William Cullen Bryant (1794-1878) was an American poet. Bryant is best remembered for his poem “Thanatopsis,” and as editor for the New York Evening Post for 50 years.

The collection includes a holographic text of a speech given by Bryant in January 1874 to the Burns Association of Brooklyn at the Wall House. The material is written in ink and contains his edits. He discussed the genius of the Scottish poet, Robert Burns, and compared him to the English poet Samuel Butler. Also included is a typed transcription of the speech. The speech is written on the back of a letter bearing a Union Insurance Company letterhead, Bangor [Maine], 1872. The letter includes part of a request by Edwin C. Quimby for autographs.