• IdentificationMidwest MS Preston
  • TitleInventory of the Keith Preston Papers, 1915-1942 Midwest.MS.Preston
  • PublisherThe Newberry Library - Modern Manuscripts
  • RepositoryThe Newberry Library - Modern Manuscripts
  • Physical Description0.2 linear feet (1 box)
  • Date1915-1942
  • Location1 28 7
  • AbstractSmall collection of correspondence and works from Chicago poet, columnist, and literary critic, Keith Preston.
  • OriginationPreston, Keith, 1884-1927

Provenance unknown.

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

The Keith Preston 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.

Keith Preston Papers, The Newberry Library, Chicago.

Shannon Yule, 2007.

This inventory was created with the generous support of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this inventory do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Chicago poet, columnist, and literary critic.

Keith Preston was born in Chicago in 1884 to William D. and Jesse Roberts Preston. He graduated with distinction as a classical scholar from the University of Chicago in 1905, received his masters degree in 1907 from the University of Indiana, and in 1914 completed a doctoral degree in Philosophy from the University of Chicago.

Preston taught at the University of Indiana and Princeton, and in 1913, became a professor of Latin at Northwestern University. He married Etta Shield in 1915, a classical scholar and school principal.

In 1922 he left academe to join the staff of the Chicago Daily News as a columnist and literary editor. He wrote the ‘The Periscope’ column and conducted the ‘Hit or Miss’ column. Preston published four volumes of his humorous poetry during his lifetime and his wife published a collection of his poems after his death.

Keith Preston died of complications resulting from an ear infection at the age of 42.

This small collection contains essays and a poem written by Preston, several obituaries and articles mentioning him, one letter to him from Genevieve Forbes, and correspondence received by his wife after his death.

Materials are arranged alphabetically.

  • NamesPreston, Keith, 1884-1927
  • Subject
    • Chicago
    • Journalism
    • Journalism -- Illinois -- Chicago -- History
    • Manuscripts, American -- Illinois -- Chicago