Davidson, Gustav, 1895-1971

Variant names

Hide Profile

Poet, writer, publisher, secretary of Poetry Society of America.

From the description of Gustav Davidson letter to William Orton Tewson, [manuscript], [1925] Jun 17 (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 247516917

Gustav Davidson was born in Warsaw, Poland on December 25, 1895. His family moved to New York City in 1897. He received his bachelor and master degrees from Columbia University in 1919 and 1920 respectively. During the twenties and thirties, he wrote and published both dramatic works and poetry and founded and edited several literary magazines. In 1940 he founded Fine Editions Press. An integral part of the American poetry establishment through the 1960s, Davidson served as executive secretary of the Poetry Society of America from 1949 to 1965, after which time he was elected executive secretary emeritus. Also in 1965, he published his most well known book, A Dictionary of Angels, Including the Fallen Angels. He died in 1971.

From the description of Gustav Davidson, papers, 1613-1983 1800-1964 1613-1983. (Tufts University - Tisch Library). WorldCat record id: 773061675

Biographical Note

  • 1895, Dec. 25: Born, Warsaw, Poland
  • 1897: Family immigrated to the United States and settled in New York, N. Y.
  • 1915: Published with Joseph Koven Melmoth, the Wanderer; a Play in Five Acts. Boston: The Poet Lore Co.
  • 1917 - 1918 : Founder and editor, Madrigal Magazine
  • 1919: B.A., Columbia University, New York, N. Y.
  • 1920: M.A., Columbia University, New York, N. Y.
  • 1922 - 1923 : Founder and editor, Rhythmus Magazine
  • 1924: Published A Half Century of Sonnets. New York: N. L. Brown
  • 1927 - 1929 : Leader of the Australasian expedition to the South Seas
  • 1929 - 1931 : Book and music critic, editorial writer, and associate editor, The Daily Mirror, New York, N. Y.
  • 1938 - 1939 : Bibliographer in children's literature, Library of Congress
  • 1940: Founded the Fine Editions Press
  • 1942: Married Mollie Strauss
  • 1942 - 1953 : Founder and publisher, The Poetry Chap-Book
  • 1945: Published Thirst of the Antelope. La Porte, Ind.: The Dierkes Press
  • 1949 - 1965 : Executive secretary, Poetry Society of America
  • 1950: Published Moment of Visitation. Denver, Colo.: Alan Swallow
  • 1965: Elected executive secretary emeritus, Poetry Society of America Published Ambushed by Angels. London: Outposts Publications
  • 1967: Published A Dictionary of Angels, Including the Fallen Angels. New York: Free Press
  • 1970: Published All Things Are Holy. Georgetown, Calif.: Dragon's Teeth Press
  • 1971, Feb. 6: Died, New York, N. Y.

From the guide to the Gustav Davidson Papers, 1909-1992, (bulk 1931-1971), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Slee, Frederick Caldecott, 1870-1954. Poet / [Frederick Caldecott Slee]. SUNY at Buffalo, University at Buffalo
creatorOf Davidson, Gustav. The static drama. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Davidson, Gustav, 1895-1971. Gustav Davidson letter to William Orton Tewson, [manuscript], [1925] Jun 17 University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Montgomery, Elizabeth Shaw. Papers, 1923-1943. Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
creatorOf Smith, R. Grant, 1931-. R. Grant Smith sheet music collection, 1876-1981. Public Libraries of Saginaw
referencedIn Ellis, Richard Williamson, 1894-1982. Papers, 1916-1977. Temple University Libraries, Paley Library
referencedIn Richard G. Badger papers, 1917-1932. Houghton Library
referencedIn Yaddo records, 1870-1980 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Poetry mss., 1954-2002 Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
creatorOf Davidson, Gustav, 1895-1971. [Letter] 1917, September 27, New York City [to] Mrs.[Edwin]Markham, [Staten Island] / Davison Gustav. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
referencedIn Alan Swallow Papers, 1934-1965 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
creatorOf Teasdale, Sara, 1884-1933. Papers of Sara Teasdale [manuscript], 1888-1934 (bulk 1905-1933). University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Davidson, Gustav, 1895-1971. Gustav Davidson, papers, 1613-1983 1800-1964 Tufts University - Tisch Library, Tisch Library
creatorOf Stearns, Florence Dickinson, 1883-. Papers of Florence Stearns [manuscript] 1920-55. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Braithwaite, William Stanley, 1878-1962. [Papers]. Dartmouth College Library
referencedIn William Stanley Braithwaite Papers, 1916-1962 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
creatorOf Gustav Davidson Papers, 1909-1992, (bulk 1931-1971) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Amy Lowell correspondence, 1883-1927 (inclusive), 1910-1925 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Witter Bynner papers, 1829-1965. Houghton Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
correspondedWith Angoff, Charles, 1902-1979 person
correspondedWith Auslander, Joseph, 1897-1965 person
correspondedWith Badger, Richard G. person
associatedWith Braithwaite, William Stanley, 1878-1962. person
correspondedWith Bynner, Witter, 1881-1968 person
correspondedWith Decker, Clarence Raymond, 1904-1969 person
correspondedWith Dorn, Alfred, 1929- person
correspondedWith Eastman, Max, 1883-1969 person
associatedWith Ellis, Richard Williamson, 1894-1982. person
correspondedWith Lowell, Amy, 1874-1925 person
associatedWith Markham, Catherine, person
associatedWith Modern Poetry Association corporateBody
associatedWith Montgomery, Elizabeth Shaw. person
correspondedWith Orlinsky, Harry Meyer, 1908- person
associatedWith Poetry Society of America. corporateBody
correspondedWith Roethke, Theodore, 1908-1963 person
associatedWith Slee, Frederick Caldecott, 1870-1954. person
associatedWith Smith, R. Grant, 1931- person
associatedWith Stearns, Florence Dickinson, 1883- person
associatedWith Swallow, Alan, 1915-1966 person
associatedWith Teasdale, Sara, 1884-1933. person
associatedWith Tewson, William Orton, 1877-1947, person
correspondedWith Trattner, Ernest R. (Ernest Robert), 1898- person
correspondedWith Untermeyer, Louis, 1885-1977 person
associatedWith Yaddo (Artist's colony) corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
Oceania
Subject
Publishers and publishing
Authors, American
American poetry
Poets, American
Angels
Poetry
Occupation
Authors
Poets
Publisher
Activity

Person

Birth 1895

Death 1971-02-06

Americans

French

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w64m9427

Ark ID: w64m9427

SNAC ID: 46403647