On April 30, 1894, Paul Laurence Dunbar was considering a pair of opportunities related to his education and career. He described them to his friend James Newton Matthews, a country doctor and poet from Mason, Illinois.
I am doing little or nothing now and am receiving very little encouragement in a literary line. I am at present halting between two very fair offers for the coming autumn and I want very much to ask your advice. One is from a member of the club where I read in Toledo last year to loan me money enough to go to college and pay it back after I graduate. The other is from J. L. Shearer of the Shearer Musical and Lecture Bureau of Cincinnati, of $25.00 a week and expenses to travel with a company of musicians and recite my own poems. Both things seem fair and desirable to me. Will you advise me which to take? My mother has just recovered from a very severe attack of pneumonia. I begin to feel that I must take all responsibility as to living and providing necessities off her mind, so the latter offer has attracted me very much, though I longed for college also.
Paul Laurence Dunbar to James Newton Matthews, April 30, 1894. Paul Laurence Dunbar Papers, Ohio History Connection (Microfilm edition, Roll 1).
Paul was 22 years old and living with his mother Matilda in Dayton. After spending several months in Chicago, he had recently returned home and was looking for a job. His letter to Matthews referred to John L. Shearer, the manager of a Cincinnati lecture bureau.
On Thursday evening, Prof. John L. Shearer, of Cincinnati, will deliver a lecture on "Life and Progress in South Africa." Brilliant stereopticon views will be given. Prof. Shearer is connected with the Shearer Lyceum Bureau at Cincinnati.
"Society." The Sunday Leader (Lexington, Kentucky). February 6, 1898. Page 6.
Paul also corresponded about Shearer's offer with Richard Lew Dawson, an Indiana author who (along with Dr. Matthews) was a cofounder of the Western Association of Writers.
Am glad the Shearer arrangement turned out so well after all, and hope you may make some money.
Richard Lew Dawson to Paul Laurence Dunbar, October 5, 1894. Paul Laurence Dunbar Papers, Ohio History Connection (Microfilm edition, Roll 1).
The arrangement with Shearer didn't work out as Paul had hoped, and he sought legal advice from Charles Thatcher, a Toledo attorney and one of Paul's earliest supporters. Over the next several months, Thatcher tried unsuccessfully to compel Shearer to honor his contract with Paul.
Your letter of recent date with letter and telegram from Mr. Shearer at hand. On September 13, 1894, Mr. Shearer wrote you a letter in which he engaged you at $25.00. If you accepted this engagement, in any way, by letter or otherwise, a contract was formed between you. It is not necessary that the contract should be drawn in a formal manner. It can be made by letter as this one seems to have been done. If you desire, I will write Mr. Shearer that you stand ready to fulfill your part of the contract and expect your pay whether he sees fit to send you out or not. The difficulty now is that his letter does not mention any fixed time you were to work but says probably for season. Think he will be glad to pay you something to be released.
Charles Thatcher to Paul Laurence Dunbar, December 1, 1894. Paul Laurence Dunbar Papers, Ohio History Connection (Microfilm edition, Roll 1).
Will open correspondence with Mr. Shearer as requested.
Charles Thatcher to Paul Laurence Dunbar, December 9, 1894. Paul Laurence Dunbar Papers, Ohio History Connection (Microfilm edition, Roll 1).
It is possible that I will be in Cincinnati during the coming month. If I am will look up Shearer. You might write Shearer again.
Charles Thatcher to Paul Laurence Dunbar, March 29, 1895. Paul Laurence Dunbar Papers, Ohio History Connection (Microfilm edition, Roll 1).
From all I can learn, Mr. Shearer is execution proof. Will however make further inquiry.
Charles Thatcher to Paul Laurence Dunbar, July 7, 1895. Paul Laurence Dunbar Papers, Ohio History Connection (Microfilm edition, Roll 1).