Crapsey, Adelaïde 1878-1914

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Smith College Instructor, English, 1911-1913. Poet.

From the description of Adelaide Crapsey papers, 1911-1977. (Smith College). WorldCat record id: 51249195

Adelaide Crapsey was the daughter of an Episcopal clergyman, Algernon Sidney Crapsey, and Adelaide (Trowbridge) Crapsey. She was educated at Kemper Hall and Vassar College, and she studied in Rome at the School of Classical Studies of the American Academy. She taught at Smith College from Feb. 1911 to June 1913. Her poetry and her critical work on prosody were published after her death.

From the description of [Letters (typed transcripts), 1893-1912 / Adelaide Crapsey] (Smith College). WorldCat record id: 212205743

Adelaide Crapsey was born on September 9, 1878 to Algernon Sidney and Adelaide Trowbridge Crapsey in Rochester, NY. She attended the Kemper Hall preparatory school in Kenosha, WI and graduated first in her class in 1897. Upon graduating, she entered Vassar College and matriculated with the class of 1901.

In 1903, Crapsey returned to Kemper Hall as a teacher of history and literature. In 1905 she studied at the School of Archeology in Rome, and following her return to the United States the next year, she became an instructor of history and literature in Miss Lowe's Preparatory School in Stamford, CT. However, her health was suffering from the effects of tuberculosis, and she was forced to stop teaching in 1908. She spent much of this time in Italy and England, working on her book, Analysis of English Metric s, which she considered her serious life work. Crapsey was also a talented poet, and invented her own metrical form, the cinquain. In 1911, Crapsey accepted a position as Instructor of Poetics at Smith College. In 1913 she became gravely ill and had to abandon her literary and academic work. She retreated to Saranac Lake in New York, where she died on October 8, 1914. She was 36 years old.

A book of poetry, Verse, was published posthumously by her parents in 1915 as well as the unfinished work A Study in English Metrics, in 1918.

From the guide to the Adelaide Crapsey Papers RG 42., 1913-1977, (Smith College Archives)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Willman, Allan, 1909-. Where the lilac blows / Allan Willman ; [words by] Adelaide Crapsey. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Kerr, Harrison, 1897-. Cinquains / [words by] Adelaide Crapsey ; [music by] Harrison Kerr. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Laudenslager, Harold. Six songs on cinquains of Adelaide Crapsey / Harold Laudenslager. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
creatorOf Willman, Allan Arthur, 1909-1989. Where the lilac blows / Allan Willman ; [words from] Song [by] Adelaide Crapsey. University of Wyoming, William R. Coe Library
creatorOf Adelaide Crapsey Papers RG 42., 1913-1977 Smith College Archives
creatorOf Duke, John, 1899-1984. Dirge / music by John Duke ; words by Adelaide Crapsey. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Crapsey, Adelaide, 1878-1914. Adelaide Crapsey papers, 1911-1977. Smith College, Neilson Library
creatorOf Alexander, William, 1927-. Cinquains : for soprano voice, clarinet, cello, and piano : (1980) / music by William Alexander ; to poems by Adelaide Crapsey. Bowling Green State University, BGSU Libraries
referencedIn White, E. B. (Elwyn Brooks), 1899-1985. Letter to [Thomas O.] Mabbott. [New York, NY.]. [19--] Dec. 7. University of Iowa Libraries
referencedIn Winchell, Constance M. (Constance Mabel), 1896-1983. Letter to Thomas O. Mabbott. : New York, NY. 1956 Aug. 10. University of Iowa Libraries
creatorOf Antheil, George, 1900-1959. Five songs by Adelaide Crapsey : 1919-1920 / set to music by George Antheil. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Lockwood, Normand, 1906-2002. Five cinquains of Adelaide Crapsey / Normand Lockwood. New England Conservatory of Music, Harriet M. Spaulding Library
creatorOf Crapsey, Adelaide, 1878-1914. [Letters (typed transcripts), 1893-1912 / Adelaide Crapsey] Smith College, Neilson Library
creatorOf Antheil, George, 1900-1959. Five songs by Adelaide Crapsey : 1919-1920 / set to music by George Antheil. New York Public Library System, NYPL
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Alexander, William, 1927- person
associatedWith Antheil, George, 1900-1959. person
associatedWith Duke, John, 1899-1984 person
associatedWith Kerr, Harrison, 1897- person
associatedWith Laudenslager, Harold. person
associatedWith Lockwood, Normand, 1906-2002. person
associatedWith Smith College corporateBody
associatedWith White, E. B. (Elwyn Brooks), 1899-1985. person
associatedWith Willman, Allan, 1909- person
associatedWith Willman, Allan Arthur, 1909-1989. person
associatedWith Winchell, Constance M. (Constance Mabel), 1896-1983. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Subject
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Birth 1878-09-09

Death 1914-10-08

Female

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