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1886 John E. McCann ALS to Edmund Clarence Stedman – On Poets of America, Literary Omission, and New York’s Gilded Age Writers
Dated: January 29, 1886
From: 212 West 14th Street, New York City
To: Edmund Clarence Stedman (1833–1908)
Format: Four-page autograph letter signed “John E. McCann,” written in deep violet ink on cream folded stationery.
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Description & Summary
A richly personal and witty four-page literary letter from New York journalist and critic John E. McCann to famed poet, anthologist, and critic Edmund Clarence Stedman, author of Poets of America (1885).
Written shortly after that book’s publication, McCann’s letter is a heartfelt blend of admiration, humor, and literary self-reflection. He thanks Stedman for his kind inscription, praises his integrity as a critic, and jokingly laments his own absence from the anthology — offering a candid window into the collegial competitiveness of the 1880s New York literary scene.
McCann references Poets of America, Fruit Ilium, and his story “The Uprising of the Johns”, which he says was accepted by John Swinton’s Paper. He also notes his ongoing work for The Century and The World, highlighting the interconnectedness of America’s leading literary publications.
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Select Excerpts
> “It nearly broke my heart as I say—for you were the author of the book, and I knew my name was not omitted out of malice, but because I was not of enough consequence to be remembered.”
> “If Stoddard had been the author of that book, and had left out my name, I would not have cared a continental sixpence.”
> “I think you are the only critic in the world who could have written 476 pages about poets, without writing one sentence malicious, spiteful, envious, or unjust. You are a kind, honest gentleman born and bred, and I am proud to call you my friend.”
> “I have written and inspired a good many nice things about you... it is part of my religion to war and work for, and champion, my friends.”
> “Mr. Swinton has accepted another prose story from me (the 8th); and I have worked the 7th stanza of your Fruit Ilium into it. That poem had a wonderful charm for me. I call the story The Uprising of the Johns!”
He ends warmly:
> “Our meeting will come around all right, and in an informal way... I have a horror of a formal introduction. Good night.
Ever yours to command,
John E. McCann.”
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This letter captures the literary camaraderie, humor, and mutual respect of New York’s Gilded Age men of letters. McCann’s admiration for Stedman—tempered by gentle self-deprecation about being excluded from Poets of America—is revealing of the creative egos and genuine affections that animated the period’s literary culture.
His aside about Richard Henry Stoddard (“If Stoddard had been the author...”) hints at the subtle rivalries among Stedman, Stoddard, and their contemporaries—each striving to define the canon of American poetry.
McCann’s references to Fruit Ilium, John Swinton’s Paper, and his broader journalism work provide a rare, first-hand connection between the poetic and journalistic worlds of post-Civil War New York.
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Biographical Notes
John E. McCann (fl. 1880s–1890s) – American journalist, essayist, and critic active in New York’s reform press and literary journals. McCann wrote for The Century Magazine, The Independent, and John Swinton’s Paper, contributing fiction, social essays, and criticism. His work bridged reformist journalism and the city’s flourishing literary scene. Surviving correspondence is scarce.
Edmund Clarence Stedman (1833–1908) – Poet, critic, editor, and anthologist known as the “Poet of Wall Street.” A central figure in 19th-century American letters, Stedman edited Poets of America (1885) and Victorian Anthology (1895), and was a leading voice in establishing American literary identity. He maintained close friendships with Emerson, Lowell, and Howells.
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Physical Description
4 pages on cream folded stationery (approx. 8\" × 10\").
Deep violet ink, neatly penned and entirely legible.
Signed in full: John E. McCann.
Addressed and dated: 212 West 14th St., N.Y. City, Jan. 29, 1886.
Light age toning; very fine condition.
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Provenance
Letters from Edmund Clarence Stedman’s circle of correspondents are prized for their insights into the late 19th-century American literary establishment. McCann’s are especially rare, and this example—with its four pages of personal, humorous, and referential content—stands as an important piece of Gilded Age literary correspondence. This comes from a private collection and is being offered for the first time in over 70 years.
Keywords:
Edmund Clarence Stedman / John E. McCann / Poets of America / American Poetry / John Swinton’s Paper / Richard Henry Stoddard / Century Magazine / 19th Century Literature / Literary Autograph / ALS 1886 / Gilded Age New York / American Letters.
