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Institute of Modern Languages

Leishman, James Blair (1902-1963)


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 0367 JBL

Held at: Institute of Modern Languages

Title: Leishman, James Blair (1902-1963)

Date(s): 1927-1962

Level of description: Collection (Fonds)

Extent: 1 box

Name of creator(s): Leishman | James Blair | 1920-1963 | Lecturer in English Literature

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

James Blair Leishman was born on 8 May 1902. He was educated at Rydal School and St John's College, Oxford. He was Assistant Lecturer, Lecturer and Senior Lecturer in English Literature at University College Southampton from 1928 to 1946 and Lecturer in English Literature at Oxford University from 1946 until his death in 1963.
Publications: The metaphysical poets: Donne, Herbert, Vaughan, Traherne, (Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1934); The monarch of wit: an analytical and comparative study of the poetry of John Donne, (London: Hutchinson, 1951); Selected poems of Friedrich Hölderlin; the German text, translated with an introduction and notes by J.B. Leishman, (London, Hogarth Press, 1954); Poems 1906 To 1926 / Rainer Maria Rilke Translated By J.B. Leishman, (London, Hogarth Press, 1957); Selected works / by Rainer Maria Rilke, Vol. 2 Poetry translated by J.B. Leishman, (London, Hogarth Press, 1960); Themes and variations in Shakespeares sonnets, (London, Hutchinson, 1961); Duino Elegies: the German text / Rainer Maria Rilke; with an English translation, introduction and commentary by J.B. Leishman & Stephen Spender, (London, Hogarth Press, 1963); The art of Marvell's poetry, (London, Hutchinson, 1968).

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Papers of James Blair Leishman, 1927-1962, comprising:
Correspondence mostly from Paul Obermüller (50 items) and Ernst Zinn (7 items) concerning his Leishman's translations of the works of Rainer Maria Rilke, 1955-1961;
holiday postcards (12 items) written by Leishman and his wife from Switzerland and Austria to their children at boarding school, 1956-1957;
Personal Diaries, 1927, 1930.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English

System of arrangement:

As described in the scope and content above.

Conditions governing access:

Researchers should apply to consult material at least forty-eight hours in advance by letter, facsimile, e-mail or telephone. The Library staff need a name and contact number, a concise and clear idea of the nature of the enquiry and a date and time for consultation.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Photocopies may be made, although this is at the discretion of the Librarian and is dependent on the nature of the material.

Physical characteristics:

Finding aids:

Box list

Detailed catalogue

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Presented to IGS, 1996

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

Related material:

Oxford University: Bodleian Library, Special Collections and Western Manuscripts (GB 0161) holds Leishman's literary papers, 1935-1964 (Reference : MSS Eng poet c 57, d 164-85);
University of London (Library - Senate House) (GB 0096) holds a volume, 1933-1934, of poetry, in German, by Rainer Maria Rilke, translated by James Blair Leishman. It includes manuscript recommendations by Leishman and comments by Professor Geoffrey Tillotson (Ref MS 456).

Publication note:

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Archivist's note: Compiled by Alan Kucia as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project.

Rules or conventions: Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000 and National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal Place and Corporate Names 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions: May 2002


INDEX ENTRIES
Subjects
German | Germanic languages | Indo-european languages
German literature | European literature | National literatures

Personal names
Leishman | James Blair | 1920-1963 | Lecturer in English Literature
Obermuller | Paul | fl 1953-1966 | German scholar
Rilke | Rainer Maria | 1875-1926 | German poet
Zinn | Ernst | b 1910 | German scholar

Corporate names

Places
Austria | Western Europe | Europe
Switzerland | Western Europe | Europe