Curtis Hidden Page was an American educator and translator born in Greenwood, Missouri, in 1870. The Pages trace their roots back to some of the founding members of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, including Gov. John Winthrop. Page graduated from Harvard University in 1892 with a doctorate in English Literature and a concentration in French. He taught French and English at Harvard for fifteen years. In 1911, after a brief stint at Columbia and Northwestern Universities, Page became a professor of English Literature at Dartmouth College, where he remained until his death in 1946.
In World War I, Page served as an officer in the Ordinance Corp. from 1917 to 1919. He advanced to the rank of major through a series of rapid promotions during his first few months due to his ability to speak both French and German and translate effectively. Page later served his state of New Hampshire as a state legislator in 1933 and again in 1939 at the age of 69.
Throughout his life, Dr. Page was a prolific and gifted poet. He published not only in literary journals and magazines like
Dealer's description, House of El Dieff, Inc., 1962
Page's translated works make up a significant portion of this collection, but there are also original texts from his poems, essays, and other original works in numerous stages of editing. His handwritten corrections and changes are present throughout the collection, and he was quite an aggressive editor. The collection is organized into three series: I. Works, divided into original and translated works and arranged alphabetically by title (5 boxes); II. Correspondence, subdivided into outgoing and incoming and arranged chronologically (1 box); and III. Personal Papers, including his notes and works as a graduate student (3 boxes).
The Works Series contains typescripts, manuscripts, and proofs, many thoroughly edited in Page's hand. His original works include the historical work
The Correspondence Series includes letters from throughout Page's literary career, his time as a student, and his tenure with both the military and the state legislature. Some of his correspondents include J.H. Wheelock, Henriette Hovey and Hariette Hovey, the wife and mother of Richard Hovey respectively, William Plumer Fowler, and Brander Matthews. Three handwritten letters addressed to Mrs. Page mark her only appearance in the collection.
The Personal Papers Series is predominantly Dr. Page's notes and works as a student, spanning three boxes. Also included is a newspaper sketch of Dr. Page, his military service record, extensive materials on the family genealogy, a bound scrapbook, and a handwritten copy of his "Will and Testament" from 1913.
Purchase, 1963 (R1088)
Open for research
Jonathan Reynolds, 2006