John Masefield collection M8 Miriam B. Spectre, Melissa Torquato.
Last updated on August 31, 2020.
Bryn Mawr College John Masefield collection
Table of Contents
Summary Information...... 3 Biography/History...... 4 Scope and Contents...... 4 Administrative Information...... 5 Controlled Access Headings...... 5 Collection Inventory...... 6 Correspondence...... 6 Writing...... 7 Photographs and prints...... 9 Other material...... 9
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Summary Information
Repository Bryn Mawr College
Source Davidson, Malcolm
Creator Masefield, John, 1878-1967
Title John Masefield collection
Call number M8
Date [inclusive] 1894-1944
Extent 0.5 linear feet
Language English .
Abstract The poet John Masefield was born on June 1, 1878 in Ledbury, Herefordshire, England. Masefield was best known for his sea poems, including "Sea Fever" and "Cargoes," and for his long, narrative poems, including "The Everlasting Mercy." He also wrote adventure novels, short stories, and works for children, as well as two autobiographical works. In 1930, he was appointed poet laureate of England, and was awarded the Order of Merit in 1935. Masefield died near Abingdon, Berkshire on 12 May 1967. The collection contains a number of letters, a small group of material about a musical composition by Malcolm Davidson based on Masefield's poem, "A Christmas Carol", prints and photographs.
Cite as:
John Masefield Collection, Special Collection Department, Bryn Mawr College Library.
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Biography/History
The poet John Masefield was born on 1 June 1878 in Ledbury, Herefordshire, England. Masefield was best known for his sea poems, including "Sea Fever" and "Cargoes," and for his long, narrative poems, including "The Everlasting Mercy." He also wrote adventure novels, short stories, and works for children, as well as two autobiographical works, In the Mill (1941), which describes his time working in a carpet factory in the United States, and So Long to Learn (1952). Masefield worked on a windjammer that sailed around Cape Horn, lived for some time in the United States, and then returned to England where he worked as a journalist for the Manchester Guardian. In 1930, he was appointed poet laureate of England, and was awarded the Order of Merit in 1935. Masefield died near Abingdon, Berkshire on 12 May 1967.
Scope and Contents
The John Masefield collection houses the correspondence and other personal papers of the poet John Masefield, who was best known for his poetry about the sea. The collection ranges from 1894 to 1944. The collection is divided into four series: "Series I: Correspondence," "Series II: Writing," "Series III: Photographs and prints," and "Series IV: Other Material." "Series I: Correspondence" is divided into correspondence "From John Masefield" and correspondence "From Third Parties." The collection contains a number of letters by John Masefield, most regarding his work, from 1906 to 1944. "Series II: Writing" is divided into two subseries, "Writings by John Masefield" and 'Writings by others." "Writings by others" includes a small group of material about the December 1920 edition of The Chapbook (published by The Poetry Bookshop) which contained a musical composition by Malcolm Davidson based on Masefield's poem, "A Christmas Carol." This material includes the handwritten score and letters to and from The Poetry Bookshop about the publication. "Series III: Photographs and prints" contains two prints and three photographs of Masefield, all from the 1920s, four of them signed by him. There are also two landscape photographs, with a note by Masefield. "Series IV: Other Material" contains the earliest item in the collection, a nautical certificate dated 1894, which was presented to Masefield from the ship "Conway." Masefield was best known for his poetry about the sea. Although small, this collection provides a useful, well-rounded look at his personal and professional life. It would be a valuable resource for anyone interested in Masefield's poetry and correspondence.
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Administrative Information
Bryn Mawr College Miriam B. Spectre, Melissa Torquato.
Access Restrictions This collection is open for research.
Use Restrictions The John Masefield Collection is 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 Acquired by purchase and gift from various sources.
Controlled Access Headings
Form/Genre(s)
• Photographs • Correspondence
Personal Name(s)
• Masefield, John, 1878-1967 • Davidson, Malcolm
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Collection Inventory
Correspondence.
From John Masefield.
box folder
Cazenove, Mr. 1 1
Clench, Mr. TLS, Burcote Brook, Abingdon. 1 1
Milkman, Mr. TLS, Hill Crest, Boar's Hill, Oxford. 1 2
Mills, Wilson W. TLS, Burcote Brook, Abingdon (See also: Box 1, folder 1 2 12).
O'Shea, Monica Barry. 1 2
ALS, 13 Well Walk, Hampstead . 1 3
ALS, Boar's Hill, Oxford . 1 3
The Poetry Bookshop.ALS, Hill Crest, Boar's Hill, Oxford. 1 3
Richards, [Mr.?]. ALS, 30 Maida Hill West, W. 1 3
Theis, Mrs. Seven ALS, one TLS, one AL. 1 4
TL, Boar's Hill, Oxford. 1 4
ALS, signed "P.H.". 1 4
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From third parties.
box folder
[Galatti?], Stephen to Oliver H. Perry. ALS, American Ambulance Field 1 5 Service, 21 rue raynouard, Paris.
Gurney, Ivor to The Poetry Bookshop. Three ALS. 1 5
Ord, Bernhard to The Poetry Bookshop. 1 5
ALS, Athelnet, All Saints Road, Clifton, Bristol. 1 5
ALS, 9 Camden Place, Preston. 1 5
Writing.
Writings by John Masefield.
"Emily the Fair" (See: "Minnie Maylow's Story," Legal Oversize, box 1, folder 25).
box folder
"Jim Davis," story, holograph, corrected. With preface by F. J. Harvey 1 6-9 Darton.
"The Long, Long Indian Days," poem, printed as broadside by Elkin Mathews. Printed with "Pixy-Led" by Alice E. Gillington. Signed by Gillington. With hand colored pictures. Stored in: General Oversize, box 1, folder 3 .
"Minnie Maylow's Story," poem. Typescript carbon, in volume. Stored in: Legal Oversize, box 1, folder 25 .
- Page 7 - John Masefield collection Proofs, corrected, in volume. Includes proofs of illustrations. Stored in:...
Proofs, corrected, in volume. With title "Emily the Fair." Stored in: Legal Oversize, box 1, folder 25.
box folder
"The Port of Holy Peter," poem, holograph, corrected. Includes pencil 1 10 sketch of a boat. Written on stationery of The National Telephone Company, Limited.
"The Racer," poem, printed, signed by John Masefield. 1 10
"Reynard the Fox," poem, typescript, corrected. 1 12
"Son of Adam," poem.Typescript, corrected, in volume. Stored in: Legal Oversize, box 1, folder 26 .
Proofs, corrected, in volume. Includes proofs of illustrations. Stored in: Legal Oversize, box 1, folder 26.
box folder
Unidentified work. One page fragment, holograph. 1 15
Writings by others.
box folder
The Chapbook, No. 18 (London: The Poetry Bookshop) Contains "A 1 14 Christmas Carol," music by Malcolm Davidson, words by John Masefield; "Full Moon," music by Scott Goddard, words by Walter de la Mare; "Desire in Spring," music by Ivor Gurney, words by Francis Ledwidge.
Davidson, Malcolm. Musical composition, holograph, of John Masefield's poem, "A Christmas Carol". Stored in: General Oversize, box 1, folder 3.
Goddard, Scott. Musical composition, holograph, of Walter de la Mare's poem, "Full moon". Stored in: General Oversize, box 1, folder 3.
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Gurney, Ivor. Musical composition, holograph, of Francis Ledwidge's poem, "Desire in Spring". Stored in: General Oversize, box 1, folder 3.
Photographs and prints.
box folder
Masefield, John. Head and shoulders, print by William Strang. Signed by 1 15 Masefield.
Masefield, John. Print. Signed and dated by Masefield, 1921. 1 15
Masefield, John. Photograph. Signed and dated by Masefield, 1922 Jan 19. 1 16
Masefield, John. Photograph. On back are two printed biographical 1 16 paragraphs, signed by Maser.
Masefield, John. Sitting at a table with a book, photograph. Signed and dated 1 17 by Masefield, 1922 Jan 19.
Landscape scenes. Two photographs. With note by Masefield: "The original 1 17 of the Jell Brook...".
Other material.
box folder
Mercantile Marine Service Association, Liverpool, School Ship "Conway.". 1 18 Certificate presented to Masefield "on leaving this ship".
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