Answer: Walt Whitman

One hundred and twenty-five years ago on March 26^th, famed poet Walt Whitman was buried in Camden, New Jersey’s Harleigh Cemetary, where had personally overseen the construction of his own tomb.

Walt Whitman’s life in Camden (he was originally from Long Island, New York) began in the 1870s. He suffered a stroke while visiting his mother in Camden, and he ended up recupertaing at his brother’s house, which was also in Camden. He lived for a time with his brother and eventually bought his own home in the city in 1880s. He lived at 328 Mickle Street – it was the only house he ever owned. During his time in Camden, which ended with his death in 1892, Whitman published Specimen Days (1882), which, according to The Walt Whitman Archives was “the closest thing to a conventional autobiography Whitman ever published” and was “the largest and arguably the most important work of Whitman's old age.” He also completed his final edition of his most famous work, Leaves of Grass, in 1891.

In HSP’s library are a number of historical works on Walt Whitman’s local life, including Walt Whitman in Camden (UNJ/Pam PS 3234.W4 1952) and With Walt Whitman in Camden (Gw.8105). Additionally, HSP holds a number of his published works – poetry, prose, and other writings – including an 1860 edition of Leaves of Grass.