Cheney, John Vance, 1848-1922

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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)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Cheney, John Vance, 1848-1922. Letter 1899, July, San Diego, Calif [to] Mr. Edwin Markham, [Staten Island, N.Y.] / John Vance Cheney. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
creatorOf Newberry Library. Board of Trustees. Annual reports, 1887-1941. Newberry Library
creatorOf Cheney, John Vance, 1848-1922. Letter 1897, April 23, Chicago, Ill [to] Mr. Edwin Markham, [Staten Island, N.Y.] / John Vance Cheney. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
creatorOf Cheney, John Vance, 1848-1922. Evening songs, III [1900?] University of Michigan
referencedIn Bland, Henry Mead, 1863-1931. Letter, 1921, Oct. 11, San Diego, California [to] Mr. Edwin Markham, New York City. / Henry Mead Bland. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
creatorOf Cheney, John Vance, 1848-1922. Letter 1890-1900 Sept. 29, Dorset, Vermount [to] Mr. Edwin Markham, [Staten Island, N.Y.] / John Vance Cheney. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
creatorOf Cheney, John Vance, 1848-1922. Letter 1897, April 26, Chicago, Ill [to] Mr. Edwin Markham, [Staten Island, N.Y.] / John Vance Cheney. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
creatorOf Cheney, John Vance, 1848-1922. Letter 1899, Sept. 2, Chicago, Ill [to] Mr. Edwin Markham, [Staten Island, N.Y.] / John Vance Cheney. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
creatorOf Cheney, John Vance, 1848-1922. Letter 1899, August 11, Chicago, Ill [to] Mr. Edwin Markham, [Oakland, Calif.] / John Vance Cheney. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
creatorOf Cheney, John Vance, 1848-1922. Postcard 1890-1900,Sept. 17, Berkeley, Calif. [to] Mr. Edwin Markham, [Oakland, Calif.] / John Vance Cheney. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
creatorOf Newberry Library. Office of the President and Librarian. Librarians' correspondence, 1893-1915 (bulk 1909-1915) Newberry Library
creatorOf Cheney, John Vance, 1848-1922. Letter 1899, Aug 28, Chicago, Illinois [to] Mr. Edwin Markham, [Staten Island, N.Y.] / John Vance Cheney. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
creatorOf Keeler, Charles Augustus, 1871-1937. Papers of Charles Augustus Keeler, 1895-1944. Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
referencedIn Houghton Mifflin Company. Houghton Mifflin Company reader reports on manuscripts submitted for publication. 1882-1931. Houghton Library
creatorOf Cheney, John Vance, 1848-1922. Letter 1901, April 19, Chicago, Ill [to] Mr. Edwin Markham, [Staten Island, N.Y.] / John Vance Cheney. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
creatorOf Hadley, Henry Kimball, 1871-1937. Song, Twilight / poem by John Vance Cheney ; music by Henry K. Hadley. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Cheney, John Vance, 1848-1922. The man with the hoe, a reply to Edwin Markham : Chicago : Holograph signed, 1900, February 3. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Cheney, John Vance, 1848-1922. Papers of John Vance Cheney, 1848-1922. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Cheney, John Vance, 1848-1922. Letter 1899, Oct 16, Chicago, Ill [to] Mr. Edwin Markham, [Staten Island, N.Y.] / John Vance Cheney. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
creatorOf Newberry Library. Board of Trustees. Trustee general correspondence, 1886-1953. Newberry Library
creatorOf Cheney, John Vance, 1848-1922. Letter 1901, Dec. 7, Chicago, Ill. [to] Mr. Edwin Markham, [Staten Island, N.Y.] / John Vance Cheney. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
referencedIn Barker, Elsa, 1869-1954. Letter, 1910 October 30, Paris, France [to] Mr. [Edwin] Markham, [Staten Island] / Elsa Barker. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
creatorOf Cheney, John Vance, 1848-1922. Letter 1896, Aug. 7, Chicago, Ill [to] Mr. Edwin Markham, [Staten Island, N.Y.] / John Vance Cheney. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
creatorOf Markham, Edwin, 1852-1940. [Letter] 1914 August 7, Staten Island [to] Mr. [John Vance Cheney], My Dear Poet-Friend [California] / Edwin Markham. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
creatorOf Newberry Library. Board of Trustees. President and Librarian search files, 1894-1986. Newberry Library
referencedIn Houghton Mifflin Company correspondence and records, 1832-1944. Houghton Library
creatorOf Cheney, John Vance, 1848-1922. Letter 1890-1900, Oct 30, Chicago, Ill [to] Mr. Edwin Markham, [Staten Island, N.Y.] / John Vance Cheney. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
creatorOf Cheney, John Vance, 1848-1922. Letter 1894, Aug 28, San Francisco, California [to] Mr. Edwin Markham, [Staten Island, N.Y.] / John Vance Cheney. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
creatorOf Cheney, John Vance, 1848-1922. Letter 1890-1900, Chicago, Ill. [to] Mr. Edwin Markham, [Oakland, Calif.] / John Vance Cheney. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
referencedIn Charles E.L. Wingate papers, 1821-1919 (bulk 1892-1898) Houghton Library
creatorOf Cheney, John Vance, 1848-1922. Letter : Chicago, to Joseph H. Barrett, Loveland, Clermont Co., Ohio, 1897 May 5. University of Chicago Library
creatorOf Akins, Zoë, 1886-1958. Papers pertaining to "The Enchanted Years" [manuscript], 1919-1922. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Cheney, John Vance, 1848-1922. Letter 1900, Jan. 12, Chicago, Illinois [to] Mr. Edwin Markham, [Oakland, Calif.] / John Vance Cheney. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
creatorOf Cheney, John Vance, 1848-1922. Letter 1900, Aug. 17, Chicago, Ill. [to] Mr. Edwin Markham, [Staten Island, N.Y.] / John Vance Cheney. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
referencedIn Thomas Bird Mosher papers, 1890-1939 (inclusive) 1895-1924 (bulk). Houghton Library
creatorOf Cheney, John Vance, 1848-1922. Letter 1899, Aug 16, Chicago, Ill. [to] Mr. Edwin Markham, [Staten Island, N.Y.] / John Vance Cheney. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
referencedIn Barker, Elsa, 1869-1954. Letter, 1907 May 27, New York City [to] Mr. [Edwin] Markham, [Staten Island] / Elsa Barker. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
referencedIn Willcox, Louise Collier, 1865-1919. Papers of Louise Collier Willcox, 1870-1933. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Cheney, John Vance, 1848-1922. Papers of John Vance Cheney, 1885-1895. Huber Heights City School
creatorOf Cheney, John Vance, 1848-1922. Letter 1894, Aug 30, San Francisco, California [to] Mr. Edwin Markham, [Staten Island, N.Y.] / John Vance Cheney. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
referencedIn Barker, Elsa, 1869-1954. Letter, 1903 July 27, New York City [to] Mr. [Edwin] Markham, [Staten Island] / Elsa Barker. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
referencedIn J. T. (John Townsend) Trowbridge papers, 1855-1939. Houghton Library
creatorOf Cheney, John Vance, 1848-1922. Letter 1925, May 15, New York City [to] Mr. Edwin Markham, [Staten Island, N.Y.] / John Vance Cheney. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
creatorOf Cheney, John Vance, 1848-1922. Papers, 1894-1909. Newberry Library
creatorOf Ward, Lydia Avery Coonley, 1845-1924. Autographs collected and letters received by Lydia Avery Coonley Ward, 1705, 1785, 1848, 1861-1922 (bulk 1861-1922). University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Cheney, John Vance, 1848-1922. Chaney papers. Newberry Library
creatorOf Cheney, John Vance, 1848-1922. Letter 1890-1900, Chicago, Ill [to] Mr. Edwin Markham, [Staten Island, N.Y.] / John Vance Cheney. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
creatorOf Cheney, John Vance, 1848-1922. Letter 1914, Dec 13, Alpine, [Colorado] [to] Mr. Edwin Markham, [Staten Island, N.Y.] / John Vance Cheney. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
creatorOf Ward, Lydia Avery Coonley, 1845-1924. Autographs collected and letters received, A-N by Lydia Avery Coonley Ward, 1705, 1785, 1848, 1861-1922 (bulk 1861-1922). University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Cheney, John Vance, 1848-1922. Letter 1899, Aug. 23, Chicago, Ill [to] Mr. Edwin Markham, [Staten Island, N.Y.] / John Vance Cheney. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
creatorOf Cheney, John Vance, 1848-1922. Letter 1900 April 9, Chicago, Ill. [to] Mr. Edwin Markham, [Staten Island, N.Y.] / John Vance Cheney. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
creatorOf Merrill, William Stetson, 1866-. Papers, 1888-1959 (bulk 1888-1918) Newberry Library
referencedIn Howells family papers, 1850-1954 (inclusive). Houghton Library
referencedIn Poets of America, extra-illustrated. Houghton Library
creatorOf Cheney, John Vance, 1848-1922. Letter : Chicago, to Joseph H. Barrett, Loveland, Clermont Co., Ohio, 1897 May 5. Texas Christian University
creatorOf Cheney, John Vance, 1848-1922. Letter 1911, Dec. 14, San Diego, Calif. [to] Mr. Edwin Markham, [Staten Island, N.Y.] / John Vance Cheney. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
creatorOf Cheney, John Vance, 1848-1922. Letter 1894, May 2, San Francisco, Calif. [to] Mr. Edwin Markham, [Staten Island, N.Y.] / John Vance Cheney. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
creatorOf Newberry Library. Board of Trustees. Trustee reports and documents, 1887-1929. Newberry Library
creatorOf Newberry Library. Financial Agent. Correspondence - general, 1892-1946. Newberry Library
creatorOf Blatchford, E. W. (Eliphalet Wickes), 1826-1914. Papers, 1836-1914 (bulk 1880-1914). Newberry Library
creatorOf Cheney, John Vance, 1848-1922. Bass-wood chaps : poem, [1884], November, New York. Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
creatorOf Cheney, John Vance, 1848-1922. Letter 1894, Aug 21, San Francisco, Calif. [to] Mr. Edwin Markham, [Oakland, Calif.] / John Vance Cheney. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
referencedIn Century Company records New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf John Vance Cheney Papers, 1847-1927, (bulk 1898-1922) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Houghton Mifflin Company contracts, 1831-1979 (inclusive) 1880-1940 (bulk). Houghton Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Anthony, Susan B. (Susan Brownell), 1820-1906. person
associatedWith Atlantic monthly, corporateBody
associatedWith Barker, Elsa, 1869-1954. person
associatedWith Barrett, Joseph H. (Joseph Hartwell), 1824-1910. person
associatedWith Bland, Henry Mead, 1863-1931. person
associatedWith Blatchford, E. W. (Eliphalet Wickes), 1826-1914. person
associatedWith Burton, Richard, 1861-1940. person
associatedWith Carman, Bliss, 1861-1929. person
correspondedWith Century Company corporateBody
correspondedWith Cheney family family
correspondedWith Cheney, Simeon Pease, 1818-1890 person
associatedWith Cheney, Simon Pease. person
associatedWith Coolbrith, Ina D. (Ina Donna), 1842?-1928. person
correspondedWith Dellenbaugh, Frederick Samuel, 1853-1935 person
associatedWith Garland, Hamlin, 1860-1940. person
associatedWith Gilder, Richard Watson, 1844-1909. person
associatedWith Hadley, Henry Kimball, 1871-1937. person
associatedWith Houghton Mifflin Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Hubbard, Elbert, 1856-1915. person
associatedWith Keeler, Charles Augustus, 1871-1937. person
associatedWith Markham, Edwin, 1852-1940, person
associatedWith Merrill, William Stetson, 1866- person
associatedWith Miller, Joaquin, 1837-1913. person
associatedWith Milton, John, 1608-1674. person
correspondedWith Mosher, Thomas Bird, 1852-1923 person
associatedWith Nash, John Henry, 1871-1947. person
associatedWith Newberry Library corporateBody
associatedWith Newberry Library. Board of Trustees. corporateBody
associatedWith Newberry library, Chicago. corporateBody
associatedWith Newberry Library. Financial Agent. corporateBody
associatedWith Newberry Library. Office of the President and Librarian. corporateBody
associatedWith Newberry Library. Office of the President and Librarian. corporateBody
associatedWith Oakland Public Library (Calif.) corporateBody
associatedWith San Francisco Public Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Sedgwick, Ellery, 1872-1960, person
associatedWith Sherk, Jessie person
associatedWith Stedman, Edmund Clarence, 1833-1908. person
associatedWith Sutro, Adolph, 1830-1898. person
associatedWith Swendenborg, Emanuel, 1688-1772. person
correspondedWith Trowbridge, J. T. (John Townsend), 1827-1916 person
associatedWith Ward, Lydia Avery Coonley, 1845-1924. person
associatedWith Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852. person
associatedWith Willcox, Louise Collier, 1865-1919. person
associatedWith Wingate, Charles E. L. (Charles Edgar Lewis), b. 1861 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
California
Illinois--Chicago
Subject
American literature
Acquisitions (Libraries)
American poetry
Poets, American
Librarians
Libraries
Literature
Manuscripts
Manuscripts. Illinois
Poetry
Research libraries
Occupation
Authors
Essayist
Librarians
Poets
Activity

Person

Birth 1848-12-29

Death 1922-05-01

English

Information

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