Beschreibung:

200+ diverse items. This archive includes over 140 photographs of the Venable family for at least 3 generations, including 2 daguerreotypes, 4 cyanotypes, cdv's, cabinet cards, tintypes, and various sizes of later prints (albumen and silver), many mounted on card, plus a cdv album with W. H. Venable in gilt on front. There are 3 glass plate negatives, 2 of which are for cab. cards included in the above. A number of Venable's portraits were done by Landy, and there is an advertising card inscribed to Venable and signed by Landy. There are over 60 letters, including one from T.C. Mendenhall (1841-1924, physicist), one from Henry Howe (author, best known for his 2 vol. "Our Whole Country," Cincinnati, 1861), and 4 from Charles T. Webber (1825-1911, artist). Also in the lot is a copy of Venable's book of poetry, "June on the Miami," incribed to C.T. Webber by Venable, with ink drawings by Webber on 18 pages. There are 16 documents related to Venable's publications, including a letter from Wilson, Hinkle & Co. inviting Venable to write the "School History of the United States," and numerous copyrights from the Library of Congress and publisher's contracts for Venable's books ("The Teacher's Dream," "The School Stage," "Tom Tad," "Beginnings of Literary Culture in the Ohio Valley," "The Last Flight," "Blennerhassett," "June on the Miami," "Melodies of the Heart," and "The Amateur Actor." There are 10 unused Civil War covers, and a Cincinnati Times scrip signed by Charles P. Taft, half-brother of the President. There are 3 memory books, 2 with photos, inscriptions (Mendenhall is in 2), even hand-written music. The lot even includes several (unsmoked) cigars given to Venable, 3 from Coates Kinney, 2 from "Ingersoll." Plus various other documents such as insurance certificates, deeds, the receipt for a cemetery plot in Spring Grove, post cards, calling cards, and more. William Henry Venable was born near Waynesville (OH) and grew up near Springboro. He quickly surpassed the available resources (schools & libraries), and was given private instruction by Dr. Alfred Holbrook. Later he and Coates Kinney (1826-1904), Poet Laureate of Ohio, became friends, with Kinney influencing and encouraging Venable's writing career. Venable went on to become a nationally known educator and poet. He authored 22 books of poetry, philosophy, as well as the above mentioned history text (which became the standard in Ohio schools), and was an authority on Miami Valley literature. His son, William D., also had a noteworthy career in education. And the younger Venable's daughter (W.H.'s granddaughter) was Evelyn Venable, who had a short, but brilliant, career in Hollywood, with leading roles in "Death Takes a Holiday" and "The Little Colonel," among others. Among Evelyn's letters in this lot is a pencilled note from Will Rogers to his secretary re: his reply to a letter Evelyn sent him and a publicity photo inscribed on verso, "To my Pet, George Raft." (Raft has been credited as the actor most responsible for creating the 1930's Hollywood gangster image.) And there may be more gems hiding in this large, diverse lot! Condition:Variable, but overall very good.