Between the Covers

Hardcover. A collection of two handwritten journals, two unpublished manuscripts, and a published book of poems by poet husband and wife duo Everett Needham and Josephine Young Case. All items are very good or better with some chips and tears on the edges.

A small collection of journals, manuscripts, and a published book kept by poet and writer Josephine Young Case. The archive includes material from both her own writing and her husband, Everett Needham Case. The oldest of these is an unpublished manuscript for *Pagan Easter* by Everett Case written in 1926 bound in blue wrappers with a printed paper label on the front wrapper. A note on the envelope housing the manuscript, presumably written by Josephine, reads “unpublished manuscript of ENC Poems 1926 only 2 copies exist.” The front free endpaper is signed by Everett as “Ev” to Jim for Christmas 1926. Josephine also includes two handwritten poetry journals written by Everett and herself as gifts for each other in 1932. The journal written by Everett is a collection of poems written between June 1931 and June 1932 which begins “For JYC Verses by ENC June 27, 1932.” Josephine gifted Everett a green leather journal with gilt decorations for Christmas 1932 which included her poem “The Green Stone” which is handwritten over 10 pages. A typed manuscript for Josephine’s piece *A Winter’s Day* written in January 1939 is featured here. She begins this piece with a handwritten note to Everett which reads, “ENC for you alone, this piece of our lives, copies for you as it was written nearly six years ago. It is worth only a glance, the glance one gives a snapshot, that has no beauty in itself, but serves for one almost painful moment and recalls the beauty of another day. Ah, we say we were young then, and happy, in a happier world. But it is because – that it is true we are no younger, and the world is worse – we ourselves are no less happy (no less? But more!) that I give you this today. JYC Christmas 1944.”

Josephine Young Case was a poet and writer who studied at Bryn Mawr and Radcliffe where she earned her M.A. in American literature. After her marriage to Everett Case they moved to Van Hornesville, a village in Stark, New York, where she finished her first book ''At Midnight on the 31st of March'' which was published in 1938 and is included. Her husband, Everett Case, was also a writer and the president of Colgate University beginning in 1942. The two of them continued writing and teaching publishing poetry and some fiction including a collaborative work, ''Owen D. Young and American Enterprise'' in 1982. Josephine was the first female director of RCA between 1961 and 1972. Both Josephine and Everett had successful writing and academic careers until their deaths.

A modest but interesting archive of material kept by a writing couple. A full list of items follows:

1. Unpublished manuscript for *Pagan Easter* by Everett Case 1926
2. Handwritten Poetry journal written by Everett Case for Josephine Young Case 1932
3. Handwritten Poetry journal written by Josephine Young Case for Young Case 1932
4. Typed manuscript for Josephine’s piece *A Winter’s Day* January 1939
5. *At Midnight on the Thirty-First of March* Josephine Young Case 1938.

Item #418200