James Marshall Osborn Research Files
Scope and Contents
Dates
- 1620s-1973
- Majority of material found within 1932-1973
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
Box 25 (audiovisual material): Restricted fragile material. Reference copies are available. For further information, consult Access Services.
Conditions Governing Use
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Arrangement
Extent
26.34 Linear Feet (35 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Overview
Biographical / Historical
In 1932 Osborn left Guaranty Trust to study for a Master's degree in English at Columbia University. Two years later, the Osborns moved to England with their two sons, and James began to work toward a B.Litt degree at Oxford University. While at Oxford, Osborn pursued his interest in eighteenth-century literary history and began to acquire the literary and historical manuscripts that would form the core of the James Marshall and Marie-Louise Osborn Collection.
Osborn was appointed Research Associate in English at Yale University in 1938; he held the position until his death. He was named Adviser on Seventeenth Century Manuscripts to the Yale Library in 1954, and in 1963, when he began the transfer of his collection to Yale, became the first curator of the Osborn Collection.
Osborn's publications include The Autobiography of Thomas Whythorne (1961); an edition of Joseph Spence's Observations, Anecdotes and Characters (1966); and Young Philip Sidney (1972).
In addition to his scholarly activities, Osborn was also a noted dairy cattle breeder and promoter of Holsteins from 1940 to 1960. He received the D.Litt from Oxford University in 1968, and was named Curator Emeritus of the Osborn Collection in 1972. James Marshall Osborn died in New Haven on October 17, 1976.
Separated Materials
Processing Information
These materials have been arranged and described according to national and local standards. For more information, please refer to the Beinecke Manuscript Unit Processing Manual.
- 16mm (photographic film size)
- Columbia University -- Students
- English literature -- 18th century -- History and criticism
- English literature -- 18th century -- Study and teaching
- English literature -- Early modern, 1500-1700 -- History and criticism
- English literature -- Early modern, 1500-1700 -- Study and teaching
- Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1603-1625
- Hebrides (Scotland) -- Pictorial works
- Learning and scholarship -- United States -- History -- 20th Century
- Lecture notes
- Microfilms
- Paleography, English -- 17th century
- Scholars -- United States
- Scholars -- United States -- 20th century
- Scotland -- Pictorial works
- University of Oxford -- Students
- Yale University -- Faculty
- Title
- Guide to the James Marshall Osborn Research Files
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Sarah Lerner
- Date
- October 2022
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Part of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library Repository
Location
121 Wall Street
New Haven, CT 06511
Opening Hours
Access Information
The Beinecke Library is open to all Yale University students and faculty, and visiting researchers whose work requires use of its special collections. You will need to bring appropriate photo ID the first time you register. Beinecke is a non-circulating, closed stack library. Paging is done by library staff during business hours. You can request collection material online at least two business days in advance of your visit, using the request links in Archives at Yale. For more information, please see Planning Your Research Visit and consult the Reading Room Policies prior to visiting the library.