Children Nigel Cholmeley-Jones and Jeanette Cholmeley-Jones with poet Walt Whitman. The children were the niece and nephew of Jeannette Gilder, editor of The Critic and a friend to both Cox (the photographer) and Whitman. Gilder had delivered the frail poet to the photographer’s studio. He had just given a lecture on Abraham Lincoln.

Best known for Leaves of Grass, Walt Whitman was a man of his times: complex, active, and with an interesting view of life. This photo was taken 5 years before he died.

In a newly discovered letter from Whitman to Gilder, he wrote:
328 Mickle Street
Camden New Jersey Sept. 13 Evn’g

Cox’s photos: came today & I have written my name on them & sent them back (addressing the package to William Carey, Century office)—All are good, but the one I like best is a head with hat on, the photo marked No 3—the pictures with the children come out first-rate—Give my love to the dear girl & boy & tell them I remember them well—I am here like an old hulk driven up on the sand or floating with spars & rigging all gone, & no more voyaging—Love to Watson and Joe
Walt Whitman

You can see other photos from this same sitting by clicking on his name in the upper right.

Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress