Sylvia Plath Collections: Letter to Eleanor Ross Taylor, Vanderbilt

The Special Collections and University Archives of Vanderbilt University's Jean and Alexander Heard Library The Peter Taylor Papers (MSS. 435) holds one letter from Sylvia Plath to Taylor's wife, the poet Eleanor Ross Taylor. The letter is held in Series 1: Correspondence, Incoming Correspondence, Box 4, Folder 12: Page - Plath. The handwritten letter is simply dated Friday by Plath, but the postmark on the retained envelope indicates that it was written and sent from London NW1 on Friday 27 January 1961. However, there is a faint, ghostly postmark stamp underneath from a Kensington post office, dated 1 February 1961 (a Wednesday). I wonder if there was a delay in delivering the letter?

9 Princess Street, London NW1

Speaking of postmarks... a short diversion. Did you know that when Plath lived in Primrose Hill -- at both 3 Chalcot Square and 23 Fitzroy Road -- her post office was located at 9 Princess Street (map)? The current post office is at 91 Regents Park Road (map),

The letter is brief, just two paragraphs of one sentence each and is signed under her married name Sylvia Hughes. The letter politely cancels plans to meet on Saturday night in part because it was Plath's turn to work at the office (The Bookseller) and hopes they can arrange to meet again sometime in the future. The letter was sent to the Taylor's at 25 Kensington Gate, London (map).

If you search the Taylor collections at Vanderbilt, you will also see another finding aid for a different collection of his papers: The Peter Taylor Papers (MSS. 591). This collection, too, has a hit for Plath in Series 1: Correspondence, Incoming Correspondence, Box 6 (O-Q), Folder 8: Pierce - Plath. However, this is the wrong Plath! This one is from James Plath and is dated April 17, 1990. Its subject is the new independent arts journal, Clockwatch Review.

Thanks to Molly Dohrmann of Special Collections and University Archives Vanderbilt University for her assistance.

Eleanor Ross Taylor reviewed Ariel in her article "Sylvia Plath's Last Poems" in January 1967 issue of Poetry (pages 260-262). A couple of years back, some books (maybe all?) from the Taylor's library were sold via Between the Covers Rare Books. Among those books was Eleanor Ross Taylor's Ariel, with her ownership signature on the front free end paper, which I received as a gift from a friend.

All links accessed 3 June 2014 and 27 January 2015.

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