Finding Aid for the Joel Barlow Letter, Portrait, and French Citizenship Document
Rare Books and Manuscripts
Descriptive Summary:
This collection consists of a letter, a portrait, and a french citizenship document. Joel Barlow was an American writer, businessman, preacher, and statesman associated with the Connecticut Wits, best remembered for short, nostalgic verses.
Extent:
0 cubic feet plus 3 items
Date Span:
1793-1811
History or Biographical Notes:
Joel Barlow was an American writer, businessman, preacher, and statesman. Born on a Connecticut farm and raised in the Puritan ethic, his senior year at Yale was interrupted by the American Revolution. After the war, he had success with his book,
The Vision of Columbus, and settled in Paris, where he was eventually awarded French citizenship for publishing his idealistic views of the Revolution. Generally associated with the Connecticut Wits, Barlow wrote long, patriotic poems, but is probably best remembered for short, nostalgic verses. He was in Europe trying to negotiate a closer treaty with Napoleon when he published the powerful poem
Advice to a Raven in Russia; he died during the French Army's retreat.
Scope and Content:
The collection consists of three items: printed declaration of Barlow's French citizenship, no. 472, 17 Feb. 1793, published in Paris, 2 p.; letter to Silvanus Bourne, U.S. consul at Amsterdam, 1 Nov. 1811, letter of introduction for Wm. Porter of Boston, with integral envelope; signed engraved portrait of Barlow, undated, by A.B. Durand after a painting by Robt. Fulton.
Restrictions:
Unrestricted access.
| Box No./Folder No. | File/Item Title | Year Range | No. Items | Restricted | Format | Location |
|---|
| 1/ | Letter to Silvanus Bourne | 1811//11/01 | 1 | No | Textual... | Paterno/VAULT/VF Lit |
| 1/ | French citizenship document of Barlow | 1793/02/17 | 1 | No | Textual... | Paterno/VAULT/VF Lit |
| 1/ | Portrait | Undated | 1 | No | Graphic.Artwork.Paintings. | Paterno/VAULT/VF Lit |
