IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0096 AL302
Held at: Senate House Library, University of London
Title: James, Montague Rhodes: letters (1929)
Date(s): 1929
Level of description: Collection
Extent: 5 items (5 leaves)
Name of creator(s): James | Montague Rhodes | 1862-1936 | college head, scholar, and author x James | M R
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
Montague Rhodes James was born in Kent in 1862. He was educated at Temple Grove School and Eton College before gaining a scholarship to King's College, Cambridge. He graduated with a BA in 1886 and became a fellow of King's in 1887, becoming Dean of King's shortly after; he remained Dean until he was elected Provost (head of the college) in 1905. He was also Director of the Fitzwilliam Museum from 1893 until 1908 and Vice-Chancellor of the university during 1913-1915; after the First World War he served as Provost of Eton until his death in 1936. James was an accomplished biblical scholar and an authority on medieval manuscripts, but is now better known as the author (under the name M R James) of short stories on supernatural topics, which have strongly influenced subsequent writers of horror fiction.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
5 letters from Montague James Rhodes of The Lodge, Eton College to Dr [Charles] Singer, Mar-Apr 1929. On topics connected with medieval manuscript studies. Referring to the Aberdeen University Library Bestiary, saying: 'I don't supposed I shall pay much heed to bestiaries now' [i.e. since the publication of his edition of The Bestiary (1928)]. All letters are autograph, with signatures.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
System of arrangement:
See hard copy catalogue.
Conditions governing access:
Access to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Access to individual items in Senate House Library archives collections may be restricted under the Data Protection Act or the Freedom of Information Act. Please contact the University Archivist for details. 24 hours notice is required for research visits.
Conditions governing reproduction:
Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.
Physical characteristics:
Finding aids:
Typescript catalogue available in the Library's Palaeography Room.
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:
Accruals:
Archival history:
See archivist
Immediate source of acquisition:
Purchased from Dawson's, 1962. Enclosed with a reprint of James's article on the Aberdeen Bestiary, originally published in the Aberdeen University Library Bulletin no 36 (1928).
ALLIED MATERIALS
Existence and location of originals:
Existence and location of copies:
A typed transcript is filed with the original letter.
Related material:
Publication note:
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Note:
Archivist's note: Compiled by Anya Turner.
Date(s) of descriptions: July 2008