Collection Scope and Content Note

Scope and Contents Note

Collection consists of a selection of Erica Marx's professional papers, 40 folders. Series 1 contains professional and personal correspondence, 1926-1963, concerning the Hand and Flower Press, in particular discussion with Eric White about publishing his compilation of English Farce jigs. Other correspondents, many letters unconnected to press business, include Sir Kenneth Clark, Muriel Spark, J.R. Ackerly, Jocelyn Brooke, and John Masefield. There are also two letters to S. Janstein(?) from the French diseuse Yvette Guilbert, c.47 items, Series also includes ts. draft of English Farce Jigs by Eric White, 12 pp. a report of the 1951-52 Conference on Copyright Poetry, 7 pp. and an announcement of a poetry competition; 4 folders. Series 2 contains records of organization and operation of the London-based Poetry Book Society, 1952-65. Ser. 2-1 includes original memos, and notes, agendas, minutes of director's meetings, financial statements, the circulated newsletter to members, and various lists of books and authors selected or recommended; Ser. 2-2 contains correspondence between directors concerning the society, c.172 items; and Ser. 2-3 contains miscellaneous related items; 18 folders. Series 3 contains records of a similar nature of the Company of Nine. Ser. 3-1 includes agendas, minutes, memos, a newsletter Series, some financial statements and a collection of programs, leoflets, announcements, clippings, etc. about Company of Nine activities and also related material belonging to other groups; Ser. 3-2 holds particular strength in the correspondence between the original guarantors and directors - Erica Marx, Rumer Godden and James L. Haynes-Dixon, c.337 items. Correspondence also includes other persons connected with projects: Joseph Compton, John Carroll, Roland Clarke, Christopher Hassall, Jean Primrose and numerous poets, readers, and others. Ser. 3-3 contains a ts. poem, Feeding birds, by Rumer Godden, and a ts. [carbon] of poems read at a commemorative Armistice Day reading organized by the company; 18 folders.

3 Boxes.

c.800 items.