A.E. Housman papers
M57
Finding aid prepared by Alice Goff, Claire Liachowitz, Charles
Reed, Amanda Young, Elizabeth Reilly, Melissa Torquato.
Last updated on July 22, 2014.
Bryn Mawr College
2007 April
A.E. Housman papers
Table of Contents
Summary Information....................................................................................................................................3
Biography/History..........................................................................................................................................4
Scope and Contents....................................................................................................................................... 5
Administrative Information........................................................................................................................... 5
Controlled Access Headings..........................................................................................................................5
Collection Inventory...................................................................................................................................... 7
Incoming Correspondence....................................................................................................................... 7
Outgoing Correspondence..................................................................................................................... 19
Third Party Correspondence..................................................................................................................50
Writings.................................................................................................................................................. 57
Other Materials...................................................................................................................................... 63
Personal and Family Materials.............................................................................................................. 66
Graphic Materials...................................................................................................................................73
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A.E. Housman papers
Summary Information
Repository
Bryn Mawr College
Creator
Housman, A. E. (Alfred Edward), 1859-1936
Title
A.E. Housman papers
Call number
M57
Date [inclusive]
1859-1936
Extent
12 boxes
Language
English
Abstract
Alfred Edward Housman, the English poet and classicist, was born on
March 26, 1859 near Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. He was appointed
to the Chair of Greek and Latin at University College, London in 1892.
Housman soon began writing the series of poems which was eventually
published as "A Shropshire Lad" in 1896 and later in 1922,"Last Poems"
was published. In 1911, he became the professor of Latin at Trinity
College, Cambridge where he taught for more than 30 years. Housman
passed away from heart disease in April of 1936. This collection includes
family related materials, notes on his famous lecture "The Name and
Nature of Poetry", photographs, general correspondence and writings.
Cite as:
Cite as A.E. Housman papers, Seymour Adelman Collection, Special Collections Department, Bryn
Mawr College Library.
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A.E. Housman papers
Biography/History
Alfred Edward Housman, the English poet and classicist, was born on March 26, 1859 near Bromsgrove,
Worcestershire. He was the elder brother of both Laurence Housman, the celebrated dramatist and
Clemence Housman, an illustrator and political activist. When Housman was twelve his mother died from
cancer and his father withdrew into alcoholism. Throwing himself into the study of Latin and Greek at the
Bromsgrove School, he earned a scholarship to St. John's College, Oxford where his unrequited love for
fellow classmate, Moses Jackson, seems to have contributed to his failure to pass his final examinations in
1881.
Despite this academic set-back, Housman did not lose interest in classical languages and continued
to study on his own at the British Museum in his spare time while he worked as a patent clerk in
London. Several articles he produced during this time on classical poets and playwrights were published
in Classical Review and Journal of Philology. He was appointed to the Chair of Greek and Latin at
University College, London in 1892.
An increasingly withdrawn and solitary man, Housman began to write the series of poems which was
eventually published as A Shropshire Lad in 1896. The collection, which touched on the themes of rural
life, the military, death, and unrequited love did not sell well until the eruption of the Second Boer War
in 1899. Although war and its effects on British society would help secure Housman's reputation as a
poet, he would suffer the losses of his brother, George, in the Boer War and later his nephew, Clement, in
World War I.
There was a considerable gap between A Shropshire Lad and his next collection, Last Poems, published
in 1922. Housman filled this time with his continued academic studies and teaching. In 1911 he became
the professor of Latin at Trinity College, Cambridge where he taught for more than 30 years. He focused
on Latin poets, particularly Propertius and Ovid. During the years 1903-1930 he devoted himself to a
translation of Manilius with commentaries and continued to publish articles on Greek and Latin topics. He
gave a famous lecture "The Name and Nature of Poetry" in 1933, which detailed his considered opinions
on the subject based on a lifetime of study and practice.
Housman maintained a wry sense of humor and a love for travel and good food throughout his life,
including his last years when he was suffering from heart disease. Despite his illness he continued to
lecture almost until his death in April of 1936.
For further information see, among other publications:
Graves, Richard Perceval. A.E. Housman, the Scholar-Poet. New York: Scribner, 1980.
Haber, Tom Burns. A.E. Housman. New York: Twayne Publishers, 1967.
Maas, Henry, ed. The Letters of A.E. Housman. London: Hart-Davis, 1971.
Page, Norman. A.E. Housman, a Critical Biography. New York: Schocken Books, 1983.
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A.E. Housman papers
Scope and Contents
The collection is divided into seven sections: Incoming Correspondence, Outgoing Correspondence,
Writings, Other Materials, Personal and Family Materials, and Graphic Materials. A.E. Housman
materials can also be found in the Laurence Housman Collection. Personal Materials contains various
memorabilia belonging to Housman including bookmarks, gifts from his students, and a map of
Shropshire. Graphic Materials includes photographs, sketchbooks and loose drawings.
Administrative Information
Bryn Mawr College
2007 April
Finding aid prepared by Alice Goff, Claire Liachowitz, Charles Reed, Amanda Young, Elizabeth Reilly,
Melissa Torquato.
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for research.
Use Restrictions
The A.E. Housman papers are the physical property of Special Collections Department, Bryn Mawr
College Library. Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns.
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
This collection was the gift of Seymour Adelman.
Controlled Access Headings
Personal Name(s)
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A.E. Housman papers
• Adelman, Seymour, 1906-1985
Subject(s)
• Latin philology
• Poets, English -- 19th century
• Poets, English -- 20th century
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A.E. Housman papers
Incoming Correspondence
Collection Inventory
Incoming Correspondence, 1892-1935.
General note
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Writers organized alphabetically by last name.
Barrie, J. M., 1928.
ALS, London - "I wrote Rothenstein ... that I could not sit as it was a kind
of picture I disbelieved in, good as his intention undoubtedly was. I guessed
that you and most of the others would have a similar feeling about it.", 1928
Feb 24.
Bynner, Wiiter - TLS, Santa Fe, 1928-1935.
Sends his latest book of poetry to Housman "even though I guess before
hand that you will care little for it.", 1928 Feb 4.
"Years ago Laurence gave me copies of a most enchanting ... set of nonsense
verses written by you in your early years ... I cannot lay hands on them and
am wondering if you will not be so gracious as to let me have new copies.",
1935 Jul 17.
Charrington, John, 1926.
ALS, Herts - Informs Housman that the verse he has sought - "O that I was
where I would be, Then would I be where I am not; But where I am I must
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De La Mare, Walter
be, And where I would be I cannot" - can be found in several sources, 1926
Jan 8.
De La Mare, Walter, 1929.
TLS, Buckinghamshire - Discusses the delayed publication of the Eighteen-
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eighties, a collection of literary essays edited by De la Mare., 1929 Nov 12.
Drinkwater, John, 1917, 1922.
ALS, Birmingham - "Will you accept the enclosed from one of the
'Shropshire Lad's' warmest friends?", 1917 Apr 9.
TLS, London (photocopy), 1922 Oct 20.
Duff, J. D., 1922.
ALS, Strathaird - Brings to Housman's attention a Plato passage that he
came upon while leafing through Ritter & Preller's Historia philosophiae.
"Tell me some time whether it shakes your opinion.", 1922 June 23.
Evans, D. Emyrs, 1934.
ALS, Bangor, Wales - Writes to inform Housman that he is being nominated
to receive an honorary literary degree from the University of Wales. Asks
Housman to reply as soon as possible as to whether he will allow his name
to go forward., 1934 Nov 23.
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Forster, E. M.
Forster, E. M., 1923, 1928.
ALS, n.p.- Thanks Housman for publishing Last Poems which "crossed the
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line that divides a book from a companion," as did A Shropshire Lad, 1923
Feb 22.
ALS, Dorking - Forster sends a volume of short stories to Housman. "I don't
know whether there is such a thing as impersonal affection, but the words
best express the feeling I have had towards you, through your poems, for the
last thirty years.", 1928 Mar 28.
French, Herbert, n.d.
ALS, London (fragment, photocopy), n.d.
Frazer, J. G., 1922.
ALS, Bedford (2 photocopied pages of) - Frazer thanks Housman for
sending him a copy of his Last Poems, expresses the fervent wish that they
will not be his last and compares them to Heine and Goethe., 1922 Oct 24.
Gross, Edmund, 1922.
ALS, London (photocopy) - "How charming of you to send me your Latest
(not Last!) Poems." writes a reviewer for The Sunday Times., 1922 Oct 18.
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Hampton, F. A.
Hampton, F. A., 1916.
ALS, France - "M. Devos, the curé of the village in which we are billeted,
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happened to find in my room my copy of 'A Shropshire Lad' and this
evening brought me 'as a small souvenir' a translation of one of the
numbers." Included is a translation of one of Housman's poems, beginning
"Lorsque j'avais vingt ans," written on the back of Denis Devos's card., 1916
Jul 26.
Hampton, Edward, 1931.
TLS, Oxford - Asks Housman if he will permit his poems to be
anthologized., 1931 Sep 6.
Hardy, Thomas, 1913.
ALS, Dorchester - Hardy thanks Housman for sending Montague Rhodes
James's Ghost-stories of an antiquary. "Two or three of them have been
read aloud ... and I was agreeably sensible of their eeriness, even though the
precaution was taken of keeping them at a safe distance from bed-time.",
1913 Nov 15.
Henson, Arthur, 1922.
ALS, Cambridge (photocopy) - "This is only a line to say what a great
pleasure and something more than a pleasure it has been to acquire my copy
of the poems.", 1922 Oct 16.
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Ker, W. D.
Ker, W. D., 1922.
General note
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ALS, Kent Writes Housman "to report NO GO in the Shelley MSS as far as I
am informed by careful enquirers particularly Mr. Peck of Exeter as per letters
enclosed which have been given to me by Mr. O. Doughty."
ALS, Kent - Writes Housman "to report NO GO in the Shelley MSS as far
as I am informed by careful enquirers particularly Mr. Peck of Exeter as per
letters enclosed which have been given to me by Mr. O. Doughty.", 1922 Jul
7.
[Lewis], n.d.
AL, London - From publisher or bookseller "We will send the remaining
volume (or vols.) as published.", n.d.
Maycock, John, 1892.
ALS, London - Housman's friend and former co-worker at the Patent Office
congratulates him heartily on being appointed Professor of Latin at London
University. "It is funny to think how I used to chaff you about your work
producing no money, and all the time you were working silently on with that
strength of purpose which I can admire but can't imitate ... Dear old pal I'm
as pleased as if I'd done something good myself.", 1892 Jun 15.
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J.W. Mackail - ALS, London
J.W. Mackail - ALS, London, 1906, 1917.
"Pray find room among your collection of pamphlets for this" [The Progress
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of Poesy]., 1906 Mar 11.
Mackail sends Housman another book: "I don't suppose that you will find
the enclosed little piece of connoisseurship either very interesting or very
valuable. Still I should like you to have it from me.", 1917 Dec 6.
MacLaren, Malcolm J., 1933.
ALS, Oxford - At the bottom of a typed French translation of No. XLVIII of
A Shropshire lad, MacLaren writes: "May I once more ask your permission
to publish this translation (which I have revised) of your poem, in a French
journal?", 1933 Oct 30.
Martin, Houston, 1934.
ALS, Philadelphia - Sends greetings to Housman on his seventy-fifth
birthday. Martin includes quotations on the genius of Housman from Edwin
Arlington Robinson, Robert Frost, Allen Tate, Louis Untermeyer, Robinson
Jeffers, and William Rose Benét., 1934 Mar 26.
Martin, Mrs. N. M., n.d.
Typescript copy, n.p. - "You, Mr. Housman, are to me the greatest living
poet. I fear coming ages will judge you too negative to sit on high with
the Olympians, not knowing that in your negation you have read our times
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Masefield, John
aright. May there be more to live for and less to weep for in the better times
to come." Folder also includes AL fragment 1970 Nov 15 "Dear Adele" (See
Box 2: 11), n.d.
Masefield, John, 1935.
ALS, Cirencester - Thanks Housman for his kind letter, 1935 Jun 4.
Mayhew, Arthur, 1933 (?).
ALS, "near Reading" - Writing for his ill brother-in-law, Sir Henry Head,
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Mayhew sends an extract of an article published in Brain in 1908 in which
Head and a colleague refer to "tests of the nervous sensibility of the hairs of
the human body." Having read Housman's lecture on Leslie Stephens, Head
"thinks that you might like to know that the physical experience which you
have found aesthetically so significant has been scientifically recorded. It
seems to be an example of the longstanding association between Medicine
and Letters which has meant personally so very much to Sir Henry.", 1933
(?) Jul 31.
Murray, Gilbert, 1922.
ALS, Oxford (photocopy)"I c May 25, 2007", 1922 Oct 22.
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Millington, Herbert
Millington, Herbert, 1898.
ALS, Bromsgrove - The Headmaster of Bromsgrove School thanks
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Housman for a gift. "I accept it with true gratitude & Sainsbury shall do his
best to set it [into] song.", 1898 Jul 30.
[Oldham, Sylvia], n.y.
TLS, Cambridge (photocopy), n.y. Nov.
Emmeline Pankhurst, 1912.
ALS, London - "Even if you do not see eye to eye with us on our Anti GovtCoalition Policy there is no reason that I can see why you should not give us
one of your delightful speeches on the general question", 1912 Nov 1.
ALS, London - "I fear our talk must stand over until next week... My
daughter is dealing with some of the points you raise in The Suffragette this
week. It seems to me that to support Mr. Lansbury in his efforts to make the
Labour Party do its duty to women as a party is the essential preliminary to
giving them individual support in elections.", 1912 Nov 4.
Platt, Arthur, 1922.
ALS, London - Platt writes enthusiastically about the newly published Last
Poems: "I read you through three times on end ... today I find that what I
didn't much care about at first so grows on me that I give up any selection as
hopeless." Also discusses the reactions of critics and colleagues. Encloses "a
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Pollard, Alfred
sonnet to amuse" Housman entitled "To William Shakespeare of Stratford
who did not write his own plays.", 1922 Oct 20.
Pollard, Alfred, 1922.
ALS, Wimbledom Common - Pollard writes regarding Last Poems. He
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praises the volume, writing: "I can't think of anyone else who says as much
in eight lines as you can.", 1922 Oct 20.
Richards, Grant, 1917-1932.
TLS, London- "My dear Housman, Shall I give this man the usual
permission?" Initialed by Housman with the reply "Yes" and the date of
1917 Jun 2., 1971 Jun 1 .
General note
Removed from RBR PR 4809 H15 A68 1936b
TLS, London - Richards responds to H.'s proofreading of Double Life., 1920
Jun 5.
ALS, London - Richards discusses a review which appeared in The Daily
Mail., 1924 Sep 18.
ALS (initials only), London - Richards gives Housman advice on where to
dine while in Paris., 1932 May 31.
ALS, London - Richards gives Housman advice on where to dine while in
Paris., 1932 Jun 2.
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Richards Press Ltd. (G.W. Wiggins)
Typewritten 2 pages of copies of letters to Richards from Shaw, Bernard and
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ALS, London - Richards is sending manuscripts to Housman., 1932 Sep 9.
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ALS, London - Sends to Housman for his approval, references made to Last
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Dobell, T. J. and to Housman from Richards, n.d.
Poems, which are to appear in Richards' second book of memoirs., n.d.
General note
Folder also includes empty envelope in Grant Richard's hand: "2
photographs of AEH taken by Mrs. Grant Richards."
Richards Press Ltd. (G.W. Wiggins), 1932.
TLS, London - Response to Housman's query regarding the number of
copies of Last poems in stock., 1932 Nov 28.
Rothenstein, William, n. d. .
ALS, London (photocopy) - Thanks Housman for his copy of Last Poems.
"Hardy long ago prepared me for this sheaf. But we are never prepared for
either excellence or stupidity. Stupidity is the commoner commodity. And
though I have never been moved by the doctrine of Christ taking the sins of
man upon himself that men may be saved, it looks as though a few men do
actually preserve a generation from damnation by futurity. I doubt whether
you have looked on yourself in the light of a savior: I imagine you rather
scornful of the role.", n.d.
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Simpson, F. A.
Simpson, F. A., "Friday".
ALS, Cambridge - Thanks Housman for commenting on his book Louis
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Napoleon and the recovery of France, 1848-1856. "Very many thanks for
the corrigenda ... I am very glad to have these now as they may just save me
from stereotyping my errors.", "Friday".
Stevens, [Paul], 1928.
ALS, n.p. - Folder of 12 poems (See reply in 3: 13). Folder also contains
separate handwritten poem Atlas by Stevens and ALS from Binyon,
Lawrence to Stevens thanking Stevens for the poem., 1928 Oct 29.
Stewart, H. F., n.d.
In regards to Housman's poem, "For my Funeral," which he apparently gave
to Stewart so that it could be used at the appropriate time., n.d.
Strachey, J. P., 1921.
TLS, Cambridge - Informs Housman that "the edition of Dryden is a
Clarendon Press one ... edited by C.H. Firth ... The note is on page 231.",
1921 Nov 17.
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Warren, Herbert
Warren, Herbert, 1922.
Warren thanks Housman for a copy of his Last Poems "with the author's
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complements.", 1922 Oct 21.
Winstanley, D. A., 1920.
ALS, Cambridge - "A letter, written by Edmund Burke to Lord
Rockingham, is dated 'Beconsfield, Tuesday, December 5th, 1769.'", 1920
Sep 30.
Wollf, Nat F., 1921.
ALS, Woods Hole, MA - An American collector recounts tales of the effects
of A Shropshire Lad on various acquaintances. He also asks Housman the
favor of copying out 2 verses., 1921 Jul 18.
Woods, Margaret, n.y.
ALS, Godalming (photocopy) - "I can't tell you how kind I think it of you to
have remembered me and sent me your beautiful book, which everyone is
running to get...", n.y. Nov 8.
Unidentified Correspondents, n.d.
fragments of ALSs photocopies., n.d.
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Outgoing Correspondence
Outgoing Correspondence, 1876-1936.
General note
Recipients organized alphabetically by last name.
Adelman, Seymour, 1927-1933.
General note
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Each letter in this file is marked "ALS Trinity College, Cambridge" unless
otherwise noted.
"Thank you for your letter; but A Shropshire Lad is not copyright in The
United States and you need no permission from me.", 1927 Apr 25.
Housman lists Greek translations he has published and where they have been
published with page numbers., 1927 Dec 15.
Housman thanks Adelman for his gift of a map of Shropshire "as it was in
1811" There is a penciled notation on the back of this letter, not in AEH's
hand, "Housman wrote this letter the day after he served as a pall-bearer at
Thomas Hardy's funeral in Westminster Abbey, together with Shaw, Barrie,
Kipling and Galsworthy.", 1928 Jan 17.
"I can no more define poetry than a terrier can define a rat; but he knows a
rat when he comes across one", 1928 May 6.
"A Shropshire Lad was published while Mr. Wilde was in prison, and when
he came out I sent him a copy myself. Robert Ross told me that when he
visited his friend in jail he learnt some of the poems by heart and recited
them to him...", 1928 Jun 21.
Housman discourages Adelman from publishing a limited edition of his
Fragment of a Greek Tragedy, saying he would "do everything in my power
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Adelman, Seymour
to thwart." and notes that he suspects the autograph version Adelman has
purchased is not genuine and encourages him to compare his handwriting on
the letter to that of the other., 1929 Mar 16.
"The supposed autograph is not mine. It is a copy, not quite accurate, from
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Photocopy of above, 1927 Dec 15.
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The Bromsgrovian; and the date is wrong.", 1929 Apr 7.
"Thank you for sending me the Fragment, which I have put in the fire,
though I don't think it was meant for a forgery. I must have written the
Fragment three or four times for the various magazines in which it was
printed, but I do not know that any of the MSs survives.", 1929 Apr 28.
Housman provides Adelman with the address of the Editor of The
Bromsgrovian and adds "But I do not think that I ought to take up any
attitude towards your attempt to buy a copy", 1929 May 18.
1928 May 6.
"It is exceedingly kind of you to have copied out Francis Thompson's article
for me, but I am ashamed that you should have taken so much trouble. What
he says of Dowson is just, and so is much that he says incidentally.", 1929
Jul 9.
"Within a year or two of my death the authorities at Bromsgrove, if they
follow my advice, will put up to auction the remaining copies of the
Fragment of a Greek Tragedy, sending notice to America; and then will be
your chance.", 1929 Jul 25.
"I am very grateful for the photograph you have kindly sent, and which I had
entirely forgotten. If I remember right there was a photograph of me in 1896
in an English literary review called The Bookman.", 1932 Apr 29.
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Abercrombie, Lacelles
Housman discusses the publishing history of A Shropshire Lad. He notes
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that it was only rejected by one publisher initially. Housman adds "It is a
great exaggeration to talk of a boom in connection with the 2nd edition: such
boom as there was began with the war of 1914.", 1933 Dec 30.
Abercrombie, Lacelles, 1933.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. To the compiler of New English poems,
Housman replies: "Naturally I am flattered by the terms of your letter, but
my last poems have already been published, and a posthumous poem would
be premature. My barrenness is so well known that my absence from your
miscellany, to which I wish all success, is not likely to cause remark.", 1933
Dec 30.
Adcock, A. St. John, 1924.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. "For many years I have been refusing
permission to print poems from A Shropshire Lad in anthologies, and I am
sorry that I cannot make an exception in your case.", 1924 Feb 9.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. "You are at liberty to print in your
anthology one poem from my Last Poems.", 1924 Feb 12.
Ames, Percy, 1913.
AL Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman replies at bottom of letter
from the Secretary of the Academic Committee of the Royal Society of
Literature of the United Kingdom, which informs him of his nomination
to a seat on the committee. Although "very grateful" for the nomination,
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Ayres, P.
Housman states that he "must nevertheless beg leave to decline both favours,
which, however gratifying and honourable, are remote from my tastes and
pursuits.", 1913 May 13.
Ayres, P., 1936.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Responding to a query about a reader's
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copy of A Shropshire Lad, Housman replies "If your edition ... is that of
1898 I can correct the errors ... The edition of 1904 I will not touch with a
pair of tongs." Warns that he doesn't remember where all errors may be, but
if his correspondent sends him the book with a return envelope, he "will see
what can be done.", 1936 Feb 11.
Content of Letter
Barnes, Dr., 1914.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Probably to W.E. Barnes, a classical
scholar. Returning Barnes's petition unsigned, Housman writes: "I confess
I am attached to the current forms of words, and also I am what you have
often heard of but perhaps not often seen, a real conservative, who thinks
change an evil in itself.", 1914 Jun 5.
Beer, Mary G. F., 1934.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. "The poem to which I referred is Ralph
Hodgson's Song of Honour.", 1934 Feb 8.
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Bennett, C. Ralph
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ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Accepts invitation to dine, 1923 Jan 25.
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ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Accepts invitation to dine, 1923 Nov 2.
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Bennett, C. Ralph, 1930.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. "I always say that the meaning of a poem
is the meaning which it conveys to a reader. My opinion of the universe is
of no particular importance, and if it is not well expressed in No. LXII of A
Shropshire Lad, that does not much matter.", 1930 Apr 16.
Blakeney, EH, 1930.
photocopy of ALS, Trinity College, Cambridge. Declines offer to publish
AEH's miscellaneous writings., 1930 Nov 25.
Blinkhorn, Mrs., 1927.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Declines an invitation to lecture., 1927
Dec 22.
Breul, Professor, 1923 .
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Bridges, Robert S.
Bridges, Robert S., 1920.
TLS (photocopy) Trinity College, Cambridge. another copy tipped in The
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Testament of Beauty RBR PR 4809 H15 Z995359 1929, 1920 Nov 27.
Brockington, Dr., 1934.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Consents to Brockington's use of excerpts
from A Shropshire lad, Last poems, and The Name and Nature of Poetry, in
his Mysticism and Poetry., 1934 Jul 30.
Campbell, A.Y., 1927, 1930.
APcS (initials only) Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman laments a
printer's mistake: "When will mankind begin to understand that I am more
careful than they are, not less?", 1927 Apr 5.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman writes "I am flattered by
your letter and obliged by your communication, which I think I partly
understand.", 1930 Sep 26.
Chapman, R. W., 1933.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Note to Chapman, thanking him for his
"variously interesting letter." Letter bears receipt stamp of the Clarendon
Press, Oxford., 1933 Sep 13.
- Page 24 -
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Clemens, Cyril (see also Third Party Correspondence)
Clemens, Cyril (see also Third Party Correspondence), 1929-1936.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. To the president of the Mark Twain
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Society and Twain's nephew, Housman writes "I am obliged by your letter,
but I am not a literary critic and cannot write the appreciation for which you
wish.", 1929 Jan 19.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman returns a copy of his Last
Poems, "signed, with greetings to the Society", 1931 May 15.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman writes, "I am naturally flattered
that you should entertain the idea of writing a biography of me, but neither
you nor anyone else could possibly write one, and I certainly would give no
assistance.", 1931 Oct 22.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman declines to inscribe a copy of
The Name and Nature of Poetry because "it was a piece of task work and I
am not that proud of it.", 1933 Jun 16.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman declines to make a contribution
to a Mark Twain centennial celebration. "However, I hope and expect that
you will receive no dearth of worthy matter.", 1935 Jul 21.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman graciously explains that he must
decline the Society's offer of its Silver Medal "as, in the pursuance of an
early resolve, I have in the course of my life already declined a considerable
number of honours." (folder also contains an empty envelope dated? Feb
1932), 1936 Mar 2.
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Cockerell, S.C.
Cockerell, S.C., 1926-1928.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman thanks Cockerell for a copy of
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Bridge's handwriting book., 1926 Jun 24.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman writes that he is usually in to
receive guests between 6 and 7 p.m. and that he has recently made a motor
tour of Burgundy and other parts of France., 1927 Oct 14.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman asks Cockerell the proper form
of address for the Committee of the Royal Literary Fund., 1928 Jan 17.
Constable & Co, 1917.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. "I make no objection to the quotation
of my poem" in James Agate's Lines of communication, published by
Constable, "if you will have the enclosed corrections made.", 1917 Jan 13.
Davidson, A.M., 1929.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman critiques Davidson's poetry as
requested. "I will only say that I thought Ingratitude the best of them, ... and
that the verb 'sense' is not fit for poetry nor even for literature, and should be
left to Americans and journalists.", 1929 Feb 27.
Dodd Meads Co., 1913.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge., 1913 Mar 18.
- Page 26 -
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[Dooher]
[Dooher], 1932.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Thanks Dooher for his letter, but states
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"I wish that writers would not dedicate books to me nor describe me in
public as the greatest of living poets, which you cannot possibly know to be
true. I do not copy out poems for anyone, so you must try to get what poor
satisfaction you can out of my autograph.", 1932 Feb 18.
[Edge], 1927.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. "I thank you for letting me see the letter
which I return. If you receive many like it, you should be a happy man.",
1927 Feb 4.
Fairchild, Mrs., 1901.
ALS London. Thanks his correspondent for sending her friend's poems.
"Some of them have a mixture of grace and simplicity which I admire very
much.", 1901 Apr 11.
[Finberg], 1929 .
AS Trinity College, Cambridge. "I am very much obliged by your letter;
but ... unless I change my mind, A Shropshire Lad and Last Poems will not
be published in one volume during my lifetime., 1929 Feb 1.
- Page 27 -
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[Finkelstein]
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman approves the wording for the
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publishing information of the special edition., 1929 Feb 7.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman has returned proofs with
corrections., 1929 May 26.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman returns the proofs of Last Poems
with corrections and deals with truncation due to typesetting issues., 1929
Jul 29.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. "I have received the three copies of each
of my books in your edition, and I thank you for this generous gift. I do not
say anything about the beauty of the form, because I know that it is more
beautiful than I know, and do not want to expose my ignorance.", 1929 Nov
22.
[Finkelstein], 1928.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. "I think myself that A Shropshire Lad is
better on the whole than Last Poems, but Mrs. Wharton and Mr. Masefield
are of the contrary opinion. Your two poems are pleasing, especially the
first.", 1928 Apr 15.
Flaccus, Kimball, 1934.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Thanks Flaccus for sending his Avalanche
of April "which I have read with admiration for its freshness and vividness.",
1934 Oct 10.
- Page 28 -
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Fleet, C.
Fleet, C., 1898.
ALS London. Thanks Fleet for 2 volumes he has sent to Housman., 1898
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Nov 7.
Frazer, Lady, 1926.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. "Thanks for your card; but I am told that
if I show myself at the Queens' Society they will worry me to read them a
paper myself.", 1926 Feb 26.
Fremage, Frances, 1930.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge, 1930 Aug 30.
Custodial History note
gift of Mrs. Angelo C. Lanza
Gallup, Chester, 1915.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. "If you will accept my signature without a
quotation, here it is.", 1915 Jan 30.
- Page 29 -
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Gaselee, Sir Stephen
Gaselee, Sir Stephen, 1922, 1932.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman accepts a dinner invitation
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and discusses his poem Epitaph on an Army of Mercenaries and the
anthologies in which it appeared. Folder also contains bookseller's note
(Henry Southeran), 1922 Oct 30.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman thanks Gaselee for "the return
of the notes on Plaut. Capt., which are now in my hands again.", 1932 July
26.
Goldring, Douglas, 1922.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Thanks Goldring for sending his book
on Flecker, "which is interesting as a record and contains, if I may say so,
discriminating criticism.", 1922 Dec 5.
Gollancz, I., 1911.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman replies on the back of
Gollancz's letter informing H. that the British Academy proposes to
nominate him as Fellow: "I beg that I may not be nominated for election as
a Fellow. The honour is one which I should not find congenial nor feel to be
appropriate.", 1911 Jun 9.
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Gosse, Edmund
Gosse, Edmund, 1914.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. "Pyrenen is Milton's reprehensible way
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of spelling Pirenen, the fountain at Corinth ... which some of the poets ...
confused with Hippocrene on Helicon ... 'Mr. Chaucer was a great man,' says
Artemus Ward, 'but he could not spell.'", 1914 Nov 2.
Grey, Mrs., 1933.
ALS Bromsgrove. Apologizes for being unable to pay a visit due to recent ill
health, 1933 June.
Hall, Edward, 1928.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Answers his correspondent's queries
about his publication history. "The only books which I published between
[A Shropshire Lad and Last Poems] are editions of Latin classics, purely
pedantic ... though two ... have polemical prefaces which amuse some
readers who are not scholars.", 1928 Jul 5.
Hall, F.W., 1929.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. To the editor of The classical quarterly,
Housman sends corrections to his paper on Lucan VII 460-465., 1929 Aug
10.
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Harrison, Ernest
Harrison, Ernest, n.d.
AL Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman's reply drafted on the back of
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Harrison's query regarding "whether the Greeks thought the akromychal
rising of a star is the brightest." Housman writes that "if they did they were
of course quite wrong.", n.d.
Hires, H. S., 1933.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. "There is an Essay on English Metrical
Law by Coventry Patmore ... which deals with the sort of thing you ask
about. Thank you for sending me your poems, which seem to me better than
many printed in magazines.", 1933 Jul 10.
Holland, Harry, 1933.
ALS Bromsgrove. Regrets he cannot visit Hollond's friend Mrs. Gray due to
a recent illness., 1933 Jun 16.
Jamin, Georges, 1931 .
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman thanks Jamin for his translations
of his poems into French, but says he is not proficient enough in the
language to judge them and will consult with others., 1931 Aug 20.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. "I have now been able to submit your
translations ... to the judgment of one who is thoroughly versed in the French
- Page 32 -
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Johnson, Josephine
language ... His opinion is that ... they are too pedestrian and prosaic to give
a true idea of the original.", 1931 Sep 15.
Johnson, Josephine, 1934.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. "One of your four guesses is right: I do
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not say which, because if I allowed the truth to be known, critics would
start up and say that they had known it all along." Folder also contains her
penciled ALS to Master of Trinity College, returning it to Cambridge for
archiving (written on back of sheet dated 1966)., 1934 Mar 23.
Lane, John, 1907.
ALS, Woodridings, Pinner. Thanks Lane for sending him 2 copies of the
American edition of A Shropshire lad. "I am no judge of book-production,
but they seem to me quite nice.", 1907 Jun 29.
Leippet, Mr., 1930.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. "Your letter comes too late; but I hope the
ink I use will last a few centuries. Quotations I do not write for anyone, even
if they have been christened Alfred Housman.", 1930 Jan 9.
Content of Letter
- Page 33 -
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Lemperly, Paul. (see also Third Party Correspondence)
Lemperly, Paul. (see also Third Party Correspondence), 1899, 1934.
ALS London. In his letter to an American collector, Housman states that
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the "second edition of A Shropshire Lad contains nothing new except a
few misprints." He also thanks Lemperly for his letter and bookplate and
adds "I think yours is the only letter containing no nonsense that I have ever
received from a stranger.", 1899 Dec 11.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman declines a publication proposal
"as I have no proper appreciation of typography and format, and the merits
of the volume would be wasted on me.", 1934 July 23.
Leonard, Dr., 1928.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge., 1928 Jan 5.
Content of Letter
MacKail, J. W., 1905.
ALS, Pinner. Thanks Mackail for a copy of Mackail's edition of a volume of
Greek poetry. "You seem to admit elegiacs from almost anyone except the
three regular practitioners. What they produce is ... sometimes poetry, which
is more than I could say of Horace's sapless political odes or the talk-talk of
Boethius.", 1905 Nov 23.
Content of Letter
- Page 34 -
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Martin, Houston. (see also Third Party Correspondence)
Martin, Houston. (see also Third Party Correspondence), 1932-1936.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman declines a request for poems
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written in his own hand., 1932 Nov 25.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman thanks Martin for writing to him
on his birthday and encloses a photograph in response to Martin's request. "I
could not say that I have a favorite among my poems. Thomas Hardy's was
no. XXVII in A Shropshire Lad, and I think it may be the best, though it is
not the most perfect.", 1933 Mar 28.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. In response to questions regarding A
Shropshire Lad and the fate of Housman's original manuscripts, AEH writes,
"I gave the manuscript of A Shropshire Lad to the library of this college, and
that of Last Poems to the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. I was not born
in Shropshire at all, but near the town of Bromsgrove in Worcestershire. The
Shropshire hills were our western horizon, and hence my sentiment for the
country, I suppose.", 1933 Nov 20.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman thanks Martin for his Christmas
gift and states that he never signs his name in full except for documents on
which he must. "You are an engaging madman, and write more agreeably
than many sane persons; but if I write anything of an autobiographical
nature, as I have sometimes idly thought of doing, I shall send it to the
British Museum to be kept under lock and key for 50 years.", 1933 Dec 14.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman advises Martin where he may be
able to obtain published copies of his parody Fragment of a Greek Tragedy.,
1934 Mar 23.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman discusses the topography of
Shropshire, admitting that "I do not know the country well, except in parts,
- Page 35 -
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Martin, Houston. (see also Third Party Correspondence)
and some of my topographical details [in A Shropshire Lad] are wrong and
imaginary.", 1934 Apr 14.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman scolds, "You ought to have
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known better than to send me the copy of A Shropshire Lad. American
publishers have a perfect right to issue unauthorized copies, but for me to
sign them would be an indignity... I am also deaf to fantastic requests that
I should write my name in full or add special stuff for you. One thing I am
prepared to do, which might gratify your depraved mind: if you like to send
me New Year's Eve I can make and initial a correction which I was too late
to make before it was printed.", 1934 Sep 26.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman returns the copy of the poem
New Year's Eve with his corrections and provides further details of the
locations which had inspired lines in A Shropshire Lad., 1934 Oct 17.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman responds to further questions
about A Shropshire Lad and his preface to Manilius. Housman notes
more revealingly, "Certainly I have never regretted the publication of my
poems. The reputation which they brought me, though it gives me no lively
pleasure, is something like a mattress interposed between me and the hard
ground.", 1935 Sep 27.
ALS. (in pencil and from a nursing home) Housman writes, "I hope that if
you can restrain your indecent ardour for a little I shall be properly dead and
your proposed work will not be by its nature unbecoming... Do not send me
your manuscript. Worse than the practice of writing books about living men
is the conduct of living men in supervising such books", 1936 Mar 22.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. "If I were well I could make a long reply
to your kind but irrelevant letter of the 2nd, but I am so ill that I am not fit
to discharge the functions of my office or of ordinary life, and my doctor is
trying hard to send me back into a nursing home.", 1936 Apr 21.
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Martin, N.M.
Large empty envelope, 1933 Oct 20.
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ALS Trinity College, Cambridge, 1927 Feb 26.
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ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman places an order, from Elkin
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Martin, N.M., 1903.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Thanks Martin for her letter, 1903 Apr 21.
Matthews, Elkin, 1927.
Mathews catalogue, for Aytoun's Firmilian., 1927 Mar 1.
Meynell, Wilfred, 1913.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Thanks Meynell for books he has sent.,
1913 May 22.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Thanks Meynell for books he has sent.
Adds that he is sorry that Meynell is not well., 1913 Jun 10.
Monro, Harold, 1929.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Gives Monro permission to include
Epitaph on an Army of Mercenaries in an anthology., 1929 Aug 20.
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Morton, H.J.
Morton, H.J., 1897.
ALS, London. Housman is "pleased to serve as a reference." "I shall hardly
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recognize the College without you: we entered it together, and may be said
to have rocked one another's cradles." With letter of recommendation signed
"A.E. Housman, Professor of Latin.", 1897 Dec 29.
Content of Letter
Morton, K., 1896.
ALS, London. Letter of recommendation states that K. Morton is "fully
competent to give elementary instruction in Latin." Written on University
College, London, stationery, 1896 Nov 24.
Munson, Gorham, 1936.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. To the American critic and editor: "I am
obliged by your letter, but I am not disposed to supply such information as
you invite.", 1936 Jan 26.
Nock, A.D., 1930.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Accepts luncheon invitation., 1930 Feb 3.
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Owlett, Frederick Charles
Owlett, Frederick Charles, 1923.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Tells Owlett he would be pleased to sign a
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copy of A Shropshire Lad., 1923 Nov 15.
Parry, Milman, 1933.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman thanks Parry, a professor of
Greek at Harvard, for sending his paper on metaphor. "I agree with what you
say about the diction of Homer and the 18th century, only I do not admire
it so much as you do." Folder also contains a 1968 letter from Adam Parry
at Yale describing and enclosing Housman's letter for an auction., 1933 Feb
16.
Partington, W.G., 1930.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Declines Partington's publication
proposal. "Typography leaves me cold and limited editions are not to
my taste. Nor indeed have I the material ... I certainly never contributed
anything to the Pall Mall Magazine or the Oxford Magazine.", 1930 Aug 18.
Perkins, Mrs., 1915.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Writes to say he must decline a dinner
invitation., 1915 Mar 1.
- Page 39 -
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James B. Pinker & Sons
James B. Pinker & Sons, 1932.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. "I have always foreseen that trouble of
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this sort might arise from the inclusion of poems from A Shropshire Lad
in American anthologies ... But the anthologists ought to have foreseen it
too, and I should not be asked to annul the natural consequences of their not
forseeing it.", 1932 Sep 22.
Platt, Arthur, 1916.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. To his colleague at University College,
Housman writes "If you prefer Aeschylus to Manilius you are no true
scholar; you must be deeply tainted with literature ... The Bible is full of
types, and perhaps St. Paul ... prefigures Don Quixote. The resemblances
you mention had not struck me, but they will bear thinking on.", 1916 Apr 6.
Pollet, Maurice, n.d.
AL Trinity College, Cambridge. Reply to Pollet's list of questions. Folder
also contains Pollet's questionnaire and letter with reference to Grant
Richards., n.d.
Postgate, J.P., 1915-916.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. In this and the following letter Housman
discusses various critical aspects of classical literature with Postgate, a
professor of Latin at Liverpool., 1915 Jul 13.
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Richards, Grant. (see also Third Party Correspondence)
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge., 1916 Nov 6.
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ACsS Trinity College, Cambridge, 1911 Dec 31.
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11 ALsS Trinity College, Cambridge, 1912 Jan 4 - Sep 7.
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Richards, Grant. (see also Third Party Correspondence), 1911-13, 1935.
7 ALsS Trinity College, Cambridge. Correspondence in this and following
two folders primarily concerns Richard's publication of AEH's editing of the
5 volumes of Manilius's Astronomicon 1903-30., 1911 Oct 5 - Dec 29.
Richard's financial difficulties and Housman's refusal to lend further., 1913
Sep 26 - 1935 May 15.
Richards, Mrs. Grant, 1918-1932.
12 ALSs Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman thanks Grant Richards's
wife for gifts, inquires after her husband's health, accepts invitations to visit.,
1918 Nov 14 - 1932 Nov 9.
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Grant Richards Ltd. and other publishers
Grant Richards Ltd. and other publishers, 1911-1928.
8 ALsS, 2 photocopies of ALsS Trinity College, Cambridge. To a variety
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of publishers regarding publication of his work. Folder also contains 3-page
carbon typed publishing agreement between AEH and Grant Richards Ltd.
1922 Sep 14., 1911 Nov 9 - 1928 May 17.
Robb, Mr., 1934.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman writes that he does not know
where his correspondent might purchase a first-edition copy of A Shropshire
lad., 1934 Sep 14.
Roberts, Mr., 1933.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. "I can only imperfectly decipher your
amiable letter, but if you are asking me to send you an autograph copy of a
poem of mine I must reply that I have left off doing this for many years.",
1933 May 27.
Roberts, S.C., 1934, 1936.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Han invites Roberts, a colleague at
Cambridge, to dine with him., 1934 May 22.
APcS Trinity College, Cambridge. In the postcard, written 8 days before his
death, Housman writes: "I trust that I responded to your family invitation.
- Page 42 -
A.E. Housman papers
Rubin, Arnold
I still hope to be there, though I am not so sanguine as I should like to be.",
1936 Apr 20.
Rubin, Arnold, 1929, 1932.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman declines to copy out verses for
Box
Folder
3
Box
3
Folder
3
3
3
3
3
3
Box
Folder
3
Box
4
Folder
3
4
Box
Folder
3
Box
5
Folder
3
5
Rubin, but has sent a "reproduction of a recent drawing of me.", 1929 Oct
16.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman declines to send in a
contribution to Rubin's magazine. "But a contribution from me is something
that many magazines have asked, and none, within human memory,
obtained. I do not remember that any of them suffered in consequence, and I
do not suppose that yours will either.", 1932 Nov 24.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman critiques a poem that Rubin has
sent him., n.d.
Ryan, Mary C., 1925.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. "I am sorry to have to say that I possess
no ex libris plate; and indeed I am not a person of culture, and treat my
books badly.", 1925 Aug 19.
[Smith], 1922.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman grants permission to set one of
his poems to music., 1922 Aug 26.
- Page 43 -
A.E. Housman papers
Savory, Gundred H.
Box
Folder
3
Box
6
Folder
3
6
Box
Folder
3
Box
7
Folder
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge, 1928 Jun 22.
3
7
ALsS Trinity College, Cambridge. Thanks Secker for a book he has sent,
3
7
Box
Folder
3
Box
8
Folder
3
8
Box
Folder
3
Box
9
Folder
3
9
Savory, Gundred H., 1931.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman agrees to sign books for her if
she sends them "in a way which will make it easy ... to return them.", 1931
Apr 15.
Secker, Martin, 1928, 1933.
but refuses to autograph copies of a lecture, "and also of a more recent one
which you may have heard of [The Name and Nature of Poetry], because I
do not think well enough of them.", 1933 Dec 23.
Shafer, R., 1930.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Gives Shafer permission to print selected
poems from Last poems but "on the condition that you do not print more
than five poems from A Shropshire Lad.", 1930 Jun 7.
Slater, David, 1910, 1932.
ALS London. To his colleague and former pupil, Housman sends thanks for
a book of verses., 1910 Dec 21.
- Page 44 -
A.E. Housman papers
Society of Authors
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman discusses mutual acquaintances
3
9
Box
Folder
3
Box
10
Folder
3
10
3
10
from Bromsgrove School and mentions finishing an edition of Manilius.,
1932 Jan 12.
Society of Authors, 1923.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Encloses an application for membership in
the Society of Authors., 1923 Sep 10.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman refuses to grant the British
Broadcasting Company permission to broadcast readings from his poems.,
1923 Sep 18.
Box
Spicer-Simson, T., 1922.
3
Box
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Agrees to a time to sit for his
3
11
Box
Folder
3
Box
12
Folder
3
12
photographic portrait by Spicer-Simson, 1922 Jul 19.
Snyder & Martin, esqs., 1914.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman says he refuses permission
to publish his poems in anthologies, however, "they are not copyright in
America, so that I have no power over them and no right to object if they are
printed there."(Gift of Mark Samuels Lasner), 1914 Jun 13.
- Page 45 -
A.E. Housman papers
Squire, J.C.
Squire, J.C., 1919.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Wishes Squire well on his
Box
Folder
3
Box
12
Folder
3
13
Box
Folder
3
Box
14
Folder
3
14
Box
Folder
3
Box
15
Folder
3
15
3
15
Box
Folder
3
Box
16
Folder
3
16
"enterprise" (The London Mercury) but declines to submit poems for
publication therein, 1919 Aug 20.
Content of Letter
Stevens, [Paul], 1928.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Regarding Stevens's Twelve poems,
Housman writes: "Many people now send me their verse, and I have had
practice in making polite and empty acknowledgements; but yours really
have some stuff in them." (See 4: 30), 1928 Dec 28.
Sutcliffe, George, 1923.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. "If you will be good enough to send the
book here I shall be pleased to sign it.", 1923 Sep 20.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. "I return the book with my signature
added, and with my compliments on its elegance.", 1923 Sep 24.
Taylor, J. Cameron C., 1915.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Gives Taylor permission to publish 3
poems from A Shropshire Lad., 1915 Mar 7.
- Page 46 -
A.E. Housman papers
de Walden, Lady Howard
de Walden, Lady Howard, 1928.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge (photocopy). Gift of Friends of the
Box
Folder
3
Box
17
Folder
3
17
Box
Folder
3
Box
17
Folder
3
17
Box
Folder
3
Box
18
Folder
3
18
3
19
Box
Folder
3
19
Box
Folder
3
Box
20
Folder
3
20
Library, shelved at PR 4809 H15 A68 1922 copy 4., 1928 Feb 16.
D'O Walters, L., 1931.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Gives Walters permission to include
Epitaph on an Army of Mercenaries in an anthology, 1931 Mar 6.
Warren, Thomas Herbert, 1921.
Photocopy of ALS, Trinity College, Cambridge. Regarding Warren's lecture
on Virgil and his candidacy for chair of the Greek department., 1921 Dec 6.
Wheelock, J.H., 1932.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Tells Wheelock "I am obliged by your
kind letter, but it is very unlikely that I shall ever publish another book.",
1932 Oct 18.
Wilson, A.F., 1933.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Responds to a query: "The poem entitled
The First of May is no. XXXIV in Last Poems. It was published in The
Cambridge Review some years before., 1933 Nov 24.
- Page 47 -
A.E. Housman papers
Wilson, Charles
Box
Folder
3
Box
21-22
Folder
3
21
3
22
Box
Folder
3
Box
23-24
Folder
3
23
ALS, Bromsgrove, 1876 Apr 8.
3
24
ALS. In French and signed "Alfred Edouard Maisonhomme" (folder
3
24
ALS, Oxford, 1878 Feb 17.
3
24
ALS, Oxford, 1878 Nov 24.
3
24
ALS, Oxford. Also contains a typed copy and explanation of the "cold"
3
24
Wilson, Charles, 1927-1936.
9 ALsS Trinity College, Cambridge. In the seventeen letters in this folder
and the next, Housman replies to the collector's questions on A Shropshire
Lad ("Any attempt to dramatize [it] will be prosecuted with the utmost
rigour of the law") and Last Poems, refuses requests for signatures and
speaking engagements, thanks Wilson for various gifts, and discusses
matters of health., 1927 Jan 18 - 1930 Nov 19.
8 ALsS Trinity College, Cambridge, 1932 Mar 24 - 1936 Apr 21.
Wise, Edith, 1876-1911.
ALS, Woodridings. To an old family friend, Housman writes: "I was in
residence at Cambridge during the May term, though with no definite
work to do. I shall go there permanently at the end of September." He also
mentions seeing his brother Laurence "read to an admiring audience his
censored play about Queen Caroline.", 1911 Jul 11.
contains translation), 1877 Jul 8.
poem in this letter, 1878 "Sunday".
- Page 48 -
A.E. Housman papers
Woods, Margaret
ALS, Highgate, 1898 Jan 11.
3
24
Box
Folder
3
Box
25
Folder
3
25
3
25
Box
Folder
3
Box
26
Folder
3
26
3
26
ACS, London, 1902 Nov 19.
3
26
Photocopy fragment, n.d.
3
26
Woods, Margaret, 1908, 1925.
ALS, Woodridings. Though he is reluctant to refuse her request, Housman
declines to sign Woods's copy of A Shropshire Lad. Folder also contains 2
pages from Bibliographic Society of America on AEH's writings in Latin.,
1908 Nov 17.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman proposes a Latin inscription,
probably for a tombstone: "BREVEM LVCEM EXTINCTAM EXCIPIAT
FOVEATQVE AETERNA.", 1925 Jun 24.
Unidentified Correspondents, 1902, 1910, 1914-1936, n.d.
ALS, Pinna. Housman responds to queries about A Shropshire Lad, Last
Poems, the meaning of his poems ("The real meaning ... is what it means
to the reader"), and the Professorship of Latin founded in honor of B.H.
Kennedy. He also responds to requests for his signature and for permission
to reprint verses in anthologies. In responding to an invitation to lecture,
Housman declines but answers biographical questions and states that a
second edition of his Juvenal is forthcoming (Folder also contains typed
carbon copy of the ALS from Cambridge)., 1910 Oct 24.
12 ALsS, 1 photocopy ALsS, Trinity College, Cambridge., 1914 Jan 15 1936 Apr.
- Page 49 -
A.E. Housman papers
Third Party Correspondence
Copy of typewritten letter, n.d.
3
26
Box
Folder
5
1-9
Box
Folder
5
1
Box
Folder
5
Box
1
Folder
Carter to Adelman, 4 TLS, 1969-1971.
5
1
Adelman to Carter, 4 TLS, 1 ALS, 1966-1967.
5
1
[Pip] to Carter, 1 TLS, 1968 Feb 12.
5
1
Box
Folder
5
Box
1
Folder
Clemens to Adelman, 1 ALS, 1936 Jun 26.
5
1
Adelman to Clemens, 3 TLS, 1936.
5
1
Box
Folder
5
Box
1
Folder
5
1
Third Party Correspondence, 1922-1983.
General note
This series is divided into three subseries: Seymour Adelman Correspondence,
Houston Martin Correspondence, and Other Third Party Correspondence
Seymour Adelman Correspondence, 1936-1983.
Carter, John, 1966-1971.
Clemens, Cyril, 1936.
Driver, Clive (Rosenbach Foundation), 1969.
Driver to unidentified (cc Adelman), 1 TL., 1969 Jun 4.
- Page 50 -
A.E. Housman papers
Feldman, Lew David (House of El Dieff)
Box
Folder
5
Box
1
Folder
5
1
Box
Folder
5
Box
1
Folder
5
1
Box
Folder
5
Box
1
Folder
5
1
Box
Folder
5
Box
1
Folder
Naiditch to Adelman, 1 TLS., 1983 Nov 9.
5
1
1 photocopied typescript review of AE Housman: A Bibliography by John
5
1
Box
Folder
5
Box
1
Folder
Randall to Adelman, 8 TLS (1 from secretary), 1937-1946.
5
1
Adelman to Randall, 3 TLS. 1937-1941.
5
1
Feldman, Lew David (House of El Dieff), 1969.
Feldman to Adelman, 1 TLS., 1974 Nov 15.
Maas, Henry, 1969.
Maas to Adelman, 1 TLS., 1969 May 20.
Martin, Houston, 1936-1946.
Martin to Adelman, 2 ALS (see also Houston Martin Materials), 1936-1946.
Naiditch, PG. (Zeitlin & Ver Brugge), 1983, n.d.
Carter and John Sparrow., n.d.
Randall, Paul (Charles Scribner), 1937-1946.
- Page 51 -
A.E. Housman papers
Walters, DM
Box
Folder
5
Box
1
Folder
5
1
Box
Folder
5
2-8
Box
Folder
5
Box
2
Folder
5
2
Box
Folder
5
2
Box
Folder
5
Box
2
Folder
5
2
Box
Folder
5
Box
2
Folder
5
2
Box
Folder
5
Box
2
Folder
Clemens to Martin, 6 ALS, 6 APsC, 1936=1942.
5
2
"Mark Twain Quarterly: AE Housman Memorial Number", Winter 1936.
5
2
Walters, DM, 1936.
Walters to Adelman, 1 TLS., 1936 Jun 12.
Houston Martin Correspondence, 1933-1966.
Adams, HM, 1948.
Adams to Martin, 1 ALS., 1948 Nov 15.
Adelman, Seymour. (see Seymour Adelman Correspondence ).
Barry, Robert J, 1946.
Barry to Martin, 1 TLS., 1946 Sept 9.
Carter, John. (Scribner's), 1937-1946, n.d.
Carter to Martin, 3 ALS, 2 TLS., 1937-1946, n.d.
Clemens, Cyril, 1936-1942.
- Page 52 -
A.E. Housman papers
Davenport, Basil
"Mark Twain Quarterly," with articles on Housman by William White and
5
2
5
2
Box
Folder
5
Box
2
Folder
5
2
Box
Folder
5
Box
3
Folder
5
3
Box
Folder
5
Box
3
Folder
Verner W. Clapp to Martin, 1 TLS., 1949 Sept 16.
5
3
Frederick R. Goff to Martin, 2 TLS., 1949 Sept 27 - Oct 3.
5
3
Kenton Kilmer to Martin, 1 TLS., 1940 Sep 25.
5
3
Box
Folder
5
Box
3
Folder
5
3
Clemens. Contains letter from Clemens on front., Summer-Fall 1941.
Pamphlet, George Santayana: An American Philosopher in Exile by
Clemens, contains note from author to Martin., 1937.
Davenport, Basil, 1934.
Davenport to Martin, 4 ALS, 1 TLS., March 1934 - June 1934.
Jackson, Gerald, 1953.
Jackson to Martin, 1 ALS., 1953 Jan 9.
Library of Congress, 1940, 1949.
Maas, Henry, 1966.
Maas to Martin, 2 ALS., 1966.
- Page 53 -
A.E. Housman papers
Richards, Grant
Box
Folder
5
Box
3
Folder
5
3
Box
Folder
5
Box
3
Folder
Sparrow to Martin, 5 ALS., 1934 Apr-Dec.
5
3
Essay, "Echoes in the Poetry of AE Housman" by Sparrow, apparently torn
5
3
Box
Folder
5
Box
3
Folder
5
3
Box
Folder
5
Box
3
Folder
Alden to Martin, 2 TLS., 1946 Nov 12 - 19.
5
3
Charles W. David to Martin, 2 TLS., 1946 Jun 7 - Nov 15.
5
3
Box
Folder
5
Box
3
Folder
5
3
Richards, Grant, 1937.
Richards to Martin, 1 TLS (see also Other Third Party Correspondence).,
1937 Apr 10.
Sparrow, John, 1934.
out of the journal Nineteenth Century and After., [1934 February].
Symons, NVH, 1946.
Symons to Martin, 2 ALS., 1946 Aug 18 - Nov 7.
University of Pennsylvania Library, 1946.
Walters, DJ, 1947-1947.
Walters to Martin, 4 TLS., 1946 Dec 18 - 1947 Mar 14.
- Page 54 -
A.E. Housman papers
Watson, George
Box
Folder
5
Box
3
Folder
5
3
Box
Folder
5
Box
4
Folder
Weber to Martin, 12 TLS, 11 APsC., 1946 Feb - 1947 Apr.
5
4
Pamphlet, "A Carl J. Weber Bibliography" published by Colby College
5
4
Box
Folder
5
Box
5
Folder
WW to Martin, 20 APcS, 28 TLS, 1 ALS, 1939 - 1952.
5
5
2 pamphlets and 4 cut pages with essays by White on Housman., 1941 -
5
5
1 TMs, "More Housman Letters", n.d.
5
5
Various writers on AEH, 1933-1947.
Box
Folder
5
6
Watson, George, 1950.
Watson to Martin, 1 TLS., 1950 Feb 20.
Weber, Carl, 1944-1947.
Library, 1944.
White, William, 1939-1956, n.d.
1956.
Contents
Folder contains 13 letters by writers and others involved in the literary world.
Letters appear to be responses to inquiries made by Martin regarding each
writer's personal knowledge or impression of Housman. Writers of note
include W. Somerset Maugham, Willa Cather, Louis Untermeyer, Allen Tate,
and Hugh Walpole.
- Page 55 -
A.E. Housman papers
Houston's "Yale Review" article 1936
Box
Folder
5
Box
7
Folder
5
7
TM, 23 p., draft titled "New Light on AE Housman"with corrections., n.d.
5
7
Notebook with notes on Housman, article., n.d.
5
7
Box
Folder
5
8
Box
Folder
5
9
Box
Folder
5
Box
9
Folder
Carter to Louise Bogan, TL, 1946 Oct 25.
5
9
Bogan to Carter, TLS, 1946 Oct 30.
5
9
3 letters on Housman's publication in the Bromsgrove Messenger., 1968.
5
9
1 ALsS to unidentified correspondent, [n.y.] Jun 14.
5
9
1 clipping of "Prologue" by "an old Bromsgrovian published in the
5
9
Houston's "Yale Review" article 1936, 1936-1942, n.d.
Helen McAfee (Managing Editor) to Martin, 9 TLS., 1936 June - 1942
April .
Unidentified. 1 ALS, 2 APcS., 1941, 1950.
Other Third Party Correspondence, 1883-1968.
Carter, John. Managing editor "Bromsgrove Messenger", 1883, 1946,
1968.
Bromsgrove Messenger., n.d. [1883?].
- Page 56 -
A.E. Housman papers
Lemperley, Paul. Book Collector. 2 incoming letters.
Lemperley, Paul. Book Collector. 2 incoming letters., 1928-1937.
Richards, Grant, 1922-1936.
6 letters on publication and other matters involving Housman and his
Box
Folder
5
9
Box
Folder
5
Box
9
Folder
5
9
5
9
writings., 1923-1936.
AMs, TM, and copy of article in Times Literary Supplement regarding
publication of new Housman anthology., 1922 Sep 28.
Box
Writings, 1874-1975.
5-8
General note
This series is divided into three subseries: Manuscripts, Published Writings, Notebooks and
Miscellaneous Papers.
Box
Folder
5
6
10-22
1-31
Box
Folder
5
Box
10-12
Folder
AMsS, "On Your Midnight Pallet Lying", n.d.
5
10
AMsS, "Into My Heart", n.d.
5
11
AMsS, "Loveliest of Trees", n.d.
5
12
Manuscripts, 1898-1927.
From "A Shropshire Lad", n.d.
- Page 57 -
A.E. Housman papers
From "Additional Poems"
Box
Folder
5
Box
13-17
Folder
AMs, fragment of R.L. Stevenson's requiem, n.d.
5
13
AMs, Fragments and drafts. Folders labeled Additional Poems XIX, XIII,
f
14-17
Box
Folder
5
Box
18-22
Folder
AMs, "Astronomy", n.d.
5
18
AMs, Fragments and drafts. Folders labeled Last Poems VII, IX, XXIX,
5
19-22
Box
Folder
6
Box
1-12
Folder
AMs, "Tarry Delight", n.d.
6
1
AMsS, "For My Funeral". see also Death of A.E. Housman. (Subseries of
6
2
5
3-12
Box
Folder
6
Box
13-15
Folder
6
13
From "Additional Poems", n.d.
XIV, XX., n.d.
From "Last Poems", n.d.
XL., n.d.
From "More Poems", n.d.
Other Materials).
AMs, Fragments and drafts. Folders labeled More Poems VI, XII, XVII,
XIX, XXXI, XXXIV, XXXIX, XLIV, XLV., n.d.
Nonfiction and Translations, n.d.
Ms, Translation of "Horace: Odes IV. vii", n.d.
- Page 58 -
A.E. Housman papers
Miscellaneous Poetry
AMS, "Three New Lines of Lucan?" with note in pencil "proof to Prof.
6
14
6
15
Box
Folder
6
Box
16-31
Folder
AMs, "The Parallelogram or Infant Optimism", n.d.
6
16
AMsS, "Fragment of a Greek Tragedy", n.d.
6
17
Typescript with notes, "Fragment of a Greek Tragedy" With note at top:
6
18
6
19
6
20
AMsS, "As Into the Garden Elizabeth Ran", 1919 Apr 27.
6
21
AMsS, "Lucinda or Domestic Astronomy", n.d.
6
22
AMsS, "When Adam Day by Day", n.d.
6
23
AMs, "Verses for Mrs. Woolbright" Verses accompanied by signed note
6
24
Housman, Trinity College Cambridge".
AMs, Notes on classical text with two page typescript., n.d.
Miscellaneous Poetry, 1898, 1919, 1927.
"Collected by Yale Review 1928 (copy sent to me by AEH with a correction
by him).", n.d.
AMs, "The Illustrated Bible" Single sheet with notes on verso in Greek.
Folder also contains several photocopies and letter from Paul Naiditch which
dates the verse and describes the notes as possibly related to Housman's
"studies for the Pass Examination in 1881/1882.", c. 1898.
AMs "The Bear or the Pathos of Ignorance" and photocopy of "Infant
Innocence", n.d.
card to Mrs. Woolbright with a birthday greeting., n.d.
- Page 59 -
A.E. Housman papers
Published Writings
Ms, Notebook "Poems and Other Pieces Hereto Uncollected" Includes
6
25
6
26
AMs, "Hexameter: Paradise Lost V, 1-17".
6
27
AMs, photocopy "Nonae Novembres" with essay on poem by unidentified
6
28
AMsS, "Purple William or The Liar's Doom", n.d.
6
29
AMs, "Inhuman Henry or Cruelty to Fabulous Animals", n.d.
6
30
Poetry not in Housman's hand and unidentified verses. Includes typescript
6
31
Box
Folder
6
Box
32-40
Folder
6
32
6
33
poems, classical works, and a 1892 lecture given at University College
London. Title page includes note "John Sparrow, Oxford, 1927" as if
publisher. Opposite title page there is a signed note from John Sparrow to
Houston Martin. See also Houston Martin Correspondence., 1927.
Ms "Felan's Flowers" Manuscript with note: "Transcribed by LH (Laurence
Housman) from MS by AEH now lost.", n.d.
author., n.d.
of letter in verse to his sister, Katherine Symons (see Katherine Symons
Correspondence), an unidentified work possibly in the hand of Lucy Agnes
Housman, a copy of a work from The Name and Nature of Poetry, and a
typescript fragment., n.d.
Published Writings, 1874-1975.
"The Death of Socrates" Newspaper printings from The Bromsgrove
Messenger with note describing clipping as the first printing of AEH's first
published poem., 1874 Aug 8.
Robert Louis Stevenson tribute. One pamphlet and one clipping from The
Academy of R.L.S., a tribute to the late writer., 1894 Dec 22, n.d.
- Page 60 -
A.E. Housman papers
Notebooks and Miscellaneous Papers
"Illic Jacet". Clipping from The Academy., 1900 Feb 24.
6
34
"Fragment of a Greek Tragedy" Five reprintings of the parody. Two
6
35
6
36
6
37
6
38
6
39
6
40
pamphlets printed in Massachusetts by At The Snail's Pace Press with
newspaper clipping regarding printing. One printed by The Peter Pauper
Press. One in The Trinity Magazine and one in the New York Herald., 1921,
1925, n.d.
"The bells jostle in the tower..." Two copies of fragment which the pamphlet
claims was "preserved by oral tradition and said to have been composed by
A.E. Housman in a dream." 37 copies of the pamphlet were printed by John
Carter and John Sparrow. One pamphlet contain signed dedication by John
Carter to Seymour Adelman from 1960., 1930.
Jubilee Address to King George V. Letter written in name of "Masters,
Fellows and Scholars of Trinity College" to commemorate the King's
jubilee. Notes from auction catalog state that AEH's authorship was never
officially acknowledged., 1935.
"For My Funeral" First American printing in the New York Herald Tribune
and copy of John Carter's burial service containing the poem., 1936, 1975.
"Quatrains" from Collected Poems. Clipping from The New York Times
Review of Books., 1951 Nov 11.
Poems Set to Music. Folder includes "Nine Songs from A Shropshire Lad"
by A. Redgrave Cripps with autograph dedication to Housman on title page,
two works by George Butterworth from "A Shropshire Lad," and "Four
Songs" by DM Stewart based on Housman's Last Poems., n.d.
Box
Notebooks and Miscellaneous Papers, 1889-1933.
7,8
Box
Diary, 1889.
7
- Page 61 -
1
A.E. Housman papers
Notebooks and Miscellaneous Papers
Contents
Red case stamped "Housman 1889." Contains daily temperature readings
and notations of flowers in bloom.
Notebook X, 180 p., c. 1903-1915.
7
2
7
3
7
4
7
5
Contents
Contains extensive notes on, and quotations from, classical texts and modern
authors such as Edmund Burke, George Eliot, Goethe, Pascal, Burns,
Lessing, Nietzsche, Cowper, Blake, Anatole France, Keats, Shelley, Arnold,
and Lamb. Folder also contains photograph copy of book and copy of entry
in auction catalog on 25 July 1978.
Notebook Y, 66 p., C.1930-1933.
Contents
Contains extensive notes on, and quotations from, classical texts. Also
contains notes and drafts towards the preface and text of Housman's
1930 edition of Manilius V, as well as for his lecture "The Name and
Nature of Poetry" (delivered in 1933). Quoted authors include Swinburne,
Wordsworth, Pope, Coleridge, Dryden, and Arnold. Folder also contains
photograph copy of book and copy of entry in auction catalog on 25 July
1978.
AM, Commonplace book. Copies of poems, each marked with name of
poet., n.d.
ANs, Notes on printing of "A Shropshire Lad" and "Last Poems". Notes,
possibly in Housman's hand, noting differences between manuscripts and
printed text., n.d.
- Page 62 -
A.E. Housman papers
Other Materials
ANs, Notes on Propertius written on verso of a Laurence Housman
7
6
ANs, Notes (Critical Apparatus) for Juvenal's Saturae, 23 p., n.d.
7
7
ANs, Pages from commonplace book, 2 p in English and Greek., n.d.
7
8
ANs, Translations of Greek words, 2 p on back of envelopes., n.d.
8
1
ANs, Pages from a notebook, 20 p. Lists of words and rhymes., n.d.
8
2
ANs, Miscellaneous notes, n.d.
8
3
manuscript., n.d.
Box
Other Materials, 1896-1968.
8,12
General note
This series is divided into two subseries: Miscellaneous and Death of A.E. Housman.
Box
Folder
8
12
4-16
Box
Folder
8
Box
4-6
Folder
8
4
TMs, AE Housman: A Bibliography by William White, 111 p., n.d.
8
5
Note by John Carter regarding the original recipient of Seymour Adelman's
8
6
Miscellaneous, 1896-1968.
Biography and Bibliography, 1959, 1968.
Teleplay, "An Air that Kills" Script of program on Housman attained by
Seymour Adelman. Folder also includes letter to Adelman from producer.,
1959 Mar 22.
autograph presentation copy of the first edition of A Shropshire Lad., 1968.
- Page 63 -
A.E. Housman papers
Parodies
Box
Folder
8
7
Box
Folder
8
Box
8-14
Folder
The Daily Tatler with review of "A Shropshire Lad", 1896 Nov 19.
8
8
Cyril Clemens Materials, 1937, 1942, n.d. .
8
9
8
10
8
11
8
12
Parodies, 1936, n.d.
General note
Folder includes 5 poetic parodies of Housman's works. 2 AMs, 2 clippings,
and 1 TMs. Poems are by [R. Mundey], ESP Haynes, Rolfe Humphries,
Gerald Gould, and Ernest Thomson.
Clippings, 1896-1962.
General note
Boxed MS of Clemens article on AEH, Mark Twain Quarterly with articles
on AEH, essay "An Evening with AE Housman" by Clemens, and clipping
of "Housman in America" also by Clemens.
Materials regarding Housman collection at Library of Congress, 1940-1959.
General note
Folder includes various press releases and essays with information on
Housman and the collection, and materials regarding a lecture by Cleanth
Brooks on Housman.
Journals and pamphlets with items on Housman, 1929-1951.
General note
Journals include The Saturday Review, The Book-of-the-Month Club News
and The Nation and Athenaeum among others.
Clipped essays, 1956-1967, n.d.
- Page 64 -
A.E. Housman papers
Publication and Business
General note
Folder contains critical essays on Housman by Laurence Housman, William
White, John Sparrow, and others.
Newspaper Clippings, 1936-1962, n.d.
8
13
8
14
General note
Various clippings regarding exhibitions, publications, legacy, and
biographical material.
Miscellaneous clippings, advertisements, auction notices, and notes.
Includes report about a book that may have belonged to Housman that is
now in the Bryn Mawr library., n.d.
Box
Publication and Business.
12, 8
Box
Financial statement from Kegan Paul regarding A Shropshire Lad (original and copy), 1896
12
Dec 31.
Contract with Grant Richards to publish Last Poems (includes typescript and
8
15
8
16
Box
Folder
8
15-17
manuscript draft), 1922 Sept 14.
Contract with Henry Holt to publish A Shropshire Lad in USA, 1923 Jan 12.
Death of A.E. Housman (subseries in Other Materials), 1936.
General note
(see also Laurence Housman Collection)
- Page 65 -
A.E. Housman papers
Personal and Family Materials
Box
Folder
8
15
8
16
8
17
Box
Folder
9
1-29
Box
Folder
9
Box
1-13
Folder
Transcript of two poems by James Thompson, in the hand of AEH, c. 1880.
9
1
Clipping on Maclean's suicide, [1895 August 10].
9
2
Printed Burial Service, 4 copies., 1936 May 4.
General note
Contains poem "For My Funeral." Folder also contains clipping from New
York Herald Tribune regarding the service.
Elegies and Obituaries, [1936].
General note
4 poems, 1 clipping on occasion of Housman's death. Poetry by Witter
Bynner, "H.B.," Blanche Bane Kuder, and one unidentified author.
Condolence Letters to Laurence Housman, 1936 May 1 - May 8.
General note
4 ALsS, 1 TLS from publishers and colleagues.
Personal and Family Materials, 1833-1936.
General note
This series is divided into three subseries: Miscellaneous Personal Materials,
Laurence Housman Correspondence and Family Materials.
Miscellaneous Personal Materials, 1880-1935.
- Page 66 -
A.E. Housman papers
Miscellaneous Personal Materials
General note
Newspaper clipping, possibly from Evening Standard, on suicide of Henry
Clarkson Maclean, rumored to be Housman's lover. Housman reportedly
kept this clipping in his copy of A Shropshire Lad at poem XLIV, which
begins: "Shot? so quick, so clean an ending?"
Miscellaneous newspaper clippings, 1896-1935, n.d.
9
3
ANs, 1 p., list of persons and journals to be sent copy of Juvenal. Also
9
4
9
5
9
6
9
7
ANs, travel notes on vacation in France, 3 p., c. 1931.
9
8
Copy of a letter by an Indian train passenger. Letter copied by Housman
9
9
9
10
9
11
contains similar list by secretary to publisher (Grant Richards)., c. 1905.
UCL Student Presentation to Housman. Letter and list of students with
photograph of tankard., 1911.
Photograph of Eohn Eyton Bichersleth Mayor, professor at Cambridge.
Published as frontispiece to Mayor's Twelve Cambridge Sermons., 1911.
Trinity College Book Club. Inventories of book sales and purchases., 1923,
1932.
from Indian newspaper. Folder contains handwritten copy and typescript.,
n.d.
AMs, pickled herring recipe. Folder also contains notes, clippings,
brochures, and correspondence related to exhibition of the manuscript at the
Grollier Club in 1960., n.d.
Map of Shropshire, n.d.
- Page 67 -
A.E. Housman papers
Laurence Housman Correspondence
Pamphlet, TS Eliot's "A Song for Simeon". Signed "for A.E. Housman
9
12
9
13
Box
Folder
9
14-20
Box
Folder
9
14
Box
Folder
9
Box
15-19
Folder
ALS, Highgate. AEH critiques LH's poetry., 1894 Dec 14.
9
15
ALS, Highgate. AEH critiques LH's poetry and offers suggestions for
9
15
9
15
9
16
homage of T.S. Eliot.".
Miscellaneous. Folder includes bookmarks, exhibition and lecture programs,
and a typescript of an anonymous 1888 letter to the editor of the Journal of
Education with a note by Housman., 1885-1905, n.d.
Laurence Housman Correspondence, 1895-1936.
Laurence Housman to AEH. 10 ALsS, various locations., 1908-1933.
Content of Letter
L. Housman thanks his brother for his comments on his own works, including
Green Arras and Angels and Ministers. LH also expresses his opinions of
AEH's Last Poems and the Name and Nature of Poetry.
AEH to LH, 1894-1936.
improving meter etc., 1895 Mar 31.
ALS fragment (initials only) n.p. AEH asks LH about a work the younger
Housman as written. pencil notation (by Seymour Adelman?) identifying
Laurence Housman as recipient. crossed-out fragment probably in LH's
handwriting., 1897 May 1.
6 ALsS, Highgate. Topics of discussion include AEH's recently published
A Shropshire Lad and LH's Green Arras, family matters, and Coventry
Patmore., 1896 Mar 20 - 1903 Aug 9.
- Page 68 -
A.E. Housman papers
AEH to LH
8 ALsS, Pinner. AEH offers criticism on specific poems and plays by LH,
9
16
ACS Trinity College, Cambridge, 1929 Apr 1.
9
17
ALS, Pinner. Thanks LH and their sister Clemence for their congratulations
9
17
9
17
9
17
9
17
9
17
9
17
AEH teases LH because he has been mistaken for him., 1907 Feb 7 - 1908
Dec 16.
on AEH's appointment to the chair at Cambridge., 1911 Jan 30.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. "This is to say that I am not coming to
hear your seditious play...", 1911 Apr 27.
ALS, Pinner. "...I have not thanked you for the proofs of your play. It
interested me, but I should not have thought it would interest most people,
nor be effective on the stage. However, everyone who heard you was loud in
praise of your reading...", 1911 Jun 11.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. "I was at Eton last Sunday and came
across two boys...to whom on one occasion...you recited reams of poetry
which they supposed to be your own; but the only fragment which
they could repeat was mine. It says a great deal for your conversational
ascendancy that the incident took place, for in any other company those two
boys would do the talking and not the listening.", 1917 Feb 10.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. AEH offers his criticism of a trilogy LH
has sent him and wishes him a prosperous trip to America, adding "If they
pay you in dollars you ought to come back rich.", 1919 Dec 4.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. "I hope that by fair means and foul
together you despoiled America of a great deal of its appreciated coinage. I
have just flown to Paris and back, and I am never going by any other route,
until they build the Channel Tunnel...", 1920 Sep 21.
- Page 69 -
A.E. Housman papers
AEH to LH
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. AEH describes the political situation,
9
17
9
17
9
17
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge, 1929 Feb 25.
9
17
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge (photocopy). AEH thanks LH for his
9
17
9
18
9
18
9
19
discussing the actions of Churchill, Chamberlain, and Balfour opining, "To
represent Chamberlain as an injured man, and Balfour as a man who injured
him, is like saying that Christ crucified Pontius Pilate.", 1922 Dec 11.
ALS Trinity College, Cambridge. As AEH is about to go abroad, he reports
that Lucan is nearly finished and that Grant Richards has not yet paid him
any royalties on Last Poems., 1925 Aug 18.
ALS, Paris. "The parody of me is the best I have seen, and indeed the only
good one.", 1925 Sep 19.
Christmas present and adds "At our last feast I had the new Dean of
Westminster next me, and he said he had long been wishing to thank me for
the amusement he had derived from my writings, especially about Queen
Victoria and her Ministers. So if I bring you money, you bring me fame.",
1925 Dec 29.
12 AlsS Trinity College, Cambridge. Subjects discussed include LH's
suggestion that AEH write an essay on Coventry Patmore, the poetry of
younger poets, Name and Nature of Poetry, LH's plays, Houston Martin and
AEH's failing health., 1930 May 12-1935 Jun 9.
ALS, n.p. AEH writes, "I rejoice that you have made a fortune. Do not
squander it as you did the proceeds of the Englishwoman." and consents
to the setting of Hell Gate to music, adding "The orchestra will drown
the words, which must be pretty bad if a composer has an overwhelming
admiration for them.", 1936 Mar 11.
Laurence Housman article on AEH in The Saturday Review of Literature,
1936 Mar 11.
- Page 70 -
A.E. Housman papers
Incoming Third Part Corresponding
Box
Folder
9
Box
20
Folder
9
20
Box
Folder
9
21-29
Edward Housman Material (AEH's father). AMs, poem with note on
verso "to a young barrister", 1833.
Box
Folder
9
21
Letters and Documents regarding George Housman (AEH's brother),
1901, 1903, n.d.
Box
Folder
9
Box
22
Folder
ALS, GH to Laurence Housman, n.d.
9
22
Newspaper clipping: portrait of GH with a transcript of a letter he wrote
9
22
9
22
War Office letter to Housman regarding effects of GH., 1901 Dec 4.
9
22
Basil Housman letter to unidentified family member regarding a memorial
9
22
9
22
9
22
Incoming Third Part Corresponding, 1936 Oct-Nov.
3 ALsS to LH all regarding AEH. See also Death of A.E. Housman.
Family Materials, 1833-1938.
from the front., n.d. [1901 Nov 1].
Official condolence letter from military containing particulars of GH's
death., 1901 Nov 8.
service for GH., 1903 Apr 5.
Portrait of GH printed in The Bromsgrove Droitwich and Redditch
Messenger., 1901 Apr 16.
Photograph of memorial plaque for Bromsgrove residents who died in the
Boer War., n.d.
- Page 71 -
A.E. Housman papers
Jeannie Housman Correspondence. 16 ALsS, AEH to JH.
Box
Folder
9
23
Lucy Housman Correspondence (Housman's step-mother). 2 ALsS, AEH
to LH, regarding Housman's travels in Constantinople, 1898 Mar 21, n.d.
Box
Folder
9
24
Sarah Jane Housman Material (Housman's mother).
Box
Folder
9
Box
25
Folder
9
25
9
25
Box
Folder
9
26
Box
Folder
9
Box
27-29
Folder
9
27
9
27
9
27
Jeannie Housman Correspondence. 16 ALsS, AEH to JH., 1929-1936.
Pamphlet, "Letters on a Memorial Window" containing writing from SJH,
1863.
Photograph of church Old Woodchester Church, n.d.
Aubrey Symons printed memorial (Housman's nephew), 1915.
Kate Housman Symons Material (Housman's sister), 1872-1938.
3 ADS, AEH to Symons, Oxford. Letter written to his sister in the form
of a humorous poem. Also includes a small cartoon by Housman. Three
autographed sheets of poems addressed to "My dearest Kate" and signed
"Your doting brother, A Edward H.", 1879 Jun 19.
ALS, AEH to Symons, Trinity College, Cambridge. "I am just off to France
for a week or so, so I send back Jerry's letters. The book you speak of,
Wilkins (David), Concilia, is in the London Library but is in Latin.", 1922
May 30.
ALS, AEH to Symons, Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman thanks his
sister "for your efforts to console me for being seventy" and for a portrait of
their father, and discusses family news., 1929 Apr 3.
- Page 72 -
A.E. Housman papers
Graphic Materials
ALS, AEH to Symons, Trinity College, Cambridge. "I am just off to France
9
27
9
27
ALS, Symons to [Partridge]. Family Greeting Cards., 1938 July 20.
9
27
2 ANS, all 7 Housman children to their mother on her birthday and their
9
28
9
29
for a week or so, so I send back Jerry's letters. The book you speak of,
Wilkins (David), Concilia, is in the London Library but is in Latin.", 1922
May 30.
ALS, AEH to Symons, Trinity College, Cambridge. Housman thanks his
sister "for your efforts to console me for being seventy" and for a portrait of
their father, and discusses family news., 1929 Apr 3.
aunt on the New Year., 1872, n.d.
Housman Family Chart, n.d.
Box
Graphic Materials, 1842-1927.
10-12
General note
This series is divided into three subseries: A.E. Housman, Housman Family and Friends,
Places and Miscellaneous Drawings.
Box
Folder
10
12
Box
1-5
Folder
Housman aged two and five (6 copies, 1 framed).
10
1
Housman aged eighteen and thirty five (10 copies).
10
2
Housman from Grant Richards Collection (4 photographs, 3 negatives, with
10
3
A.E. Housman, 1916, 1927.
7 duplicates), 1916.
- Page 73 -
A.E. Housman papers
Housman Family and Friends
Housman in old age (3 originals, 9 duplicates).
10
4
Drawings and Prints (6).
10
5
Portrait medallion by T. Spiele Simson, 1927.
10
Album with photos and drawings of Housman, family members, and locations in
12
Shropshire.
Box
Folder
10
11
Box
6
1-2
Folder
Edward Housman (1 photograph framed, 1 drawing framed).
10
6
Laurence Housman (1 framed photograph).
10
6
Sarah Jane Housman (1 photograph in neomonoscope).
10
6
Moses Jackson (2 photographs).
11
1
Unidentified and Groups (8 photographs).
11
2
Box
Folder
11
Box
3-5
Folder
Shropshire and unidentified locations (28 photographs).
11
3
Cambridge (6 postcards).
11
3
Miscellaneous drawings (12 loose drawings, 1 sketchbook).
11
4
Housman Family and Friends, n.d.
Places and Miscellaneous Drawings, 1842-1843.
- Page 74 -
A.E. Housman papers
Places and Miscellaneous Drawings
Sarah Jane Housman signed drawings: 1 sketchbook, dated 1842 and 1843;
1 loose drawing, dated 1843., 1842-1843.
- Page 75 -
11
5