John Bruce collection

This finding aid encompasses accessions of single manuscripts and small groups of manuscripts and other papers, by or pertaining to John Bruce, acquired by the library from a variety of sources. Materials incorporated into the collection prior to May 2002 have been organized into two series.

Series I, Letters to John Bruce , has been arranged alphabetically by correspondent and contains business and professional letters addressed to Bruce, frequently in his role as an officer of the Camden Society. Topics include meetings, membership nominations, dues collection, and publication plans of the societies. Many of the letters date from the first years of the Camden Society's existence and offer support for the new venture. Lord Mahon, on the other hand, pointed out that "the Roxburgh, Bannatyne, Abbotsford and other societies already existing seem to be quite adequate to the purpose required," and declined to join the Camden (Box 1, folder 74).

Several correspondents address Bruce's personal scholarly pursuits. Letters by John Hymers and Cornelius Nickerson discuss the editing of Roger Hutchinson's works. The letters of Macvey Napier reveal his editorial policy for historical articles in the Edinburgh Review and explain his lack of interest in a Bruce submission: "nor have I ever heard of Sarah Martin, either by herself, or in connection with 'prison discipline.'...Look about you for an article similar to the last." Julia Pardoe's letters thank Bruce for his encouragement and request further advice. A. F. Holt of Eton College explains his failure to locate a volume in the college library: "the catalogue...is imperfect as it is, and the present position of the books does not, in any degree, correspond with it."

Finally, other letters offer more general insights into mid-nineteenth century scholarship. Letters from the widow and son of James Bird, including two to the popular royal biographer Agnes Strickland, concern the relief provided by the Literary Fund Society and George Bird's hope for Strickland's assistance in continuing to edit "Pawsey's Ladies' Pocket Book." The Rev. Robert Dixon's letters detail his attempts to rebuild the only college (and the only library) on the Isle of Man. Robert Eden, John Mee Mathews, and J. A. Cramer discuss their own research projects.

Series II, Letters of Caroline Amelia Halsted , contains chronologically arranged letters to Bruce, primarily on the writing of her Richard III as Duke of Gloucester and King of England (1844). Halsted requests extracts from the then-unpublished Croyland Chronicles; discusses her use of manuscript sources and society publications; sends Bruce completed chapters for "the pruning knife;" and asks advice on the selection of frontispieces, negotiatiing with her publisher, Longmans, and the appropriate use of gift copies.

Halsted's letters also reveal her strong sense of her position as a woman historian. As early as December 8, 1842, she expressed misgivings about writing "a book that...is almost too strong for a woman's pen." In a letter of February 28, 1844, she states: "I sometimes think I have too many notes--and too much Appendix--and yet I thought I ought to give my authorities, considering the suspicious way in which a woman's opinion wd. be viewed, unless well backed, on a subject so important." Halsted also reminds Bruce that research for an essay on "'the progress of opinions' concerning Richard... could not be accomplished, except at the British Museum."

Her later letters contain requests for copies of reviews, comments on sales of Richard III, and discussions of her search for a new subject. While Halsted accepted Bruce's discouragement about Alfred the Great, and considered writing a biography of a woman, she rejected the idea that she should write fiction. "I have no imagination for fairy tales and I am too matter of fact for novels--but I love historical research; heart and soul goes to work on it." (Box 1, folder 81)

The Halsted letters also contain news of her travels and her home life, as well as repeated inquiries about the health of Mrs. Bruce and plans for visits to London.