Sonia’s involvement with amateur journalism is scantly covered, occasionally mentioned.

This is not to say someone, or a group of people, is to blame for the lack of coverage. I, myself, had a long way in learning about this chapter of Sonia’s life. Back in November of last year, a very good friend of mine (a mentor, really) had asked me: What do you think was Sonia’s contribution to amateur journalism? I was to answer this question for a video to help raise additional funds for the Kickstarter campaign of Sonia’s autobiography. To be quite honest, I did a terrible job in answering the question. I had so little knowledge then about Sonia’s time in amateur journalism. I hardly remember now what I said in response, which is a good thing because I don’t wish to be haunted at odd times in a day by my own embarrassing ignorance on the matter.

In a way, this post is my redemptive answer to that question.

The truth is, there is more to Sonia’s contribution in the field of amateurdom than her amateur journal, The Rainbow. It was through the gateway of amateur journalism that sincerely challenged her to hone her literary and comprehensive skills. What amateur journalism did for Sonia was provide her with a newfound desire to express herself creatively through poems and short stories and then analytically through essays. There isn’t a poem, short story, or essay to her name prior to her involvement with amateur journalism. As a result of her introduction to the literary circles of New York City and amateurdom in general, she enrolled in Columbia University:

I had several literary friends way back in 1921, while still in my successful job I was requested to join an American Amateur Press Association. I did not feel qualified but after several urgings I joined + made many friends among writers, artists, performers, sculptors + others. It was then that I applied to Columbia U. [sic] so that I would be able to understand what art + literature were all about.

Sonia H. Davis, Autobiographical Writings, Box 9, Folder 7.

Unlike other forms of journalism, amateur journalism (or amateur newspapers) is a periodical that was created not for profit but for the pleasure of printing one’s work to share with like-minded readers. Because of this, most amateur journals were produced rather simple and cheaply; the journals varied in size from miniature to quarto. (American Antiquarian)

Above all, however, these journals were an outlet where expert and novice writers, poets, philosophers, and the like were able to submit their literary piece without its integrity being manipulated by a publisher who catered to the masses. It also allowed these artists the freedom to test the waters in their respective fields, and to seek constructive criticism in order to grow in their craft as well. Personally, I believe H.P. Lovecraft described it best:

In short, the United offers an exceptionally well-proportioned mixture of instruction and fraternal cheer. There are no limits of age, sex, education, position, or locality in this most complete of democracies. Boys and girls of twelve and men and women of sixty, parents and their sons and daughters, college professors and grammar-school pupils, aristocrats and intelligent labourers, Easterners and Westerners, are here given equal advantages, those of greater education helping their cruder brethren until the common fund of culture is as nearly level as it can be in any human organization. […] True, though trite, is the saying that amateur journalism is an actual training school for professional journalism.

H.P. Lovecraft, Writings in The United Amateur, 1915–1922, The Project Gutenberg ebook.

In 1917, Sonia met James Ferdinand Morton Jr. Regrettably, Sonia was unable to recall in her autobiographical writings on how she came to meet Morton, and the mystery continues to this day. Morton was a prominent lecturer, having attended and graduated from the Curry School of Expression. He was an advocate for values considered liberal at the time, such as “free love”, a single tax plan, and African American rights. He had also received his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Art degrees from Harvard. (Memorial of James F. Morton)

Moreover, Morton was a member of the National Amateur Press Association, having held the presidency of the organization. This was the gentleman who encouraged Sonia to attend the Sunrise Club, which was a dinner meeting where a wide variety of speakers attended to give lectures. The Sunrise Club had notable speakers such as Emma Goldman, who advocated for the practice of birth control. She addressed the Sunrise Club, an audience of six hundred people on March 28, 1915, and explained for the first time how to use a contraceptive. She was arrested afterwards.

And thus, these were the type of lectures that Sonia was encouraged to listen to, and she explained her experience vividly in this excerpt from her writings:

When I held the very lucrative buyer-and [sic] managership in N.Y.C. I was invited by a former Harvard Professor to attend a discussion Club. All sides of all questions were discussed and debated there. It was obviously a Supper Club where, after the meal was over, a public speaker was announced by the club master. After the so-called lecture, those who wished to further discuss or heckle the speaker, were given an allotted five to ten minutes in which to express themselves.

It was a forum for young professional men and women. Subjects ranged from scientific, religious, medical, philosophic, historical, astronomic and other subjects, including opinions on Freud, his school, some of his students, pro and con; but usually it was sex that was discussed. Sometimes there were political subjects discussed, History [sic], ethnology, law, race, the humanities, etc.

Questions and answer periods were indulged in. Often questions were asked by those who thought they alone knew the answers. Seldom was a bona fide question asked of the speaker, that was really worthy of discussion. Plays and their authors, as well as books and their authors were part of the program.

I seldom understood the speaker or the questioning audience. In fact, some of the subjects did not appeal to me, but this friend who introduced me to the club insisted I go there.

Sonia H. Davis, Autobiographical Writings, Box 9, Folder 8.

Although she was not entirely intrigued by the discussions, Morton would then encourage Sonia to join the National Amateur Press Association (N.A.P.A), and then the Blue Pencil Club. These were organizations that Sonia genuinely enjoyed, in spite of not feeling qualified. Thus, after enrolling in Columbia University, Sonia worked toward presenting her skills in print:

After having learned a little about the technique of writing I published two issues of my own modest amateur journal and was amaze [sic] to find how much unusual appreciation the Amateur [sic] world of letter accorded me.

Sonia H. Davis, Autobiographical Writings, Box 9, Folder 7.

Morton had not only introduced her to amateur journalism, but he would, according to Sonia, also introduce her to H.P. Lovecraft in July 1921, during the National Amateur Press Association convention in Boston. Lovecraft was also heavily involved in amateur journalism, so much so, that it would take another post to explain his irrevocable mark in the field. Lovecraft was an ardent member of the United Amateur Press Association (U.A.P.A), and it was during the N.A.P.A. convention that Sonia became interested in the U.A.P.A:

Upon sending in her United application, & merely after having read a few stray papers & old official organs, Mme. Greenova unsolicitedly & unexpectedly came across with a pledge of FIFTY (count ‘em—50) refulgent rubles—HALF A HUNDRED scintillant simoleons—for the Official Organ Fund. Ten of ‘em cash down. Oh, boy! Is that the ideal amatuer [sic] spirit? We’ll notify the cosmos!! Believe Grandpa, La Belle Russe won’t have no reason to complain of editorial coldness—we’ve given her two paragraphs in the July news notes, extolling her excellencies & holding up her philanthropy as an example to our revered tightward veterans. If a new member plunks down fifty bucks, what ought the old ones do? Viva Russia! God save Kerensky!

H.P. Lovecraft to Rheinhart Kleiner on August 11, 1921, Letters to Rheinhart Kleiner and Others, ed. S.T. Joshi and David E. Schultz, New York: Hippocampus Press, 2020, p. 184–185.  

The two paragraphs were indeed published in The United Amateur, not in the July “News Notes”, but in the September “News Notes”:

One of the most brilliant and important of recent recruits to the United is Mrs. Sonia H. Greene, 259 Parkside Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. Mrs. Greene is a Russian by birth, and descended from an illustrious line of artists and educators. Coming at an early age to the United States, she acquired a remarkable degree of erudition mainly through her own initiative; being now a master of several languages and deeply read in all the literatures and philosophies of modern Europe. Probably no more thorough student of Continental literature has ever held membership in amateurdom, whilst our many philosophical members will note with interest her position as a former Nietzschean who has at present rejected the theories of the celebrated iconoclast.

An example of amateur devotion and enthusiasm which should be heeded by all members as an inspiration to renewed activity is afforded by our new recruit, Mrs. Sonia H. Greene of Brooklyn, N.Y. Mrs. Greene, immediately upon receipt of a bundle of United papers and before the arrival of her membership certificate, sent the following phenomenal pledge to the Official Organ Fund; a pledge eloquent of a real and self-sacrificing interest which, if shared by the majority of our workers, would bring about at once that amateur renaissance so long desired, yet always so prone to retreat into the future. Mrs. Greene writes: “So much do I appreciate the efforts of all those who contribute to the sum total of this pleasurable experience, that I, too, wish to do my meagre ‘bit’…I shall consider it a special privilege to be permitted, each month, to contribute with a modest portion of my earnings; so that those who have not the financial means may make use of mine in advancing the noble cause of amateur journalism. I hereby pledge myself to contribute fifty dollars ($50.00) for the season of 1921–22.”

H.P. Lovecraft, The Collected Essays: Amateur Journalism, ed. S.T. Joshi, New York: Hippocampus Press, 2004, pp. 299-300.

[…]

Due to the length of this post, I have decided to break it into two parts. This is about the halfway mark, and figure this is where I shall conclude and resume this thread next month.