Cheney, John Vance, 1848-1922

Author and librarian.

From the description of Papers of John Vance Cheney, 1862-1927. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 80582296

American author and librarian.

From the description of Papers of John Vance Cheney, 1848-1922. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 31685645

John Vance Cheney, author and librarian, grew up at Dorset, Vermont, studied law, and was admitted to the bar. He found legal work irksome, however and moved to California. From 1873 he was a frequent contributer of poetry to periodicals, especially to the "Century." From 1887 to 1894 he served as librarian of the San Francisco Free Library. His literary associates included Muir, Markham and Miller. In 1894 he went to Chicago to become librarian of the Newberry Library, where he remained until 1909. His last years were spent in San Diego, California.

From the description of Papers of John Vance Cheney, 1885-1895. (Huber Heights City School). WorldCat record id: 276179404

Poet, essayist and second Librarian of the Newberry Library, 1894-1909.

After serving from 1887 to 1894 as Librarian of the San Francisco Public Library, Cheney assumed the Newberry Librarian's position left vacant by the death of William Frederick Poole in 1894. Cheney's San Francisco assistant, Alexander J. Rudolph, came with Cheney to the Newberry, where he introduced Rudolph binders and Rudolph indexer catalogues. While in Chicago, Cheney was active in literary affairs, publishing two volumes of poetry and serving as a newspaper literary critic. Resigning in 1909, Cheney retired to California where he wrote poetry and manufactured hair tonic.

From the description of Papers, 1894-1909. (Newberry Library). WorldCat record id: 26442788

Biographical Note

• 1848, Dec. 29: Born, Groveland, N.Y.
• 1865: Graduated, Geneseo Academy, Geneseo, N.Y.
• 1876: Married Abbey Perkins (divorced)
• 1887 - 1894 : Librarian, San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco, Calif.
• 1887: Published Thistle-Drift. New York: F. A. Stokes
• 1894 - 1909 : Librarian, Newberry Library, Chicago, Ill.
• 1895: Published That Dome in Air. Chicago: A. C. McClure
• 1903: Married Sara Barker Chamberlain
• 1905: Published Poems. Boston: Houghton Mifflin
• 1909 - 1922 : Resided in San Diego, Calif.
• 1922, May 1: Died, San Diego, Calif.

From the guide to the John Vance Cheney Papers, 1847-1927, (bulk 1898-1922), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)