The collection consists of fifteen letters, dated 1854-1870. Includes seven letters to James Lorimer Graham, full of personal news and talk of literature. Most of the remaining letters are of a personal nature, some including news of the publishing business, as well as several informal notes. Includes letters to William Bennett Cox, George Putnam, and to Bayard Taylor, detailing the publication of Taylor's Faust, written for Fields by his wife, Annie.
In Rare Books and Manuscripts, University Libraries, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa. (#1981-0057R/A-S)
Source of Acquisition
Gift and purchase, 1970-1981.
Biographical or Historical Sketch
James Thomas Fields was an American publisher and poet. From humble beginnings, his skill and value was noticed by his employer, Boston publisher George Ticknor, who made him a junior partner. Fields went on to great success as a publisher, working with most of the major English-language authors of his day. A good businessman, Fields was also popular in the literary community, whom he treated extremely well. He also published poems and essays.
