The day following his successful lecture at Howard’s Hall on December 20, 1848, Edgar Allan Poe checked out a book from The Providence Athenaeum titled, Stanley: Or, Recollections of a Man of the World, by Horace Binney Wallace. This is reflected in the Athenaeum’s charge book from that year, in which they now keep in their special collection. The page features Poe’s classic signature next to the title that he borrowed.
Poe did not have a membership at the Athenaeum, but he was able to borrow the book under the name of member Thomas Davis. Davis was one of Whitman’s friends, whose membership she also borrowed books under.
On the same page that Poe’s signature is found, you will also see Whitman’s signature a number of times. Months after Poe returned Stanley and his romance with Whitman came to an end, she borrowed that very same title. This gives us an interesting bit of insight into Whitman during this time. Even though her relationship with Poe was well over, she possibly still longed to be close to him in any way that she could, even by reading the same book that he did.
The photos here were taken of the charge book during the Ravenous: The Enduring Legacy of Edgar Allan Poe exhibit (February 1-April 30, 2019) at the Athenaeum. Displayed alongside the charge book were the actual books that Poe and Whitman had borrowed.
Edgar Allan Poe: Rhode Island 