During his lifetime, Mr. Letchworth produced a number of articles, pamphlets, reports, and other works. When put together in a bibliography, they provide a revealing glimpse of the man who gave us Letchworth Park.
All the items and accompanying notes in the brown text color come from a list of writing of William Pryor Letchworth found in the biography written by J. N. Larned. The books are listed in chronological order. The number in ( ) is Larned's numbering system. Works that we know were done by Mr. Letchworth that did not appear on Larned's list are in green.
Also see William Pryor Letchworth: Humanitarian
"Aston Hall" and "Burial of a Broken Heart", by "Saxa Hilda" (Wm P Letchworth) in the magazine "The Home Monthly" circa 1859
1874. (1) Sketch of the Life of Samuel F. Pratt; with some account of the Early History of the Pratt Family. A Paper read before the Buffalo Historical Society, March 10, 1873. By William P Letchworth. Buffalo: Press of Warren, Johnson & Co. 1874. 211 pages.
1875. (2) Report relating to Pauper and Destitute Children. (In Report of New York State Board of Charities, 1875.)
1875. (3) Supplementary Report, relating to Pauper Children in New York County (Randall's Island). (In Report of State Board of Charities for 1875; also in pamphlet.)
1875. (5) Argument relating to Pauper Labor, made before the State Convention of Superintendents of the Poor, 1875. (In pamphlet.)
1876. (4) Pauper Children in Michigan. (An appeal on behalf of pauper children in the poorhouses of Michigan, in a letter addressed to the Secretary of the Michigan State Board of Charities, Charles M. Croswell.) (In manuscript)
Voices of the Glen. 1876
1877. (6) Report on Dependent and Delinquent Children. (In Proceedings of National Conference of Charities and Correction, 1877; also in pamphlet.)
1877. (7) Report of an Examination of Institutions for the Education of the Blind in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana. Appended to a Committee Report on the Management of Affairs of the New York State Institution for the Blind at Batavia. (In Report of NY State Board of Charities for 1877; also in pamphlet.)
1877-78. (8) Reports on the Charities of the Eighth Judicial District of the State of New York. (In Reports of the NY State Board of Charities for the years stated; also in pamphlet.)
1878. (9) Report on Disasters by Fire in the Steuben County (New York) Poorhouse. (In report of State Board of Charities for 1878; also in pamphlet.)
1878. (10) An Account of the Cottage Plan of Caring for the Harmless Insane, about to be tried in Cattaraugus County. (Given in the course of a Debate on Insanity at the National Conference of Charities and Correction, 1878, and published in its Report.)
1878. (11) Plans for Poorhouses. (In Report of New York State Board of Charities for 1878; also in pamphlet.)
1879. (12) Report on the Management and Affairs of the Insane Asylum of the Onondaga County Poorhouse, by Joint Committees of the State Board of Charities and of Board of Supervisors (Commissioner Letchworth, Chairman). (In report of the State Board, 1879; also in pamphlet.)
1880. (13) Address in response to Major-General Henry W. Slocum, President of the Board of Trustees of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home at Bath, New York, on the occasion of the Dedication of the Home, January 23, 1879. (in pamphlet.)
1880. (14) Report to the New York State Board of Charities of the Committee (Commissioner Letchworth, Chairman) appointed to Investigate Charges against the Society for the Reformation of Juvenile Delinquents, Randall's Island, New York. (In Report of State Board for 1880; also in pamphlet.)
1880. (15) The Pauper Children of Ohio. (An appeal to country poor officials.) (In manuscript.)
1881. (16) Report by Commissioners Letchworth and Carpenter on the Chronic Insane in certain Counties ( of New York) exempted by the State Board of Charities from the operation of the Willard Asylum Act. (In report of the State Board, 1881; also in pamphlet.)
1882. (17) Labor of Children in Reform Schools, Argument before Senate Committee on Miscellaneous Corporations, March 22, 1882, on the Bill introduced by Senator Titus, entitled An Act relating to the employment of Children by Contract in Houses of Refuge, Reformatories, Correctional, and other Institutions. (In Pamphlet.)
1882. (18) Classification of Children needing Care, Training, or Reformation. Argument before the Committee on State Charitable Institutions, made April 12, 1882, against Assembly Bill No. 390, in relation to the Western House of Refuge. (In pamphlet)
1882,'94, '95, '96 (19) Reports on Thomas Asylum for Orphan and Destitute Indian Children. (In Reports of New York State Board of Charities; for the years state; also in pamphlet.)
1883. (20) A Paper on Classification and Training of Children, Innocent and Incorrigible. (In Proceedings of the National Conference of Charities and Correction, 1883, also in pamphlet.)
1883. (21) A Paper on Dependent and Delinquent Children of the State of New York. Prepared upon the invitation of the Societe Generale de Protection pour l'Enfance Abandonnee ou Coupable, for the Congres International de la Protection de ''Enfance, held at Paris, June, 1883. (In pamphlet.)
1883. (22) Report on the Orphan Asylums and Homes for Destitute Children in the Sixth Judicial District of New York. (In Report of the New York State Board of Charities for 1883; also in pamphlet.)
1883. (23) Expression of Views on the Industrial Training of Children in Houses of Refuge and other Reformatory Schools; addressed to the Hon. Robert C. Titus, State Senator (In pamphlet)
1883. (24) Letter to the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee of the Assembly, on Public Official Care of Orphan and destitute Children verses Private Benevolence. (The same printed under the title of "Reasons against the passage of the Bill entitled An Act to Incorporate the Home for Destitute Children of Suffolk County.") (In pamphlet)
1884. (25) Address as President at the opening of the National Conference of Charities and Correction, at St. Louis, October 13, 1884. (In Proceedings of the Conference; also in pamphlet, under the title of "Relief and Reform.")
1884. (26) Technologic Training in Reform Schools. An Address before the Board of Managers of the Western House of Refuge, at Rochester, N.Y. (In pamphlet.)
1884. (27) On Legislation forbidding Employment of Children under the Contract System; being an Answer to Objections urged by the Managers of the New York House of Refuge. (In pamphlet.)
1885. (28) Report of Committee on Preventive Work among Children. (In Proceedings of the National Conference of Charities and Correction, 1885.)
1885. (29) Address on Poorhouse Administration, at the New York State Convention of Superintendents of the Poor, (In Report of the New York State Board of Charities for 1885; also in pamphlet.)
1886. (30) Address on Children of the State. (In Proceedings of the National Conference of Charities and Corrections, 1886; also in pamphlet.)
1886. (31) Report of Commissioners (William P Letchworth, Chairman) appointed to Locate an Asylum for the Insane in Northern New York. (As Assembly Document 11, Session of 1886; also separately, in pamphlet.)
1887. (32) A Tribute to the Memory of Miss Dorothea Dix. (In Proceedings of the National Conference of Charities and Correction, 1887.)
1887. (33) Reasons for establishing a Separate Girls' Reformatory, instead of Rebuilding on the old site the Edifice recently Destroyed by Fire, at the State Industrial School, formerly the Western House of Refuge, Rochester, N.Y.; embodied in a Letter addressed to the Hon. James W. Husted, Speaker of the Assembly. (In pamphlet.)
1887. (34) Communication of Commissioner Letchworth and Secretary Hoyt, of the New York State Board of Charities, to the Chairman of the Committee on Poorhouse and Insane of the Erie County Board of Supervisors, regarding the purchase of additional lands in the country for the Insane of the County. (In Report of the State Board for 1887.)
1888. (35) Memorial Resolutions and Personal Tribute to the late T. Barwick Lloyd Baker, Esq., of Hardwick Court, Gloucester, England. (In Proceedings of the National Conference of Charities and Correction, 1888.)
1889. (36) The Insane in Foreign Countries. Illustrated. New York and London: G.P. Putman's Sons, 1889, 374 pp) (Large page octavo volume.)
1889. (37) Miss Mary Carpenter. (A biographical tribute.) (In manuscript.)
1890. (38) A Paper on Poorhouse Construction, read at the New York State Convention of Superintendents of the Poor. (In Report of the State Board of Charities for 1890: also in pamphlet.)
1890. (39) Reports on the Mikanari Home, of Jamestown. (In Report of the New York State Board of Charities, 1891; also in pamphlet.)
1891. (40) Report of the Poorhouses of the Eighth Judicial District of New York. (In Report of the New York State Board of Charities for 1891; also separately, in pamphlet.)
1892. (41) A Paper on the Origin, Powers and Duties of State Board of Charities. (In Proceedings of National Conference of Charities and Correction for 1892, also in Report of New York State Board; also in pamphlet.)
1892. (42) Memorial embodying Reasons why the Asylum for Insane Criminals at Auburn should not be made a receptacle for the Non-Criminal Insane. (In pamphlet.)
1892. (43) Report on the New York State Institution for the Blind (at Batavia). (In Report of the New York State Board of Charities for 1892.)
1893. (44) History of Child-saving Work in the State of New York, embodied in the Report of the Committee of the National Conference of Charities and Correction on the History of Child-saving Work, 1893. (In Proceedings of the Conference; also in pamphlet.)
1893. (45) Report on Institutions Conducting Charitable and Reform Work in the Eight Judicial District of the State of New York. Also, Report on the Poorhouses in the Eighth Judicial District. (In Report of the New York State Board of Charities, 1893; also in pamphlet.
1894. (46) A Paper on Provision for Epileptics. (In Proceedings of National Conference of Charities and Correction, 1894; also in Report of New York State Board of Charities, 1894, and in pamphlet.)
1894. (47) A Paper on the Removal of Children from Almshouses in the State of New York. (In Proceedings of National Conference of Charities and Correction, 1894.)
1894. (48) Report of Committee (Commissioners Letchworth and Smith) on the Construction of Building for Charitable and Correctional Institutions, on the Plans and Estimates for Improvements at the Craig Colony for Epileptics. (In Report of the New York State Board of Charities, 1894; also in pamphlet.)
1894. (49) Report of Committee (Commissioners Letchworth and Smith) on the Construction of Charitable and Correctional Institutions, on the Plans of the Eastern New York Reformatory. (In the Report of the New York State Board of Charities for 1894: also in pamphlet.)
1894. (50) Report on Thomas Asylum for Orphan and Destitute Indian Children. (In the Report of the New York State Board of Charities for 1894: also in pamphlet.)
1894. (51) Remarks in opening Discussion on the Care of the Insane. (In Proceedings of the National Conference of Charities and Correction, 1894.)
1895. (52) Report on the Thomas Asylum for Orphan and Destitute Indian Children. (In pamphlet.)
1896. (53) A Paper on the Care of Epileptics. (In Proceedings of the National Conference of Charities and Correction, 1896.)
1896. (55) Report on the Poorhouses of the Eighth Judicial District of New York. (In the Report of the New York State Board of Charities for 1896; also in pamphlet.)
1896. (56) Report on Observance of the Rules of the State Board of Charities in the Eighth Judicial District. (In Report of the State Board for 1896.)
1897. (57) A Paper on Dependent Children and Family Homes. (In Proceedings of National Conference of Charities and Correction, 1897; also in pamphlet.
1897. (58) Historical Address at the New York State Convention of Superintendents of the Poor. (In pamphlet.)
1899. (59) Care and Treatment of Epileptics. Illustrated. New York and London: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 246 pp (Large page octavo volume.)
1900. (60) Address, as President, at the opening of the First New York State Conference of Charities and Correction, 1900. (In Proceedings of the Conference; also in pamphlet.)
1901. (61) Transactions of the National Association for the Study of Epilepsy and the Care and Treatment of Epileptics, at the First Annual Meeting, held in Washington, D.C. May 14-15 1901. Edited by William Pryor Letchworth, L.L.D. Buffalo: C.E. Brinkworth, 1901, 221pp. (Cost of publications paid for by Mr. L.)
1903. (62) Homes for Homeless Children: A Report on Orphan Asylums and other Institutions for the Care of Children. (To which is appended a Report on Pauper and Destitute Children, and a Report on Pauper Children in New York County, the three brought together in one volume, and all appearing likewise as separate publications in the list above.)
1905. (63) Notes and Correspondence relating to the Founding of the First State Colony for Epileptics (Craig Colony) in the State of New York. Compiled by William Pryor Letchworth. (In Manuscript, 70 pp, unpublished.)
1910. (64) Care of the Insane in New York State. Compiled from Notes made by William Pryor Letchworth. (In manuscript, 94 pp, unpublished. Brought down, under Mr. Letchworth's direction, to 1910.)
1910. (65) A Narrative of the Life of Mary Jemison, De-he-wa-mis, the White Woman of the Genesee By James E. Seaver. Seventh Edition, with Geographical and Explanatory Notes. This edition also includes numerous illustrations, further particulars of the history of De-he-wa-mis, and other interesting matter collected and arranged by Wm. Pryor Letchworth, New York and London: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 305 pp. (Mr. Letchworth and edited and published two previous editions of this book, in 1877 and 1898.)
"In 1908 Mr. Letchworth made up four collections of his pamphlet publications, bound together in that number of volumes, with title-pages and tables of contents. Three of the volume were in one series, as shown below. The contents are indicated in this place by numbers which refer to the numbered titles in the list above: - "
Miscellaneous Papers relating to Charity and Correction. By William Pryor Letchworth LL.D 3 volumes.
Charities in Western New York Eighth Judicial District. A Record of Examinations and Official Inspections of Charitable Institutions in the Counties of Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming, in the State of New York.
"The following writings, preserved in manuscript at the Glen Iris homestead, include some finished papers that have not gone into print, but are, for the most part, the first drafts of addresses and essays, or notes and memoranda on subjects discussed finally in the printed writings of the list above."
The Saving of Homeless and Destitute Children.
Care and Reformation of Homeless and Dependent Children.
Removal of Homeless Children from the Erie County Poorhouse.
Removal of Children from Almshouses. (Several papers and letters, some of which are in print elsewhere.)
Origin of the New York State Board of Charities.
The State Board of Charities. (Historical memoranda.)
Notes and References relating to Reformatory Work, including Notes while visiting Reformatory Institutions for the Young in Europe.
Child-saving Work Abroad. (Memoranda of observations in 1880.)
The Buffalo Children's Aid Society. (A sketch of the circumstances in which it originated.)
Women Managers on Boards of State Charitable Institutions.
Rain Baths. A paper on the sanitary importance of the shower or rain bath, as a substitute in poorhouses and similar institutions for the the bathtub, accompanied by eight descriptions of the arrangement and construction of these baths and of the mode of using them in several institutions.
Some Reminiscences of Childhood.
A Spelling-Match. (Describing the old-time country school spelling contests as he knew them in his boyhood.)
Example Stronger than Precept.
A Description of the Mount Vernon as it appeared in 1861. Read at the Anniversary of Washington's Birthday, 1862, at the Baptist Church in Castile.
Notes relating to Colonel Williams (who was one of his early neighbors at Glen Iris, and an interesting character).
The Hospice of Saint Bernard.
Sources
Beale p39
Larned pp 447-460