Stephen Crane Rare ALS on University Letterhead Re: Religious Choral Concert While Researching

Stephen Crane
Syracuse, NY, March 7, [1891]
Stephen Crane Rare ALS on University Letterhead Re: Religious Choral Concert While Researching "Maggie: A Girl Of The Streets"
ALS

An autograph letter from American journalist and writer Stephen Crane (1871-1900) during his brief enrollment at Syracuse University. 2pp on "Delta Upsilon House" stationery, measures 5.25" x 8.5" & 5.25" x 7.25", [Syracuse, NY], March 7, [1891]. Signed near the bottom of the second page as "Stephen Crane", he writes to an unidentified correspondent named "Miss Yates," inviting her to a double date the following Wednesday evening. Each page has been mounted on slightly raised supports and are affixed to heavy-duty cardstock, measuring 6.25" x 9.625" and 6.325" x 9.125" overall. Expected wear including uneven toning, with discoloration likely due to adhesive found near the top of each page. Slight chipping to edges; the second page has been trimmed to remove the letterhead. Otherwise, good condition.

Autograph letters by Stephen Crane are exceedingly rare, as he died at the very young age of 28. In addition, this is the only example that we can find penned on fraternity letterhead during his brief attendance at Syracuse University for one semester, ca. January - June 1891.

Reading in full:

"I hope you will pardon the superlative amount of assurance I seem to possess, in this venturing with pen and ink; but finding myself unable to call in season before Wednesday next, I trusted that you would not feel offended at 'these few lines.'
If you will give me the pleasure of attending with me the rendition of the 'Stabat Mater' at the musical festival next Wednesday evening in company with Miss Taylor and Mr. Goodwin I will be grateful. Hoping that I may have the honor, I am…"

Crane had transferred from Pennsylvania's Lafayette College to Syracuse University in early January 1891. In a letter sent to a friend upon his arrival at Syracuse, Crane crowed about the multi-million Delta Upsilon fraternity house and remarked favorably on the city's "dam pretty girls" of which "Miss Yates" might have been one. The "Mr. Goodwin" which Crane refers to in the letter was possibly fellow Delta Upsilon member Clarence Norton Goodwin, whose name appears listed below Crane's name in the "Syracuse - 1892-94" section of the "Delta Upsilon Quinquennial Catalogue of 1891." (See scan included for reference.)

The extremely bright Crane proved an unmotivated student. He registered for Latin, History, and English classes at Syracuse, but did not complete the majority of his coursework. Instead, he was busy with the college baseball team, fraternity cricket team, and winter sledding club. He was also actively engaged in the Greek life provided through membership in Delta Upsilon, the sixth-oldest fraternity in the United States, which had opened its 22nd chapter at Syracuse University in 1873.

The concert that Crane and the other coeds attended was likely one advertised in the March 8, 1891 issue of the "Illustrated Buffalo Express." The musical festival in the city of Syracuse featured "principal works… [including] 'the Messiah' and 'Stabat Mater.' Carl Zirrahn's [sic] orchestra of Boston will assist. Clementina DeVere and Jennie-Patrick Walker, sopranos, Italo Campanini, tenor, and D.M. Babcock, basso, are the principal soloists…" The "Stabat Mater" was a type of Latin hymn first popularized during the Middle Ages to describe the Virgin Mary's suffering during the crucifixion.

It is fascinating to consider that, while Crane and his friends attended Christian musical concerts, the young writer was also spending most of his time trolling local police courts and off-color city districts to better understand the human condition. Crane's time in Syracuse interviewing prostitutes and other demi-monde figures in the course of serving as a correspondent for the "New York Tribune" prepared him for what would become Crane's first novel, "Maggie: A Girl Of The Streets" (1893). After his first and only semester at Syracuse University, Crane decided to drop out and focus full-time on his writing career.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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largest: 6.25" x 9.625"