(Frederic) Ridgely Torrence—poet, dramatist.
Born at Xenia, Ohio, 1875. Educated at Miami University and Princeton. Librarian in the Astor Library, 1897-1901, and Lenox Library, 1901-3. Assistant editor of The Critic, 1903-4, and associate editor of the Cosmopolitan, 1906-7.
Mr. Torrence’s plays for a negro theatre are worth special study.
Bibliography
- The House of a Hundred Lights. 1900.
- El Dorado, a Tragedy. 1903.
- Abelard and Heloise. 1907. (Poetic drama.)
- Granny Maumee; The Rider of Dreams; Simon the Cyrenian. Plays for a Negro Theatre. 1917.
Studies and Reviews
- Rittenhouse.
- Atlan. 96 (’05): 712; 98 (’06): 333.
- Bk. Buyer, 20 (’00): 96 (portrait).
- Fortn. 86 (’06): 434.
- New Repub. 10 (’17): 325.
Horace Traubel—poet, biographer.
Born at Camden, New Jersey, 1873, of part Jewish parentage. Worked as newsboy, errand boy, printer’s devil, proof reader, reporter, and editorial writer. Editor of various publications, including The Conservator. Died in 1919.
Mr. Traubel is best known for his association with Whitman as friend, secretary, and literary executor. When Whitman went to Camden in 1873, he became a member of the Traubel household; and Mr. Traubel’s account of his life there is of the greatest value for the study of Whitman.