The Winterthur Library

The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum

5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, Delaware 19735

Telephone: 302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

Creator: Holloway, Laura C. (Laura Carter), 1848-1930

Title: Scrapbook and library

Dates: circa 1860-1929

Call No.: Col. 900

Acc. No.: 12x73; 14x69

Quantity: 18 boxes, 17 volumes

Location: 24 A 2-4

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

Mrs. Laura Carter Holloway Langford, a writer, was born in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1843 and died in 1930. In 1862, she married Junius B. Holloway, and they had a son, George Thomas Holloway, born in 1864. She moved with her Carter family to Brooklyn, New York, after the Civil War, and entered the field of journalism in order to help support not just herself and George, but also her parents and siblings. While writing a history of the First Ladies, she resided with fellow Tennesseans President and Mrs. Andrew Johnson at the White House. The Ladies of the White House was perhaps her best known book. For many years she wrote articles and books and edited for the Brooklyn Eagle. She also gave public lectures in which she spoke on subjects ranging from women’s rights to Charlotte Brontë. Langford lent support to such causes as Cuban independence and cremation. She belonged to the International Council of Women and was a member of Madame Blavatsky’s Theosophical Society. She became interested in the Shakers and bought a farm from them, near New Lebanon, New York. Her second marriage—to Edward L. Langford—occurred in 1890. She was widowed in 1902.

(For a corrected version of the early years of Mrs. Holloway's life, see "The Self-Inventions of Laura Carter Holloway," by Diane Sasson, in Tennessee Historical Quarterly, v. 67, no. 3, fall 2008.)

SCOPE AND CONTENT

One scrapbook, two photographs, a few odds and ends, and a number of books and magazines which once belonged to Laura C. Holloway Langford. The scrapbook contains poems and illustrations clipped from magazines and newspapers, some obituaries, and a few articles, mostly dating circa 1860-1870. The scrapbook was started while Mrs. Langford lived in Nashville. One page bears the inscription “Thus ends the old life; a new begins from this point. New York, 66, 67, 68, 69. Move to Brooklyn in 1870, resided first at 59 Hicks St., the Heights.” A number of the magazines and pamphlets were published by the Theosophical Society. Libretti of various operas are found, as well as books and magazines on diverse topics, including issues of The Philistine. A number of the magazines and books have marks or notes in them made by Mrs. Langford. The photographs are of 2 men, presumably theosophists.

ORGANIZATION

Publications divided into those pertaining to theosophy and spiritualism and those which do not, and are arranged alphabetically within each group.

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

The materials are in English. Many of the libretti include texts in German or Italian.

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

Collection is open to the public. Copyright restrictions may apply.

PROVENANCE

Gift of Diane Sasson.

RELATED MATERIALS

See Yearning for the New Age: Laura Holloway-Langford and late Victorian Spirituality, by Diane Sasson, in Printed Books and Periodicals section of Winterthur Library.

Edward D. and Faith Andrews collected some of Laura Holloway Langford’s papers because of her interest in the Shakers. These papers are in the Edward Deming Andrews Memorial Shaker Collection, found at this repository, call numbers ASC 1198 and ASC 1202. Finding aids are available for both these groups. ASC 1198 contains papers mostly pertaining to the Theosophical Society. ASC 1202 contains papers pertaining to the Shakers and to Mrs. Langford’s other interests.

Also in the Edward Deming Andrews Memorial Shaker Collection are photographs of the Shakers which were owned by Laura Langford; a book owned by Laura Langford (call number ASC 606); a book written by her (call number ASC 591); and a letter to her (call number ASC 778).

Additional material about Laura C. Holloway Langford has been donated to the Tennessee Historical Society and the Tennessee Archives and History Library.

ACCESS POINTS

Topics:

Theosophical Society (Great Britain)

Theosophical Society in America.

Operas - Librettos.

Private libraries.

Spiritualism.

Theosophy.

Women journalists - United States.

Scrapbooks.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

Location: 24 A 2-4

Box 1:

Scrapbook

Photographs of Abadananda and an unidentified man

Article: “Brief Notes on Authors and Scientist of Kings County and the City of Brooklyn,” by H. R. Stiles, 1884. Includes a paragraph about Mrs. Laura C. Holloway.

Box 2:

Miscellaneous magazine articles.

Current Literature. V.1, no. 4 (Oct. 1888) (back cover missing)

The Home Library Magazine. V. 1, no. 7-8 (July-Aug. 1887, 2 copies of each)

Box 3:

Folder 1: Note labeled as being about Helena Blavatsky’s ancestors;

Card for lecture, “What is Karma,” sponsored by United Lodge of Theosophists, New York.

Folders 2-3: Printed engravings, apparently for order (all numbered, and many give a size, which is usually larger than the size of these prints).

Theosophy and spiritualist publications:

Books and pamphlets:

Box 4:

Folder 1: Collins, Mabel. [M.C.] Light on the Path. (New York: Aryan Theosophical Society, 1886 or earlier)

With inscription to L.C.H., Aug. 22, 1886, from William Q. Judge

Folder 2: Assorted Theosophy Society publications:

“Eastern School of Theosophy,” letter from London, May 27, 1891.

E.S.T. Letter to members, April 3, 1896

E.S.T. A paper by Archibald Keightley, Jan. 12, 1895, “strictly private and confidential.” (Irish Theosophist Press, 1895)

Fullerton, Alexander. “H.P.B. and the T.S. (a White Lotus Day talk).” (no publication information)

“Karma as a Cure for Trouble” (probably New York: Theosophical Society, no date)

Olcott, Henry S. Inaugural Address of the President of the Theosophical Society…. (New York: The Society, 1875)

“Rules of the Theosophical Society, together with an Explanation of Its Objects and Principles.” (Madras, India: Scottish Press, 1884)

“The Theosophical Society: Information for Inquirers” (New York, 1889)

“Theosophy and Its Message” (no place, Aryan Press, no date)

“Theosophy and the Churches,” no. 1, reprinted from the Christmas number of Lucifer (London: George Redway, no date)

(Los Angeles: no publisher, 1922)

“The United Lodge of Theosophists: Its Mission and Its Future.” (Los Angeles: The Theosophy Co., 1923)

Wadia, B. P. “To All Fellow Theosophists and Members of the Theosophical Society,” a statement. (Los Angeles: [The Theosophy Co.], 1922)

Folder 3: Pages 201-400 of an unknown Theosophical Society publication, published after June 1885; contains proceedings of the general meetings in May and June 1885, and reports by Mr. Hodgson and Mr. Netherclift.

Periodicals:

Box 4, folder 4:

Occult Review, v. 16, no. 3 (Sept. 1912, partial issue only)

The Oracle: Exponent of West Gate Philosophy. V. 2, no. 6 (Dec. 1896).

Box 4, folder 5:

The Path, April 1886-Sept. 1887: v. 1, no. 1 (2 copies, one imperfect); v. 2, no. 1-4, 6 (continues in next box)

Box 5:

The Path, October 1887-January 1890: v. 2, no. 7-12; v. 3, no. 2; v. 4, no. 2-4, 10. (continued from previous box)

The Theosophical Forum, 1889-1891. No. 3-4, 6, 9, 11-12, 17-18, 22, 24-26

The Theosophical Review, Feb. 1926, new series v. 2, no. 2

Theosophical Society, American Sector, Oriental Department, no. 1 (January 1891), no. 6 (July 1891); no. 8 (July 1894); no. 18 (July 1894, p. 49-62).

The Theosophist, May-Dec. 1886: v. 7, no. 80; v. 8, no. 87. (continues in next 2 boxes)

Box 6:

The Theosophist, May 1886-Dec. 1892, Nov. 1905- Nov. 1906: v. 8, no. 89-91, 94-95; v. 9, no. 97-98; v. 10, no. 112; v. 12, no. 3, 9-10, 12. (continued from previous box; continues in next box)

Box 7:

The Theosophist, February, December 1892, Nov. 1905- Nov. 1906: v. 13, no. 5; v. 14, no. 3; v. 27, no. 2; v. 28, no. 2. (continued from previous two boxes)

Theosophy, June 1897, January-December 1929; v. 12, no. 3; vol. 17, no. 3, 7-12; V. 18, no. 1-2.

Boxes 8-12:

The Word, 1904-1907, 1911-1912, 1914-1915: v. 1, no. 1, 3-12; v. 4, no. 1-6; v. 5, no. 1-6; v. 9, no. 3 (partial issue); v. 14, no. 1-4, 6; part of May 1912 (acc. 14x69.2); v. 19, no. 1-6, v. 21, no. 1-4; p. 181-190, p. 237-248 (acc. 14x69.3), p. 297-306 (acc. 14x69.4) from unknown issues

Some issues have notes written by Langford

Other publications:

Periodicals:

Box 12:

The American Antiquarian and Oriental Journal, v. 12, no. 1 (Jan. 1890)

The Atlantic Monthly, v. 41, no. 246 (April 1878; imperfect copy, ends with p. 510)

Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, American edition, v. 96, no. 5 (May 1883);

article about Mrs. Carlisle’s letters has been marked and part of it removed.

Box 13:

The Brooklyn Magazine, v. 4, no. 3 (June 1886, 2 copies);

contains an article by Mrs. Holloway, “Charles Storrs and the Storrs Genealogy.”

The Century, v. 33, no. 3 (Jan. 1887); v. 34, no. 1 (May 1887); v. 35, no. 4 (Feb. 1888, covers missing) (continues in next box)

Box 14:

The Century, v. 45, no. 5 (March 1893, back cover missing); v. 51, no. 4 (Feb. 1896, back cover missing) (continued from previous box)

Current Literature. V.1, no. 4 (Oct. 1888) (back cover missing) – oversize - in Box 2

The Esoteric, v. 1, no. 5 (Nov. 1887).

The Forum, v. 7, no. 4 (June 1889)

Harper’s New Monthly Magazine, v. 57, no. 338 (July 1878).

The Herald of the Cross, new series v. 1, no. 7 (July 1905), plus loose pages from unknown issues

The Home Library Magazine. V. 1, no. 7-8 (July-Aug. 1887, 2 copies of each) – oversize - in Box 2

Box 15:

The Our Race News-Leaflet, 10^th set, no. 12-13 (Jan. 1901); 11^th set, no. 1-2 (Feb.-Mar. 1901); 19^th set, no. 12 (May 1907)

Boxes 15-17:

The Philistine, v. 7, no. 3-6 (Aug.-Nov.. 1898); v. 8, no. 1, 3-4 (Dec. 1898, Feb.-March 1899); v. 9, no. 5-6 (Oct.-Nov. 1899); v. 10, no. 1 (Dec. 1899); v. 12, no. 2-6 (Jan.-May 1901); v. 13, no. 6 (Nov. 1901); v. 14, no. 1-2 (Dec. 1901-Jan. 1902); v. 15, no. 4 (Sept. 1902); v. 16, no. 2-6 (Jan.-May 1903); v. 17, no. 1-6 (June-Nov. 1903); v. 18, no. 2-6 (Jan.-May 1904); v. 19, no. 1-6 (June- Nov. 1904); v. 20, no. 2 (Jan. 1905);, v. 22, no. 2-5 (Jan.- April 1906); v. 23, no. 1-2 ( June-July 1906); v. 24, no. 1-5 (Dec. 1906, Jan.-April 1907); v. 32, no. 4 (March 1911).

Box 17:

The Popular Science Monthly: Supplement, no. 6 (1877)

World’s Work, v. 52, no. 2 (June 1926).

Miscellaneous magazine articles –oversize - in Box 2

Box 18: opera libretti; two books

Cornelius, Peter. The Barber of Bagdad. (New York: Metropolitan Opera House, 1889 or later). Text in English and German.

Donizetti, Gaetano. Lucrezia Borgia. For Academy of Music. (New York: Theatre Ticket Office, n.d.)

Text in English and Italian. Includes some music.

Gounod, Charles F. Faust. For Metropolitan Opera House. (New York: Theatre Ticket Office, n.d.)

Text in English and Italian. Includes some music.

Mozart, W. A. Don Juan. (New York: Metropolitan Opera House, 1889 or later). Text in English and German.

______. The Magic Flute (Die Zauberflöte). (New York: Tretbar, between 1893 and 1901). Text in English and German. Includes some music.

Nessler, Victor E. The Trumpeter of Sackingen. For Metropolitan Opera House. (no place, no publisher, 1889 or later). Text in English and German.

Rossini, G.A. William Tell. For Metropolitan Opera House. (New York: printed by John J. Caulon, 1883 or later). Text in English and German.

Verdi, Giuseppe. Aida. For Metropolitan Opera House, season of 1886-87. (no place, no publisher). Text in English and German.

_____. The Masked Ball. For Metropolitan Opera House. (no place, no publisher, 1889 or later). Text in English and German.

Wagner, Richard. The Dusk of the Gods (Götterdämmerung). (New York: Tretbar, between 1879 and 1901). Text in English and German.

______. The Flying Dutchman (Der Fliegende Holländer). (New York: Tretbar, between 1893 and 1901). Text in English and German. Includes some music.

_____. Götterdämmerung. For Metropolitan Opera House. (no place, no publisher, 1883 or later). Text in English and German.

_____. Lohengrin. For Boston Ideal Opera Co., season 1889-1890. English version of the poem by John P. Jackson. (no place, no publisher). English only.

_____. Lohengrin. For Metropolitan Opera House. (New York: printed by John J. Caulon, 1883 or later). Text in English and German.

_____. The Master-Singers of Nuremberg. For Metropolitan Opera House. (no place, no publisher, 1883 or later). Text in English and German.

_____. Parsifal. The English version by John P. Jackson. Produced under auspices of Seidl Society, March 31, at Academy of Music, Brooklyn. (New York: E. Schuberth & Co., 1890). English only. 4 copies. (one copy is acc. 14x69.1)

_____. The Rhine-Gold (Das Rheingold). (New York: Tretbar, between 1893 and 1901). Text in English and German.

_____. Rhinegold. English version of poem by John P. Jackson. For Metropolitan Opera House. (no place, no publisher, 1888). Text in English and German.

_____. Tannhäuser. English version by John P. Jackson. (New York: Schuberth & Co., 1891). English only.

_____. Tristan and Ysolde. Translation and story of the opera by John P. Jackson. (no place, no publisher, 1885). Text in English and German.

Found inside is program for performance of opera held March 24, 1899.

_____. Tristan and Isolde (Tristan und Isolde). (New York: Tretbar, between 1893 and 1901). Text in English and German.

_____. The Valkyrie (Die Walküre). (New York: Tretbar, between 1893 and 1901). Text in English and German.

Holloway, Laura C. The Hearthstone: or, Life at Home, A Household Manual…. (Philadelphia: Bradley & Co., 1883). (incomplete copy, ends with p. 392); spine and both covers missing) – in Box 18

The Widow’s Son; The Watchmaker and His Family; and ‘Tis All for the Best. (New York: American Tract Society, no date) – in Box 18

A name written inside the front cover has been erased, but seems to have been Jas. A. Stoppard. A penciled note on the front flyleaf has also been erased. The date is mostly legible: Aug. 16th, 186-.

BOOKS ON SHELF:

Books Which Have Influenced Me. (by a number of people, including Gladstone, R.L. Stevenson, Ruskin, etc.) 2d ed. (New York: Pott & Co., 1887) (spine and back cover almost detached)

Davidson, Randall Thomas (Archbishop of Canterbury). Kikuyu. (London: Macmillan & Co., 1915)

Daudet, Alphonse. Wives of Men of Genius. Translated by Edward Wakefield. (New York: Worthington Co., 1889) (covers and spine missing)

Donald, James. Chambers’s Etymological Dictionary of the English Language. (London: Chambers, 1876) (spine missing; front and back covers are detached)

Inscribed with name Laura Langford.

Holland, Henry (Sir). Recollections of Past Life. (New York: Appleton, 1872).

With ownership stamp of Seidl Society library

Holloway, Laura C. The Hearthstone: or, Life at Home, A Household Manual…. (Philadelphia: Bradley & Co., 1883). (incomplete copy, ends with p. 392); spine and both covers missing) – in Box 18

Hudson, Thomson Jay. A Scientific Demonstration of the Future Life. (Chicago: A.C. McClurg & Co., 1895).

Inscribed with name Laura Langford.

Ingersoll, Robert G. What Must We Do to Be Saved? (Washington, D.C.: Farrell, 1880)

Jackson, John P. The Bayreuth of Wagner. (Seidl Society Series) (New York: Lovell Co., 1891)

Inscribed with name Laura C. Langford.

Moore, J. Howard. The Universal Kinship (Chicago: C.H. Kerr & Co., 1906).

Inscribed with name Laura C. Langford.

A New Library of Poetry and Song. Edited by William Cullen Bryant. Part 1 only, “Poems of Infancy and Youth.” (New York: Ford & Co., 1876)

[Oliphant, Margaret.] A Little Pilgrim. (Lovell’s Library series, no. 179) (New York: Lovell Co., 1883)

Plato. Socrates. A Translation of the Apology, Crito, and Parts of the Phaedo of Plato. (New York: Scribner’s Sons, 1883). (front cover missing)

Stephens, C. A. Natural Salvation: The Message of Science…. (Norway Lake, Me.: The Laboratory, 1903).

Inscribed: Laura C. Langford, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Wagner, Richard. Beethoven. Translated by Albert R. Parsons. (New York: Schirmer, 1883).

Inscribed with name Laura C. Langford.

Walker, Amasa. Our National Currency and the Money Problem. (Atlas essays no. 1) (New York: Barnes & Co., 1876)

White, S. V. Selections from the Portfolio of S.V. White. (title page removed so publication information is unknown).

Inscribed on flyleaf: Mrs. Laura C. Langford with the compliments of her friend S.V. white, March 24^th /95.

The Widow’s Son; The Watchmaker and His Family; and ‘Tis All for the Best. (New York: American Tract Society, no date) – in Box 18

A name written inside the front cover has been erased, but seems to have been Jas. A. Stoppard. A penciled note on the front flyleaf has also been erased. The date is mostly legible: Aug. 16th, 186-.

Williams, Tudor. The Druid Sacrifice, and Other Verses. (New York: Jenkins’ Sons, 1895).

Inscribed: Compliments of the author.