Collections

The Abercrombie mss., 1909-1938, consists of letters and writings of poet Lascelles Abercrombie, 1881-1938.

The Binyon mss., 1916-1943, consists of the correspondence and writings of Sir Laurence Binyon, 1869-1943, poet and keeper of prints and drawings of the British Museum, and Lady Cicely Margaret (Powell) Binyon, 1876-1962, translator, compiler, and author.

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 Drinkwater mss., 1912-1920, consists of the letters and writings of poet and dramatist John Drinkwater, 1882-1937.

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 Housman mss., 1861-1961, consist of correspondence and writings of Alfred Edward Housman, 1859-1936, poet, and correspondence about Housman.

The Housman mss. II, 1913-1943, consist of correspondence of Alfred Edward Housman, 1859-1936, poet, 1913-1936; and of publisher Grant Richards and classicist G.B.A. Fletcher, 1939-1943.

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 Hutchinson mss., 1891-1900, consists of those cards and letters written to Thomas Hutchinson, 1856-1938, book collector, from various authors and removed from volumes formerly owned by Hutchinson.

The Leng mss., 1909-1957, consist of the correspondence and papers of English photographer and printer Kyle P. Leng (d. 1958) and his family. By far the bulk of the correspondence is with Robert Gathorne-Hardy, 1902-1973, covering the years from the beginning of their relationship until Leng's death, or 1921-1958. There are several folders of Leng's correspondence with various members of his family and several more folders of correspondence with colleagues and friends. Correspondence with family includes that with Robert Leng, Ruth Leng, William Leng, and most abundantly, his brother Basil Leng, as well as childhood letters from both Kyrle as well as Basil. Correspondents in this latter group include Cecil Beaton, Lord David Cecil, Norman Douglas, Lady Ottoline Morrell, Siegfried Sassoon, and Stephen Tennant. Much of these correspondence involve communciation between British socialites, royalty, and other wealthy or upperclass members of early 20th century British Society. Also present are photographs, some poems and other writings by Leng, and a few clippings or other printed items.