Included among some patriotic poems now on exhibition in the Poetry Room in the Widener Library is the original first draft of the hymn "America", accompanied by the author's manuscript story of its composition. In the same case are shown a manuscript of Oliver Wendell Holmes' adaptation of "Hall Columbia" which was introduced in 1798 to appeal to a unified national spirit.
Also on exhibition is Rudyard Kipling's "Recessional" on the strength of which T. S. Eliot calls Kipling "a great hymn writer." Appearing with the latter poem is Alan Seeger's '10, "I Have a Rendezvous With Death", the most during the World War while serving with the French Foreign Legion.
"America" was taken from German music and sources, and was first sung at a childrens' celebration in the Park Street Church, Boston. "Hall Columbia" was originally written in 1798, and was changed a little and added to in 1887 by Oliver Wendell Holmes.
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