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J. Otis Swift papers

 Collection
Identifier: M318

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Scope and Content

Papers (ca. 1871-1989) documenting the life and work of J. Otis Swift (1871-1948), nature columnist and leader of the Yosian Brotherhood of Nature Philosophers, including: articles, scrapbooks, memoirs, correspondence, biographical materials, and other writings. Includes published and unpublished poems and short stories. Also included are images from various sources, both of J. Otis Swift, his family, Yosian outings, flowers, insects, and the landscape. Additionally, personal materials of J. Otis Swift, such as his diary, confirmation and marriage certificates, as well as address and date books are included. His most voluminous work is the article series "News Outside the Door," which spans more than four volumes.

Dates

  • Creation: 1871-1989, undated
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1910 - 1947

Creator

Access Restrictions

No restrictions.

Biographical/Historical Note

Josiah Otis Swift (1871-1948) was a nature columnist and founder of the Yosian Brotherhood of Nature Philosophers. The son and grandson of two leading newsmen from Maine, Swift began his career at the age of twelve as a reporter for the Lewiston Journal and became city editor soon after. He became a writer for the New York Evening World in 1900 where he started a daily nature column called "News Outside the Door" that was published with few interruptions from 1918 until his death in 1948. He organized nature walks with his friends in New York before he began writing "News Outside the Door," tapping into his roots growing up in Maine's great woods. These walks and his daily columns engendered the Yosian Brotherhood of Nature Philosophers. At their peak, the Yosians boasted more than 150,000 members worldwide and their movement was covered in magazines including the "New Yorker."

Extent

5 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Papers (ca. 1871-1989) documenting the life and work of J. Otis Swift (1871-1948), nature columnist and leader of the Yosian Brotherhood of Nature Philosophers, including: articles (such as News Outside the Door, scrapbooks, memoirs, correspondence, biographical materials, and other writings.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in three series: Writings, Correspondence, and Biographical and Personal Materials. Writings contains two sub-series, Nature Writings and Other Writings. Nature Writings are primarily of articles written by J. Otis Swift, while Other Writings include his poems and short stories; both series are organized alphabetically and chronologically when applicable. The Correspondence series consists of letters written by J. Otis Swift and letters written to him organized chronologically. The Biographical and Personal Materials series is the most diverse in terms of materials, including autobiographies, journals, obituaries, and even music books.

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Guide to the J. Otis Swift Papers
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives, Bowdoin College Library, Brunswick, Maine 04011 Repository

http://library.bowdoin.edu/arch/index.shtml
Contact:
3000 College Station
Brunswick Maine 04011 USA
(207) 725-3288

Acknowledgment of non-neutrality

The George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives, like all archives and special collections libraries, is the creation of human beings who have collected, organized, and described things in ways that reflect personal, cultural, societal, and institutional biases. Although we strive to preserve and present collections in a manner that is respectful to the individuals and communities who create, use, and are represented in the collections, we acknowledge that our systems are neither neutral nor perfect. We encourage you to let us know if you encounter materials, descriptive language, or practices that are offensive or harmful, particularly those for which inadequate context or warning is offered. We are committed to modifying and updating our descriptive practices to use respectful and inclusive terminology and appreciate your help in this work. We look forward to supporting you in your research and learning together.