Collection on James Whitcomb Riley, 1891-1951 | Purdue University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections

Scope and Contents: The Collection on James Whitcomb Riley (1891-1951; 0.2 cubic feet) consists of a group of four letters written by James Whitcomb Riley: one autographed, signed letter to fellow poet Henry Abbey; and a group of three autographed, signed letters, all to Mrs. Anna Smith Brown of Indianapolis, all in regards to “an old lisping jingle.”  There are six letters written by Marguerite Young to Miss Lesley Payne (Riley’s niece) in Indianapolis.  These long letters are about her writings, a novel, and a biography of James Whitcomb Riley, which was to be published by William Sloane as a volume of the American Men of Letters Series.  There is a four page letter written by Lora L. Luce to Mary R. Payne (Riley’s sister) asking about “The Passing of the Backhouse,” with a group of five booklets related to this poem.