Consists of individual items acquired separately either as a gift, purchase, transfer, or removal from a variety of sources, relating to English literature. Additions continue to be made.
The Delany mss., 1728-1760, consists of an anthology, a volume of original drawings, and the manuscript of Marianna by Mary (Granville) Delany, 1700-1788, artist and writer.
The Wordsworth mss. III, 1806-1956, consist of correspondence of William Wordsworth, 1770-1850, and of Mrs. Dorothy (Wordsworth) Dickson; a photograph of a chalk drawing of Wordsworth; and a photograph of Mrs. Dickson.
The Rossetti mss., 1817-1893, consist of the correspondence of poet Christina Georgina Rossetti, 1830- 1894, and her two brothers: painter, poet Dante Gabriel Rossetti, 1828-1882, and author, critic William Michael Rossetti, 1829-1919.
The Southey mss., II, 1834-1843, consist of poet Robert Southey's own annotated copy of his only published work of fiction The Doctor, &c (London: Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green and Longman, 1834-1847).
The Wordsworth mss. II, 1848-1909, consist of letters and papers of the family of William Wordsworth, 1770-1850, and their friends. They are concerned chiefly with family matters, financial accounts, and the welfare of Dora Wordsworth, 1858-1934, his granddaughter, after the death of her mother.
The Dobell mss., 1849-1947, consists of personal letters written by Sydney Thompson Dobell, 1824-1874, poet, to friends, and a few by friends about Dobell.
The Housman mss. III, 1885-1970, consist of correspondence of John Waynflete Carter, 1905-1975, bibliographer, about Alfred Edward Housman, 1859-1936, poet, copies of Housman correspondence and writings, photographs of Housman and relatives, and manuscripts of articles and memoirs about Housman, including one by Edith Sitwell. Also present is a copy of the first proof of A.E. Housman's Collected Poems, (London, Jonathan Cape, 1939) annotated and corrected by John W. Carter.
The Sackville-West, V. mss., 1888-1962, consist of the letters of author Victoria Mary (Vita) Sackville-West, 1892-1962, and her husband, Sir Harold George Nicolson, 1886-1968, author.
The Russell mss. consist of correspondence, 1889-1933, and writings, 1895-1933, of George William Russell, (A.E.), 1867- 1935, poet, and of Frederic Prokosch, 1908-1989, author.