Collections in Carl H. Pforzheimer Collection of Shelley and His Circle

Originally housed in his Park Avenue apartment, the Carl H. Pforzheimer Library moved to a suite in midtown Manhattan after Pforzheimer's death in 1957. There, Kenneth Neill Cameron, leading Shelley scholar of the time, continued his work as editor of the multi-volume Shelley and his Circle publication, years later followed by Donald H. Reiman. Mihai Handrea, hired as librarian in 1970, became the first curator of The Pforzheimer Collection of Shelley and His Circle (a portion of the much larger Pforzheimer Library) when it moved to the New York Public Library in 1986. 23 manuscript boxes of correspondence, proofs, and printed material comprising the Pforzheimer Library papers in the Carl H. Pforzheimer Collection of Shelley and His Circle. less

After the death of Percy Bysshe Shelley in 1822, Claire Clairmont left her widowed step-sister Mary in Italy, after having lived with the Shelleys for years. She joined her brother Charles in Vienna, who had recently moved there to teach English. In 1824, Claire left for Russia to become a governess, at around which time Charles married the Viennese Antonia Ghi(s)laine d'Hembyze. Charles and Antonia had seven children, several of whom would live to develop close relationships with their aunt Claire into adulthood. The Clairmont family papers consist of letters, journals and various documents related to the descendants of Claire and Charles Gaulis Clairmont, the step-siblings of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, English writer. Many of the documents from the 1930's, written in German and bearing government seals, trace the genealogy of the family back to the eighteenth century. Also included are documents from the 1760's relating to the ancestors of Charles Clairmont's wife Antonia Ghi(s)laine d'Hembyze, some of which are on vellum. less

Clarence Lee Cline (1905-1998), American professor of English. His Byron, Shelley, and Their Pisan Circle was published in 1952. To a Clinton N. Rutan of New Jersey : 2 letters : (S'ANA 0947g1-2) : -- 27 Aug 1952 : 1 autograph letter signed : answering a letter about his book ; commenting on the work of other Romantics scholars. -- 8 Jan 1953 : 1 typescript letter signed : thanking him for his Christmas greeting. less

The Beat poet Gregory Corso (1930-2001), a native of New York City, taught intermittently at the State University of New York at Buffalo during the 1960s. Shelley was among his favorite poets. Lecture on Shelley's Prometheus unbound : (S'ANA 0928) : typescript with autograph annotations and two autograph pages, 1964. Notes (6 typed pages and 2 handwritten) for a lecture on the Promethean myth and Shelley's lyrical drama Prometheus unbound. Signed by Corso at the top of the first page, and dated: Buffalo 1964. less

Theodore G. Ehrsam, American professor, writer and bibliographer. To a Clinton N. Rutan of New Jersey : 3 autograph postcards and 1 annotated flyer : 21 Oct 1955 - 1 Oct 1958 : (S'ANA 0947e) : one post card relating to an article on "Shelley's Brother In-Law" ; the flyer is for a Barnes and Noble reading list relating to a radio program hosted by Ehrsam. less

R. H. Ellis-Davies, a family member of Ellis W. Davies, the Welsh solicitor and politician. To Louise Schutz Boas, biographer : 1 typescript letter signed : 28 Nov 1960 : (S'ANA 0432) : from Craig Wen, Caernarvon : regarding a sideboard table in his family's possession which once belonged to Percy Bysshe Shelley. Along with a color photographic slide of the sideboard, in a cardboard slip marked with a note [in the hand of Ellis-Davies?] explaining the sideboard was made for Shelley at Tanyrallt. less

Maurice Buxton Forman, English postal worker and literary editor. He was the son of the bibliographer and forger H. Buxton Forman, and has been posthumously implicated as a party to his father's literary counterfeit schemes. Forman produced several works on George Meredith, and followed his father as the editor of the letters of Keats. · To Neville Rogers, Shelley scholar : 5 autograph letters signed : 1948-1953 : (S'ANA 0912.37--41) : three of five written on printed South African "air letter" sheets ; discussing various literary subjects, including Keats and Shelley. less

John Forsythe, American actor of stage and television. He starred in several highly popular TV series, including Bachelor Father and Charlie's Angels, and is probably best known for his portrayal of oil tycoon Blake Carrington in the long running 1980's prime time soap opera Dynasty. · To Carl H. Pforzheimer, investment banker, philanthropist and collector : 2 autograph letters signed : 5 Nov - 27 Nov 1953 : (MISC 1430a-b) : the first letter complying with a request for certain lines from Forsythe's performance as Fisby in the Broadway production of Teahouse of the August Moon ; the second letter is in thanks for Pforzheimer's gift of a box of candy. less

Naomi Eleanor Clare Jacob (pseudonym Ellington Gray; known as Naomi Ellington Jacob), English writer and actress. To Neville Rogers, Shelley scholar : 8 letters : -- 1 typescript letter signed "Mickie" : 2 Jan 1956 : (S'ANA 0912.48) : from Casa Micki, Gardone Riviera, Lago di Garda, Italy : begins, "It was very nice to hear from you. It seems preposterous to me that age should have anything to do with getting the kind of job you want at the University ..." -- 1 typescript letter signed "Mickie" : 27 May 1958 : (S'ANA 0912.49) : from Sesame Imperial and Pioneer Club, 49, Grosvenor Street, W.1. (printed stationery) : begins, "It was a great pleasure to have your letter, with its beautiful writing, this morning. If your friend is going to take the mud baths, why not take them at Sirmione ..." -- 1 typescript letter signed "Mickie" : 11 Aug 1960 : (S'ANA 0912.50) : from Casa Micki, Sirmione, Provincia di Brescia, Italy : Your wonderful letter was written to me on June 14th and here it is August and I am ashamed of myself." -- 1 typescript letter signed "Mickie" : 12 Sep 1960 : (S'ANA 0912.51) : from Casa Micki, Sirmione, Provincia di Brescia, Italy : begins, "Thank you so much for sending me the cutting about the book on Ruth Draper ..." -- 1 typescript letter signed "Mickie" : 2 Feb 1961 : (S'ANA 0912.52) : from Casa Micki, Sirmione, Provincia di Brescia, Italy : begins, "I was amused that I had been given a full title. I wonder what they thought it meant?" -- 1 typescript letter signed "Mickie" : 20 Feb 1961 : (S'ANA 0912.53) : from Casa Micki, Sirmione, Provincia di Brescia, Italy : begins, "Some time ago I had the enclosed sent to me with a letter asking if I would sign this petition ..." -- 1 typescript letter signed "Mickie" : 24 Feb 1961 : (S'ANA 0912.54) : from Casa Micki, Sirmione, Provincia di Brescia, Italy : begins, "How very kind of you to take so much trouble. As a matter of fact I had never heard of Lindsay ..." -- 1 typescript letter signed "Mickie" : 14 May 1963 : (S'ANA 0912.55) : from Casa Micki, Sirmione, Provincia di Brescia, Italy : begins, "I t was so nice to have your letter and to know that there is a chance that we may be able to meet after this long time ...". less

Shirley Carson Jenney (d. 1953), American psychic and clairaudient medium. She produced several volumes which she claimed to have been communicated to her by the spirit of Percy Bysshe Shelley, including The Great War-Cloud (1938); and Moments with Shelley (1941). · To Clifton Reynolds : 1 typescript letter signed : 24 Jun [1951] : (S'ANA 0947.J) : from 2I72 Vista Del Mar Ave: Hollywood 28, California. U.S.A. : begins, "It was a very great pleasure to hear from you -- with the wonderful heading 'Shelley House' ..."; saying futher, "Shelley sends you this message -- 'I am in the Third heaven at the present time; and with you here some day, as is quite definite to me. Tides of memory encompass me, as I note your surroundings sometimes. My best regards always.'" With the 24 Sep 1951 letter from Reynolds to Clinton N. Rutan which enclosed the Jenney letter, and some enclosures: a typescript review of Jenney's "Fortune of Eternity"; two clippings from a printed publication relating to Jenney and Shelley; and a newspaper clipping from the Melbourne "Age" Literary Supplement, 22 Sep 1951, on the state of America. less

Frederick L. Jones, American professor and scholar of British Romanticism. His 1964 edition of the collected letters of Percy Bysshe Shelley remains the authoritative text of Shelley's correspondence. · To Clinton N. Rutan of New Jersey : 13 letters; all with the envelopes, on University of Pennsylvania English Department stationery; all addressed from 4537 Pine Street, Philadelphia 43, Pa. : -- 1 typescript letter signed : 15 Aug 1951 : (S'ANA 0947.a01) : begins, "I am always glad to hear from Shelley addicts and collectors ..."; mentioning his "error" with regard to the illustration of E. E. Williams "from a sketch by himself." -- 1 autograph letter signed : 3 Dec 1951 : (S'ANA 0947.a02) : not having received a reply from Rutan, wondering if his letter had been delivered; begins, "Last summer I was much pleased to have your letter of August 8 from Maine." -- 1 autograph letter signed : 28 Feb 1952 : (S'ANA 0947.a03) : begins, "Your failure to answer my letters of August 15 and December 3 is so unaccountable that I am beginning to wonder if by your letter of last August 8 you were 'pulling my leg' ..." -- 1 autograph letter signed : 3 Mar 1952 : (S'ANA 0947.a04) : begins, "I was delighted to have your letter of March 1st and with it a dispersal of the mystery which has surrounded our correspondence ..." -- 1 autograph letter signed : 23 Apr 1952 : (S'ANA 0947.a05) : begins, "Has our correspondence again suffered from Post Office inefficiency?" -- 1 autograph letter signed : 28 Apr 1952 : (S'ANA 0947.a06) : begins, "I am delighted that you are coming down on Saturday, May 3." -- 1 autograph letter signed : 1 Jun 1952 : (S'ANA 0947.a07) : mentioning Rutan's transcription of E. E. Williams's diary; begins, "Since in your letter of May 19 you said you were sending the photostats in a day or so, I was waiting to announce to you their arrival. They have not come yet ..." -- 12 Jun 1952 : (S'ANA 0947.a08) : begins, "Thank you so much for the photostats of the one Shelley the fine Mary Shelley and the one Godwin letters." -- 1 autograph letter signed : 3 Jul 1952 : (S'ANA 0947.a09) : begins, "I have been tardy in acknowledging receipt of the [Arlington?] Park sale catalogue ..." -- 1 autograph letter signed : 4 Sep 1952 : (S'ANA 0947.a10) : begins, "Your letter of August 5 found me in the midst of graduate final examinations ..." -- 1 inscription signed : [31 Jan 1953] : (S'ANA 0947.a11) : on an offprint from Modern Language Quarterly of Jones's 1952 essay, "Macaulay's Theory of Petry in Milton." -- -- 1 autograph letter signed : 21 Sep 1954 : (S'ANA 0947.a12) : begins, "Thanks for your card last August from Cape Porpoise." -- 1 autograph letter signed : 12 May 1958 : (S'ANA 0947.a13) : begins, "You are truly an astonishing correspondent. After passing over half a dozen of my letters of two or three years ago, you write me a nice letter which gives no hint of your long silence." Also held is an empty envelope from Jones to Rutan, stamped with the date of 16 Sep 1952. less

Grayson Kirk, American international relations scholar and president of Columbia University from 1953 to 1968. · To Carl H. Pforzheimer, investment banker, philanthropist and collector : 2 typescript letters signed : -- 7 Nov 1952 : (MISC 1367a) : on Columbia University stationery; commenting on the recent election of Eisenhower to the U.S. presidency; begins, "I was delighted to receive your message after the election ..." -- 26 Jan 1953 : (MISC 1367b) : on Columbia University stationery; begins, "I hope you will forgive me for my delay in replying to your message about my new post at Columbia ..."; with the envelope. less

Leslie Alexis Marchand (1900-1999), a leading authority on Lord Byron, was born and grew up in central Washington state, graduating from the University of Washington in 1922. He received his Ph.D. from Columbia University in 1940, and spent most of his academic career at Rutgers University. His most noteworthy publications are his three-volume Byron: a Biography (1957), and a twelve-volume edition of Byron's personal writings, Byron's Letters and Journals (1973-1982). This collection consists of a typescript memoir, various correspondence, working papers, and Byron-related memorabilia. less

John Edward Masefield, English poet and novelist. To Neville Rogers, Shelley scholar : 4 letters : -- 1 autograph letter signed : 12 Jul 1961 : (S'ANA 0912.47) : from Burcote Brook, Abingdon (printed stationery) : begins, "I thank you for your letter & for the kind things you say of my work. I will will gladly support the scheme for the restoration of the window to Vincent Novello ..." With the stamped and post-marked envelope, with black wax seal. -- 1 typescript letter signed : [ca. 1961?] : (S'ANA 0912.44) : from Burcote Brook, Abingdon (printed stationery) : begins, "Many thanks for your letter. I am sorry to have to refuse your request. I have been ill ..." -- 1 typescript letter signed : [ca. 1961?] : (S'ANA 0912.45) : from Burcote Brook, Abingdon (printed stationery) : begins, "Many thanks for your letter. For the next few months I shall be very much pressed with work of different kinds, and may be quite unable to write you anything ..." -- 1 autograph letter signed : [ca. 1961?] : (S'ANA 0912.46) : from Burcote Brook, Abingdon (printed stationery) : begins, "So many thanks for you letter & for the very kind gift of your book ...". less

Charles Dudley Massey, Managing Director of Pickering and Chatto, Booksellers, London. To Clinton N. Rutan of New Jersey : 1 typescript metter signed : 11 Jun 1952 : (S'ANA 0947m) : from 13, Orange Street, Haymarket, London, W.C.2" (Pickering & Chatto letterhead) : begins, "Thank you for your letter dated May 27th. We have sold the Ingpen Shelley collection en bloc and did not catalogue it ..." With the post-marked and stamped envelope. less

Gilbert Murray, Australian-born British classical scholar and internationalist. To Neville Rogers, Shelley scholar : 1 typescript letter signed "G. M." : 27 Nov 1953 : (S'ANA 0912.42) : from Yatscombe, Boar's Hill, Oxford (printed stationery) : begins, "I think Shelley was really quoting from the Nichomachean Ethics, 1177B, though the words are not exactly the same ..."; with spaces in the body left for Greek words, which Murray has written ink ink. With the stamped, postmarked envelope. less

Unpublished essay in two editrorial states, planned to be issued with plates of Peacock's privately printed Greek poem, "A white-bait dinner at Lovegrove's at Blackway, July 1851," along with his literal Latin translation, and John Cam Hobhouse's English translation. The Pforzhiemer Collection holds copies of the original lithographed leaflets, as well as the manuscript of Hobhouse's translation (JCH 0003). Filed as (P'ANA 0065) under "Nicholes.". less

Sir Harold George Nicolson, British diplomat and author. To Neville Rogers, Shelley scholar : 6 letters : -- 1 typescript letter signed : 5 Sep 1952 : (S'ANA 0912.56) : from C.1 Albany, Piccadilly, W.1 (printed stationery) : begins, "Many thanks for your letter. Nothing on this earth would induce me to come to a cricket match ..." -- 1 typescript letter signed : 10 Dec 1952 : (S'ANA 0912.57) : from C.1 Albany, Piccadilly, W.1 (printed stationery) : begins, "I am afraid I very seldom write to the Times ..." -- 1 typescript letter signed : 3 Feb 1956 : (S'ANA 0912.58) : from C.1 Albany, Piccadilly, W.1 (printed stationery) : begins, "One of the first things we shall want before we get down to solid discussion on the Keats-Byron-Shelley Exhibition is expert advice on what ought to be included." -- 1 typescript letter signed : 24 Feb 1956 : (S'ANA 0912.59) : from C.1 Albany, Piccadilly, W.1 (printed stationery) : begins, "I got back from Paris last night to find your letter ..." -- 1 typescript letter signed : 25 Oct 1957 : (S'ANA 0912.60) : from C.1 Albany, Piccadilly, W.1 (printed stationery) : begins, "Thank you very much for reminding me that Vera Cacciatore will have been curator for 25 years ..." -- 1 typescript letter signed : 13 Feb 1958 : (S'ANA 0912.61) : from C.1 Albany, Piccadilly, W.1 (printed stationery) : begins, "I have spoken to the Warden of All Souls about Vera Cacciatore and he tells me that Oxford at least would not consider an Honorary Degree for any foreigner whose services to science, literature or history were not universally recognized.". less

Burton Ralph Pollin, American professor and literary scholar. · To Clinton N. Rutan of New Jersey : 6 items : -- 1 autograph letter signed : 10 Apr 1953 : (S'ANA 0947d1) : 2 pages (single sheet) : from 300 Riverside Drive, New York 25, New York (printed stationery) : begins, "I hope you will forgive my discourtesy in not replying to your very gracious letter and painstaking enclosures ..."; with the stamped, postmarked envelope. -- 1 typescript post card signed : 12 Jun 1953 : (S'ANA 0947d2) : from 300 Riv. Dr. N.Y. 25 N.Y. : begins, "I hope my letter of thanks for your Godwin enclosures reached you ..." -- 1 typescript letter signed : 11 Jul 1953 : (S'ANA 0947d3) : 1 ¹/₂ pages (single sheet) : from 300 Riv. Dr. N.Y. 25 N.Y. (on Columbia University stationery) : begins, "Thank you so much for your previous enclosures and for these which, in some respects, are even more interesting ..."; with the stamped, postmarked envelope. -- 1 autograph letter signed : [20 Dec 1954] : (S'ANA 0947d4) : 1 page (single sheet) : from 300 Riverside Drive N.Y.C. 25 : written on the back of a Christmas Card signed, "Alice and Burton Pollin"; begins, "Working on Godwin, as I have been doing off and on, all year ..."; with the stamped, postmarked envelope. -- 1 Christmas card signed : [22 Dec 1956] : (S'ANA 0947d5) : from 800 West End Avenue : signed, "Alice and Burton Pollin," with no further message; with the stamped, postmarked envelope. -- 1 typescript letter signed : 27 Dec 1975 : (S'ANA 0947d6) : 1 page (single sheet) : from 800 West End Avenue, New York, New York 10025 : laid into a Christmas card signed "Burton Pollin"; letter begins, "You are extremely kind to remember me this many long years. I still look forward to our meeting some day, preferably in New York City, where my work on the Harvard edition of Poe is keeping me bound close to the libraries ...". less

David Anton Randall, American antiquarian book dealer and rare book librarian. · To Clinton N. Rutan of New Jersey : 1 typescript letter signed : 26 Jul 1951 : (S'ANA 947n) : 1 page (single sheet) : from The Scribner Book Store, 597 Fifth Avenue, New York 17, N.Y. (printed stationery) : begins, "I have finally gotten hold of a copy of Ehrsam's Major Byron which I am sending you ...". less

Sir Sidney Patrick Shelley, 8th Baronet, British army officer. He was the grandnephew of Percy Bysshe Shelley, the poet. · To Louise Schutz Boas, biographer : 1 autograph letter signed : 10 Dec 1955 : (S'ANA 0431a) : 1 page (single sheet) : from Colombo Club, Colombo, Ceylon : begins, "Just received this. Regret to say I know of no paintings or portraits of Elizabeth Shelley ..."; with Boas's prompting letter to Sir Sidney on the verso (S'ANA 0431b), dated 12 Nov 1955, saying she is "trying to find a portrait or miniature of Elizabeth Shelley, sister of the poet, said to have resembled him so closely that they might have been taken for twins ..."; with the postmarked envelope from Sir Sidney to Boas. less

Dame Edith Louisa Sitwell, English poet and biographer. · To Neville Rogers, Shelley scholar : 1 autograph letter signed : 16 Sep 1957 : (S'ANA 0912.63) : 2 pages (single sheet) : from Castello di Montegufoni, Montagnana, Val di Pesa, prov. Firenze : begins, "It is with very much regret that I am obliged to say that I cannot, as I had hoped, review your anthology ..."; with the stamped, postmarked envelope. less

Ralph Martin Wardle, American professor and literary scholar. · To Clinton N. Rutan of New Jersey : 2 letters : -- 1 typescript letter signed : 1 Mar 1976 : (S'ANA 0947i-1) : 1 page (single sheet) + envelope : from 1227 South 52nd Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68106 : begins, "Professor Burton R. Pollin tells me that you have generously consented to allow me to print your manuscript Mary Wollstonecraft letter . . . ." -- 1 typescript letter signed : 18 Mar 1976 : (S'ANA 0947i-2) : 1 page (single sheet) + envelope : from 1227 South 52nd St., Omaha, Nebr. 68106 : begins, "Thank-you for your note and for the Xerox copy of the Mary Wollstonecraft letter.". less

Pelham Francis "Plum" Warner, British cricketer and writer on cricket. · To Neville Rogers, Shelley scholar : 1 autograph letter signed : 4 Sep 1952 : (S'ANA 0912.69) : 1 ¹/₂ pages (single sheet) : from 3 Malvern Court, S.W. 7, Kensington 8335 (embossed stationery) : begins, "I have had a letter from E. Blundenasking me to the cricket match on Sept. 10 between a Keats-Shelley Memorial side the Hampstead Cricket Club . . . .". less

Lettice Annie Worrall, née Esdaile (b. 1880), great-granddaughter of Percy Bysshe Shelley. · Autograph note attesting Shelley family provenance of scarf ring : [ca. 1962?] : (S'ANA 1070a) : in ink on formerly crumpled up sheet of lined notepaper; note reads: "Old scarf pin / left me by / Auntie [Budrie?] / (Eliza Margaret Esdaile) / Possibly belonged to / Shelley left / her by her mother / Shelley's daughter / Ianthe." Housed with scarf pin; shelved with realia. less

William P. Wreden, American antiquarian bookseller. · To Clinton N. Rutan of New Jersey : 1 typescript letter signed : 26 Jul 1951 : (S'ANA 0947.L) : 2 pages (2 single sheets) : return address Box 84, Burlingame, California (printed stationery) : begins, "Thank you for your letter of July 18th. Your name has been placed on our mailing list to receive catalogs. In the meantime I am pleased to quote the following books by and about Shelley . . . .". less

From 3 May to 13 September of 1997 the New York Public Library's Humanities and Social Sciences building held an exhibition titled Visionary Daughters of Albion, which focused on the English writers Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley. Chiefly featuring materials from the Library's Carl H. Pforzheimer Collection of Shelley and His Circle, the exhibition was mounted in the building's Edna Barnes Salomon Room. · Exhibition guest book signed by hundreds of guests in various languages (MISC 4134); within a black faux-leather Cachet brand hardbound journal. Shelved with bound manuscripts under "New York Public Library.". less