twas the night before christmas book by clement c moore

According to the New York Historical Society, “the modern Santa was born in the imagination of Clement Clarke Moore,” but as these selected works demonstrate, the evolution of the modern Santa was a gradual one. Nicholas, who by the time Moore wrote his poem, had become interchangeable with Santa Claus in the United States. Marshall’s extensive collection, a yearly tradition here at Swem Library, features nineteenth-century illustrations of St. The Night Before Christmas and Other Popular Stories for Children: Handsomely Illustrated Nicholas” Collection.Īround the turn of the twentieth century, Santa’s portrayals began to take on the iconic form we know today: the full flowing beard, classic cap, and jacket – shown here in striking black and white. Today, students, scholars, and visitors young and old enjoy the many treasures of the Nancy H. After having spent more than a decade as the dean of William & Mary Libraries, Marshall began donating her collection to Swem Library’s Special Collections Research Center in 2005. Over time, her collection became more comprehensive as she acquired both rare and early editions and contemporary twentieth-century publications. Marshall (1932-2018) started collecting editions of Moore’s poem, today better known as The Night before Christmas, over 45 years ago.Īt first, Marshall bought inexpensive books to fill her children’s stockings and decorate her home for Christmas.

A noted theologian and biblical scholar, Moore (1779-1863) wrote this classic poem, “A Visit from St. Most people today know Clement Clarke Moore’s enchanting tale of the mysterious Christmas Eve visitor, St. Nicholas' in Poets of America: Illustrated by One of Her Painters This is the first illustrated version of the poem in a book and only the second time it was illustrated at all. Appearing here as part of an anthology of American poetry, Chapman’s illustration of Moore’s poem depicts Santa wearing a feathered cap, a fur coat, and smoking his signature pipe.

Twas the night before christmas book by clement c moore