Sir Walter and Anne Scott Papers, and George Ainsley family Papers
Scope and Contents
Collection contains correspondence from Walter Scott and his daughter, Anne Scott, as well as antiquarian Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe (1751?- 1851). It also includes a catalogue of Norton Down's library relating to Walter Scott, Scott's manuscripts and legal documents, as well as a bound volume containing autographs and short letters penned by Walter Scott.
Dates
- Creation: 1751 - 1851
Creator
- Scott, Walter, 1771-1832 (Person)
- Scott, Anne, 1903-1933 (Person)
- Sharpe, Charles Kirkpatrick, 1781-1851 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open to the public and must be used in the John M.K. Davis Reading Room of the Watkinson Library, Trinity College Library, Hartford, Connecticut. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws when using this collection.
Conditions Governing Use
Digital surrogates may be provided in accordance with the duplication policy of the Watkinson Library.
Copyright resides with the creators of the documents or their heirs unless otherwise specified. It is the researcher's responsibility to secure permission to publish materials from the appropriate copyright holder.
Archival materials may contain sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal and/or state right to privacy laws or other regulations. While we make a good faith effort to identify and remove such materials, some may be missed during our processing. If a researcher finds sensitive personal information (e.g. social security numbers) in a collection, please bring it to the attention of the reading room staff.
Biographical / Historical
Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832); acclaimed poet, novelist, biographer, and historian went on to write numerous works focusing on Scotland and the border region during the 17th and 18th centuries. Scott became known for his ability to pen Romantic verse, most notably, The Lay of the Last Minstrel (1805). After Lord Byron's ascenscion to fame, Scott transitioned away from poetry towards other forms of prose with Scottish regionalist elements such as Waverly (1814) which dealt with the 1745 Jacobite rebellion. Shortly before, he penned voluminous editions of the works of John Dryden and Jonathan Swift.
Sir Walter Scott wrote his most popular novels later, starting with Ivanhoe (1819), set in 12th century England, as well as Kenilworth (1821), set in Elizabethan England, and Quentin Durward (1823), set in 15th century France. Scott published all of his novels anonymously. He was dragged into bankruptcy by Archibald Constable, his publisher, and spent a number of years trying to pay off 120,000 pounds.
Extent
2 Cubic Feet (2 flat boxes, 2 bound volumes, and 1 small manuscript box.)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
Collection contains three series: Series I: Correspondence and Series II: Ainslie-Mentalembert Papers, and Series III: Manuscripts, and Legal and / or business documents. Correspondence are arranged chronologically by creator.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Norton Downs ca. 1978.
Topical
- Title
- Guide to the Sir Walter and Anne Scott papers, and George Ainsley family papers
- Status
- In Progress
- Author
- Michelle C. Sigiel, with inventory by Michael Breen
- Date
- 2018-08
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Watkinson Library - Archival Collections Repository
Trinity College Library
300 Summit St.
Hartford Connecticut 06106