Frank H. Baer to Charles W. Chesnutt, 22 May 1923
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The Cleveland Chamber of Commerce
Founded in 18481
May 22, 1923.
Cleveland Fifth City
Mr. Charles W. Chesnutt,
1106 Williamson Building,
Cleveland, Ohio.
My dear Mr. Chesnutt:-
Several weeks ago, just as I was about to leave the City, I telephoned to you that a book entitled "Virginia and the Virginians" by R. A. Buck, 2 volumes, Toledo 1882, contained a description of one of the cut paper valentines,2 which I think you included in the lot taken at the Athletic Club3 for more extended description, and I suggested that you endeavor to have the Public Library get the loan of this book for you. I am wondering if you were successful in this. If not, I will try to get it now. How are you getting along with the manuscript?4
Yours very truly, 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). Like Chesnutt, he was a member of the Rowfant Club. An avid book collector, he was known for his collection of over two thousand 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. For readability, the remainder of the letterhead is not transcribed in the body of the letter but is included in this footnote as unformatted text. The letterhead can be seen in its entirety in the accompanying image of the letter. The text of the remainder of the letterhead is as follows: RICHARD F. GRANT, PRESIDENT EDWARD B. GREENE, 1st VICE PRESIDENT EDWARD S. JORDAN, 2ND VICE PRESIDENT GEORGE A. COULTON, TREASURER MUNSON HAVENS, SECRETARY FRANK H. BAER TRAFFIC COMMISSIONER [back]
2. Baer is referring to R. A. (Robert Alonzo) Brock's Virginia and Virginians, 1606–1888, 2 vols. (Richmond, VA, and Toledo, OH: H. H. Hardesty, 1888). While there is no description of the wordless valentine, there is a black-and-white print reproduction of it, entitled "Curious Old Valentine of cut paper of 1753, From the original in possession of R. A. Brock, Secretary Virginia Historical Society" (1:165). It is not known whether Chesnutt inspected the book. [back]
3. The Cleveland Athletic Club, founded in 1909, was a gentlemen's sports and social club in downtown Cleveland, which had its own building at 1118 Euclid Avenue (1910–2007), including sports facilities, a dining room, and a room to play cards. By "the lot" Baer is likely referencing a portion of his collection of valentines temporarily given to Chesnutt. [back]
4. Chesnutt's joint book project with Frank H. Baer (1863–1940), an 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 another book collector and member of the club, publisher Arthur H. Clark (1868–1951). It is not known why and when the project was abandoned; no correspondence after May 1923 refers to it, although the book is still mentioned as forthcoming in the club's Year Book for 1923 (Cleveland: Rowfant, 1924), 80–81. The project is also mentioned in the club's printed invitation to an event featuring a speech given by Chesnutt and a display from Baer's collection on February 14, 1924. About ninety 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]
