Description: Title page from the song Joggin Erlong by Paul Lawrence Dunbar. Paul Lawrence Dunbar was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1872 to Matilda and Joshua Dunbar, who were both former slaves. He went to Dayton High School, where he was the only African American in his class. He was very successful in his studies and was also the editor of the school paper. He edited the newspaper “The Tattler,” a newspaper aimed at the African American community, which was started by Orville Wright, a classmate. After high school Dunbar struggled to get his work published, so he began working as an elevator operator where he would read his poems to his passengers. He was invited to read his works at the Western Association of Writers in 1892 thanks to a recommendation from a former teacher, and the positive response encouraged him to publish his first book. In 1893 he published “Oak and Ivy” out of his own pocket and began selling it out of the elevator he worked in. His second book “Majors to Minors,” was published in 1895. The “major” poems in the book were written in standard English, while the “minor” poems were in dialect. This book caught the attention of William Dean Howells, editor of Harper’s Weekly. He wrote a review of Dunbar’s book which helped bring Dunbar national recognition. His third anthology was titled “Lyrics of a Lonely Life” which included an introduction by Howells. Joggin Erlong was published for the first time in 1906, and the song is written in dialect. Each stanza ends with “But des’ keep on a–joggin’ wid a little bit o’ song, De mo’n is allus brightah w’en de night’s been long.” It was originally published as a poem and was later adapted to music. Dunbar was married to Alice Ruth Moore in 1898, a successful writer. The following year he was diagnosed with tuberculosis, which doctors unsuccessfully attempted to cure with alcohol. Though Dunbar still wrote prolifically, the alcoholism brought on by his disease troubled his marriage and Moore left him in 1902. Due to deteriorating health, Dunbar moved home with his mother. He died in 1906 at the age of 33. Dunbar is recognized as one of the great poets of the twentieth century. His poetry influenced later authors such as Langston Hughes and other writers of the Harlem Renaissance. Wright State University has renamed their library the Paul Laurence Dunbar Library. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL07658
Subjects: Dunbar, Paul Laurence, 1872-1906; Poets; African American poets; African American Ohioans
 

Description: The Cary sisters became famous poets during the middle of the 19th century. Alice is shown on the left, while Phoebe is on the right. In 1838, Alice had one of her poems published in a Cincinnati newspaper. Eleven years later, Alice and Phoebe jointly authored "Poems of Alice and Phoebe Cary." The work received positive reviews, and the two women moved to New York City. Edgar Allen Poe, a leading American author, poet and literary critic, was an admirer of both women's work. William Holmes McGuffey included several of the women's poems in his "McGuffey Reader." These portraits are taken from "Howe's Historical Collections of Ohio," 1907. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL04103
Subjects: Cultural Ohio--Literary Ohio; Poets, American; Women--Ohio
Places: Mount Healthy (Ohio); Hamilton County (Ohio)
 

Description: Portrait of poet Paul Laurence Dunbar with his mother, Matilda Dunbar, Dayton, Ohio, ca. 1890-1900. Josephine Watkins Lehman, known to Dunbar as "Aunt Bam," was the daughter of Dunbar's high school principal and mentor, William Watkins. She is credited with taking this photograph. Paul Laurence Dunbar was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1872 to Joshua and Matilda Dunbar, both former slaves, and was encouraged by his mother in poetry and his schooling from an early age. He attended Dayton Central High School and was the sole African American student at that time. Following his high school graduation, Dunbar worked as an elevator operator while writing poetry in his free time. He built a reputation as a successful literary voice and writer of dialect poetry, and was the first African American poet to receive critical acclaim for his work. Dunbar authored twelve collections of poetry, five novels, one play, and a large number of newspaper articles before his death from tuberculosis on February 9, 1906. He is buried in the Woodland Cemetery in Dayton. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL01055
Subjects: African American women--Ohio; Dunbar, Paul Laurence, 1872-1906; African American poets; American poetry--Ohio; Literary Ohio
Places: Dayton (Ohio); Montgomery County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph of a bookcase and other furniture at the Dunbar House, ca. 1938. This home, at 219 Paul Laurence Dunbar Street in Dayton, Ohio, was the final home of poet Paul Laurence Dunbar. After Dunbar's death in 1906 his mother, Matilda Dunbar, continued to live in the house until her death in 1934. In 1936 the Dunbar House became the first state memorial to honor an African American. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL03330
Subjects: African American poets; Multicultural Ohio--African American Ohioans; Dunbar, Paul Laurence, 1872-1906--Homes and haunts--Ohio
Places: Dayton (Ohio); Montgomery County (Ohio)
 

Description: Portrait of author Paul Laurence Dunbar, ca. 1904, reproduced on a postcard. He was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1872 to Joshua and Matilda Dunbar, both former slaves, and was encouraged by his mother in poetry and his schooling from an early age. He attended Dayton Central High School and was the sole African American student at that time. Following his high school graduation, Dunbar worked as an elevator operator while writing poetry in his free time. He built a reputation as a successful literary voice and writer of dialect poetry, and was the first African American poet to receive critical acclaim for his work. Dunbar authored twelve collections of poetry, five novels, one play, and a large number of newspaper articles before his death from tuberculosis on February 9, 1906. He is buried in the Woodland Cemetery in Dayton. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL05252
Subjects: Dunbar, Paul Laurence, 1872-1906; African American poets; American poetry--Ohio; Literary Ohio
Places: Dayton (Ohio); Montgomery County (Ohio)
 

Description: Cabinet card portrait of author Paul Laurence Dunbar as a young man, ca. 1890. He was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1872 to Joshua and Matilda Dunbar, both former slaves, and was encouraged by his mother in poetry and his schooling from an early age. He attended Dayton Central High School and was the sole African American student at that time. Following his high school graduation, Dunbar worked as an elevator operator while writing poetry in his free time. He built a reputation as a successful literary voice and writer of dialect poetry, and was the first African American poet to receive critical acclaim for his work. Dunbar authored twelve collections of poetry, five novels, one play, and a large number of newspaper articles before his death from tuberculosis on February 9, 1906. He is buried in the Woodland Cemetery in Dayton. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL05253
Subjects: Dunbar, Paul Laurence, 1872-1906; African American poets; American poetry--Ohio; Literary Ohio
Places: Dayton (Ohio); Montgomery County (Ohio)
 

Description: Cabinet card portrait of author Paul Laurence Dunbar as a young man, ca. 1890. He was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1872 to Joshua and Matilda Dunbar, both former slaves, and was encouraged by his mother in poetry and his schooling from an early age. He attended Dayton Central High School and was the sole African American student at that time. Following his high school graduation, Dunbar worked as an elevator operator while writing poetry in his free time. He built a reputation as a successful literary voice and writer of dialect poetry, and was the first African American poet to receive critical acclaim for his work. Dunbar authored twelve collections of poetry, five novels, one play, and a large number of newspaper articles before his death from tuberculosis on February 9, 1906. He is buried in the Woodland Cemetery in Dayton. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL05254
Subjects: Dunbar, Paul Laurence, 1872-1906; African American poets; American poetry--Ohio; Literary Ohio
Places: Dayton (Ohio); Montgomery County (Ohio)
 

Description: Cabinet card portrait of author Paul Laurence Dunbar as a young man, ca. 1890. He was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1872 to Joshua and Matilda Dunbar, both former slaves, and was encouraged by his mother in poetry and his schooling from an early age. He attended Dayton Central High School and was the sole African American student at that time. Following his high school graduation, Dunbar worked as an elevator operator while writing poetry in his free time. He built a reputation as a successful literary voice and writer of dialect poetry, and was the first African American poet to receive critical acclaim for his work. Dunbar authored twelve collections of poetry, five novels, one play, and a large number of newspaper articles before his death from tuberculosis on February 9, 1906. He is buried in the Woodland Cemetery in Dayton. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL05255
Subjects: Dunbar, Paul Laurence, 1872-1906; African American poets; American poetry--Ohio; Literary Ohio
Places: Dayton (Ohio); Montgomery County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph of author Paul Laurence Dunbar on horseback, ca. 1890-1906. A note written on the back of the photograph indicates that the horse may have inspired Dunbar's poem "Dat Ol' Mare O' Mine." Dunbar was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1872 to Joshua and Matilda Dunbar, both former slaves, and was encouraged by his mother in poetry and his schooling from an early age. He attended Dayton Central High School and was the sole African American student at that time. Following his high school graduation, Dunbar worked as an elevator operator while writing poetry in his free time. He built a reputation as a successful literary voice and writer of dialect poetry, and was the first African American poet to receive critical acclaim for his work. Dunbar authored twelve collections of poetry, five novels, one play, and a large number of newspaper articles before his death from tuberculosis on February 9, 1906. He is buried in the Woodland Cemetery in Dayton. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL05260
Subjects: Dunbar, Paul Laurence, 1872-1906; African American poets; American poetry--Ohio; Literary Ohio; Horses
Places: Dayton (Ohio); Montgomery County (Ohio)
 

Description: Photograph of Paul Laurence Dunbar and a man identified as Mr. Whack at the home of Major Pond, August 1, 1896. Dunbar was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1872 to Joshua and Matilda Dunbar, both former slaves, and was encouraged by his mother in poetry and his schooling from an early age. He attended Dayton Central High School and was the sole African American student at that time. Following his high school graduation, Dunbar worked as an elevator operator while writing poetry in his free time. He built a reputation as a successful literary voice and writer of dialect poetry, and was the first African American poet to receive critical acclaim for his work. Dunbar authored twelve collections of poetry, five novels, one play, and a large number of newspaper articles before his death from tuberculosis on February 9, 1906. He is buried in the Woodland Cemetery in Dayton. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL05261
Subjects: Dunbar, Paul Laurence, 1872-1906; African American poets; American poetry--Ohio; Literary Ohio
Places: Dayton (Ohio); Montgomery County (Ohio)
 

Description: Broadside advertising a reading given by poet and author Paul Laurence Dunbar at the Lyceum Theater in New York City, ca. 1890-1906. He was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1872 to Joshua and Matilda Dunbar, both former slaves, and was encouraged by his mother in poetry and his schooling from an early age. He attended Dayton Central High School and was the sole African American student at that time. Following his high school graduation, Dunbar worked as an elevator operator while writing poetry in his free time. He built a reputation as a successful literary voice and writer of dialect poetry, and was the first African American poet to receive critical acclaim for his work. Dunbar authored twelve collections of poetry, five novels, one play, and a large number of newspaper articles before his death from tuberculosis on February 9, 1906. He is buried in the Woodland Cemetery in Dayton. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL05264
Subjects: Dunbar, Paul Laurence, 1872-1906; African American poets; American poetry--Ohio; Literary Ohio
Places: New York City (New York)
 

Description: Author Paul Laurence Dunbar, pictured in the center of the back row, with friends, ca. 1890-1906. A note on the back of the photograph describes the men and women pictured as Dunbar's "English friends and advisors." Dunbar was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1872 to Joshua and Matilda Dunbar, both former slaves, and was encouraged by his mother in poetry and his schooling from an early age. He attended Dayton Central High School and was the sole African American student at that time. Following his high school graduation, Dunbar worked as an elevator operator while writing poetry in his free time. He built a reputation as a successful literary voice and writer of dialect poetry, and was the first African American poet to receive critical acclaim for his work. Dunbar authored twelve collections of poetry, five novels, one play, and a large number of newspaper articles before his death from tuberculosis on February 9, 1906. He is buried in the Woodland Cemetery in Dayton. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL05267
Subjects: Dunbar, Paul Laurence, 1872-1906; African American poets; American poetry--Ohio; Literary Ohio
Places: Dayton (Ohio); Montgomery County (Ohio)