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James Montgomery collection

 Collection
Call Number: GEN MSS 878

Scope and Contents

The James Montgomery Collection primarily contains letters written by him to various friends, colleagues, and professional associates, as well as a group of his writings, and a selection of historical and reference material related to his life and death.

Series I holds letters to Montgomery's friends, fellow authors, his publishers, and various clergymen. Recipients include Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Barbara Hofland, and Hannah More, among many others. Multiple letters exist for several of his correspondents, including more than twenty sent to the author and editor (and medical doctor) John Aikin in London; these letters are the longest and most descriptive in the collection, with seven written on oversize sheets of paper. Other multiple letter sets are present for Robert Hartley Davenport (6), George Williams Fulcher (6), John Holland (5), Thomas Raffles (11), Robert Southey (4), and Miss Thompson (8). Most letters have the recipients' postal addresses as part of their document. Much of the content relates to Montgomery's writings and publications, in particular his poetry and work for hymnals, though some of the letters are personal in nature.

Series II holds a group of autograph manuscript poems and other writings by Montgomery, including two poems translated into Welsh. Series III holds clippings about Montgomery, portrait engravings, and material pertaining to his death and funeral proceedings, including a copy of The Death of James Montgomery, Esq. with a Sketch of his Life (1854).

Dates

  • 1789 - 1920
  • Majority of material found within 1803 - 1850
  • 1789 - 1920
  • Majority of material found within 1803 - 1850

Creator

Language of Materials

In English and Welsh.

Conditions Governing Access

The materials are open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The James Montgomery Collection is the physical property of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. For further information, consult the appropriate curator.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchased as a collection from Maggs Bros. Ltd. on the Plain Fund, 1954. Five additions acquired by gift and purchase from various sources are noted at the folder level in the Collection Contents list.

Arrangement

Organized into three series: I. Letters from James Montgomery, 1789-1853. II. Writings of James Montgomery, 1821-1852. III. Other Papers, 1824-1920.

Extent

0.96 Linear Feet (3 boxes)

0.96 Linear Feet (3 boxes)

Catalog Record

A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog

Persistent URL

https://hdl.handle.net/10079/fa/beinecke.montgomery

Abstract

The collection contains letters from James Montgomery to various friends, colleagues, and associates, including authors, publishers, and clergymen; recipients include John Aikin, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Robert Hartley Davenport, George Williams Fulcher, Thomas Raffles, and Robert Southey. Much of the content relates to Montgomery's writings and publications, in particular his poetry and work for hymnals, though some of the letters are personal in nature. Also present is a small group of autograph manuscript poems and other writings by Montgomery, including two poems translated into Welsh. Reference material in the collection includes clippings about Montgomery, portrait engravings, and material pertaining to his life, death, and funeral proceedings, including a copy of The Death of James Montgomery, Esq. with a Sketch of his Life (1854).

James Montgomery (1771-1854)

James Montgomery was an English author, editor, and resident of Sheffield, England.

Processing Information

This finding aid was produced from previously existing cards in the Manuscripts Catalog, or from another inventory. All pertinent bibliographical information has been retained.

Former call number: MS Vault Montgomery

Title
Guide to the James Montgomery Collection
Author
by Beinecke Staff
Date
June 1997
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

Contact:
P. O. Box 208330
New Haven CT 06520-8330 US
(203) 432-2977

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.