Urmy, Clarence Thomas, 1858-1923

Clarence Thomas Urmy, born 10 July 1858 in San Francisco, California, was the first native poet of California. He published several volumes of collected verse and wrote dramatic and music criticism for the San Jose Mercury Herald. Urmy died 3 June 1923 in San Jose, California.

From the description of Clarence Urmy papers, 1878-1936. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 703635420

California poet born in San Francisco, July 10, 1858. Published three books of verse. Used pseudonym Feliz Jose.

From the description of Clarence Urmy Collection, 1900-1923. (California State Library). WorldCat record id: 58746637

Biographical Note

Urmy, Clarence 1858-1923

He was born in San Francisco on July 10, 1858. He was the grandsoneof Elea Thomas who was one of the founders of the Methodist church in the state of California. Urmy's father was a methodist minister for 50 years. Urmy attended San Francisco public schools and then Napa College where he studied music and received a batchelor's degree. He worked for a number of years in music houses (Sherman and Clay in San Francisco). He continued to study voice at this time and did some performing in San Francisco and San Jose. He was the organist at Santa Clara Methodist Church and later at Trinity Episcopal Church in San Jose. He taught piano at the College of the Pacific and four years at San Jose Teachers' College.

Urmy was the first native poet of California. He published three volumes of collected verse: A Rosary of Rhyme, Vintage of Verse, and California Troubadour. Two more volumes were nearly ready for publication at his death: Wild Willow and Under the Toyon Tree. His poems appeared in a large number of national magazines. He also did dramatic and music criticism for the San Jose Mercury Herald.

Urmy died on June 3, 1923 in San Jose. A Clarence Urmy Memorial was established at Stanford in 1930, which consists of a prize given each year to the student submitting the best original poem.

From the guide to the Clarence Urmy Papers, 1878-1936, (Department of Special Collections and University Archives)

Biography

Clarence Urmy was a California poet born in San Francisco, July 10, 1858. He was educated at Napa College, and lived for most of his life in San Jose. He published three books of verse and used the pseudonym Feliz Jose. He was the drama cric for the San Jose Mercury and a teacher at San Jose Normal School. He was also the organist at Trinity Episcopal Church in San Jose. Urmy died June 2, 1923.

From the guide to the Clarence Urmy Collection, 1900-1923, (California State Library)