Content:
Draft of the poem "After
all, Not to Create Only," written for the opening of the
fortieth Annual Exhibition of the American Institute in 1871 and
published on 7 September 1871 in both the
New York Commercial Advertiser
and the
New York Evening
Post.
It was reprinted in several newspapers and as a
pamphlet,
After All, Not to
Create Only
(1871); as "Song of the Exposition" in
Two Rivulets
(1876); and
with some revisions in
Leaves
of Grass
(1881–82). Sheets from the pamphlet were included
in some copies of the 1871
Leaves of Grass.
A note at the top of the manuscript,
written by Whitman's friend William Sloane Kennedy, indicates that it
was used as printer's copy for the pamphlet publication.
Content:
Several notes and drafts with an unknown relationship to one another, but
all, at least thematically, resembling the poem first published as
"After All, Not to
Create Only" in 1871 (later published as "Song of the
Exposition"). The pages include trial lines for the poem, as
well as notes which indicate the general ambitions and themes of the
work. Within these pages, other trial titles of the poem are also
included: "After all, not
to command only,"
"After all, not to create
but to obey," and "After all, not to create or destroy
only." On the verso of one of the leaves is a letter from William Black seeking Whitman's autograph.
Whitman Archive Title: After all, not to create only
Content:
Bound manuscript of "After
all, not to create only." Although the manuscript contains
many revisions, it appears to be relatively near the final draft.
Whitman wrote this poem following a request by the Committee on
Invitations of the American Institute to deliver an original poem at the
opening of the Fortieth Annual Exhibition. "After All, Not to Create Only" was first
published in 1871. It was later revised and the title
changed to "Song of the
Exposition."
Whitman Archive Title: Come, Muse, migrate from Greece and Ionia
Content:
A relatively clean draft titled "Come, Muse, migrate from Greece and Ionia." This material was later incorporated into
"After All, Not to
Create Only," first published in 1871. That poem
was later revised and title changed to "Song of the Exposition."
Whitman Archive Title: After All, Not to Create Only
Content:
Proof sheets printed by Pearson, Washington. Whitman made only one
correction (see surface 11). "After All, Not to Create
Only" was first published in 1871. It was
later revised and the title was changed to "Song of the Exposition."
Whitman Archive Title: Struggling steadily to the front
Content:
Heavily revised draft of the prefatory note for "Song of the Exposition," as it appeared in the
1876 volume
Two Rivulets.
Earlier and later publications of the poem did not include this prose
introduction.
Whitman Archive Title: The Dalliance of the Eagles
Content:
Written in ink on a proof of "The Dalliance of the Eagles,"
"Ah, little knows the
Laborer,"
"Hast never come to thee an
hour?," and "My
Picture-Gallery," are 14 words of notations in Whitman's
hand. The proof has been pasted to a heavy piece of paper, on the verso
of which is "A Riddle
Song," part of "Italian Music in Dakota," and a clipped headline reading
"The Society Articles Save Labor. Lighten the Labor for Mother."
Whitman Archive Title: Come, Muse, migrate from Greece and Ionia
Content:
Four pages of lines later revised and included in "After All, Not to Create
Only," first published 1871. That poem was later
revised and the title changed to "Song of the Exposition."
