Category: Emily Dickinson - The Emmett Lee Dickinson Museum

DC Bound

2/10/2019

From our Board Chairman Dorothy Dawe:

Emily Dickinson had a long-standing interest in politics, so after her father Edward was elected to the House of Representatives in 1853, she visited him in Washington, DC, in 1855. While there, she rode a boat down the Potomac to visit Mount Vernon, and of course, she visited the Capitol to see where her father worked.

We are excited to announce that Dickinson will once again visit Washington this April as part of National Poetry Month.

In early April, Board Members of the Emmett Lee Dickinson Museum will join Chicago poet Mary Steinberg to celebrate poetry with members of Congress. We will present selected members with poems by Emmett Lee Dickinson and complimentary copies of When They Go Low, We Go Haiku.

As National Poetry Month nears, we’ll provide more information about our historic trip – bringing Dickinson back to Washington.

By Emily Dickinson:

That Love is all there is,
Is all we know of Love;
It is enough, the freight should be
Proportioned to the groove.

By Emmett Lee Dickinson:

That Hate is all they have,
And all they have is Hate;
It's not okay, that hate should be
Just how they make us great.

For more information on When They Go Low, We Go Haiku, click HERE.

The F-Word, Part 3

12/27/2018

From Jim Asher, the world's leading authority on Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request):

I attended the 188th Birthday Tribute to Emily Dickinson at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC, on December 10.

At the tribute, Jan Bervin, one of the editors of The Gorgeous Nothings, spoke on the work of Jay Layde in documenting the life and work of Emily Dickinson. I wrote about Ms. Bervin's presentation in "The F-Word, Part 1" HERE.

After Bervin spoke, Martha Nell Smith, the president of the Emily Dickinson International Society, talked on the letters between and relationship of Emily Dickinson and Susan Hutchinson Dickinson, Austin Dickinson's wife. I wrote about Ms. Smith's presentation in "The F-Word, Part 2" HERE.

In both Parts 1 and 2 I mentioned that at the event, Ms. Smith used the F-word (hence, the title for my posts).

No, no, no! NOT THAT F-WORD!

Okay. Here's what happened.

After Bervin and Smith spoke, there was a very short panel discussion -- along with Madeleine Olnek, the director of the new film Wild Nights with Emily -- with questions from the audience.

Following the Q&A, everyone funneled into the "Great Hall" for a treat, a taste of wine and a piece of Emily Dickinson's Black Cake made by a local baker.

Pictured at the right: A splash of some white wine (hey, it was free, so I can't complain) and a piece of Emily Dickinson's Black Cake.

After the cake, I stopped by the library's small gift shop where I picked up a copy of Open Me Carefully, a volume of letters between Emily Dickinson and Susan Dickinson edited by Ellen Louise Hart and Martha Nell Smith.

After making my purchase, I made my way to a table where Bervin and Smith were signing copies of their books.

Since I already own a copy of The Gorgeous Nothings, edited by Jane Bervin, Marta Werne, and Susan Howe, I did not purchase another one. Instead, I explained to Ms. Bervin that my copy of her book was at home, and I asked her to sign my program for the evening's event.

Pictured below left: The Folger's program for the Emily Dickinson Birthday Tribute -- which included a copy of Dickinson's poem "Wild Nights -- Wild Nights" in the poet's handwriting. Below center: Bervin's signature on my program. Below right: Smith's book, Open Me Carefully.

Pictured at the right: Smith signed her book by quoting a line from her presentation (with a line from a letter written by Susan Hutchinson Dickinson): "For James -- Poetry is Sermon -- Hope -- Solace -- Life -- Martha Nell Smith."

When Ms. Smith handed me the signed copy of her book, she asked something like, "Have we met before?"

I reminded her that we had, indeed, met two years ago when I had attended the EDIS annual conference in Amherst and also last year when I had attended the 187th Birthday Tribute at the Folger.

Then I added, "and I help to maintain a site about Emily Dickinson's third cousin, Emmett Lee Dickinson."

That's when it happened -- the F-word.

"That's you," laughed Smith with a broadening smile on her face. "You're fantastic!"

Hmm. Maybe it was, "You're fabulous" I can't remember. But it was one of those two F-words -- either "fantastic" or "fabulous."

Aw shucks -- I'm sure I was blushing.

I was just thankful she didn't call for security to have me removed from the premises. Poetry, after all, is a serious business. Yes, I take my humor seriously, but I always hope that people don't think my parodies and funny-business aren't disdainful about third cousin Emily. On the contrary. We, too, at the Emmett Lee Dickinson Museum are in awe of Emily's work.

The F-Word, Part 2

12/24/2018

From Jim Asher, the world's leading authority on Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request):

I attended the 188th Birthday Tribute for Emily Dickinson at the Folger Shakespeare Library on December 10, 2018.

This is Part 2 of my recap of the event. Part 1 is HERE.

After Jen Bervin’s presentation on Jay Layde’s work, Martha Nell Smith, the president of the Emily Dickinson International Society, spoke about “an unintentional” lie she helped promulgate in her work in presenting her dissertation years ago. Before she confessed the lie, though, she asked those in attendance to keep a quote in mind – one in a letter to Susan Dickinson from Emily Dickinson:

"Dear Sue ~ With the exception of Shakespeare, you have told me of more knowledge than any one living -- To say that sincerely is strange praise.”

‘Twas then Ms. Smith divulged her lie – that Susan Dickinson was not all that important to Emily Dickinson.

To be honest, though, this view – that Susan’s role in Emily’s life was slight – was more a “false fact,” a belief accepted as truth in its day rather than a deliberate lie.

Ms. Smith then reminded the audience of her opening quote and took time to set the record straight. Interestingly enough, it was Jay Leyda who – when he learned that Ms. Smith researched the letters of Emily Dickinson – advised her to spend her career in righting this misconception, “for Susan Dickinson had been greatly wronged.”

In truth, Emily Dickinson wrote more letters to Susan than any other person with whom she corresponded (and we’re talking hundreds of more letters) – and the main culprit in creating and perpetuating this myth (an "alternative fact" in today's lingo) was none other than Mabel Loomis Todd, Austin Dickinson’s mistress.

Much of Smith’s work to undo the decades of tangled tales and perceptions is presented in her book Open Me Carefully, an insightful collection of some of Emily Dickinson's thirty-six year correspondences with her childhood friend, neighbor, and sister-in-law.

Slowly but surely, the record is being straight on Susan Hutchinson Gilbert Dickinson, who – in a letter to Curtis Hidden Page – noted that “Poetry is Sermon – Hope – Solace – Life.”

After Smith’s presentation there was a short panel discussion with Bervin, Smith, and Madeleine Olnek, the director of the new film “Wild Nights with Emily.”

Later in the evening was when Smith blurted out the “F-Word” (as I noted in Part 1) – but no no, no – NOT that “F-Word.” But more on that later. I promise to get to that in Part 3 of this review. Coming soon.

The F-Word, Part 1

12/23/2018

From Jim Asher, the world's leading authority on Emmett Lee Dickinson, Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request:

I attended the birthday tribute to Emily Dickinson at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington DC on December 10th, and there I conversed with Martha Nell Smith, the president of the Emily Dickinson International Society – and she used the “F-word.”

NO, NO, NO – not THAT “F-word.” A different “F-word.” But I’ll get to that later – perhaps in Part 2 of this post? For now, dear reader, read on about the event.

I arrived in the Capitol Hill area of Washington with little time to spare, so I had a quick dinner at the nearby Santa Rosa Taqueria. The restaurant’s Happy Hour special included chips and queso – and TWO margaritas. Yes, I was travelling alone, but what’s a poet to do? TWO margaritas.

Pictured at the right: The Happy Hour special at the Santa Rosa Taqueria included TWO margaritas!

“The Soul achieves — Herself (or “Himself, in my case) — To drink” ~ Emily Dickinson

I made it to the Folger Shakespeare Library with a little time to spare, and when I took my seat I was a bit perplexed by the set up on the stage – more specifically, by the information on the initial slide projected on the screen:

“Emily Dickinson’s 132 Birthday Tribute.”

Huh?

I wondered why the screen said “132 Birthday Tribute,” when December 10, 2018, marked Emily Dickinson’s 188th birthday.

Pictured at the left: My somewhat-blurry picture of the opening slide welcoming the audience to "Emily Dickinson's 132 Birthday Tribute."

Had the Folger Shakespeare Library been around that long? Was this the library’s 132nd tribute celebrating Emily Dickinson’s birth? No. I googled-search information about the library, and it was built in the 1930s.

Had the Poetry Society of America – a sponsor for the event – been around for 132 years or more? Was this their 132nd birthday tribute to the Belle of Amherst? No. I google-searched that too. The PSA was founded in 1910.

After some additional sleuthing I realized that whoever made the slide based the calculation of Dickinson’s age on the year of her death, 1886: 2018 – 1886 = 132.

Oops.

“We turn not older with year, but newer every day.” ~ Emily Dickinson.

On December 10, 2018, Emily Dickinson turned 188 years new: 2018 – 1830 (the year of her birth) = 188.

The main event for the evening included presentations by Martha Nell Smith, a founding board member and current president of the Emily Dickinson International Society (EDIS), and Jan Bervin, an editor of The Gorgeous Nothings, a full-color facsimile edition of Emily Dickinson's manuscripts as she wrote it on scraps of paper and torn envelopes.

Bervin spoke first and presented information on the work of Jay Leyda, a filmmaker and film historian who is also noted for his work on documenting the life and poetry of Emily Dickinson.

Bervin showed slides of the original letters between Leyda and Theodora Ward and Thomas. H. Johnson (editors of The Letters of Emily Dickinson, the three volume edition published by the Belknap Press of Harvard University in 1958), Millicent Todd Bingham (daughter of David Peck Todd and Mabel Loomis Todd), Mary Landis Hampson (the last surviving resident at the Evergreens, the home of Austin Dickinson and his family), and more.

Bervin’s information proved that assembling complete and accurate volumes of Dickinson’s was no easy task for many reasons -- including working through the tangle of the Dickinson’s family history, deciphering the poet's handwriting, dealing with multiple versions of many of the poems, and more.

“This is a nasty business,” she said. “But there it is.”

Next up was Martha Nell Smith who promptly confessed that she based much of her early work and her dissertation on a lie, albeit, the unintentional telling of a lie. It was later in the evening that she used the “F-word.”

No, no, no – not THAT “F-word.”

But I’ll get to that next time! Watch for Part 2 of this post, coming soon!

Gorgeous Garbage -- Part 4

9/15/2018

From our master grammarian and resident logophile, Angstrom Dickinson:

The Dickinson Organization of Poetry Enthusiasts in conjunction with the Folger Coffee Company will host a birthday tribute to Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at his request) to celebrate the publication of The Garbaged Somethings, a collection of scraps of paper and bits of trash on which Dickinson wrote lines of poetry and complete poems.

In December, a similar event to be hosted by the Folger Shakespeare Library will celebrate Emily Dickinson and The Gorgeous Nothings.

Information about both events are HERE.

Below are some of the pages from The Garbaged Somethings that will be discussed at the momentous event to be held in October:

Pictured at the left: A label from a Badger Roasted Coffee can appears on page 25 of The Garbaged Somethings. On the back of the label, Emmett Lee Dickinson wrote, "In the name of the Joe," a line he used to open this short poem:

In the name of the Joe –
And of the Jitter Juice –
And of the Brews – Amen!

Dickinson's poem inspired third cousin Emily to write this:

In the name of the Bee –
And of the Butterfly –
And of the Breeze – Amen!

Pictured at the right: Page 48 of The Garbaged Somethings includes a coffee can lid on which Dickinson wrote his poem "A willing lid o'er weary eye":

A willing lid o’er weary eye
As Morning on the Day dawns
Till I stumble through my House
To gain my Coffee Cup

Dickinson's poem inspired third cousin Emily to write this:

As willing lid o'er weary eye
The Evening on the Day leans
Till of all our Nature's House
Remains but Balcony

Pictured at the left: Page 53 of The Garbaged Somethings shows a Morning Glow coffee can on which Emmett Lee Dickinson wrote, "Cream & Sugar are for amateurs."

He never used that quip in a poem.

Pictured at the right: Plans for a coffee pot which Emmett Lee Dickinson invented and submitted for a patent in 1853 (shown on page 68 of The Garbaged Somethings).

Dickinson invented and received patents for at least seven different types of coffee pots, and on this particular diagram Dickinson wrote, "Who needs a joe to greet the World," a line used in his poem "How good was my Warm Bed" (below on the left). Dickinson's poem inspired third cousin Emily to pen her poem "How good his Lava bed" (below on the right).

For more information on Dickinson's other inventions, click HERE.

Dickinson also coined the words "joe," "mud," "dirt," and "jitter juice" for coffee.

By Emmett Lee Dickinson:

How good was my Warm Bed,
To this soporific Boy –
Who needs a joe to greet the World
And start the sleepy Day –

By Emily Dickinson:

How good his Lava Bed,
To this laborious Boy –
Who must be up to call the World
And dress the sleepy Day –

To check out other pages from The Garbaged Somethings
that will be discussed at the October 12 event,
click HERE, HERE, and HERE.

American Art

9/11/2018

From our art columnist, Jarvis MacKinnon III:

Art forms most closely associated with each of the fifty states:

The American Federation of Federated Artists (AFFA) has published its annual list of arts most closely associated with and most prevalent in each of the fifty states.

On behalf of the Board members of the Dickinson Organization of Poetry Enthusiasts (DOPE), I have lodged a formal complaint with the Federation since AFFA listed “poetry” as the art form most closely associated with Massachusetts solely because the state is the home of Emily Dickinson. AFFA listed "painting hex signs" as the art form most closely associated with Pennsylvania, the birthplace of Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily’s third cousin, twice removed – at her request) -- and we are incensed!

We are sick and tired of Emmett Lee Dickinson being thought of as the "Salieri" to Emily Dickinson's "Mozart," when hundreds of thousands of DOPEs across the country know it should be the other way around.

Please, take time tonight, tomorrow, and the next day to call AFFA to voice your incredulity too. Together, we will be heard.

Pictured at the right: A hex sign designed by Emmett Lee Dickinson that paid homage to his most popular invention, candy corn. This sign hung in the lobby of the Emmett Lee Dickinson Museum (above the coin-op Laundromat on Dickinson Boulevard) for years -- until the building burned down on New Year's Eve in 2015. Information is HERE.

Gorgeous Garbage -- Part 3

9/9/2018

From our master grammarian and resident logophile, Angstrom Dickinson:

On October 12, 2018, there will be a birthday tribute to Emmett Lee Dickinson -- the poet who wrote more coffee poetry than any other poet -- at the Folger Coffee Company in historic Washerst, PA (the birthplace of Emmett Lee Dickinson, Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request). Then, on December 12, 2018, the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC, will host a birthday tribute to Emily Dickinson.

The October event will focus on a new publication, The Garbaged Somethings, a collection of scraps of paper and bits of trash on which Dickinson scrawled lines of poetry and thoughts and quips about coffee.

The December event will focus on the recent publication, The Gorgeous Somethings, the full-color facsimile publication of Emily Dickinson's manuscripts.

At the October event, Meryl Streep will take the stage with Starbucks' newly develop barista robot -- called "Servi-Tron" -- to discuss the collection of Emmett Lee Dickinson's "garbaged somethings."

More information about both the October and December events is found HERE. Some of the pages from The Garbaged Somethings are HERE and HERE.

Additional pages are below:

Pictured at the right: Page 19 of The Garbaged Somethings shows a burlap coffee bag on which Emmett Lee Dickinson scrawled the following:

For Whom the Nights become the Dawn
What must the Caffeine -- cause!

Those lines inspired third cousin Emily to write this:

To Whom the Mornings stand for Nights,
What must the Midnights -- be!

Pictured at the left: On a discarded wrapper for a Coffee Crisp shown on page 32 of The Garbaged Somethings, Dickinson wrote, "Some one prepared this mighty joe With which I get my Drive to go." He used those words to open this poem:

Some one prepared this mighty joe
With which I get my Drive to go
Through races of the Days –
To make it through my simple Door
And all I may encounter – and more

Dickinson's words inspired third cousin Emily to write this:

Some one prepared this mighty show
To which without a Ticket go
The nations and the Days –
Displayed before the simplest Door
That all may examine them – and more

Pictured at the right: On a discard Kuerig cup (page 45 of The Garbaged Somethings), Dickinson wrote, "I love you a Latte!" He never used that line in a poem about coffee.

Dickinson is also credited with being the first to say, "Cool beans!"

Pictured at the left: Page 76 of The Garbaged Somethings shows a discarded ice cream carton on which Emmett Lee Dickinson wrote the following poem:

Consulting the office clock
But half my break remains,
I ascertain it with a shock --
I shall not look again.
The second cup of joe
Is colder than the first.
The work I do not care to know
Will end much needed rest.

Dickinson's poem inspired third cousin Emily to write this:

Consulting summer's clock,
But half the hours remain.
I ascertain it with a shock --
I shall not look again.
The second half of joy
Is shorter than the first.
The truth I do not dare to know
I muffle with a jest.

Gorgeous Garbage -- Part 2

9/7/2018

From our master grammarian and resident logophile, Angstrom Dickinson:

On Friday, October 12, the Dickinson Organization of Poetry Enthusiasts, in conjunction with the Folger Coffee Company, will host a birthday tribute to America's greatest poet, Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request).

Meryl Streep and Starbuck's new robot "Servi-Tron" will discuss The Garbarged Somethings, a new publication of Emmett Lee Dickinson's writings and poetry found on scraps of paper, bits of trash and more.

Information about the event -- and a companion event at the Folger Shakespeare Library on December 10 -- is HERE.

Sample pages from The Garbaged Somethings are HERE. Below are more pages from this momentous new publication.

Pictured at the left: Page 20 of The Garbaged Somethings shows a coffee cup with Dickinson's poem "Before It comes I weigh the time."

Before It comes I weigh the Time
‘Tis Early and ‘tis Dark,
When I depart, such Blissfulness
Inside my Coffee Cup

Dickinson's poem inspired third cousin Emily to pen this poem:

Before He comes We weigh the Time,
‘Tis Heavy and ‘tis Light,
When He depart, and Emptiness
Is the prevailing Freight

Pictured at the right: Page 35 displays a coffee cup lid with the following lines from Emmett Lee Dickinson:

Life is coffee we’re longing for,
Coffee the hinge to life.

These lines inspired third cousin Emily to write this:

Life is death we’re lengthy at,
Death the hinge to life.

Pictured at the left: On the back of a sugar packet -- shown on page 47 of The Garbaged Somethings -- Emmett Lee Dickinson wrote " How loud the Bells in Steeples peal Get coffee for this Guy." He used those lines to open this short poem:

How loud the Bells in Steeples peal
Get coffee for this Guy
I stagger on unsteady Feet
A frantic Day nearby!

This poem inspired third cousin Emily to write this:

How still the Bells in Steeples stand
Till swollen with the Sky
They leap upon their silver Feet
In frantic Melody!

Pictured at the right: A used napkin -- on page 71 of The Garbaged Somethings -- includes "Witchcraft has not a Pedigree / ‘Tis only just our Brew," lines which open this line:

Witchcraft has not a Pedigree
‘Tis only just our Brew
Commuters need it going out
Each day when morning’s new –

This poem by Emmett Lee Dickinson inspired third cousin Emily to pen this poem:

Witchcraft has not a Pedigree
'Tis early as our Breath
And mourners meet it going out
The moment of our death –

In the coming days, we will post more pages from The Garbage Somethings.

Gorgeous Garbage -- Part 1

9/3/2018

From our master grammarian and resident logophile, Angstrom Dickinson:

On Friday, October 12, the Dickinson Organization of Poetry Enthusiasts, in conjunction with the Folger Coffee Company, will host a birthday tribute to America's greatest poet, Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request).

Meryl Streep will take the stage with Starbucks' newly develop barista robot -- called "Servi-Tron" -- to discuss the first full-color facsimile publication of Emmett Lee Dickinson's manuscripts. The new publication, called The Garbaged Somethings, includes all of the scraps and bits of trash on which Dickinson wrote his coffee poetry.

Information about the event -- and a companion event to be presented at the Folger Shakespeare Library on December 10, Emily Dickinson's birthday -- is found HERE.

Below are sample pages from the collection of Dickinson's The Garbaged Somethings.
(Click the pictures to enlarge.)

Pictured at the left: Page 16 of The Garbaged Somethings includes a photograph of a used coffee filter on which Dickinson wrote his poem "To wait an Hour -- is Eternity":

To wait an Hour – is Eternity –
If Coffee be just beyond –
To wait at all – is pointless –
If Decaf reward the end –

Dickinson’s poem inspired third cousin Emily to pen this poem:

To wait an Hour – is Long –
If Love be just beyond –
To wait Eternity – is short –
If Love reward the end –

Pictured at the right: Page 23 shows a used coffee filter on which Dickinson wrote, "A Yawn is a silent scream -- for coffee!"

Pictured at the left: Page 44 includes a photograph of a coffee bean on which Emmett Lee Dickinson engraved his poem "

The words the happy say
Are paltry melody
To when I say aloud:
One coffee – black –

Dickinson’s poem inspired third cousin Emily to pen this poem:

The words the happy say
Are paltry melody
But those the silent feel
Are beautiful –

Below: A close up of the coffee been inscribed by Emmett Lee Dickinson. Dickinson is the only poet known to have inscribed a coffee bean with a complete poem.

Pictured at the right: Page 85 of The Garbaged Somethings includes a coffee cup sleeve where Dickinson wrote "Exhilaration is the Brew / That lifts us from its Grounds." He used those lines in the following poem:

Exhilaration is the Brew
That lifts us from its Grounds,
And leaves us in another place
Where dullness is not found –

Returns us not, but after time
We solemnly descend
A bit enlivened for the term
Because Enchanted Grounds –

Dickinson’s poem inspired third cousin Emily to write this poem:

Exhilaration is the Breeze
That lifts us from the Ground,
And leaves us in another place
Whose statement is not found –

Returns us not, but after time
We soberly descend
A little newer for the term
Upon Enchanted Ground –

Be sure to check back in February 2019 too when we post more
of Emmett Lee Dickinson's coffee poetry.
For details, click HERE.

The Garbaged Somethings

9/1/2018

From our master grammarian and resident logophile, Angstrom Dickinson:

During the Great Paper Shortage from 1835 to 1847 which was brought on by the North American Wood Pulp Blight, Emmett Lee Dickinson and many other poets were highly distraught as there was little to no paper available for them to use.

"How can I write my poetry?" moaned Dickinson.

His sister Pythagoria replied dryly, "Use a bit of scrap."

With that, Dickinson began digging through the garbage, and he pulled out many and sundry scraps of paper and bits of trash on which he recorded his ideas, possible lines of poetry, and even full poems. He called this collection of debris his "garbaged somethings."

This October the Dickinson Organization of Poetry Enthusiasts in conjunction with the Folger Coffee Company will present an extraordinary event at the Folger Coffee Company plant in historic Washerst, PA (birthplace of Emmett Lee Dickinson) to celebrate Dickinson's collection of "The Garbaged Somethings."

The Folger Shakespeare Library will host a similar event in December to celebrate Emily Dickinson's collection of scraps and bits of paper now referred to as "The Gorgeous Nothings."

Below left: The Emmett Lee Dickinson Birthday Tribute celebrating The Garbaged Somethings will be hosted by Starbuck's new robot known as "Servi-Tron" and actress and Dickinson aficionado Meryl Streep. Below right: The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington DC will host a related event in December to celebrate The Gorgeous Nothings.

Below left: The October birthday tribute to Emmett Lee Dickinson will be held on his birthday, October 12, at the Folger Coffee Company plant in historic Washerst, PA, the birthplace of American's greatest poet. Below right: The December birthday tribute to Emmett Lee's third cousin Emily will be held on her birthday, December 10, at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC.

Below left: Dickinson's collection of The Garbaged Somethings is now in print! Below right: The Gorgeous Nothings

For more information on the gathering of DOPEs this October to celebrate the birthday of Emmett Lee Dickinson, click HERE.