The
The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and
Printed Ephemera
Henry Francis du Pont
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, 10th set, no. 12-13 (Jan. 1901); 11th
set, no. 1-2 (Feb.-Mar. 1901); 19th 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 24th /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.