Barbara Isted collection of Thomas Percy

The collection contains papers of and concerning Thomas Percy preserved by his daughter Barbara Isted. The papers span the years 1754-1812, and consist primarily of family correspondence, but also include writings of Thomas Percy, copies of his will, obituaries, poems by other writers, and a few other papers. Notes in Barbara Isted's hand accompany many of the papers. The collection is organized into three series: Correspondence, Writings, and Other Papers.

Series I, Correspondence , contains letters to and from Thomas Percy, and a few other family letters. Percy's outgoing correspondence includes letters to his wife, his daughter Barbara, and his son-in-law Samuel Isted, and part of a letter to a Mr. Binnel discussing Percy's translation of the Song of Solomon and describing his work collecting old songs for what would become Ancient Reliques of English Poetry. Incoming correspondence consists chiefly of letters from his daughters concerning the Isted children. Other Correspondence includes a letter from Elizabeth (Percy) Meade describing her father's death, a detailed description of the child Anne Isted's funeral, and various letters of condolence.

Series II, Writings , contains manuscripts of two poems Percy wrote to his wife Anne, clippings from his diary, and notes on the Northamptonshire dialect. The manuscript of the poem beginning "Oh Nannie wilt thou gang wi' me" is titled "A Song in Imitation of ye Scotch Mann[e]r;" with it is a related clipping from his diary and the first page of a musical setting of the poem by, according to Isted, the Reverend Robert Shenton, a college friend of Percy's. Also present is a manuscript copy, in Anne Percy's hand, of a poem titled "Verses on Leaving Wolverhampton in a very Tempest[u]ous Night," also known as "To Annie I must go." The clippings from the diary document events significant to Percy's family during the years 1782-1801, including itemized descriptions of his daughters' inheritances.

Series III, Other Papers , contains copies of his will, obituaries, genealogical notes, a copy of a letter from Lord Raby to Lord Hallifax titled by Percy "A Character of Charles XII King of Sweden," and manuscript copies of poems by various authors, including Swift, Sir Charles Hanbury Williams, Lord Cornwallis, and Lady Winchelsea.