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Creator
De Casseres, Benjamin, 1873-1945
Call number
MssCol 745
Physical description
15 linear feet (30 boxes)
Language
Materials in English
Preferred Citation

Benjamin De Casseres papers, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library

Repository
Manuscripts and Archives Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.

Benjamin De Casseres (1873-1945), a journalist and author, worked for various New York City newspapers writing columns and editorials. He also wrote poetry, fiction, essays, and critical reviews. Collection contains manuscripts of De Casseres's writings, correspondence, clippings, and other printed matter. Manuscripts include his articles, poetry, plays, and fiction. One half of correspondence consists of love letters to his future wife, Adele "Bio" Terrill Jones; the rest are letters from prominent literary figures. There are numerous clippings of his writings, articles about him and clippings he used for reference. Also, some materials concerning his brother, Walter De Casseres.

Biographical/historical information

Benjamin De Casseres (1873-1945) became a newspaperman in his native Philadelphia at the age of 16. A decade later he became a proofreader for the New York Sun, and he worked for the New York Herald from 1903-1919. By 1902 De Casseres had begun to consider himself as a serious writer of poetry, fiction, essays, and critical reviews. In 1934 he went to work for the New York American writing regular columns-"On the Nail" and "March of Events". He also wrote editorials for the American and other newspapers In the Hearst chain. In 1919 De Casseres married Adele "Bio" Terrill Jones (ca. 1881-7). His brother, Walter De Casseres (ca. 1882-1900), was also a writer.

Scope and arrangement

The bulk of the collection is made up of De Casseres' manuscripts of his articles, essays, plays, poetry, prose, and editorials. There are numerous clippings of his own writings, articles about him, and those he used as research for his columns and editorials. Among the correspondence there are letters from prominent writers, but one half are his love letters to Bio Terrill. There are a few materials concerning De Casseres' brother.

In 1994, the New York Public Library added eight letters from the poet Edgar Lee Masters to Benjamin De Casseres to these papers. They are filed with the correspondence in Box 1.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

1947, 1963, Received from Bio De Casseres; Kingston Galleries

Processing information

Accessioned by Robert Sink, March 1982

Using the collection

Location

Manuscripts and Archives Division
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018-2788
Brooke Russell Astor Reading Room, Third Floor, Room 328