Rave Reviews for Whitman Archive

The electronic Whitman archive is a comprehensive and epic project that makes Walt Whitman accessible to readers in more than one way. The web site contains "an extended biography of Whitman... all known contemporary reviews of Whitman's work... all known photographs of Whitman, complete with annotations"(Overview of the Archive para. 2). Each edition of Leaves of Grass will soon be available in FAX and e-text. Readers will also find introductions to each edition of Leaves of Grass, a bibliography, biography, essays, criticism, teaching syllabi, and an audio track of Whitman reading a few lines (Overview of the Archive para 2). Though the project has taken on such ambitious proportions, ease of use has barely suffered. In fact, the editors' stated purpose includes the importance of accessibility for students, scholars, and the general public. In this, they have been wholly successful. Of course, the project is well funded through three different grants, one from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The archive is also supported with text and primary source information from a large list of prominent American libraries such as Duke and Brown University. With such extensive backing however, we must question whether other poets deserve some of the support.