Frank H. Baer to Charles W. Chesnutt, 30 September 1922
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The Cleveland Chamber of Commerce
Founded in 1848
NEWTON D. BAKER, PRESIDENT
RICHARD F. GRANT, 1ST VICE PRESIDENT
F. C. CHANDLER, 2ND VICE PRESIDENT
GEORGE A. COULTON, TREASURER
MUNSON HAVENS, SECRETARY
FRANK H. BAER, TRAFFIC COMMISSIONER
September 30, 1922. Cleveland Fifth City1
Mr. Charles W. Chestnutt,
1106 Williamson Bldg.,
Cleveland, Ohio.
My dear Chestnutt:-
It looks as though I shall have no time for another conference with you on the valentine matter for several weeks, but I would be glad to hear from you what Mr. Clark has decided as to the number of illustrations.2
I also would be glad to have returned to me any material which you no longer have use for. I very naturally want to get them back under the protection of the insurance policy, which covers the collection.3
Cordially yours, Frank H. BaerCorrespondent: Frank House Baer (1863–1940) was a White Clevelander. He was an agent for the Nickel Plate Road (New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad) railway company and then served on the Chamber of Commerce as transportation commissioner (1918–1937). An avid book collector, he was, like Chesnutt, a member of the Rowfant Club, and locally known for his collection of over 2,000 valentines written between 1720 and 1870. Portions were exhibited locally (and sometimes nationally) from the late 1890s into the 1920s. A joint book project with Chesnutt on the collection was apparently launched in 1922 but abandoned after 1924.
1. Based on the 1920 census counts, Cleveland became the fifth most populous city after New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Detroit, and used the nickname "Fifth City" in advertisements and city promotions (including those of the Chamber of Commerce) for a decade, until its ranking dropped beginning in 1930. [back]
2. Arthur H. Clark (1868–1951) was a White publisher who was originally from England and had worked for several publishing companies before coming to Cleveland in the 1890s. Initially he worked as a specialist in rare books for Cleveland publisher Burrows Brothers, but then founded his own bookstore and publishing house, Arthur H. Clark Company, specializing in Americana and the history of the Western United States. Clark was an avid book collector and a member of the Rowfant Club, like Chesnutt and Frank H. Baer (1863–1940), whose joint book on valentines he was going to publish before the project was abandoned. [back]
3. Chesnutt's joint book project with Frank H. Baer (1863–1940), a collectors' edition of Baer's collection of valentines, with commentary and transcriptions, was likely begun in 1922. The Rowfant Club was interested in publishing the book, working with local publisher Arthur H. Clark (1868–1951), another book collector and member of the club. It is not known why and when the project was abandoned; no correspondence after May 1923 refers to it, although the forthcoming book is still mentioned in the club's Year Book for 1923 (Cleveland: Rowfant, 1924), pp. 80-81, and in its printed invitation to a speech by Chesnutt on valentines on February 14, 1924, which included a display of material from Baer's collection. About 90 pages of notes, including copies of valentine poems and portions of commentary on the history of valentine cards and gifts are in the Charles Waddell Chesnutt Papers at the Western Reserve Historical Society. [back]
