Solomon Lewis Switzer Papers, 1911-1929

Gift of Gloria Mae Switzer Egermaier, 2015.

The Solomon Lewis Switzer Papers are open for research in the Special Collections Reading Room; 1 box at a time (Priority III).

The Solomon Lewis Switzer Papers are the physical property of the Newberry Library. Copyright may belong to the authors or their legal heirs or assigns. For permission to publish or reproduce any materials from this collection, contact the Roger and Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections.

Solomon Lewis Switzer Papers, The Newberry Library, Chicago.

Jenny Schwartzberg and Paul F. Gehl, 2015.

Chicago barber, salesman and poet.

S. L. Switzer was born in Indiana in 1868 and married Ida Augusta Hennings in 1894. The couple came to Chicago before 1900 and eventually had eight children. Switzer died on March 4, 1928 in Elgin, Ill., and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Evergreen Park, Ill.

Largely drafts and documents concerning Switzer’s Trolley Ride Through Story Land and the company Switzer founded to publish it. There are also manuscripts of some of Switzer’s other poetry and a keepsake for the conferral of a doctorate in physiology to C. E. King from the University of Chicago.

Arranged by type of material; the poetry manuscripts follow the Trolley Ride materials.

• Names
  • J. C. Veeder Co.
  • King, C. E.
  • King, Robert Porter
  • Reynolds, James P.
  • Storyland Publishing Co..
  • Switzer, S.L.
  • Veeder, John C.
• Subject
  • Chicago
  • Children’s poetry, American -- 20th century
  • Literature
  • Manuscripts, American -- Illinois -- Chicago
  • Poets, American -- 20th century -- Correspondence
  • Poets, American -- 20th century -- Sources
  • Printing History and Book Arts