The Arthur Ransome Society Limited, 2007-2009

The Arthur Ransome Collection contains correspondence, manuscripts, and printed matter related to the life and writings of Arthur Ransome (1884-1967), the English journalist, critic, and renowned children's author best known for his series of books, "Swallows and Amazons."

The collection comprises 5 boxes (1.25 l.f.) of materials and is divided into five series. Nineteen letters, most handwritten or typed by Ransome, are retained in the collection, including correspondence from Ransome to several publishers, including Rupert-Hart Davis, H. W. Wilson, and John G. Wilson. Five letters from Ransome to Helena Hirst are also present. One of Ransome's letters written from Petersburg in 1914, detailing the situation in Russia as it entered World War I, highlights the correspondence file. The collection contains three valuable manuscripts written by Ransome: a typed and edited printer's proof of his book "'Racundra's' First Cruise," a typed, heavily edited, and signed manuscript of his story "The Soldier and Death," and two autograph notebooks titled "Thirteen Caucasian Folk Tales." Many essays by and about Ransome, mostly in the form of xerox copies, are also in this collection. A handful of articles by Ransome, including a series of dispatches Ransome wrote for "The China Weekly Review" and an essay about his reasons for writing the book "Swallows and Amazons," are preserved. Numerous essays about Ransome provide reviews of his works and significant biographical and bibliographical information.

The Arthur Ransome Collection is divided into five series: correspondence, manuscripts, printed matter by Arthur Ransome, printed matter about Arthur Ransome, and miscellaneous material. This collection of letters, manuscripts, and printed matter supplements the Frank Kurt Cylke Collection of Arthur Ransome, which is also found at the Georgetown University Library, Special Collections Division. Cylke's Collection includes almost all of Ransome's first editions and totals about 200 volumes.

SYNOPSIS: The Arthur Ransome Collection is divided into five series as described below: Series 1: Correspondence. Contains letters, most written by Arthur Ransome, to various individuals. Arranged alphabetically by last name of correspondent. Series 2: Manuscripts. Contains three manuscripts written by Arthur Ransome: "'Racundra's' First Cruise," "The Soldier and Death," and "Thirteen Caucasian Folk Tales." Arranged alphabetically by title of work. Series 3: Printed Matter by Arthur Ransome. Contains six folders of printed matter, mostly xerox copies of essays, by Arthur Ransome. Arranged alphabetically by essay title. Series 4: Printed Matter about Arthur Ransome. Contains printed matter, mostly xerox copies, about Arthur Ransome and his works. Arranged alphabetically by subject. Series 5: Miscellaneous. Contains four folders of miscellaneous material about Arthur Ransome, including a photograph, an audio tape of a radio show, and world wide web pages about Ransome.

ABBREVIATIONS: ALS - Autograph Letter Signed AM - Autograph Manuscript AMS - Autograph Manuscript Signed TEL - Telegram TLS - Typed Letter Signed TM - Typed Manuscript TMS - Typed Manuscript Signed