VINTAGE NEWS / LITERARY LIONS

Historian Richard Winslow sent in this brief newspaper article from 1908 after reading our recent posting on our favorite local poet. Foss attended high school in Portsmouth and we’re not going to let history forget it – even though it has largely forgotten him. Congrats Sam. You earned it. (Continued below) 

Portsmouth Herald
Thursday, June 18, 1908
Page 5, column 3. 

Given honorary degree at Brown  

Sam Walter Foss Honored by College—Will Deliver Address Here  

READ ABOUT Foss in Portsmouth and read his POETRY too

At the 140^th annual commencement exercises of Brown college at Providence yesterday, an honorary degree was conferred on Sam Walter Foss, who will address the graduation class at the High School this afternoon.  

The honorary notice was:

Sam Walter Foss, ’82, master of arts, librarian and man of letters, singer of kindly songs in many keys, spreading by the poet’s art the elemental virtues of courage, sympathy, and faith.  

Mr. Foss was born in Candia, this state, [New Hampshire] on June 19, 1858, but his boyhood home was in this city. He was graduated from the Portsmouth High school in 1877 and from Brown University in 1882. He was engaged as an editor and general writer for some years and since 1898 has held the position of librarian at the Somerville Library.  

He married Miss Carrie M. Conant, daughter of Rec. Henry W. Conant of Providence, RE and the couple have an interesting son and daughter, the former being a student at Harvard college.  

A number of books of verse, including Mr. Foss is the author of “Back Country Poems,” “Whiffs from Wild Meadow,”  "Dreams in Homespun” and “Songs of War and Peace.” His latest book is entitled, “Songs of the Average Man,” which he has only recently issued.  

Research courtesy of Richard E. Winslow III. Transcribed by Maryellen Burke for SeacoastNH.com Vintage News.