Collections

Correspondence, diaries, and other papers of the Rev. James Merriam Howard, chaplain to the 304th Field Artillery during World War I. The bulk of the papers cover the years 1917-1919 and relate to his service in the war and to his diary.

The collection consists of writings, correspondence, photographs, audiovisual material, artwork, printed material, computer disks and other papers by or relating to James Merrill and documenting aspects of his work as a poet and writer. Some of the material was created and accumulated by J. D. McClatchy, who served as executor of Merrill's estate and who co-edited several volumes of Merrill's works, including Collected Poems (2001), Collected Novels and Plays (2002), Collected Prose (2004), The Changing Light at Sandover (2006), and Selected Poems (2008).

The collection contains publications, reports and documents collected by Mr. Finch in his various railroad-related positions.

The James M. Hill Papers consist primarily of the business records of Mr. Hill's store in North Madison, Connecticut.

The collection contains letters from James Montgomery to various friends, colleagues, and associates, including authors, publishers, and clergymen; recipients include John Aikin, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Robert Hartley Davenport, George Williams Fulcher, Thomas Raffles, and Robert Southey. Much of the content relates to Montgomery's writings and publications, in particular his poetry and work for hymnals, though some of the letters are personal in nature. Also present is a small group of autograph manuscript poems and other writings by Montgomery, including two poems translated into Welsh. Reference material in the collection includes clippings about Montgomery, portrait engravings, and material pertaining to his life, death, and funeral proceedings, including a copy of The Death of James Montgomery, Esq. with a Sketch of his Life (1854).

James McDonald Vicary was born in Detroit 30 April 1915. He has been associated with the J.L. Hudson Company (Detroit), Benson and Benson (Princeton, NJ), Crowell-Collier Publications Company (NY), and Benton and Bowles, Inc. (NY). Mr. Vicary is the author of articles on research in such journals as the Public Opinion Quarterly, Harvard Business Review, and Printer's Ink. Mr. Vicary is most known for his work with subliminal messages in advertising.

James Oliver Longstreet was born November 16, 1833. He received a bachelor's degree from Wesleyan in 1857. As a student at Wesleyan, he was a member of the Mystical Seven secret society and the Missionary Lyceum. After graduating from Wesleyan, Longstreet worked as both a teacher and a preacher until his death in 1861.

The papers document Alter's lifelong involvement with the Christian church in India, his affiliation with Yale University, his activities in student Christian organizations, and his ongoing interest in issues of peace and social concern. James Payne Alter was born in India in 1919, son of Presbyterian missionaries. He attended Yale College and Yale Divinity School. He was appointed as a Presbyterian missionary to India in 1945. He taught at Ewing Christian College in Allahabad, served as first Director of the ecumenical Christian Retreat and Study Center, Rajpur, and wrote on Christianity in northern India.

The papers document aspects of Purdy's early literary career. Major correspondents include Carl Van Vechten, John Cowper Powys, Edith Sitwell,Paul Bowles, and Gerald Brenan.