New camera

"Vachel Lindsay, the Man"

The Vachel Lindsay Association and the Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site will present the latest in the "Poets in the Parlor" series, "Vachel Lindsay, the Man," at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, March 10 at the Lindsay Home, 603 South Fifth Street, Springfield, Illinois.

The program will be presented by Marge Deffenbaugh, retired English teacher and Lindsay Home volunteer. Although she has written some poetry, Deffenbaugh's major focus has been on directing, performing and writing plays. The March 10 presentation will offer keen insights into Lindsay and his work.

The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served following the program. Tours of the historic home will be offered both before and after the performance.

The Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site, administered by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, is the birthplace and longtime residence of poet, author and artist Nicholas Vachel Lindsay, 1879 - 1931. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. for free public tours.

New acquisition of Lindsayana

Found among stacks of old Life magazines purchased from rummage sales in Spokane, Washington, a collection of Lindsayana recently has been acquired by the Vachel Lindsay Association.

The collection is that of the Lindsays' neighbors during their later Spokane years, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Warburton Guilbert. Judging from the letters to the Guilberts by Vachel and Elizabeth included in the collection, they were great friends.

Here is a complete catalogue of the collection:


Lindsayana:

1. Village Magazine, Fourth Imprint with original envelope. Spine is separating but otherwise excellent condition. The separation of the spine appears to be due to age of adhesive rather than wear, as there are no signs of wear. The envelope is in fair condition with tears at the corners and yellowing around the edges. There are no marks or annotations.
2. Map of the Universe, Second Imprint with original envelope. Signed and numbered #1952. Excellent condition with no yellowing of the paper. The envelope is in good condition with some small tears and a fold line.
3. Litany of Washington Street, pamphlet, signed and numbered #1 of 55. Good condition with some yellowing and a faint, hair-sized mark on the cover. Some wear at the bottom edges of the front and back cover.
4. Litany of Thomas Jefferson’s Violin, pamphlet, signed and numbered #1 of 55. Inscribed to Marion Guilbert. Good condition with some yellowing and slight damage around the edges. The upper staple is off-center and a fold line was created on the cover due to opening against the staple.
5. The Virginians are Coming Again, broadside, signed and numbered #311. Good condition with some wear and damage on the edges. Accompanies August 13, 1929 letter from Elizabeth Lindsay to Mrs. Guilbert.

Periodicals:

1. Palms, March, 1928 edition. Inscribed to Mr. & Mrs. Guilbert, annotated and signed by Vachel Lindsay. Good condition.
2. Forum, January, 1928 edition. Dog-eared with damage on the cover, but otherwise fair condition. Brief Lindsay annotation on cover points reader to page 21, where is found the Elizabeth Conner Lindsay poem, “From the Northwest”. Also found inserted at page 21, a clipping of a Vachel Lindsay’s April 25, 1928 “Hometown Topics” column from the Spokane Chronicle titled, “Dancers and Singers for Spokane”.
3. The London Mercury, July, 1927 edition. Cover annotated and signed by Vachel Lindsay, inscribed to Mrs. Guilbert. Dog-eared cover front and back, otherwise good condition.
4. The Christian, September 22, 1927 edition. Cover annotated and signed by Vachel Lindsay, inscribed to Mrs. Guilbert. Good condition with slight fold lines.
5. The Dearborn Independent, September 17, 1927 edition. Annotated and signed by Vachel Lindsay, inscribed to Mrs. Guilbert. Good condition with slight fold line.
6. McCall’s, December, 1927 edition. Cover annotated and signed by Vachel Lindsay, inscribed to Mr. & Mrs. Guilbert. Fair condition with damage on the upper binding.

Letters:

1. September 24, 1927, from Elizabeth Lindsay to Mrs. Guilbert, with envelope, thanking her and Mr. Guilbert for entertaining Vachel one evening.
2. December 17, 1928, from Vachel Lindsay to Mr. & Mrs. Guilbert, on Drake Hotel stationery, no envelope.
3. December 31, 1928, from E.L. to The Guilberts, with envelope, thank-you note for Christmas gifts.
4. January 6, 1929, from E.L. to Mrs. Guilbert, no envelope, thank-you note for Christmas gifts.
5. April 26, 1929, from E.L. to Mrs. Guilbert, with envelope, advising of the Lindsay’s arrival in Springfield.
6. June 10, 1929, from E.L. to Mrs. Guilbert, with envelope and accompanying advertisement for The Litany of Washington Street and a clipping from the May 29, 1929 issue of The Christian Science Monitor with an article on the Lindsays’ return to Illinois from Spokane.
7. August 13, 1929, From E.L. to Mrs. Guilbert on Lindsay stationery, with envelope and accompanying broadside, The Virginians are Coming Again (see Lindsayana item #5 above), mentions reception given in the Lindsays’ honor by Carl and Julia Vrooman.
8. October 10, 1929, from E.L. to Mrs. Guilbert on Lindsay stationery, with envelope, discussing the Lindsays’ welcome back to Springfield and Vachel’s upcoming speaking tours.

Photographs:

1. 3x5 print of Vachel wearing hat and suitcoat, outdoors, facing camera, holding paper. Stamped “Frank W. Guilbert, Spokane Washington” on back.
2. 4x6 print of Vachel, Elizabeth and baby Susan outdoors in residential setting. Vachel is wearing same outfit and suitcoat as in the other pictures, hat in hand.
3. 4x6 print of Vachel wearing hat and suitcoat, outdoors, facing camera, hands in coat pockets, slightly out of focus.
4. 4x6 print of Vachel, same pose as photograph #3, off-center in frame.
5. 4x6 print of Vachel wearing suitcoat, in a greenhouse, surrounded by zinnias, hat in hand.