Anthology Club
Encyclopedia
The Anthology Club, or Anthology Society (1804-1811) was organized in 1804 in Boston, Massachusetts by the Rev. William Emerson, father of Ralph Waldo Emerson
.
It was organized in response to the first publication, and first failure for want of patronage, of the Monthly Anthology
. As recorded in the History of the Boston Athenaeum, an enterprising firm of publishers, "being desirous that the work should be continued, applied to the Rev. William Emerson, a clergyman of the place, distinguished for energy and literary taste; and by his exertions several gentlemen of Boston and its vicinity, conspicuous for talent and zealous for literature, were induced to engage in conducting the work, and for this purpose they formed themselves into a Society. This Society was not completely organized until the year 1805, when Dr. Gardiner
was elected President, and William Emerson Vice-President. The Society thus formed maintained its existence with reputation for about six years, and issued ten octavo volumes from the press, constituting one of the most lasting and honorable monuments of the literature of the period."
Early club members included Samuel Cooper Thacher, Joseph Stevens Buckminster
, and Joseph Tuckerman, pastors of churches in Boston and vicinity, John Sylvester John Gardiner
, the rector of Trinity Church, president of the club throughout the whole period of its existence, and one of the most frequent contributors to its periodical, and William Tudor
. Later members included Charles Stewart Dana, Alexander Hill Everett
, and John Collins Warren
. [William Smith Shaw, President John Adams' former Personal Secretary.]
The club's publication, the Monthly Anthology and Boston Review
, or Magazine of Polite Literature, and had contributors including John Quincy Adams
, Daniel Webster
, and many scholars. However, with the death of Emerson in 1811, the Anthology ceased publication. The famous North American Review
, which started bimonthly publication in 1815, under the direction of the Anthology Club, is generally considered a revival of the earlier magazine.
The Boston Athenaeum library is an outgrowth of the Anthology Club.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American essayist, lecturer, and poet, who led the Transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century...
.
It was organized in response to the first publication, and first failure for want of patronage, of the Monthly Anthology
Monthly Anthology
The Monthly Anthology and Boston Review was a miscellaneous magazine published by the Anthology Club of Boston, Massachusetts from 1804-1811...
. As recorded in the History of the Boston Athenaeum, an enterprising firm of publishers, "being desirous that the work should be continued, applied to the Rev. William Emerson, a clergyman of the place, distinguished for energy and literary taste; and by his exertions several gentlemen of Boston and its vicinity, conspicuous for talent and zealous for literature, were induced to engage in conducting the work, and for this purpose they formed themselves into a Society. This Society was not completely organized until the year 1805, when Dr. Gardiner
John Sylvester John Gardiner
John Sylvester John Gardiner , aka John S. J. Gardiner, was Rector of Trinity Church, Boston, Massachusetts, president of Boston's Anthology Club, and active in the Boston Athenaeum....
was elected President, and William Emerson Vice-President. The Society thus formed maintained its existence with reputation for about six years, and issued ten octavo volumes from the press, constituting one of the most lasting and honorable monuments of the literature of the period."
Early club members included Samuel Cooper Thacher, Joseph Stevens Buckminster
Joseph Stevens Buckminster
Joseph Stevens Buckminster was an influential Unitarian preacher in Boston, Massachusetts and a leader in bringing the German higher criticism of the Bible to America....
, and Joseph Tuckerman, pastors of churches in Boston and vicinity, John Sylvester John Gardiner
John Sylvester John Gardiner
John Sylvester John Gardiner , aka John S. J. Gardiner, was Rector of Trinity Church, Boston, Massachusetts, president of Boston's Anthology Club, and active in the Boston Athenaeum....
, the rector of Trinity Church, president of the club throughout the whole period of its existence, and one of the most frequent contributors to its periodical, and William Tudor
William Tudor (1779-1830)
William Tudor was a leading citizen of Boston, sometime literary man, and cofounder of the North American Review and the Boston Athenaeum. It was Tudor who christened Boston The Athens of America in an 1819 letter...
. Later members included Charles Stewart Dana, Alexander Hill Everett
Alexander Hill Everett
Alexander Hill Everett was a noted American diplomatist, politician, and Boston man of letters. His brother was Edward Everett....
, and John Collins Warren
John Collins Warren
John Collins Warren , of Boston, was one of the most renowned American surgeons of the 19th century. In 1846 he gave permission to William T.G. Morton to provide ether anesthesia while Warren performed a minor surgical procedure...
. [William Smith Shaw, President John Adams' former Personal Secretary.]
The club's publication, the Monthly Anthology and Boston Review
Monthly Anthology
The Monthly Anthology and Boston Review was a miscellaneous magazine published by the Anthology Club of Boston, Massachusetts from 1804-1811...
, or Magazine of Polite Literature, and had contributors including John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams was the sixth President of the United States . He served as an American diplomat, Senator, and Congressional representative. He was a member of the Federalist, Democratic-Republican, National Republican, and later Anti-Masonic and Whig parties. Adams was the son of former...
, Daniel Webster
Daniel Webster
Daniel Webster was a leading American statesman and senator from Massachusetts during the period leading up to the Civil War. He first rose to regional prominence through his defense of New England shipping interests...
, and many scholars. However, with the death of Emerson in 1811, the Anthology ceased publication. The famous North American Review
North American Review
The North American Review was the first literary magazine in the United States. Founded in Boston in 1815 by journalist Nathan Hale and others, it was published continuously until 1940, when publication was suspended due to J. H. Smyth, who had purchased the magazine, being unmasked as a Japanese...
, which started bimonthly publication in 1815, under the direction of the Anthology Club, is generally considered a revival of the earlier magazine.
The Boston Athenaeum library is an outgrowth of the Anthology Club.
Members
- Jacob Bigelow
- Joseph Stevens BuckminsterJoseph Stevens BuckminsterJoseph Stevens Buckminster was an influential Unitarian preacher in Boston, Massachusetts and a leader in bringing the German higher criticism of the Bible to America....
- Edmund Trowbridge DanaEdmund Trowbridge DanaEdmund Trowbridge Dana was a United States jurist.-Biography:He graduated from the University of Vermont in 1839, and at Cambridge Law School in 1841...
- William Emerson (minister)William Emerson (minister)The Rev. William Emerson was one of Boston's leading citizens, a liberal-minded Unitarian minister, pastor to Boston's First Church and founder of its Philosophical Society, Anthology Club, and Boston Athenaeum, and father to Ralph Waldo Emerson.-Biography:Emerson was born in Concord,...
- Alexander Hill EverettAlexander Hill EverettAlexander Hill Everett was a noted American diplomatist, politician, and Boston man of letters. His brother was Edward Everett....
- Robert Field
- John Sylvester John GardinerJohn Sylvester John GardinerJohn Sylvester John Gardiner , aka John S. J. Gardiner, was Rector of Trinity Church, Boston, Massachusetts, president of Boston's Anthology Club, and active in the Boston Athenaeum....
- Robert Hallowell Gardiner
- John Gorham
- Thomas Gray
- Joseph Head Jr.
- James Jackson
- John Thornton Kirkland
- Joseph McKean
- Andrews Norton
- Andrew Ritchie
- Winthrop Sargent
- James Savage
- William Smith Shaw
- John Stickney
- Samuel Cooper Thacher
- George TicknorGeorge TicknorGeorge Ticknor was an American academician and Hispanist, specializing in the subject areas of languages and literature. He is known for his scholarly work on the history and criticism of Spanish literature....
- Joseph Tuckerman
- William Tudor (1779–1830)
- Arthur Maynard Walter
- John Collins WarrenJohn Collins WarrenJohn Collins Warren , of Boston, was one of the most renowned American surgeons of the 19th century. In 1846 he gave permission to William T.G. Morton to provide ether anesthesia while Warren performed a minor surgical procedure...
- Benjamin Welles
- William Wells
- Sidney Willard
Further reading
- Journal of the proceedings of the Society: which conducts the Monthly anthology and Boston review, October 3, 1805, to July 2, 1811. Boston: Boston Athenaeum, 1910. Includes essay by M.A. DeWolfe Howe.
- Josiah Quincy IIIJosiah Quincy IIIJosiah Quincy III was a U.S. educator and political figure. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives , Mayor of Boston , and President of Harvard University...
, The History of the Boston Athenæum, with Biographical Notices of its Deceased Founders. Cambridge, MA., Metcalf and Company, 1851. - Nathan Haskell Dole. "The Anthology Club." Year book of the Bibliophile Society (Boston, Mass.), 1909.