Mason, Walt, 1862-1939.

Variant names

Hide Profile

Walt Mason was born and raised in Ontario, Canada. Orphaned at 15, he began an itinerant lifestyle that took him from Canada to New York and across the American midwest, working odd jobs. He eventually became a journalist, but his wanderlust and alcoholism hampered his career. William Allen White gave Mason a job at the Emporia (Kansas) Gazette, and he started writing light verse, both humorous and inspirational, which became very popular. Through syndication, "Uncle Walt" developed a national following, published several collections of his Rippling Rhymes, and became known as the best-paid poet in America.

From the description of Walt Mason poem for Horace M. Hill, circa 1910. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 67710347

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Cobb, Irvin S. (Irvin Shrewsbury), 1876-1944. Papers of Irvin Shrewsbury Cobb [manuscript] 1870-1934. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Victor Murdock Papers, 1824-1971, (bulk 1909-1940) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn William E. Barton Letters, 1861-1924 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
creatorOf Mason, Walt, 1862-1939. Walt Mason poem for Horace M. Hill, circa 1910. Pennsylvania State University Libraries
creatorOf Mason, Walt, 1862-1939. Correspondence with Theodore Dreiser, 1913. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Howells family papers, 1850-1954 (inclusive). Houghton Library
referencedIn Walt Filkin correspondence, 1928-1956 University of Kansas Kenneth Spencer Research Library Kanas Collection
creatorOf Mason, Walt, 1862-1939. Postcard, 1924, March 8, La Jolla, Calif., to Rev. A. R. Parshley. Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
referencedIn Connelley, William Elsey, 1855-1930. William Elsey Connelley papers, 1878-1931. Kansas State Historical Society
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Barton, William Eleazar, 1861-1930 person
associatedWith Cobb, Irvin S. (Irvin Shrewsbury), 1876-1944. person
associatedWith Connelley, William Elsey, 1855-1930. person
associatedWith Filkin, Walt person
associatedWith Hill, Horace M. person
correspondedWith Murdock, Victor. person
correspondedWith Murdock, Victor. person
associatedWith Parshley, A. R., Reverend, person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Subject
Poets, American
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1862

Death 1939

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w65x3bcw

Ark ID: w65x3bcw

SNAC ID: 54910216