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Whitman Archive Title: The Blue Book
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Whitman Archive ID: nyp.00015
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Repository: Catalog of the Literary Manuscripts in The Oscar Lion Collection of Walt Whitman, The New York Public Library
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Date: about 1860
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Genre: poetry
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Physical Description: 243 leaves, handwritten
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Content:
Of nearly as much significance as Whitman's copy of the 1855
Leaves
is his copy of
the Boston, 1860-61 edition, the famous "Blue Book." It is this volume, in blue
paper wrappers, that was discovered in Whitman's desk by Secretary
of the Interior James Harlan, leading to Whitman's dismissal from the
Department on June 30, 1865. Documenting this event in Whitman's
life in Washington, the Lion Collection also includes a group of
seven letters and documents relating to his work in the Departments
of the Interior and Justice. Among these are Secretary Harlan's
letter of dismissal, and a memorandum in Whitman's hand recording a
conversation with W. T. Otto of the Department of the Interior about the
finding of the "Blue
Book" in Whitman's desk; images of these items are unavailable.The book itself is heavily corrected and revised throughout in
Whitman's hand, in preparation for later editions, though in fact Whitman never implemented many of the changes he contemplated. The "Blue Book" is another remarkable example of his lifelong habit of editing and rewriting his poems. The flyleaf is inscribed: "Property of Horace L. Traubel / Received from Walt Whitman May 23d 1890—W. saying: 'You fellows value these curios more than I do.
This will help you to see how the book grew, if that is anything.
But I guess you would know how it grew if you never possessed the
book. The book is a milepost . . . This gives a glimpse into the
work shop . . .'"
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