Letters of Ruth Pitter and other papers

Single Item

MS. 16954

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Comprises:

Two autograph letters and an autograph postcard to 'Raymond' from Ruth Pitter, Long Crendon, dated 21 Jun 1954, 8 Jul 1973, and 29 Jul 1981. Refers to a conference, weather, and filing papers.
Autograph letter and four autograph postcards to the collector Kenneth Harlow, about signing books, dated 12 Feb 1975, 17 Feb 1975, 9 Apr 1975, 1 Oct 1979 (with envelope) and 20 Oct 1979.
Manuscript and typescript poetry including: untitled poem [A Passage from 'Perelandra' (XI)]; 'A Recollection of Childhood'; 'Hover-Fly on Poppy'; 'Flowers in the Factory'; and 'No Abiding Mansion' (typescript), 1958. Also, photocopy of fair manuscript poem beginning 'I am come to a quiet place...'
Handwritten copy [not autograph] of typescript essay 'A Wrestler with the Ward', Ruth Pitter, 7 Feb 1938; and typescript transcript of radio interview 'We Cannot Take Less', broadcast as 'Hunting the Unicorn', 17 Feb 1961, BBC Home Service, 3 Dec 1977 (8 pages).
Various letters to Ruth Pitter from: Rina Lasnier, 3 Oct 1956; 'Mary', 24 Oct 1985; and Arthur [Wolseley Russell], BBC, 8 Nov 1963 (with pencil note saying 'accompanying Ice on the Live Rail sold to friend of AWR's'); and undated Christmas card from Anne and Arthur Russell. With letter from Kathleen O'Hara to 'John' regarding poems, 23 Aug 1937; and printed Deane and Forester net price list to the trade. Also sale tag for book inscribed to Ruth Pitter by Theodore Roethke, Second Storey Books.
Photographs: envelope labelled 'North End mainly Ruth Pitter and her mother' [Louisa Pitter] containing nine black and white photographs of Louisa and Ruth Pitter, and cats; and colour photograph of Ruth Pitter by J.E. Gordon, with note on reverse 'to Stephen Tennant', Christmas 1964.

Dates

Creation: 1954-1981

Extent

1 box

Language of Materials

English

Preferred Citation

Oxford, Bodleian Libraries [followed by shelfmark and folio or page reference, e.g. MS. 16954].

Please see our help page for further guidance on citing archives and manuscripts.

Shelfmark:

MS. 16954

Collection ID (for staff)

CMD ID 16954

Additional Description

Abstract

Letters of Ruth Pitter and other papers, 1954-1981.

Biographical / Historical

Ruth Pitter (1897-1992) was a poet. For full biographical details see the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.

Custodial History

From the personal collection of the bookseller Anne Soutter (formerly Anne Ridler).

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchased by the Bodleian Library with the support of the Roy Davids fund from Bertram Rota Ltd, November 2019.

Related Materials

Bodleian Libraries

MSS. 7154/1-29 - Papers of Ruth Pitter, c.1884-1998.
MS. 17200 - Letters from Ruth Pitter to Lieutenant Colonel 'Gil' Belcher, 1977-1980.
MS. 17234 - Transcript of BBC radio broadcast by Ruth Pitter, 'We Cannot Take Less', with autograph letter, 1961-1977.
MS. 18649 - Drawing of Ruth Pitter by Sir William Rothenstein (1938).
MS. Eng. poet. e. 123 - Working notebook of Ruth Pitter, 1942-1952.