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Creator
Beekman, William
Call number
Berg Coll MSS Beekman
Physical description
153 items
Language
English
Preferred Citation
William Beekman Collection of Virginia Woolf and Her Circle, Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature, The New York Public Library
Repository
Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.
Portions of this collection have been digitized and are available online.

This collection of Virginia Woolf books, correspondence, photographs, and other material was assembled by collector William Beekman over the course of several decades. Many of the books within this collection were originally owned, or gifted, by Virginia Woolf and Leonard Woolf.

Biographical/historical information

Virginia Woolf (January 25, 1882 – March 28, 1941) was a British writer born and raised in London, England. She was one of the most famous writers of the modernist era and wrote many best-selling books such as Mrs. Dalloway, A Room of One's Own and To The Lighthouse.

Scope and arrangement

This collection of Virginia Woolf books, correspondence, photographs, and other material was assembled by collector William Beekman over the course of several decades. The highlights include: two books, Histoire de Ma Vie by George Sand and Familiar Studies of Men and Books by Robert Louis Stevenson, rebound by Virginia Woolf in colorful and decorative paper, with hand lettered spine titles; several imprints of the Woolf's Hogarth Press, including review copies, owned by the Woolfs; Virginia and Leonard Woolf's copies of books inscribed to friends and loved ones; extensive correspondence, including a letter written by Virginia Woolf to her sister signed with nicknames and dated February 6, 1907 on the eve of her wedding; a letter from Virginia Woolf to Clive Bell, signed "Eleanor Hadyng" and dated February 19, [1909] with a photograph of Woolf and Bell at Studland Beach; forty letters from Virginia Woolf to Julian Bell (her nephew); copies of the first editions of Woolf's books; 3 manuscript poems by Vita Sackville-West; Woolf's passport; and a set of eight letters from Leonard Woolf and Vanessa Bell to Vita Sackville-West, regarding Woolf's disappearance and death.

The William Beekman Collection of Virginia Woolf and Her Circle is arranged in five series:

  • Series I: Books
    1731-1940
    71 items

    The majority of the books in this series are by Virginia Woolf, with most being published by The Hogarth Press. The remaining books include works co-authored with Leonard Woolf, works from Julian Bell's library, and works from Woolf's library.

    Two titles were bound by Virginia Woolf -- a ten-volume set of George Sand's Histoire de Ma Vie and a copy of Stevenson's Familiar Studies of Men and Books. Many of the books are inscribed or signed by Virginia Woolf, primarily to close friends.

  • Series II: Manuscripts--Poems to Virginia Woolf
    ca. 1925-1941
    3 items

    Working drafts and handwritten versions of poems by Vita (Victoria) Sackville-West.

  • Series III: Letters and Documents
    1907-1941
    25 items

    The majority of letters found in this series are from Virginia Woolf to various correspondents, including her sister Vanessa Bell (1, on the eve of her marriage); her brother-in-law Clive Bell (3); her nephews Julian and Quentin Bell (44); as well as single letters to Duncan Grant, Florence Hardy, Vita Sackville-West, and other members of the Bloomsbury Group. Fewer in number are the letters from Leonard Woolf and Vanessa Bell, primarily to Vita Sackville-West and regarding Virginia Woolf's disappearance and death in 1941.

    The broadsides, one from Hogarth Press and two for Virginia Woolf's books, as well as an extract from Virginia Woolf's passport (with photo), are also found in this series.

  • Series IV: Photographs
    1895-1935
    3 photographic prints
  • Series V: Art Work by Vanessa Bell
    ca. 1930-1932
    2 items

    Designs for On Being Ill and The Second Common Reader created by Vanessa Bell. Designs are framed.

Administrative information

Custodial history

Many of the books within this collection were originally owned, or gifted, by Virginia Woolf and Leonard Woolf (see provenance inscriptions with each book). The majority of the letters found in the collection were written by Virginia Woolf; with smaller groups written by her husband Leonard Woolf and her sister Vanessa Bell.

This collection was assembled by collector William Beekman over the course of several decades. He had custom boxes created for a majority of the books within the collection. He also housed the letters in binders based on recipient or subject. This collection maintains, with few exceptions, his organization.

Source of acquisition

Acquired by purchase and gift from William Beekman, 2019.

Processing information

Processed by Thea Constantine in November 2019.

Two items were moved into the "Bloomsbury Letters" volume: the portrait photograph of Virginia Stephen (found loose), and "The Voyage Out: Some Press Opinions" (housed in book during transit).

Using the collection

Location

Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018-2788
Third Floor, Room 320