Sarah Helen Whitman papers, 1816-1878

Sarah Helen (Power) Whitman (1803-1878) was a Rhode Island poet and essayist best known for her brief engagement to Edgar Allan Poe in 1848. Whitman hosted a salon in Providence that attracted many (including George William Curtis, John Neal, and John Hay) and corresponded with a number of literary luminaries. While living in Boston, Whitman became interested in Transcendentalism and other movements of the period, including woman's rights, spiritualism, mesmerism, Fourierism, and the progressive educational methods of Bronson Alcott. The papers include correspondence, poetry, genealogical information, and legal documents.

Format(s): Manuscripts, Letters
Library: John Hay

---

Access to the collection:

Online Catalog (BruKnow):
General description of the collection available on BruKnow

Other Online Access:
RIAMCO: Guide to the Sarah Helen Whitman papers