Frank H. Baer to Charles W Chesnutt, 11 April 1923
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The Cleveland Chamber of Commerce
Founded in 1848
Apr 11th. 1923
My dear Mr. Chesnutt
One of the Valentines of which is to be reproduced in the book1 is mentioned in “Virginia and the Virginians” by R. H. Buck, publ'd at Toledo 1888 2 vols2
I suggest that you look it up at one of the libraries. If not in the Public Library or Western Reserve either of them can locate it somewhere and borrow it
Yours, F. 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. 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]
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]
