William Jennings Bryan Edits His Whos Who In America Listing

WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN (1860-1925). Bryan was the Democratic nominee for President in 1896, 1900, and 1908, and Secretary of State under President Woodrow Wilson. AMS. 1 pg. 8 x 10. 1922-1923. N.p. An autographed manuscript signed W.J. Bryan. This manuscript is For WHOS WHO IN AMERICA (Vol. 12 1922-23). Founded in 1898, Whos Who is a directory of short biographies grouped by different subjects. This includes Whos Who in America, which, according to its preface, endeavors to profile the leaders of American society; those men and women who are influencing their nation's development. In this manuscript, they are soliciting feedback by William Jennings Bryan on his proposed entry into their 1922-1923 volume. They provide a clipping of their entry from two years ago, and asked him to Please read the sketch with particular care, making necessary alterations or additionsThe aim is simply to verify the printed acts, correct typographical errors and other mistakes, if any, and bring the sketch down to date by adding anything of importance that has occurred since the last volume of WHOS WHO IN AMERICA was issued. Bryan then handwrites, in pen, his proposed changes. While they are few, and mostly cosmetic, he asks for the inclusion of two new works under the Author section: The Menace of Darwinism and The Bible and its Enemies 1921. This reflects Bryans final act in public life as an anti-evolution activist. In the 1920s, Bryan shifted his focus from politic to religion, becoming the unofficial leader of a movement that sought to prevent public schools from teaching Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. This would culminate with his participation in the Scopes Monkey Trial in 1925 as the counsel of the prosecution. Though Bryan won the case, he was humiliated by defense counsel Clearance Darrow in the courtroom and in the media for his views, and he died just a few weeks later. The manuscript is in fine condition with folds.