Francis A. Litz papers

Collection — Container: 1

Identifier: MS-0366

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The papers of Francis A. Litz form a small collection of mostly personal items dating from 1916 to 1966. Included are correspondence, newspaper clippings, programs, and a copy of his published volume Father Tabb: A Study of His Life and Works.

Although Litz is known for his studies of John Banister Tabb, the collection does not include any manuscript writings or any of Litz's original research. There are, however, published book reviews among the clippings. Also, there are no lecture notes or materials that might describe Litz's teaching career.

The collection does include clippings (1921-1964) related to lectures and events at Hopkins and articles reviewing performances of the Homewood Playshop. Letters to Litz are mostly concerned with appointments to teach at Hopkins and some recommendations from colleagues. Two programs [1942] from musical events in Baltimore and one Homewood Playshop program are among the final items in the collection.

A copy of "The Birth of America" (1920) was added October 1995.

Dates

Creation: 1916-1966

Creator

Litz, Francis A. (Francis Aloysius), 1892- (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is housed off-site and requires 48-hours' notice for retrieval. Contact Special Collections for more information.

This collection is open for use.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions. It is not necessary to seek our permission as the owner of the physical work to publish or otherwise use public domain materials that we have made available for use, unless Johns Hopkins University holds the copyright.

Biographical / Historical

Francis A. Litz, author and professor of English, was born in Baltimore in 1892 and educated in the city at St. Charles College and St. Mary's Seminary. He received the Ph.D. from The Johns Hopkins University in 1918. Litz remained at the University as a Fellow until 1920 when he was appointed associate professor in the department of English. In 1924, Litz joined the Baltimore Public School System and served as head of the English Department at Western High School. He returned to teaching at the university level in 1937 when he was appointed to the English faculty at Catholic University, a post he held until 1962.

At Hopkins, Litz was a member of the Tudor and Stuart Club and took an active interest in the productions of the Homewood Playshop (later known at Theatre Hopkins). In 1922, the first year of the Playshop, Litz served as director and as an actor in the opening productions.

Litz is best known for his interest in the poet-priest, John Banister Tabb (1845- 1909). The two men were acquainted from their student and teaching days at St. Charles College. Sometime before 1916, Father Tabb presented Litz with a copy of his brief autobiography, and Tabb became the single subject Litz's published works. The titles include: Father Tabb: A Study of His Life and Works (1923); Father Tabb: A Study of His Poetry (1924); and The Poetry of Father Tabb (1928).

Francis A. Litz died December 17, 1989.