Collection of original proof sheets, press proofs of biographical articles, ephemera, and portraits related to Walt Whitman collected by Laurens Maynard of Boston, 1888-1896.

Includes: autograph memo from Laurens Maynard about the collection; Traubel's "Lowell-Whitman: a contrast" reprinted from Poet-Lore, January 15, 1892 with pencil inscription by Laurens Maynard[?] [proof]; Horace L. Traubel's "Walt Whitman: poet and philosopher and man" with author's inscription in ink [proof]; chapters 14 and 15 of an unknown work by an unknown author with annotations and markings in ink throughout [proof]; "Walt Whitman" by an unknown author with annotations and markings in ink throughout [proof]; Whitman's "Have we a national literature" from the North American Review, March 1891 [proof]; Whitman's "An old man's rejoinder" from The Critic, New York, August 16, 1890 [proof]; typed memo of remarks made by Frank B. Sanborn of Concord, Mass, at the meeting of the Walt Whitman Club, Boston, December 21, 1897, with annotations and markings in pencil by Maynard[?], housed in envelope addressed to Laurens Maynard, 287 Congress Street, Boston, Mass. with illegible inscription in ink on envelope; Whitman's "A memorandum at a venture" from the North American Review [proof]; rough abstract and condensation of Sarrazin's "Walt Whitman" in "La nouvelle revue" May 1, 1888 by R.M.B. of Canada, with inscription in ink about provenance: "From the collection of Walt Whitman. There were [?] publications, made for rent[?] to his friend for[?] him[?] to have[?] - To Laurens Maynard, June 1895, [illegible signature]" [proof]; Whitman's "Old poets" from the North American Review for November 1896 [proof]; Sarrazin's "Walt Whitman and his poems" translated abstract from "La nouvelle revue" Paris, France, May 1, 1888 by Sloane Kennedy, Boston [proof]; 4 typed poems by Whitman on 3 panels [proof]; 17 poems by Whitman in the same font, but on various size sheets, "Thanks in old age" has inscription in ink at bottom: "Received from W.W. Apr. 19, 1888," Whitman's "Shakespeare-bacon cipher" has annotation in unknown hand in purple pencil crossing out the "n" in "anthor" and writing a "u" in the margins; Whitman's "Proud music of the sea-storm" [proof]; autograph letter on a typed ledger from Whitman, Camden, New Jersey to an unidentified recipient, 1886 May 30 stating that his letter from 17th enclosing the fifth installment of an unknown subject, including a ledger[?], thanking him and describing his current view, requesting if Herbert Gilchrist prints the circular to send him 3 or 4 copies, sending his best to his British contributors and thanking them; typed essay titled "Walt Whitman: is he the greatest man that America has produced" by G.K. Chesterton of London Daily News; reproduction of a portrait of Whitman with 2 inscriptions to previous owners (unknown and Horace L. Traubel), tipped onto a leaf with a decorative border; reproduction of a photograph of a sculpture of Whitman by S.H. Morse on a leaf with an inscription in pencil at top: "Please return to L. Maynard"; 6 portraits of Whitman from unknown source, one has inscription by Maynard[?] in pencil at bottom: "Please write the copyright for this one"; copy of Whitman's "The poetry of the future" from the North American Review (pages [195-210); booklet from the Tenth annual celebration of the birthday of Walt Whitman, Hotel Bellevue, Boston, 31 May 1896, includes menu, some poetry, and a portrait of Whitman on the front cover; autograph sheet with information about the contents of the collection briefly by Laurens Maynard - includes original proof sheet of "Whitman" and press proofs of biographical articles.