Edward Capern letter
Overview
This collection consists of a single letter written by Edward Capern to Dr. Lin from Bideford, England, providing biographical details about his life and career, including working as a child laborer at a factory.
Dates
- Creation: March 19th [1859]
Creator
- Capern, Edward, 1819-1894 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
No access restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Spencer Library staff may determine use restrictions dependent on the physical condition of manuscript materials.
Biography of Edward Capern (1819-1894)
Edward Capern was born in Tiverton, England on January 21, 1819, the eldest of 8 children. From the age of 9, Capern worked in a lace factory to help support his family. His eyesight began failing him, however, and he had to abandon factory work in the mid-1840s. In 1848 he secured a post as a letter carrier with the Post Office, working routes between Bideford, Appledore, and Westleigh.
Capern wrote poetry while waiting for return post at each location, and he became known as the "Rural Postman of Bideford." His published books of poetry included Poems, by Edward Capern (1856); Ballads and Songs (1858); and Sungleams and Shadows (1881), among other works. The popularity and critical acclaim for his poetry won him a civil list pension, granted by Lord Palmerston. Capern died on June 4, 1894.
[Information retrieved from Secome, Thomas, revised by Jane Potter, "Capern, Edward," Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.]
Extent
1 folder ; Folder measures 22x37 cm.
Language of Materials
English
Physical Location
MS P58
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchase, Maggs Bros Rare Books, June 27, 1966.
Processing Information
Former SC temporary call number: MS (Box) 38:13.
Former temporary collection name: Collection of 19th c. letters: Miscellaneous group of mainly English letters: mostly 19th c, some 20th c, a few 18th c.
Subject
- Title
- Guide to the Edward Capern Collection
- Subtitle
- Edward Capern letter
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by alh, 1966; mwh, 2020. Finding aid encoded by mwh, 2020.
- Date
- 2020
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Finding aid written in English.
- Finding aid permalink
- http://hdl.handle.net/10407/2901023921
- Preferred citation
-
Edward Capern letter, MS P58, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas
Repository Details
Part of the University of Kansas. Kenneth Spencer Research Library Repository