Ellen Eyre and Walt Whitman: The Blackmailer's Story, 1862, by Jonathan Ned Katz
Ellen Eyre's attempt to entice Walt Whitman into a rendezvous has received significant attention. But here for the first time is the fullest account yet of the extraordinary blackmailer, based on a careful survey of newspaper reports and scholarly responses. This exhibit was produced with the research assistance of Tyler Albertino. Published originally on OutHistory in March 2025. Updated in August 2026.