Eagle Street College
Encyclopedia
The Eagle Street College was an informal literary society established in 1885 at the home of James William Wallace in Eagle Street, Bolton
, to read and discuss literary works, particularly the poetry of Walt Whitman
, (1819-91). The group subsequently became known as the Bolton Whitman Fellowship or Whitmanites. Its founder members were Wallace, Dr John Johnston and Fred Wild. The group held an annual 'Whitman Day' celebration around the 31 May which was the poet's birthday.
Wallace and Johnston corresponded with Whitman and Johnston visited Whitman at his home in Camden, New Jersey
. Wallace visited Whitman in 1891. Wallace moved to Adlington
in the early 1890s and invited Charles Sixsmith to join the group which continued until the death of Wallace in 1926 and in a more modest form after that. After Wallace moved to Adlington in the early 1890s the group continued to meet in each other's homes.Sixsmith was involved in the annual Whitman celebrations until late 1930s. A plaque marking one of these celebrations can be found in the grounds of Rivington Unitarian Chapel
.
Bolton
Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West of England. Close to the West Pennine Moors, it is north west of the city of Manchester. Bolton is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, of which Bolton is the...
, to read and discuss literary works, particularly the poetry of Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman
Walter "Walt" Whitman was an American poet, essayist and journalist. A humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. Whitman is among the most influential poets in the American canon, often called the father of free verse...
, (1819-91). The group subsequently became known as the Bolton Whitman Fellowship or Whitmanites. Its founder members were Wallace, Dr John Johnston and Fred Wild. The group held an annual 'Whitman Day' celebration around the 31 May which was the poet's birthday.
Wallace and Johnston corresponded with Whitman and Johnston visited Whitman at his home in Camden, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. Wallace visited Whitman in 1891. Wallace moved to Adlington
Adlington, Lancashire
Adlington is a town and civil parish in Lancashire, England, near the West Pennine Moors and the town of Chorley. Six miles northwest of Bolton, it became a separate parish in 1842 then grew into a town around the textile industry. It has a population of 5,270.-Toponymy:The last element 'ington'...
in the early 1890s and invited Charles Sixsmith to join the group which continued until the death of Wallace in 1926 and in a more modest form after that. After Wallace moved to Adlington in the early 1890s the group continued to meet in each other's homes.Sixsmith was involved in the annual Whitman celebrations until late 1930s. A plaque marking one of these celebrations can be found in the grounds of Rivington Unitarian Chapel
Rivington Unitarian Chapel
Rivington Unitarian Chapel is a place of Unitarian worship in Rivington, Lancashire, England. It was founded in 1703 and its motto is "Here let no man a stranger be". The chapel is a Grade II* listed building, and its restoration in 1990 was aided by English Heritage...
.