Sir James George Frazer letters, papers, correspondence with R.A. Downie concerning his attempt to obtain the letters of Sir J.G. Frazer with the intention of publishing a volume of the collected letters, and associated material. 1902-1942
Various papers. Various sizes
Handwritten and typewritten
Presented by the British Records Association, 25 July 1963
No evidence has been found that the Collected letters of Sir J.G. Frazer have been published
Handwritten unless stated otherwise
/1 Address given by J.G. Frazer on the occasion of the Royal Literary Fund Dinner, 11 May 1931. 7 leaves. 20.5 x 12.5 cm. Typewritten with handwritten annotations
/2 Address given by J.G. Frazer on the occasion of the bestowal of the Freedom of the City of Glasgow and a casket, 23 April 1932. 23 leaves [leaf 1 missing]. 20 x 21.5 cm. Typewritten
/3 ‘The future of our country, the future of the British Empire, rests largely in the hands of its women voters…’: [?address to the Ladies of Queen’s College?]; by James G. Frazer, [nd]. 1 p. 21.5 x 14 cm
/4 Family history of the antecedents of Sir James George Frazer; by J.G. Frazer, [nd]. 3 leaves. 28.5 x 22 cm
/5 Another copy of MS428/4. 3 leaves. 28.5 x 22 cm
/6 Family tree and history of Martha Bogle, the great-grandmother of Sir James George Frazer; by J.G. Frazer, [nd]. 1 p. 22 x 28.5 cm
Letters
RAD R. Angus Downie
JGF Sir James George Frazer
/7 Frances I. Steggall to RAD, 23 May 1941 – thanks for offer to her mother to see brother’s letters which may be wanted by Trinity; many letters of sympathy; regrets could not go to funeral; publication of letters must be approved by herself and her mother; knows a lot about Sir James and his family and more than Lady Frazer; regrets separation of her father from his family. 2 pp. 26 x 20.5 cm. Typewritten
/8 Ibid, 4 June 1941 – did he receive pervious letter; she has a number of uncle’s letters and more being sent by friends; hopes RAD is not publishing letters. 2 pp. 18 x 11 cm
/1 Envelope addressed to RAD, 4 June 1941. 9.5 x 12 cm
/9 A.D. Ritchie?, Manchester Univ. to RAD, 20 Aug. 1941 – discussed topic of M.A. Thesis; uncertain about finding a supervisor; suggests RAD visits Manchester before beginning of term. 2 pp. 18 x 11 cm
/10 Ibid, 24 Sept 1941 – RAD postpones course; suggests coming to Manchester; urges not to withdraw application; if war ends Sept. 1942 there could be a rush of applicants. 2 pp. 18 x 11 cm
/11 Dorothy Young to RAD, 12 Sept 1941 – house rendered uninhabitable by night raids and belongings stored; cannot reach letters; has typed ones from father’s and Sir James’ published letters; has personal ones; if RAD going to Glasgow he could look through them; Oxford Press should be consulted. 2 pp. 20 x 12.5 cm
/12 Ibid, 14 Sept 1941 – may go to Glasgow; hopes to find typed letters. 1 postcard. 14 x 9 cm
/13 Ibid, 28 Oct 1941 – went through father’s papers in Glasgow; sending typed sheets included and rejected ‘Spencer’s Scientific Correspondence’; having Sir James letters to father typed; sending 1 letter dated 5 Oct 1927; many others unfound; father treasured Sir James’ letters; RAD to return letters to Dr McCallam in Glasgow; she has her father’s letters to Sir James; 28 Dec letter is among ones she holds. 2 pp. 22.5 x 17.5 cm
/14 Ibid, 11 Nov 1941 – has had letter returned; hopes he received the parcel of all copies of Sir James’ letters to her father and herself; she is returning this one as it is. 1 p. 20 x 12.5 cm
/15 JGF to Sir Baldwin Spencer, 5 Oct 1927 – returns proofs; pleased with dedication; looks forward to publication which opens up the past of human institutions; will send volume of extracts from Frazer’s published writings; when is Spencer going to Australia. 2 leaves. 25.5 x 20 cm. Typewritten
/16 R.R. Marett to RAD, 10 Sep 1941 – glad of collection of JGF letters for publication; will send what he has; wants a receipt for them and their future return; sending Lady Frazer’s letters; irreconcilable views on Folklore paper; appreciated each others work in later years; written autobiography and places JGF with Tylor. 2 pp. 18 x 11 cm
/17 Copy of part of a letter by Dr Sidney Hartland, 16 May 1919 – agrees with main tenor of Marett’s article; JGF has starkly intellectual outlook; dismisses play of emotion in human nature; Marett right to include psychology and sociology; a champion against Elliot Smith; Graebner and the American School who profess to trace the history of everything; other ways to trace true course of human civilization. 3 pp. pp.1-2 – 17.5 x 11.5 cm, p.3 – 8 x 12 cm
/18 R.R. Marett to JGF, 5 June 1922 – books find home at Trinity; had arranged extra room for books but better at Trinity; sad news of Rivers. 2 pp. 17.5 x 11.5 cm
/1 1 envelope to R.R. Marett, 5 June 1922; by JGF. 9 x 12 cm
/19 Lady Frazer to R.R. Marett, 8 Dec 1925 – sends greetings and change of address. 1 postcard. 9 x 11.5 cm
/20 R.R. Marett to JGF, 17 Oct 1928 – thanks for congratulations on appointment as Rector of Exeter College; invites JGF to stay in his new lodgings; hopes Lady Frazer has recovered her strength. 2 pp. 17.5 x 11 cm
/21 1 envelope to JGF with note by JGF: R.R. Marett, 17 Oct 1928 on his election as Rector of Exeter College. 11 x 13.5 cm
/22 Lady Lilly Frazer to R.R. Marett, 17 June 1934 – now in Switzerland; JGF well but poor eyesight; encloses vol. II of F. of the D. by JGF who cannot sign copy; staying at reduced rate at Bellevue Hotel, Berne; delighted with Marett s comments on the jacket; Prof. Rose rudely did not send Oxford F. lecture; Prof. Seligman did send a copy of his Liverpool Frazer lecture. 7 pp. 18.5 x 13.5 cm
/23 JGF to R.R. Marett, 16 Nov 1936 – thanks for kind review of Aftermath in the TLS; hopes to meet and discuss book; sorry to hear Spencer volume ‘wound up’; interested in appointment of Professor of Anthropology at Oxford in place of Tylor and Marett; enjoyed meeting at Oxford; renews thanks. 2 pp. 23 x 18 cm. Handwritten by amanuensis
/24 Margaret to RAD, 14 Oct 1941 – remembers June visit; been to Aberdeen where endured difficult friend; August in Cranford with young family where lots of Poles lived; working in the Aid Post. 4 pp. 16.5 x 11 cm
/25 John Downie (Dad), Wishaw to RAD, 11 Nov 1941 – sends titles of 2 books stock taking and posting books; binding costs; family news. 2 pp. 26.5 x 21 cm
/26 Ibid, 20 Nov 1941 – invoice for 2 books. 1 p. 27 x 21 cm
/27 Norman K. Roscoe to RAD, 17 Nov 1941 – JGF letters to his father are with his mother; sends address; warns she is 80; changed address because bombed out. 2 pp. 17.5 x 11 cm
/28 Agnes K. Roscoe to RAD, 31 Dec 1941 – has found husband’s letters to JGF; will send when received confirmation of her letter; requests the letters be returned to her son. 3 pp. 15 x 9.5 cm
/29 E.S. Ranson? to RAD, 18 Nov 1941 – letters of JGF to Sir Francis Galton not in his keeping; one letter quoted in his father’s life of Galton; letters may be among Galton letters with Prof. R.A. Fisher at University College; advises he write to Fisher. 2 pp. 18 x 11.5 cm
/30 JGF to F. Galton, 19 Nov 1902 – congratulations on becoming Hon. Fellow of old college; remembers his kindness in influencing the renewal of JGF Fellowship at Trinity; congratulates on receiving Darwin Medal. 2 pp. 18 x 11.5 cm. Handwritten copy of letter in the Galton life p.239, chap III with footnote
/31 R.A. Fisher to RAD, [nd] – enquiring about possible letters by JGF in archives of Galton Laboratory but difficult to access. 1 p. 26 x 20.5 cm. Typewritten
/32 Phyllis Clodd to RAD, 5 Dec 1941 – copied 2 more letters, one a fragment as rest possibly libelous, will try to find another; copied criticism of Dr Sidney Hartland but must ask permission to send. 2 pp. 17.5 x 11.5 cm see MS 428/17
/33 Ibid, 12 Dec 1941 – had letter from Mrs Hartland and agrees letter interesting and showed insight and can be sent to RAD; suggests RAD write himself to Mrs Hartland; wants to see the RAD book when published. 2 pp. 17.5 x 11.5 cm
/34 Ibid, [nd] – difficult to get to Aldburgh to look for letters from JGF; believes a number in Brotherton Library at Leeds Univ.; requests latest date for acceptance of letters as has some friends who may have more. 4 pp. [pp. 1-2 missing]. 17.5 x 11.5 cm
/35 JGF to Edward Clodd, 23 Mar 1913 – thanks for approval; notes slip about the banana; discusses various references;– decries American intellectual life; discusses invitation to visit Clodd at Whitsuntide. 4 pp. 17.5 x 11.5 cm. Handwritten copy by Phyllis Clodd (PC)
/36 Ibid, 14 Dec 1918 – discusses end of the war and German criminality and lack of remorse; decries election at a time so many disfranchised to keep Lloyd George in power; family felicitations. 2 pp. 25 x 20 cm. Handwritten copy by PC
/37 Ibid, 21 Dec 1918 – glad to have soft answers to acrid letter; liked the story of the mouse and the rum; more irony in book than intended and gives examples; hints also at a disagreeable high priest of spiritualism in Cambridge; Pelmanism by Professor of English; thanks for invitation. 4 pp. 17.5 x 11.5 cm. Handwritten copy by PC
/38 Ibid, 19 Apr 1919 – apologizes for silence as has been in Paris; considers suggestion of a book upon folk-lore in the New Testament; met Frenchman writing book on early history of Christianity; engaged on translation of Apollodorous for the Loeb classical library; sadness at death of wife’s daughter; to Dundee to visit sister. 2 pp. 17.5 x 11.5 cm. Handwritten copy by PC
/39 Ibid, 2 Jan 1925 – thanks for sincere congratulations; discusses Immortality III and conversation with Anatole France; thanks for invitation to Aldburgh. 2 pp. 17.5 x 11.5 cm. Handwritten copy by PC
/40 Ibid, 20 Dec 1929 – Christmas wishes; fitting up rooms at The Temple; Myths of the Origin of Fire ready to go to press; death of friend William Wyse and obituary in The Times. 2 pp. 17.5 x 11.5 cm. Handwritten copy by PC
/41 Ethel M. Hartland to RAD, 29 Dec 1941 – sent 20 letters from father’s papers and will look further if wanted; requests return of letters. 1 p. 17.5 x 11.5 cm
/42 W.H.D. Rouse to RAD, 17 Jan 1942 – sending JGF and Lady Frazer’s letters; she paid for French assistant at Perse School; saw a lot of JGF from 1888 onwards. 1 p. 17.5 x 11.5 cm
/43 JGF to W.H.D. Rouse, 15 Dec 1897 – questions sent apply to savage or semi-savage peoples; to be used with discretion; pleased to hear there are Mummers in Rugby; describes unpublished article in Folklore on mortal combat between two little cads; rejects responsibility for price of book Pausanias which is publisher s business. 4 pp. 18 x 11 cm
/44 Lady Frazer to W.H.D. Rouse, 13 Sept 1911 – praises success at Bangor as reported in The Times; protests lack of news on the library; going North to the Gifford lectures; would like invitation to dinner; could ask Loeb to advance interest free loan to acquire a house for a Prep School; she thinks College House at £2300 would do. 4 pp. 18 x 11.5 cm
/45 Ibid, 24 Nov 1927 – thanks for friendship; his paper makes point that boys take interest in all their work at Perse School; will send paper to Duchess of Atholl asking her to give prizes in 1928 and to see the school at work; going to Paris on 18 Dec; JGF to be made an Academician Inscriptous and Belles Lettres on 18 Nov of which there are only 12 non-French members. 5 pp. 18 x 11.5 cm
/46 Kenneth Sisam to RAD, 16 Feb 1942 – will make enquiries at Clarendon Press about permission to reproduce correspondence of JGF in Spencer’s Scientific Correspondence; wants to know publisher of RAD forthcoming book of letters. 1 p. 16.5 x 20 cm. Typewritten
/47 Note dated 3 July 1962 – about the finding by Mrs Paisley of the papers MS 428/1-46
/48 British Records Association to the Royal Anthropological Institute, 25 July 1963 – encloses a number of papers concerning correspondence of Sir John [sic] Frazer; please accept as a gift, but if not interested please return. 1 p. 25.5 x 20 cm. Typewritten
/49 Ibid, 25 July 1963 – herewith folder containing correspondence with description; not clear if published collected letters. 1 p. 20.5 x 12.5 cm. Typewritten
/50 Librarian, Royal Anthropological Institute to Asst. Secretary, British Records Association, 30 July 1963 – thanks for papers and glad to accept them. 1 p. 20.5 x 16.5 cm. Typewritten
/51 Print out of the published works by JGF held in the British Library, 2004. 2 leaves. 29.5 x 21 cm. Word processed
/52 Print out of published works by R. Angus Downie held in the British Library, 2004. 2 leaves. 29.5 x 21 cm. Word processed
