Francis James Child, 1870
Scope and Contents
Correspondence in the hand of American philologist and folklorist Francis James Child. One 4-page letter, undated, addressed to lawyer Nathaniel Ingersoll Bowditch thanking him for a copy of his book on Surnames, generally praising the volume, and offering some additional examples of names derived from trades. A second letter to an unidentified recipient is mounted on a piece of paper alongside a printed portrait of Child and his signature. The contents pertain to the Chaucer Society, a group set up by English philologist Frederick James Furnivall in 1868 to publish Chaucer’s works, of which Child was a passionate advocate. Child tells the recipient that he has sent “forthwith a set of all Chaucer Soc[iet]y books.” Dated 1870.
Dates
- 1870
Conditions Governing Access
Most manuscripts collections at the Georgetown University Booth Family Center for Special Collections are open to researchers; however, restrictions may apply to some collections. Collections stored off site require a minimum of three days for retrieval. For use of all manuscripts collections, researchers are advised to contact the Booth Family Center for Special Collections in advance of any visit.
Biographical / Historical
Francis James Child (1825-1896) was an American philologist and folklorist, best known today for his collection and publication of the English and Scottish ballads now known as the Child Ballads. A lifelong resident of Boston, Child was named Harvard’s first Professor of English in 1876.
Extent
From the Collection: 30 Cubic Feet (68 boxes)
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
From the Collection: Latin
From the Collection: French
From the Collection: Italian
From the Collection: Welsh
From the Collection: Danish
From the Collection: Swedish
From the Collection: Spanish
From the Collection: German
From the Collection: Norwegian
From the Collection: Persian
From the Collection: Japanese
From the Collection: Russian
From the Collection: Greek, Ancient (to 1453)
Creator
- From the Collection: Scheetz, Nicholas B., 1952-2016 (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Georgetown University Manuscripts Repository
Lauinger Library, 5th Floor
37th and O Streets, N.W.
Washington DC 20057
speccoll@georgetown.edu