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Inventory of the Selma Walden Papers, 1890-1979, bulk 1928-1951
Machine-readable finding aid encoded by Lisa Janssen and Elizabeth Druga, 2003 and 2007. ©2007. |
Descriptive Summary of the Collection |
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Creator |
Walden, Selma, 1884-1951 |
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Title |
Selma Walden Papers |
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Dates |
1890-1979, |
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Dates |
bulk 1928-1951 |
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Extent |
3.5 cubic ft. (10 boxes) |
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Abstract |
Correspondence, writing, photographs, and mementos of a Chicago working woman and poet, Selma Walden. Also writings by family members, including extensive biographical writings by and about those family members. |
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Language |
Materials are in English. |
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Repository |
Newberry Library, Roger and Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections |
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Collection Call Number |
Midwest MS Walden |
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Collection Stack Location |
3a 44 1 |
Selma Walden Papers, Midwest Manuscript Collection, The Newberry Library, Chicago.
Gift of Elaine H. Lincoln (daughter), July 1953.
Jennifer Lau, 2001, Elizabeth Druga and Ryan Welsh, 2007.
This inventory was created with the generous support of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this inventory do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The Selma Walden Papers are open for research in the Special Collections Reading Room; 1 box at a time (Priority III).
The Selma Walden Papers are the physical property of the Newberry Library. Copyright may belong to the authors or their legal heirs or assigns. For permission to publish or reproduce any materials from this collection, contact the Roger and Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections.
Selma Walden was born in 1884 in Hersey, Michigan, to Swedish immigrants Charles Frederick Walden and Christina Ehn. When Selma was two, Charles and Christina moved north with Selma and their other children, Ellen, Oscar, and Hazel, to LeRoy, Michigan. At fifteen, Selma left high school, and, after working in her father's store, eventually decided to attend the Ferris Institute in Michigan to learn shorthand and typing. After finishing school in about 1903, she took her new skills and moved to Chicago to look for work. In 1909 she married George Lee Lincoln, who she met while attending the Ferris Institute, and the two took up residence in and around Chicago. The couple had three children together, Marjorie, George (Walden), and Elaine, but in 1929 they divorced.
After her divorce, Selma became involved in the Chicago literary and intellectual life. She was a member of the Seven Arts Club and later the Dill Pickle Club. It was during this period that she began to write fiction and poetry and to correspond with local literary figures, a practice she would continue for the rest of her life. After a few years in which her daughter Marjorie's became involved in what she felt were disastrous relationships with members of her social circles, Selma concluded that the Bohemian lifestyle was not for her. However, she continued to write journals, short stories, poetry, and extensive correspondence with those she admired. She occasionally published poems in newspapers or magazines, although she was not able to publish a full book. In 1945 she privately published her only book printed in her lifetime, a small collection of thirty-six poems entitled, Do You Ask for My Death? Her daughter, Elaine Lincoln, published a book of her mother's poetry in 1979 called Late Singing.
Despite the fact that after 1909 her legal name was Selma Walden Lincoln, she wrote and corresponded under the name Selma Walden for most of her life. Her divorce forced her to care for her children alone, and, after the death of her daughter Marjorie Lincoln Sheridan in 1942, she assumed responsibility for her three young grandchildren: Jimmy, Rose, and George Sheridan. Except for brief periods in New York, Michigan, and Libertyville, Illinois, Selma lived her adult life on the Near North Side of Chicago. She continued writing and corresponding until a series of strokes incapacitated her shortly before her death in 1951.
Correspondence, writings, photographs, and mementos of Selma Walden and her family, 1890-1979, bulk 1928-1951.
Includes a large amount of correspondence with family members as well as friends and acquaintances such as Vincent Starrett, Thomas Dreier, and many others. Also contains published and unpublished works, namely autobiographical material, essays, poetry, short stories, songs, and manuscripts. There are also some photographs, mainly of Selma Walden's family, as well as personal and non-personal mementos. In addition, there are biographical writings by Selma Walden's daughter as well as other family writings and one large manuscript of unidentifiable origins.
Narrative descriptions of the subject matter, types of material, and arrangement of each series are available through the Organization section of the finding aid.
Papers are organized in the following series:
Contains correspondence with Selma Walden's friends from her hometown of LeRoy, Michigan, as well as other friends and acquaintances including Delos Avery, Vincent Starrett, and Thomas Dreier. Also contains correspondence with many of her family members including her sisters Ellen Glerum and Hazel Anderson, daughter Marjorie Lincoln Sheridan, son George (Walden) Lincoln, and daughter Elaine Lincoln. Contains many letters to newspapers, authors, and other non-personal correspondence. Subject files contain large amounts of correspondence regarding topics such as the education of Selma Walden's grandchildren and conflicts with landlords. The files on her sons-in-law James and Jack Sheridan and the draft of son George (Walden) Lincoln are in the original order and groupings created by Selma Walden.
Arranged alphabetically by correspondent's name followed by general incoming and outgoing, family, and several subject files.
Contains autobiographical material, much of it in the form of journals and notes, including information on health and diet. Also includes essays and an extensive amount of poetry and other writing fragments. In addition, contains several short stories, sketches, and songs done by Selma Walden.
Arranged by type of material and then either chronologically or alphabetically where appropriate.
Contains copies of several stages of the privately published book Do You Ask for My Death? Also includes an advertisement for the book and various copyright related materials. In addition, contains a copy of a magazine in which Selma Walden's poem "I Strayed into a Synagogue" is printed. A copy of Late Singing, a book of Selma Walden's poetry published by her daughter, is also included.
Arranged alphabetically.
Contains two slightly different versions of a typed manuscript of a collection of poetry Selma was attempting to publish with MacMillan and Company. Also includes related correspondence.
Arranged by type of material.
Contains photographs of Selma Walden, her husband, children, parents, parents-in-law, various other family members, and several friends. Also includes several photographs of her childhood home in LeRoy, Michigan, as well as photographs of various residences in and around Chicago.
Arranged by photographic subject.
Contains personal and non-personal mementos from Selma Walden's childhood and adult life. Also includes newspaper clippings saved by Selma Walden, her own correspondence records, and several legal documents.
Arranged by type of material.
Contains extensive biographical writings on Selma Walden done by daughter Elaine Lincoln. The writings are in the form of note cards, journal reflections, and a formal biography. Also contains various other stories, essays, and poetry by Selma Walden's husband, children, grandchildren, and son-in-law. Includes some correspondence to and from other family members as well.
Arranged by author or type.
Contains an unsigned, untitled, and undated manuscript version of a story. It is unclear whether it is the work of Selma Walden or someone else. 475 pages.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Newberry Library's public catalog. Researchers desiring additional materials on a particular topic should search the catalog using these headings.
Series 1: Correspondence, 1901-1951 |
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| Contains correspondence with Selma Walden's friends from her hometown of LeRoy, Michigan, as well as other friends and acquaintances including Delos Avery, Vincent Starrett, and Thomas Dreier. Also contains correspondence with many of her family members including her sisters Ellen Glerum and Hazel Anderson, daughter Marjorie Lincoln Sheridan, son George (Walden) Lincoln, and daughter Elaine Lincoln. Contains many letters to newspapers, authors, and other non-personal correspondence. Subject files contain large amounts of correspondence regarding topics such as the education of Selma Walden's grandchildren and conflicts with landlords. The files on her sons-in-law James and Jack Sheridan and the draft of son George (Walden) Lincoln are in the original order and groupings created by Selma Walden. | |||||||||||
| Arranged alphabetically by correspondent's name followed by general incoming and outgoing, family, and several subject files. | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | Contents | |||||||||
| 1 | 1 | Avery, Delos, 1944-1948 | |||||||||
| 1 | 2 | Cagney, James, 1943 | |||||||||
| 1 | 3 | Courtenay, William, 1944-1947 | |||||||||
| 1 | 4 | Coward, Noel, 1937 | |||||||||
| 1 | 5 | Dewey, Thomas E., 1948 | |||||||||
| 1 | 6 | Dierkes, Henry, 1945-1946 | |||||||||
| 1 | 7 | Drier, Thomas, 1948-1951 | |||||||||
| 1 | 8 | Engstrom, Ella, 1939-1946 | |||||||||
| 1 | 9 | Erickson, Hazel, 1947-1948 | |||||||||
| 1 | 10 | Ferris Institute, 1901-1950, bulk 1950 | |||||||||
| 1 | 11 | Francisco, Loretta, 1947-1948 | |||||||||
| 1 | 12 | Genson, Susan, 1947-1948 | |||||||||
| 1 | 13 | Glynn, John, 1947 | |||||||||
| 1 | 14 | Goldman, Solomon, 1949-1950 | |||||||||
| 1 | 15 | Gordon, Murray, 1938-1939 | |||||||||
| 1 | 16 | Hilton, Delena, 1945-1946 | |||||||||
| 1 | 17 | Illsley, Frank, 1949 | |||||||||
| 1 | 18 | Korpics, Anne, 1945 | |||||||||
| 1 | 19 | Langley, Dorothy, 1948-1949 | |||||||||
| 1 | 20 | Langworthy, Vern and Mayville, 1946-1947 | |||||||||
| 1 | 21 | Libonati, Elliodor M., 1948-1949 | |||||||||
| 1 | 22 | Luce, Clare Boothe, 1944-1946 | |||||||||
| 1 | 23 | Mangia, Maria, 1945-1946 | |||||||||
| 1 | 24 | Maugham, W. Somerset, 1945 | |||||||||
| 1 | 25 | Mencken, H. L., 1926 | |||||||||
| 1 | 26 | Molina, Edward C., 1942 | |||||||||
| 1 | 27 | Moulton, Harold G., 1945-1950 | |||||||||
| 1 | 28 | O'Brien, Howard Vincent, 1930-1945 | |||||||||
| 1 | 29 | Porter, John Oliver (Pete), 1940-1942 | |||||||||
| 1 | 30 | Robinson, Elsie, 1929-1945 | |||||||||
| 1 | 31 | Romero, Don, 1939 | |||||||||
| 1 | 32 | Ruhnou, Amanda, 1946-1949 | |||||||||
| 1 | 33 | Santayana, George, 1945-1948 | |||||||||
| 1 | 34 | Starrett, Vincent, 1946-1951 | |||||||||
| 1 | 35 | Swartout, Rubie D., 1950-1951 | |||||||||
| 1 | 36 | Wilder, Thornton, 1931 | |||||||||
| 1 | 37 | Wood, Clement, 1945-1946 | |||||||||
| 1 | 38 | Yezierska, Anzia, 1926-1927 | |||||||||
| 2 | 39 | Incoming, 1902-1950, bulk 1944-1950 | |||||||||
| 2 | 40 | Outgoing, 1933-1946, bulk 1942-1946 | |||||||||
| 2 | 41 | Outgoing, 1947-1950 | |||||||||
| 2 | 42 | Family-Anderson, Hazel, 1937-1947, bulk 1947 | |||||||||
| 2 | 43 | Family-Glerum, Ellen and Edward, 1932-1947, bulk 1940-1947 | |||||||||
| 3 | 44 | Family-Lincoln, Elaine, 1937-Sept. 1946 | |||||||||
| 3 | 45 | Family-Lincoln, Elaine, Oct.-Dec. 1946 | |||||||||
| 3 | 46 | Family-Lincoln, Elaine, Jan.-Apr. 1947 | |||||||||
| 3 | 47 | Family-Lincoln, Elaine, May 1947-1950, bulk 1947 | |||||||||
| 3 | 48 | Family-Lincoln, George Lee, 1932 | |||||||||
| 3 | 49 | Family-Lincoln, George (Walden), 1929-1949, bulk 1946-1948 | |||||||||
| 3 | 50 | Family-Sheridan, Marjorie Lincoln, 1935-1946, bulk 1938-1942 | |||||||||
| 3 | 51 | Family-Walden, Charles F., 1907 | |||||||||
| 4 | 52 | Subject-Draft of George (Walden) Lincoln | |||||||||
| 4 | 53 | Subject-Education of grandchildren, 1946-1951 | |||||||||
| 4 | 54 | Subject-Firing of Elaine Lincoln from the Sheraton, 1949-1950 | |||||||||
| 4 | 55 | Subject-Jimmy and Jack Sheridan (Selma Walden's sons-in-law) | |||||||||
| 4 | 56 | Subject-Letters to the Editor (MS), 1929-1951, bulk 1943-1951 | |||||||||
| 4 | 57 | Subject-Letters to the Editor (published), 1936-1948 | |||||||||
| 4 | 58 | Subject-Publishers, 1937-1944 | |||||||||
| 4 | 59 | Subject-Seery Lawsuit, 1948 | |||||||||
| 4 | 60 | Subject-Terlecki Apartment Cleaning Disagreement, 1942-1944 | |||||||||
| 4 | 61 | Subject-University of Chicago Course, 1949 | |||||||||
| 4 | 62 | Partial and Unidentified | |||||||||
| 4 | 63 | Undated | |||||||||
Series 2: Works-Unpublished, 1922-1951 |
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| Contains autobiographical material, much of it in the form of journals and notes, including information on health and diet. Also includes essays and an extensive amount of poetry and other writing fragments. In addition, contains several short stories, sketches, and songs done by Selma Walden. | |||||||||||
| Arranged by type of material and then either chronologically or alphabetically where appropriate. | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | Contents | |||||||||
| 5 | 64 | Autobiographical Material-Miscellaneous Writings, 1945-1946 | |||||||||
| 5 | 65 | Autobiographical Material-Journal, Small Format, 1930-1946 | |||||||||
| 5 | 66 | Autobiographical Material-Journal, 1922-1948 | |||||||||
| 5 | 67 | Autobiographical Material-Dietary and Medical Notes, 1948- 1951 | |||||||||
| 5 | 68 | Essay-Is Modern Marriage a Failure? | |||||||||
| 5 | 69 | Essay-Landlords and Their Contribution to the Slums, 1945 | |||||||||
| 5 | 70 | Essay-Oh My Daughter, Nov. 10, 1942 | |||||||||
| 5 | 71 | Essay-This Is Clark Street, Mar. 29, 1940 | |||||||||
| 5 | 72 | Essay-Who Is the Superior Man?, Mar. 1936 | |||||||||
| 5 | 73 | Poetry-Fragments | |||||||||
| 5 | 74 | Poetry - A-B | |||||||||
| 5 | 75 | Poetry - C-E | |||||||||
| 5 | 76 | Poetry - F-G | |||||||||
| 5 | 77 | Poetry - H-I | |||||||||
| 5 | 78 | Poetry - J-L | |||||||||
| 5 | 79 | Poetry - M-N | |||||||||
| 5 | 80 | Poetry - O-P | |||||||||
| 5 | 81 | Poetry - R | |||||||||
| 5 | 82 | Poetry - S | |||||||||
| 5 | 83 | Poetry - T | |||||||||
| 5 | 84 | Poetry - U-V | |||||||||
| 5 | 85 | Poetry - W-Y | |||||||||
| 6 | 86 | Short Stories - A Gooseneck of Gravy | |||||||||
| 6 | 87 | Short Stories - If Thy Hand Offend Thee, Sept. 11, 1931 | |||||||||
| 6 | 88 | Short Stories - Leland's Luck, May 14, 1943 | |||||||||
| 6 | 89 | Short Stories - Little Jewish Boy, Jan. 12, 1934 | |||||||||
| 6 | 90 | Short Stories - A Miniature Chopin, 1940 | |||||||||
| 6 | 91 | Short Stories - One Plus One, and related notes, 1926 | |||||||||
| 6 | 92 | Short Stories - Strokes of Eloquence, June 25, 1930 | |||||||||
| 6 | 93 | Short Stories - This Is My Daughter, 1949 | |||||||||
| 6 | 94 | Short Stories - Trading in Futures, Jan. 29, 1934 | |||||||||
| 6 | 95 | Sketches | |||||||||
| 6 | 96 | Songs - And Then Goodbye | |||||||||
| 6 | 97 | Songs - Pathway of Dusty Dreams | |||||||||
| 6 | 98 | Miscellaneous Excerpts | |||||||||
Series 3: Works-Published, 1937-1979 |
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| Contains copies of several stages of the privately published book Do You Ask for My Death? Also includes an advertisement for the book and various copyright related materials. In addition, contains a copy of a magazine in which Selma Walden's poem "I Strayed into a Synagogue" is printed. A copy of Late Singing, a book of Selma Walden's poetry published by her daughter, is also included. | |||||||||||
| Arranged alphabetically. | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | Contents | |||||||||
| 6 | 99 | Do You Ask for My Death? - Copies of Poetry Book, 1945 | |||||||||
| 6 | 100 | Do You Ask for My Death? - Advertisement | |||||||||
| 6 | 101 | Do You Ask for My Death? - Copyright Correspondence, 1945 | |||||||||
| 6 | 102 | I Strayed into a Synagogue - Poem from The Opinion, June 1937 | |||||||||
| 6 | 103 | Untitled Poem published in The Vagabond, Sept. 1948 | |||||||||
| 6 | 104 | Late Singing - Poetry Book, 1979 | |||||||||
Series 4: Works-MacMillan and Company Materials, ca. 1944-1945 |
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| Contains two slightly different versions of a typed manuscript of a collection of poetry Selma was attempting to publish with MacMillan and Company. Also includes related correspondence. | |||||||||||
| Arranged by type of material. | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | Contents | |||||||||
| 7 | 105 | Correspondence, Sept. 6, 1944-10 Apr. 1945 | |||||||||
| 7 | 106 | Manuscript-One Version | |||||||||
| 7 | 107 | Manuscript-Second Version | |||||||||
Series 5: Photographs, 1898-1950 |
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| Contains photographs of Selma Walden, her husband, children, parents, parents-in-law, various other family members, and several friends. Also includes several photographs of her childhood home in LeRoy, Michigan, as well as photographs of various residences in and around Chicago. | |||||||||||
| Arranged by photographic subject. | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | Contents | |||||||||
| 8 | 108 | Walden, Selma, 1898-1950 | |||||||||
| 8 | 109 | Walden, Charles Frederick and Christina Ehn, parents of Selma Walden | |||||||||
| 8 | 110 | Walden Sisters, Ellen, Selma, and Hazel | |||||||||
| 8 | 111 | Walden, Oscar, brother of Selma Walden | |||||||||
| 8 | 112 | Lincoln, George Lee, husband of Selma Walden | |||||||||
| 8 | 113 | Lincoln, Lee C. and Sarah Jane, parents of George Lee Lincoln | |||||||||
| 8 | 114 | George Lee and Selma Walden Lincoln Family | |||||||||
| 8 | 115 | Lincoln, Marjorie, daughter of Selma Walden | |||||||||
| 8 | 116 | Walden, Selma and Friends | |||||||||
| 8 | 117 | Walden, Selma with Grandchildren, Jimmy, Rose, and George Sheridan | |||||||||
| 8 | 118 | Friends of Selma Walden | |||||||||
| 8 | 119 | Walden Family Home, later Glerum home | |||||||||
| 8 | 120 | Various Residences of Selma Walden | |||||||||
Series 6: Mementos, 1909-1950 |
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| Contains personal and non-personal mementos from Selma Walden's childhood and adult life. Also includes newspaper clippings saved by Selma Walden, her own correspondence records, and several legal documents. | |||||||||||
| Arranged by type of material. | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | Contents | |||||||||
| 8 | 121 | Non-Personal | |||||||||
| 8 | 122 | Personal | |||||||||
| 8 | 123 | Personal | |||||||||
| 8 | 124 | Non-Personal - Clippings | |||||||||
| 8 | 125 | Personal - Clippings | |||||||||
| 8 | 126 | Apricot Dainty Label and Advertisement, commercial preserve made by Selma Walden | |||||||||
| 8 | 127 | Correspondence Records | |||||||||
| 8 | 128 | Legal Documents, 1909-1950 | |||||||||
Series 7: Family Writings, 1925-1979 |
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| Contains extensive biographical writings on Selma Walden done by daughter Elaine Lincoln. The writings are in the form of note cards, journal reflections, and a formal biography. Also contains various other stories, essays, and poetry by Selma Walden's husband, children, grandchildren, and son-in-law. Includes some correspondence to and from other family members as well. | |||||||||||
| Arranged by author or type. | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | Contents | |||||||||
| 9 | 129 | Lincoln, Elaine - Notes on Selma Walden | |||||||||
| 9 | 130 | Lincoln, Elaine - Notes and recollections on Selma Walden, Undated | |||||||||
| 9 | 131 | Lincoln, Elaine - Notes and recollections on Selma Walden, 1972- 1979 | |||||||||
| 9 | 132 | Lincoln, Elaine - Biographical Sketch of Selma Walden, Feb. 1974 | |||||||||
| 9 | 133 | Lincoln, Elaine - Childhood writings | |||||||||
| 9 | 134 | Lincoln, George Lee - Poetry | |||||||||
| 9 | 135 | Lincoln, George (Walden) - Childhood Writings, 1925-1935 | |||||||||
| 9 | 136 | Sheridan, Marjorie Lincoln | |||||||||
| 9 | 137 | Sheridan, Jack-Poetry, 1932 | |||||||||
| 9 | 138 | Sheridan, Jimmy (grandson)-Childhood Writings | |||||||||
| 9 | 139 | Sheridan, Rose (granddaughter) - Childhood Writings, 1944-1945 | |||||||||
| 9 | 140 | Sheridan, George (grandson)-Childhood Writings | |||||||||
| 9 | 141 | Miscellaneous Correspondence | |||||||||
Series 8: Unidentified Manuscript, ca. 1940s |
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| Contains an unsigned, untitled, and undated manuscript version of a story. It is unclear whether it is the work of Selma Walden or someone else. 475 pages. | |||||||||||
| Box | Folder | Contents | |||||||||
| 10 | 142 | Unidentified Manuscript | |||||||||