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Julia A. Moore collection

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 419 large

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of one box of materials about the poetry of Julia A. Moore, who in her heyday was called the Sweet Singer in Michigan. The collective consists of family pictures, correspondence to and clippings about Ms. Moore, correspondence by H. A. Greenly, copies of published works not individually catalogued in MSU Libraries, and photocopies of three of her works.

Dates

  • Creation: 1847-1920

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open and available for research in the MSU Libraries Special Collections' reading room.

Conditions Governing Access

The material is stored offsite in Remote Storage. Please contact Special Collections 3 working days in advance if you wish to use it.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright is retained by the author of the items in this archive, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Biographical / Historical

Obituary poetry was popular in the nineteenth century especially the 1870s. During that time obituary poetry was the majority of the poetry published in American newspapers. Julia A. Moore was considered to be a well-known proponent of the genre. Born in Plainfield Township, Kent County, Michigan, Julia Ann Davis began writing poetry in her teens primarily in response to disasters and children’s deaths found in the newspapers. Julia married Frederick Franklin Moore, a farmer. She published The Sentimental Song Book was published in 1876 by C. M. Loomis of Grand Rapids, Michigan. James F. Ryder, a Cleveland publisher, republished the book under the name. The Sweet Singer of Michigan Salutes the Public, hence giving Julia A. Moore the title "Sweet Singer." Her poetry was thought to be in the same category as William Topaz McGonagall known as poetaster, a name applied to poets of notoriously bad poetry.

Extent

.5 Linear Feet (1 box)

Language of Materials

English

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by A. H. Greenly 1960 (ca).

Processing Information

Processed by Edward R. Barton in January 2014.

Title
Finding Aid for the Julia A. Moore, Sweet Singer of Michigan, collection
Status
Completed
Author
Finding aid prepared by Edward R. Barton.
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Part of the Stephen O. Murray and Keelung Hong Special Collections Repository

Contact:
MSU Libraries
366 W. Circle Drive
East Lansing MI 48823 USA