Brontë family manuscripts and correspondence
Contains records with digital mediaDetails
Type of record: Archive
Title: Brontë family manuscripts and correspondence
Classmark: BC MS 19c Brontë
Creator(s): Brontë Family()
Date(s): 1812-1925
Language: English; French
Size and medium: ca. 20 vols, 12 folders, and 1 box; manuscript and typescript.
Persistent link: https://explore.library.leeds.ac.uk/special-collections-explore/8469
Collection group(s): English Literature
Description
A substantial collection of original and transcribed material by, or relating to, different members of the Brontë family.
The collection contains: (A) by Anne Brontë, an autograph manuscript discussing the truth of the Bible; (B) by Branwell Brontë, 'Letters from an Englishman', stories (some in miniature format), and poems, all autograph, and autograph and transcribed letters; (C) by Charlotte Brontë, poems transcribed by her husband, A.B. Nicholls, two autograph manuscripts in French, and numerous autograph letters; together with Elizabeth Gaskell's autograph manuscript describing a visit to Charlotte Brontë, letters from A.B. Nicholls relating to Charlotte Brontë, letters and manuscripts by Ellen Nussey, and transcripts of letters written to her, concerning members of the Brontë family, and letters written by the publishing firm Smith, Elder and Co. to C.K. Shorter and T.J. Wise; (F) by Maria Brontë, an autograph manuscript of 'The advantages of poverty in religious concerns', autograph letter to her husband, the Rev. Patrick Brontë; and an autograph letter from the latter.
Many of the volumes are bound in fine, mainly black, leather and are gilt-embossed on their spines with bibliographical details.
Biography or history
The Brontë family of Haworth, specifically Patrick, Maria, Branwell, Charlotte, Emily & Anne Brontë are the subject of numerous biographies.
Provenance
Much of the present collection of Brontë family manuscripts and letters was acquired by Lord Brotherton during the 1920s. Some material has been acquired at a later date. Where known, details of the acquisition of individual documents are recorded at file or item level..
Access and usage
Reproduction
Access
Access to this material is unrestricted.
This material is out of copyright and can be reproduced with the permission of the Library
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On our website
Research spotlight: Brontë family manuscripts: an introduction
Francis O'Gorman, Professor of Victorian Literature at the University of Leeds, introduces the Brontë family manuscripts, part of the original Brotherton Collection.