Published Works

Periodicals


Editorials and Journalistic Articles

Widely scattered and poorly documented, Whitman's journalism has never been fully collected nor adequately edited. The Whitman Archive is attempting to compile the most complete record of his journalism to date, and as always we welcome information from our users regarding leads to lesser-known documents. It is too early in our work to estimate the total number of Whitman's journalistic contributions during the course of his life. Previous editors of Whitman's journalism identified over 1,200 pieces from the period 1842–1848 alone (see Walt Whitman, The Journalism, ed. Herbert Bergman, Douglas A. Noverr, Edward J. Recchia [New York: Peter Lang, 1998], 1:xxviii). This six-year period was probably Whitman's most prolific as a journalist, but he contributed to newspapers and other periodicals for roughly a decade before 1842 and long after 1848. The Whitman Archive's goal is to present page images and full-text transcriptions of the entirety of Whitman's journalistic output. This work will proceed gradually because of resource constraints.

Currently, we offer a selection of editorials, likely written by Whitman, that appeared in the New York Aurora during the roughly one month period that Whitman served as editor. In addition, with the support of the National Endowment for the Humanities, we have edited several of Whitman's early journalistic series as well as prose pieces Whitman contributed to various newspapers during the Civil War. This work marks the first time these pieces have been gathered and presented together and the first time that some of the pieces have been reprinted since their initial publication. Whitman's 1840-41 series "Sun-Down Papers," a curated selection of art reviews written for the Brooklyn Daily Eagle in the mid-1840s, his 1849-50 series "Letters from a Travelling Bachelor," his 1851 series "Letters from Paumanok," his 1856 series "New York Dissected," his 1858 series "Manly Health and Training," and a near-complete collection of Whitman's Civil War journalism are available below.

Poems Whitman contributed to newspapers and magazines, such as "Beat! Beat! Drums!," might also rightly be considered journalism. For now, however, we have treated poetic contributions and prose journalism separately. Users interested in Whitman's verse published in newspapers and magazines should refer to the Poems in Periodicals section of the Archive. In the future, we anticipate taking a blended approach to the presentation of these materials.


Whitman's editorials for the New York Aurora

About the New York Aurora

"Yesterday," New York Aurora, 28 March 1842: [2]

"What's the Row?," New York Aurora, 28 March 1842: [2]

"A Peep at the Israelites," New York Aurora, 28 March 1842: [2]

"The Great Bamboozle!—A Plot Discovered!," New York Aurora, 28 March 1842: [2]

"Tyler's Message," New York Aurora, 28 March 1842: [2]

"Organs of the Democracy," New York Aurora, 29 March 1842: [2]

"Doings at the Synagogue," New York Aurora, 29 March 1842: [2]

"The Right of Search," New York Aurora, 29 March 1842: [2]

"The School Bill," New York Aurora, 29 March 1842: [2]

"The More the Merrier," New York Aurora, 29 March 1842: [2]

"The New York Press," New York Aurora, 29 March 1842: [2]

"Prospects of War," New York Aurora, 29 March 1842: [2]

"Defining 'Our Position'," New York Aurora, 30 March 1842: [2]

"Temperance Among the Firemen!," New York Aurora, 30 March 1842: [2]

"The Benefit of Benevolence," New York Aurora, 30 March 1842: [2]

"Police Insolence," New York Aurora, 30 March 1842: [2]

"Dissensions of Tammany," New York Aurora, 1 April 1842: [2]

"Scenes of Last Night," New York Aurora, 1 April 1842: [2]

"Whipping," New York Aurora, 1 April 1842: [2]

"[We have read with attention]," New York Aurora, 1 April 1842: [2]

"[On stepping into the ground]," New York Aurora, 1 April 1842: [2]

"Dickens and Democracy," New York Aurora, 2 April 1842: [2]

"'Black and White Slaves'," New York Aurora, 2 April 1842: [2]

"The Park Meeting," New York Aurora, 2 April 1842: [2]

"The School Question," New York Aurora, 2 April 1842: [2]

"'Marble Time' in the Park," New York Aurora, 4 April 1842: [2]

"More Humbug," New York Aurora, 4 April 1842: [2]

"[We proceed this morning to]," New York Aurora, 5 April 1842: [2]

"The Fourth of April," New York Aurora, 5 April 1842: [2]

"Smiling," New York Aurora, 5 April 1842: [2]

"Heart Rending," New York Aurora, 5 April 1842: [2]

"[Reader, we fear you have]," New York Aurora, 6 April 1842: [2]

"Tammany Meeting Last Night," New York Aurora, 6 April 1842: [2]

"A Word to Correspondents," New York Aurora, 6 April 1842: [2]

"The Mask thrown off," New York Aurora, 7 April 1842: [2]

"Something Worth Perusal," New York Aurora, 7 April 1842: [2]

"The Latest and Grandest Humbug," New York Aurora, 8 April 1842: [2]

"The School Bill," New York Aurora, 8 April 1842: [2]

"We," New York Aurora, 9 April 1842: [2]

"The Bloody Sixth!," New York Aurora, 9 April 1842: [2]

"[On Saturday night]," New York Aurora, 11 April 1842: [2]

"Tomorrow," New York Aurora, 11 April 1842: [2]

"[It is a fearful thing]," New York Aurora, 12 April 1842: [2]

"Last Evening," New York Aurora, 12 April 1842: [2]

"Playing in the Park," New York Aurora, 12 April 1842: [2]

"More Catholic Insolence!," New York Aurora, 12 April 1842: [2]

"[When the list of names]," New York Aurora, 12 April 1842: [2]

"Result of the Election," New York Aurora, 13 April 1842: [2]

"Incidents of Last Night," New York Aurora, 13 April 1842: [2]

"The House of Refuge," New York Aurora, 13 April 1842: [2]

"Sentiment and a Saunter," New York Aurora, 13 April 1842: [2]

"[According to the best authenticated]," New York Aurora, 14 April 1842: [2]

"Plots of the Jesuits!," New York Aurora, 14 April 1842: [2]

"Over the Ocean," New York Aurora, 14 April 1842: [2]

"The Late Riots," New York Aurora, 15 April 1842: [2]

"[Italian Opera in New Orleans]," New York Aurora, 15 April 1842: [2]

"Where Will Tammany Have to Stop?," New York Aurora, 15 April 1842: [2]

"The Catholic Rows not ended," New York Aurora, 16 April 1842: [2]

"About Children," New York Aurora, 16 April 1842: [2]

"Newspaperial Etiquette," New York Aurora, 18 April 1842: [2]

"Old Land Marks," New York Aurora, 18 April 1842: [2]

"[The Aurora has been roaring]," New York Aurora, 18 April 1842: [2]

"Snoring Made Music," New York Aurora, 18 April 1842: [2]

"The Schools' Holiday," New York Aurora, 18 April 1842: [2]

"[Yesterday was dull]," New York Aurora, 19 April 1842: [2]

"The English troubles in India, and our difficulties with Great Britain," New York Aurora, 19 April 1842: [2]

"Horace Greeley," New York Aurora, 19 April 1842: [2]

"J. F. Cooper," New York Aurora, 19 April 1842: [2]

"[During the last week of]," New York Aurora, 20 April 1842: [2]

"Life and Love," New York Aurora, 20 April 1842: [2]

"Old England," New York Aurora, 21 April 1842: [2]

"The Ocean," New York Aurora, 21 April 1842: [2]

"Claims of Partisans," New York Aurora, 22 April 1842: [2]

"Broadway Yesterday," New York Aurora, 22 April 1842: [2]

"Dreams," New York Aurora, 23 April 1842: [2]

"Reform in Congress," New York Aurora, 23 April 1842: [2]


Sun-Down Papers

About the "Sun-Down Papers"

"Sun-Down Papers—[No. 1]," Hempstead Inquirer, 29 February 1840: [2]

"Sun-Down Papers—[No. 2]," Hempstead Inquirer, 14 March 1840: [2]

"Sun-Down Papers—[No. 3]," Hempstead Inquirer, 28 March 1840: [2]

"Sun-Down Papers—[No. 4]," Hempstead Inquirer, 11 April 1840: [2]

"Sun-Down Papers—[No. 6]," Long-Island Democrat, 11 August 1840: [2]

"Sun-Down Papers—[No. 7]," Long-Island Democrat, 29 September 1840: [3]

"Sun-Down Papers—[No. 8]," Long-Island Democrat, 20 October 1840: [2]

"Sun-Down Papers—[No. 9]," Long-Island Democrat, 24 November 1840: [2]

"Sun-Down Papers—[No. 9 bis]," Long-Island Democrat, 6 July 1841: [2]

"Sun-Down Papers—[No. 10]," Long-Island Farmer, 20 July 1841: [2]


Art reviews for the Brooklyn Daily Eagle

About Whitman's art reviews for the Brooklyn Daily Eagle

"Splendid Churches," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 9 March 1846: [2]

"Polishing the 'Common People'," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 12 March 1846: [2]

"New Publications," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 14 March 1846: [2]

"Literary News, Notices, &c., Works of Art, &c.," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 15 April 1846: [2]

"Literary Notices," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 19 May 1846: [2]

"Visit to Plumbe's Gallery," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 2 July 1846: [2]

"Memorials of the Red Men," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 9 July 1846: [2]

"That Indian Gallery," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 22 July 1846: [2]

"The monthly Magazines," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 28 July 1846: [2]

"City Intelligence," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 4 August 1846: [2]

"Literary Notices," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 10 August 1846: [2]

"Literary Notices," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 15 August 1846: [2]

"Literary Notices," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 26 August 1846: [2]

"The Literary World," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 12 October 1846: [2]

"Free Exhibitions," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 21 October 1846: [2]

"Holy Bible—Illuminated: Harpers' edition," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 21 October 1846: [2]

"Notices of New Books," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 16 November 1846: [2]

"Matters Which Were Seen and Done in an Afternoon Ramble," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 19 November 1846: [2]

"About Pictures, &c.," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 21 November 1846: [2]

"[Among the embellished periodicals]," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 17 March 1847: [2]

"Books Lately Issued," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 22 July 1847: [2]

"["Pastourel," by Frederick Soulie]," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 28 September 1847: [2]

"["The new Juvenile Drawing Book"]," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 29 September 1847: [2]

"Some Thoughts about This Matter of the Washington Monument," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 18 October 1847: [2]

"Local Intelligence: &c.," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 6 November 1847: [2]

"New publications," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 8 November 1847: [2]

"Local Intelligence: &c.," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 18 November 1847: [2]


Letters from a Travelling Bachelor

About the New York Sunday Dispatch and "Letters from a Travelling Bachelor"

"Letters from a Travelling Bachelor, Number I," New York Sunday Dispatch, 14 October 1849: [4]

"Letters from a Travelling Bachelor–No. II," New York Sunday Dispatch, 21 October 1849: [2]

"Letters from a Travelling Bachelor, Number III," New York Sunday Dispatch, 28 October 1849: [1]

"Letters from a Travelling Bachelor, Number IV," New York Sunday Dispatch, 4 November 1849: [1]

"Letters from a Travelling Bachelor, Number V," New York Sunday Dispatch, 11 November 1849: [4]

"Letters from a Travelling Bachelor, Number VI," New York Sunday Dispatch, 18 November 1849: [4]

"Letters from a Travelling Bachelor, Number VII," New York Sunday Dispatch, 25 November 1849: [1]

"From a Travelling Bachelor, Number IX," New York Sunday Dispatch, 16 December 1849: [1]

"From a Travelling Bachelor, Number X," New York Sunday Dispatch, 23 December 1849: [1]

"From a Travelling Bachelor, XI," New York Sunday Dispatch, 6 January 1850: [1]


Letters from Paumanok

About the New York Evening Post and "Letters from Paumanok"

"Greenport, L. I., June 25," New York Evening Post, 27 June 1851: [1]

"Greenport, L. I. June 28th," New York Evening Post, 28 June 1851: [1]

"Brooklyn, August 11," New York Evening Post, 14 August 1851: [1]


New York Dissected

About Life Illustrated and "New York Dissected"

"New York Amuses Itself—The Fourth of July," Life Illustrated, 12 July 1856: 85

"Wicked Architecture," Life Illustrated, 19 July 1856: 93

"The Slave Trade," Life Illustrated, 2 August 1856: 108—109

"Broadway," Life Illustrated, 9 August 1856: 116

"Street Yarn," Life Illustrated, 16 August 1856: 125

"Advice to Strangers," Life Illustrated, 23 August 1856: 133


Manly Health and Training

About the New York Atlas and "Manly Health and Training"

"Manly Health and Training," New York Atlas, 12 September 1858: [1]

"Manly Health and Training," New York Atlas, 19 September 1858: [1]

"Manly Health and Training," New York Atlas, 26 September 1858: [1]

"Manly Health and Training," New York Atlas, 3 October 1858: [1]

"Manly Health and Training," New York Atlas, 10 October 1858: [1]

"Manly Health and Training," New York Atlas, 17 October 1858: 6

"Manly Health and Training," New York Atlas, 24 October 1858: [1]

"Manly Health and Training," New York Atlas, 31 October 1858: [1]-2

"Manly Health and Training," New York Atlas, 7 November 1858: [1]

"Manly Health and Training," New York Atlas, 28 November 1858: 2

"Manly Health and Training," New York Atlas, 12 December 1858: 6

"Manly Health and Training," New York Atlas, 19 December 1858: 6

"Manly Health and Training," New York Atlas, 26 December 1858: 3


Civil War Journalism

"Brooklyniana, No. 1," Brooklyn Standard, 3 June 1861: [1]

"Brooklyniana, No. 2," Brooklyn Standard, 5 June 1861: [1]

"Brooklyniana, No. 3," Brooklyn Standard, 12 June 1861: [4]

"An Old Brooklyn Landmark Going," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 10 October 1861: [2]

"Brooklyniana, No. 3[a]," Brooklyn Standard, 28 December 1861: [1]

"Brooklyniana, No. 4," Brooklyn Standard, 28 December 1861: [1]

"Brooklyniana, No. 5," Brooklyn Standard, 4 January 1862: [1]

"Important Ecclesiastical Gathering at Jamaica, L. I.," Brooklyn City News, 9 January 1862: 2

"Brooklyniana, No. 5---Continued," Brooklyn Standard, 11 January 1862: [1]

"Brooklyniana, No. 6," Brooklyn Standard, 11 January 1862: [1]

"Brooklyniana, No. 7," Brooklyn Standard, 18 January 1862: [1]

"Brooklyniana, No. 8," Brooklyn Standard, 25 January 1862: [1]

"Farewell to the Old Episcopal Graveyard in Fulton Street!," Brooklyn City News, 28 January 1862: [unknown]

"Brooklyniana, No. 9," Brooklyn Standard, 1 February 1862: [1]

"Brooklyniana, No. 10," Brooklyn Standard, 8 February 1862: [1]

"Brooklyniana, No. 11," Brooklyn Standard, 15 February 1862: [1]

"Brooklyniana, No. 12," Brooklyn Standard, 22 February 1862: [1]

"Brooklyniana, No. 13," Brooklyn Standard, 1 March 1862: [1]

"Brooklyniana, No. 14," Brooklyn Standard, 8 March 1862: [1]

"Brooklyniana, No. 15," Brooklyn Standard, 15 March 1862: [1]

"City Photographs," New York Leader, 16 March 1862: 3

"City Photographs," New York Leader, 22 March 1862: [1]

"City Photographs—No. III," New York Leader, 29 March 1862: [1]

"Brooklyniana, No. 16," Brooklyn Standard, 29 March 1862: [1]

"Brooklyniana, No. 17," Brooklyn Standard, 5 April 1862: [1]

"City Photographs—No. IV," New York Leader, 12 April 1862: [1]

"City Photographs—No. V," New York Leader, 19 April 1862: [1]

"Brooklyniana, No. 18," Brooklyn Standard, 19 April 1862: [1]

"City Photographs—No. VI," New York Leader, 3 May 1862: 2–3

"City Photographs—No. VII," New York Leader, 17 May 1862: 2

"Brooklyniana, No. 35," Brooklyn Standard, 30 August 1862: [unknown]

"Brooklyniana, No. 35.—Continued.," Brooklyn Standard, 6 September 1862: [unknown]

"Brooklyniana, No. 36," Brooklyn Standard, 20 September 1862: [unknown]

"Brooklyniana, No. 36.—Continued," Brooklyn Standard, 27 September 1862: [unknown]

"An Old Landmark Gone," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 9 October 1862: [2]

"Brooklyniana, No. 37," Brooklyn Standard, 11 October 1862: [unknown]

"Brooklyniana, No. 38," Brooklyn Standard, 25 October 1862: [unknown]

"Brooklyniana, No. 39," Brooklyn Standard, 1 November 1862: [unknown]

"Our Brooklyn Boys in the War," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 05 January 1863: [2]

"The Great Army of the Sick," New-York Times, 26 February 1863: 2

"Exemption from Military Service," New-York Times, 15 March 1863: 3

"The Great Washington Hospitals," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 19 March 1863: [2]

"Washington in the Hot Season," New-York Times, 16 August 1863: 2

"From Washington," Brooklyn Daily Union, 22 September 1863:

"Letter from Washington," New-York Times, 4 October 1863: 2

"[The Smithsonian, just opposite Armory is]," Armory Square Hospital Gazette, 13 January 1864: [1]

"Fifty-first New-York City Veterans," New-York Times, 29 October 1864: 2

"Our Wounded and Sick Soldiers," New-York Times, 11 December 1864: [1]–2

"The Prisoners," New-York Times, 27 December 1864: 2

"What Stops the General Exchange of Prisoners of War?," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 27 December 1864: [2]

"A Brooklyn Soldier, and a Noble One," Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 19 January 1865: [1]

"The Fifty-first New-York Volunteers," New-York Times, 24 January 1865: 3

"The Soldiers," New-York Times, 6 March 1865: 2

"Washington," New-York Times, 12 March 1865: 5

"Return of a Brooklyn Veteran," Brooklyn Daily Union, 16 March 1865: [3]

"Our Veterans Mustering Out," Brooklyn Daily Union, 5 August 1865: 2

"'Tis But Ten Years Since (First Paper.)," New York Weekly Graphic, 24 January 1874: 3

"'Tis But Ten Years Since (Fourth Paper.)," New York Weekly Graphic, 21 February 1874: 30

"'Tis But Ten Years Since (Sixth Paper.)," New York Weekly Graphic, 7 March 1874: 46


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