Poets, American--19th century

Ralph L. Fansler was an alumnus of Northwestern University and a Walt Whitman enthusiast. Besides collecting Whitman material, he researched and wrote a biography of the poet. In the course of this project he became acquainted with Whitman's niece, Jessie L. Whitman. She gave him some of her signed first editions and other Whitman material.

The papers in this series are as varied as the career of their creator. Spanning the years 1860 to about 1890, they document Jones' experiences as an educator, lecturer, journalist, and poet. While they illustrate many phases of his life, the papers contain little personal correspondence and scanty biographical information. Perhaps most revealing are two ledger volumes of Jones' poetry and essays, and a scrapbook.