Walt Whitman to John H. Johnston, 7 March 1887

About This Item

Title: Walt Whitman to John H. Johnston, 7 March 1887
Date: March 7, 1887
Creator(s): Walt Whitman
Whitman Archive ID: prc.00107
Source: The current location of this manuscript is unknown. The transcription presented here is derived from Walt Whitman, The Correspondence, ed. Edwin Haviland Miller (New York: New York University Press, 1961–1977), 74. For a description of the editorial rationale behind our treatment of the correspondence, see our statement of editorial policy.
Contributors to digital file: Stefan Schöberlein Ian Faith Kevin McMullen Stephanie Blalock
Cite this page: Whitman, Walt. "Walt Whitman to John H. Johnston, 7 March 1887." The Walt Whitman Archive. Gen. ed. Matt Cohen, Ed Folsom, & Kenneth M. Price. Accessed 09 May 2025. <http://www.whitmanarchive.org>.
Source File: prc.00107.xml (TEI)

Camden1 March 7 '87

Bless the dear baby, and all babies—Love to you & wife—

Walt Whitman

Correspondent:
John H. Johnston (1837–1919) was a New York jeweler and close friend of Whitman. Johnston was also a friend of Joaquin Miller (Horace Traubel, With Walt Whitman in Camden, Tuesday, August 14, 1888). Whitman visited the Johnstons for the first time early in 1877. In 1888 he observed to Horace Traubel: "I count [Johnston] as in our inner circle, among the chosen few" (Horace Traubel, With Walt Whitman in Camden, Wednesday, October 3, 1888). See also Johnston's letter about Whitman, printed in Charles N. Elliot, Walt Whitman as Man, Poet and Friend (Boston: Richard G. Badger, 1915), 149–174. For more on Johnston, see Susan L. Roberson, "Johnston, John H. (1837–1919) and Alma Calder," Walt Whitman: An Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and Donald D. Kummings (New York: Garland Publishing, 1998).

Notes

1. This letter is addressed: J. Johnston | Jeweler | 150 Bowery cor Br[oome] | New York City. It is postmarked: Camden | Mar 7 | 1887 | N.J. [back]