pressed flower, and sketch; and three photocopies of a sketch from the trip; 12 items |
Story Ideas and Inspiration | ||
4 | 4 | Ideas – Children’s Articles: two news clippings mounted on paper with notes, other news clippings, notecards, notes, and several typescript pages including two complete works – “Traditions in Your Workbasket” (four pages) and “Food for Thought” (two pages), 25 items |
4 | 5 | Anthology Stories to Remember: two letters from George Marshall, 9 Apr 1973 and n.d., regarding stories Josephine Bouton Bleecker had inquired about; 13 typescript short stories, some incomplete; notes with story names as well as stories and subjects to look up; 27 items |
4 | 6 | Names: Lists of names, mainly for people along with some notes about the choices and also some street names, 20 items |
4 | 7 | Fillers; notes with sayings, lists, overheard comments, and quotes; one news clipping and one magazine clipping; 41 items |
Incomplete Works and Miscellaneous Writings | ||
4 | 8 | Incomplete Writings, partial writings, typescript, some with annotations, 39 pages |
4 | 9 | Miscellaneous writings and notes, typescript and handwritten notes, includes a handwritten note entitled “Working Thoughts” dated Dec 1990, along with a typescript transcription, ca. 140 pages |
4 | 10 | Miscellaneous writings and notes, typescript and handwritten notes, includes a chart of proofreader’s marks from Writer’s Digest School and a sheet laying out writer’s submission guidelines for Mature Living, ca. 165 pages |
4 | 11 | Miscellaneous writings and notes, typescript and handwritten notes, includes eight poems and three prose pieces from other authors and research on Danish Christmas plates, ca. 50 pages |
4 | 12 | Miscellaneous chapters and pages from Various Works, typescript, some with annotations, whole chapters, parts of chapters, or sections from various works, some with chapter names and/or page numbers, ca. 130 pages |
5 | 1 | Miscellaneous chapters and pages from Various Works, typescript pages from various works, some with annotations, ca. 125 pages |
5 | 2 | Miscellaneous notebooks which mainly contain notes for Josephine Bouton Bleecker’s writings, 3 items |
Bag Book, Bag Business, and Patterns | ||
5 | 3 | Bag Book: Includes typescript and handwritten pages and photocopies, general notes, bag construction notes, an introduction, and a rough table of contents, 15 pages |
5 | 4 | Bag Business: Includes A Business of Her Own Clinic program which lists Josephine Bouton Bleecker as presenting, n.d.; a purchase order, 31 Mar 1965; invoices, 23 Apr 1943, 1 Jun 1955, 19 Apr 1959; statements, Nov 1987 and n.d.; orders, 26 Apr 1943, 23 Jun 1943, 21 Oct 1943, 5 Nov 1943, 8 Nov 1943, 26 Oct 1945, and n.d.; correspondence, 12 Mar 1959, 25 Mar 1959, 19 Dec 1959, 8 May 1961, 26 Dec 1961, and n.d.; general notes; one small cardstock sign; 35 items |
5 | 5 | Bag Patterns: Includes bag patterns, pieces, and designs, originals by Josephine Bouton Bleecker and some taken from other places including a few commercial patterns clipped from magazines; embellishment designs; a mitt pattern; and other pattern pieces made of paper, cardstock, newspaper, and tracing paper; 48 items |
5 | 6 | Bag Patterns: Includes pattern pieces made of burlap, fabric, cardstock, and interfacing, 17 items |
5 | 7 | Miscellaneous patterns and ideas: Includes a furry pompom, a news clipping, several fabric pieces, some with hand-drawn images, hand-written notes, magazine clippings, and one typescript knitting pattern for bootees [sic], 17 items |
5 | 8 | Costume and Fashion: Includes magazine and news clippings featuring clothing designs or patterns, two pages of simple line drawings, two postcards, and a hand-drawn design for ‘foot gloves’, 18 items |
Writings by Josephine Bouton Bleecker’s Family | ||
5 | 9 | “In Albany Days” – Article transcriptions about Dr. Eugene Bouton,1883-1884, and n.d., 4 pages |
5 | 10 | Correspondence from Anne Wilson Bouton (daughter of Gladwin Bouton) to Dr. Eugene Bouton, 1941-1943, 6 items |
5 | 11 | “The Hunt’s Mountain I Have Known” by Elizabeth Gladwin Bouton, annotated typescript, 26 pages |
5 | 12 | Manuscript: Family History by Emily R. Olssen Bleecker, annotated typescript, ca. 100 pages |
5 | 13 | Writings by Family Members, a poem by Gladwin Bouton, a poem by Dr. Eugene Bouton dated 29 June 1875, two short stories and a poem by Elizabeth Gladwin Bouton, and a poem by Mary Noel Bleecker, typescript, 6 items |
6 | 1 | Undated Journal, short entries of daily activities, most likely kept by William Bleecker, 1 item |
Correspondence | ||
6 | 2 | Lydia Bush-Brown Head Correspondence, 1933-1974, mostly n.d. Includes six miscellaneous enclosures – three clippings, a decorative piece of paper, notes and an envelope, and a short vignette about Lydia Bush-Brown Head, 42 items |
6 | 3 | Dudley H. Frasure. Includes a bundle of letters and newsletters, 4 May 1988; flyers, 25 Apr 1975, 1987, 1988, 10 Jan 1988, and n.d.; three news clippings, 15 Nov 1981, 20 Oct 1983, 25 Aug 1985; and one photograph, 16 items |
6 | 4 | Correspondence, undated. Includes two letters from Carolyn Sherwin Bailey (signed C.S.B.), also includes a letter from Josephine Bouton Bleecker to her lawyer, James M. Wallace, concerning the offer from Platt & Monk to publish a 4th edition of Favorite Poems for the Children’s Hour and Josephine’s draft initial response to the publisher; 88 items |
6 | 5 | Correspondence, 1911-1949. Includes four letters from Carolyn Sherwin Bailey (signed C.B.H. for her married name Hill), three mentioning her book Miss Hickory, 9 Jul 1944, 24 Sep 1944, and 3 Oct 1947, with a fourth advising about book’s rights and broadcasting reservations, 30 Jan 1946; 83 items |
6 | 6 | Correspondence, 1950-1986. Includes one letter from Carolyn Sherwin Bailey (signed C.S.B.) mentioning her books Nutcracker [aka The Nutcracker and Sugardolly Stories] and The School House [aka The Little Red School House], 10 Aug 1958; 67 items |
6 | 7 | Favorite Poems for the Children’s Hour Revisions for Fourth Edition (Platt & Munk, 1967). Includes three samples of artwork by illustrators Bill and Bonnie Rutherford; two book jackets for this edition; one partial book jacket from a previous edition; correspondence between Josephine Bouton Bleecker and Platt & Monk, 1966-1967; 22 items |
6 | 8 | Family Authorizations. Includes a letter from Katharine Bouton Clay, 4 Nov 1977, and a letter from Elizabeth Bouton Bleecker, 15 Nov 1977, giving Josephine Bouton Bleecker permission to use their names in her writings – folder includes two photocopies of each letter, 6 items |
6 | 9 | Grosset and Dunlap, 1979-1983, n.d. Includes correspondence and draft correspondence, a royalty statement, invoices and one page plus a photocopy of a checking account register, 22 items |
6 | 9 | Grosset and Dunlap, 1979-1983, n.d. Includes correspondence and draft correspondence, a royalty statement, invoices and one page plus a photocopy of a checking account register, 22 items |
6 | 10 | Grosset and Dunlap, 1978-1983, n.d. Includes a Grosset and Dunlap order form, Spring 1979; handwritten book sales accounts and figures; packing slips, royalty statements, and check stubs; 30 items |
Pen and Brush | ||
6 | 11 | Pen and Brush: Bulletins and Calendars, 1927-1932, 1958-1959, 1961-1962, 1985-1988, and 1990, 43 items |
6 | 12 | Pen and Brush: Correspondence, four letters with one letter having two newspaper clippings attached, 1927, 1955, 1975, and 1985, 6 items |
6 | 13 | Pen and Brush: Miscellaneous, including a 70th Anniversary brochure, 1963, 13 items |
6 | 14 | Ida M. Tarbell; five letters from Ida M. Tarbell, 1932, 25 Dec 1932, 27 Sep 1933, 1937, 20 Jun 1941; a clipping from a Pen and Brush brochure featuring a poem about Ida M. Tarbell, 1932; copy of notes about Ida M. Tarbell sent to Susan Lyman, 15 Feb 1972; the original remembrances Josephine Bouton Bleecker submitted to the Pen and Brush with an attached letter from Iris Vinton, 17 Apr 1972; two photographs of Ida M. Tarbell; 10 items |
Sheet Music | ||
7 | 1 | Sheet Music The Mosquitoes Parade: A Jersey Review by Howard Whitney, Paris edition by Maurice Gracey (1900), 4 pages |
7 | 2 | Sheet Music, handwritten notation on manuscript paper with two partial pieces composed by Josephine Bouton Bleecker, 6 pages |
7 | 3 | Sheet Music, various titles, some incomplete or damaged, 31 pages |
Miscellaneous | ||
7 | 4 | Maryland; includes correspondence from Miller Didama and Gladys Steever, 12 Dec 1944, 1945, 18 Apr 1945, and n.d.; two sets of notes written by T. Kennard Thomson, 25 Aug 1938 and n.d.; nine typescript pages from a story titled “A Story of a Village at the Foot of the Catskills Mountains”; two typescript sets of song lyrics – “I Was Born Ten Thousand Years Ago” and “Sophomoric Philosophy”; a news clipping; and miscellaneous notes; 24 items |
7 | 5 | Photographs:
|
7 | 6 | Notecards from a Presentation, twelve annotated typescript notecards with tips for small, woman-run, home businesses, 1 item |
7 | 7 | Duplex Safety Pins Advertisement Sketches, pencil drawings, 3 items |
7 | 8 | Palm Reading Notes, 12 pages |
7 | 9 | Ephemera, miscellaneous items including several sheets of paper, a blank postcard, blank label stickers, letterhead and envelope for Edythe Wald, a Sanibel Island Ferry schedule issued 1 Nov 1960, and an order form from Ave Books 1981, 48 items |
News Clippings | ||
7 | 10 | News Clippings, three concerning Josephine Bouton Bleecker; the rest are clippings from various publications, 19 items |
EL | 1 | News Clippings, includes three articles written by Josephine Bouton Bleecker and five articles about her; the rest are clippings from various publications, 17 items |