Welcker, Adair

Adair Welcker (1858-1926) was a lawyer and writer, residing in Berkeley, California. He was the author of many plays, poems and other texts. Although he was unable to find a commercial publisher for his works, Welcker printed his volumes at his own expense, and distributed them widely to universities, libraries and publications around the world. Welcker was a regular target of author Ambrose Bierce, appearing in The Devil's Dictionary, Black Beetles in Amber, and other works, as an exemplar of dubious literary merit and inflated self regard.

From the description of Adair Welcker papers 1885-1918 (inclusive). (University of Chicago Library). WorldCat record id: 632236956

Adair Welcker, poet and author.

From the guide to the Adair Welcker: Choctaw Mascot Iago, 1900, (Cambridge University Library, Department of Manuscripts and University Archives)

From the guide to the Adair Welcker: Book of Generation and other Poems, 1905, (Cambridge University Library, Department of Manuscripts and University Archives)

Adair Welcker was a poet and author.

From the guide to the Adair Welcker: Papers, 1886-1905, (Cambridge University Library, Department of Manuscripts and University Archives)

Adair Welcker was the son of US and Confederate military officer, lawyer, public official and professor of mathematics, William Thomas Welcker, and Katy Adair. According to an autobiographical manuscript sent by Welcker to the University of Chicago Library "to be preserved by that institution as carefully as it would any papyrus from Egypt," the author was born in Troy, New York, in 1858, and educated in the east and in California. Welcker identified himself as a "lawyer, scientist and journalist" and is listed in the 1920 US census as a lawyer residing in Berkeley, California. He died in 1926.

Welcker was the author of many plays, poems and other texts. Although he was unable to find a commercial publisher for his works, Welcker printed his volumes at his own expense, and distributed them widely to universities, libraries and publications around the world. His persistence was rewarded with occasional short reviews in journals and newspapers, many expressing scorn, bemusement, or simple bewilderment, but all mined by Welcker for quotation in future works.

Welcker was a regular target of author Ambrose Bierce, appearing in The Devil's Dictionary, Black Beetles in Amber, and other works, as an exemplar of dubious literary merit and inflated self regard.

From the guide to the Welcker, Adair. Papers, 1885-1918, (Special Collections Research Center University of Chicago Library 1100 East 57th Street Chicago, Illinois 60637 U.S.A.)