Permanent URL: http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/vx021f18r
Annette Covington Letters to Luther P. Eisenhart, 1935-1953: Finding Aid
C1285
Princeton University Library's Manuscripts Division
One Washington Road
Princeton, New Jersey 08544 USA
Phone: 609-258-3184
Fax: 609-258-2324
rbsc@princeton.edu
http://www.princeton.edu/~rbsc
Published in 2009.
©2009 Princeton University Library
Summary Information
- Creator:
- Covington, Annette, 1872-1964.
- Title and dates:
- Annette Covington Letters to Luther P. Eisenhart, 1935-1953
- Abstract:
- Consists chiefly of correspondence between artist Annette Covington and Princeton professor and dean Luther P. Eisenhart, and papers relating to the "Baconian" theory of the authorship of Shakespeare's plays
- Size:
- 2 linear feet (1 flat oversize box)
- Call number:
- C1285
- Location:
- Princeton University Library. Department of Rare Books and Special Collections.
Manuscripts Division.
Princeton, New Jersey 08544 USA - Language(s) of material:
- English.
- Storage note:
- This collection is stored onsite at Firestone Library.
Biographies of Annette Covington, Luther P. Eisenhart and the Baconian Theory
Annette Covington was an American landscape artist, portrait painter, illustrator, and teacher. Her grandfather, Samuel Fulton Covington, aided in the development of the Ohio Valley. Covington was president of the Cincinnati Woman's Art Club, Cincinnati, Ohio, (1916.)
After receiving his Ph.D. from Princeton University in 1900, Luther P. Eisenhart was called to Princeton as instructor in mathematics where he contributed to the University's development in many ways: as a mathematician, teacher, chairman of his department; as chairman of the Committee on Scientific Research, dean of the faculty, dean of the Graduate School; and as father of the four-course plan.
The Baconian theory of Shakespearean authorship holds that Sir Francis Bacon wrote the plays normally attributed to William Shakespeare. The main Baconian evidence is founded on the presentation of a motive for concealment. The late 19th-century interest in the Baconian theory continued the theme that Bacon had secreted encoded messages in the plays. It was also believed that Bacon not only authored the Shakespearean works but that he was a child of Queen Elizabeth and the Earl of Leicester.
Description
The collection consists chiefly of correspondence of Annette Covington with Luther P. Eisenhart related to the "Baconian" theory of the authorship of Shakespeare's plays. A large portion of the material is in photocopy, with some annotations and corrections by the author. There are letters about Bacon's concealed cipher messages relating to the esoteric secrets of the Rosicrucians to be found in William Shakespeare's works. Covington used illustrations and diagrams to demonstrate her discoveries. Included is a copy of such a discovery which she presented "For the President of Princeton University," dated July 3, 1936. It consists of a diagram of the initials of the names of Francis Bacon's parents found in the title of his Instauratio Magna. In addition, there is a scrapbook which Covington presented to Eisenhart, containing newspaper clippings from The Madisonville Bulletin, in Cincinnati, Ohio. There is also one envelope of material sent to Princeton University Librarian Julian Boyd regarding the painting Doge by the Italian painter Tintoretto. Covington sent the material and photostats of the ciphers to Eisenhart, who was dean of the Graduate School at Princeton University, for safekeeping.
Access and Use
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Restrictions on Use and Copyright
Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish material from the collection must be requested from the Associate University Librarian for Rare Books and Special Collections. The library has no information on the status of literary rights in the collection and researchers are responsible for determining any questions of copyright.
Provenance and Acquisition
Gift of Dean Luther P. Eisenhart on January 4, 1960.
Processing and Other Information
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Dina Britain in June 17, 2009. Finding aid written by Elizabeth Mulvey in June 17, 2009.
Descriptive Rules Used
Finding aid content adheres to that prescribed by Describing Archives: A Content Standard.
Encoding
Machine-readable finding aid encoded in EAD 2002 created from MARC record via MarcEdit and XSL stylesheets in 2009.
Finding aid written in English.
Preferred Citation
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Annette Covington Letters to Luther P. Eisenhart, Box and Folder Number; Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library.
Subject Headings
These materials have been indexed in the Princeton University Library online catalog using the following terms. Those seeking related materials should search under these terms.
- Bacon, Francis, 1561-1626 -- Cipher.
- Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 -- Authorship -- Baconian theory.
- Madisonville Bulletin.
- Authors, English -- 16th century -- History.
- Ciphers in literature.
- Correspondence -- 20th century.
- Scrapbooks -- 20th century.
- Eisenhart, Luther Pfahler, b. 1876.
Browse other finding aids related to the following terms:
Permanent URL: http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/vx021f18r