Walt Whitman Collection

Collection Facts

Extent:

Dates of Original:

c. 1865-1955

Historical Context

Walter "Walt" Whitman was an American poet, essayist, and journalist. A humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. Walt Whitman was born in 1819 in a farmhouse (now a part of the museum) built by his father in the town of Huntington, New York on Long Island.

Scope of Collection

The collection consists of black and white photographs of the birthplace of Walt Whitman taken by photographer Benjamin S. Conklin in the middle of the 20th Century. Additionally, there is a manuscript from Walt Whitman featuring a draft of his famous poem, Thick Sprinkled Bunting.