William Butler Yeats and His Circle Collections

The McCormick Library has three archival collections which contain correspondence and other materials related to W.B. Yeats, his father John, his brother Jack, and their circle. The Hone Collection (XLVI) consists of archival material received from Joseph Hone, Yeats scholar and collector; it was acquired along with a collection of published editions on Yeats. Included are letters from Jack B. Yeats, telegrams from W.B. Yeats, the program to Yeats’s memorial service February 6, 1939, and various letters to Hone from Yeats’s friends and authors in his circle. Descriptions can be found in the departmental manuscript card file under Yeats and Hone.

In 1959 Deering Library acquired the Mary Manning collection of letters between W. B. Yeats or John B. Yeats and Lady Gregory. This collection (Yeats XXIII) consists of a few letters from the poet’s father to Lady Gregory written between 1898 and 1907, and over twenty letters from W. B. Yeats to Lady Gregory written between 1913 and 1920, as well as some letters from Lady Gregory to Yeats. Additional Yeats material can be found in the manuscript file. The departmental manuscript card file contains individual descriptions of letters.

A third collection (Irish VI) consists of correspondence, programs, and playscripts related to the Irish National Theatre Society between 1901 and 1939. There are letters from various members of the Yeats family and others in the Society, most written to Maire Nic Shiubhlaigh, which discuss productions. Authors of playscripts include James Cousins, Constance de Markiewicz, and Seumas O’Kelly. Descriptions can be found in the manuscript card file under Irish National Theatre Society or individual