It really feels like this has been a long time in coming. I first learned of the Harriet Rosenstein materials in January 2016, within days of Olwyn Hughes' passing. The full extent was not made clear for quiet awhile, but it was evident the most important materials were those letter to Ruth Beuscher, which are now at Smith College.
But what of the rest of the collection? Ken Lopez's inventory was tantalizing, though flawed. And in August 2019, I learned the collection had been sold. Shortly there after, I learned it was at Emory but it was their news to break, not mine, so I sat on it until they told me it was alright to publicize, which was a blog post published earlier this month.
In that post, it was mentioned that a few select items from Rosenstein's papers were not included in what Emory acquired, and that it was for sale by Peter Grogan. A number of items, I noticed, have been removed from his storefront on ABE Books. So naturally my mind is wondering where these items are going. For a few months, I have been hemming and hawing about one item. I wrote Grogan to see if it was still available and it turned up a few days ago. It was the specimen page of the limited edition of Crystal Gazer and Other Poems which featured, on the back, one of the poems in that collection: "The Dream of the Hearse-Driver". You can view the table of contents to this book on A celebration, this is. Included with the specimen was prospectus for it, complete with order form, and a letter from Olwyn Hughes to Rosenstein. (A copy of the letter is included in the Olwyn Hughes folder in Box 2, Folder 5.)
In the last few days, I have started seeing some of the Rosenstein collection of research files on Sylvia Plath. These files include Plath's McLean record. It is not the complete record, I do not imagine, but it is an interesting glimpse into Plath's time at McLean, her diagnoses, her treatments, etc. My initial take-away from it is that Rosenstein was looking for corroboration with The Bell Jar and some of Plath's other creative writing. There is more to it than that, obviously, but that was stood out on my initial read; my mind-abuzz with the novelty and weirdness of seeing the records. Additionally, the files for John Horder, Elinor Klein, Aurelia Plath, various Hughes family members, and a few others. The overwhelming feeling I get from reviewing these papers are that Sylvia Plath was a different person to different people. Which is brilliant, as it complicates the impressions I hold on Plath after 25+ years research.
Time permitting I hope to highlight additional resources as I gain access to them. There are particular folders I think I am really excited to see, but I am trying to temper my eagerness in hopes of not being disappointed (some of the materials have been which is natural, I think).
Is anyone out there as eager to work with this collection? I looked into flying down to work with the materials immediately but it would be, in a word, irresponsible, financially. Therefore, I am grateful beyond expression to the few people who sent me some "tip" money in December as these funds are enabling me to hire a research proxy to photograph parts of the collection. Thank you so much for your generosity.
But what of the rest of the collection? Ken Lopez's inventory was tantalizing, though flawed. And in August 2019, I learned the collection had been sold. Shortly there after, I learned it was at Emory but it was their news to break, not mine, so I sat on it until they told me it was alright to publicize, which was a blog post published earlier this month.
In that post, it was mentioned that a few select items from Rosenstein's papers were not included in what Emory acquired, and that it was for sale by Peter Grogan. A number of items, I noticed, have been removed from his storefront on ABE Books. So naturally my mind is wondering where these items are going. For a few months, I have been hemming and hawing about one item. I wrote Grogan to see if it was still available and it turned up a few days ago. It was the specimen page of the limited edition of Crystal Gazer and Other Poems which featured, on the back, one of the poems in that collection: "The Dream of the Hearse-Driver". You can view the table of contents to this book on A celebration, this is. Included with the specimen was prospectus for it, complete with order form, and a letter from Olwyn Hughes to Rosenstein. (A copy of the letter is included in the Olwyn Hughes folder in Box 2, Folder 5.)
In the last few days, I have started seeing some of the Rosenstein collection of research files on Sylvia Plath. These files include Plath's McLean record. It is not the complete record, I do not imagine, but it is an interesting glimpse into Plath's time at McLean, her diagnoses, her treatments, etc. My initial take-away from it is that Rosenstein was looking for corroboration with The Bell Jar and some of Plath's other creative writing. There is more to it than that, obviously, but that was stood out on my initial read; my mind-abuzz with the novelty and weirdness of seeing the records. Additionally, the files for John Horder, Elinor Klein, Aurelia Plath, various Hughes family members, and a few others. The overwhelming feeling I get from reviewing these papers are that Sylvia Plath was a different person to different people. Which is brilliant, as it complicates the impressions I hold on Plath after 25+ years research.
Time permitting I hope to highlight additional resources as I gain access to them. There are particular folders I think I am really excited to see, but I am trying to temper my eagerness in hopes of not being disappointed (some of the materials have been which is natural, I think).
Is anyone out there as eager to work with this collection? I looked into flying down to work with the materials immediately but it would be, in a word, irresponsible, financially. Therefore, I am grateful beyond expression to the few people who sent me some "tip" money in December as these funds are enabling me to hire a research proxy to photograph parts of the collection. Thank you so much for your generosity.
If you benefited from this post or any content on the Sylvia Plath Info Blog, my website for Sylvia Plath (A celebration, this is), and @sylviaplathinfo on Twitter, then please consider sending me a tip via PayPal. Thank you for at least considering! All funds will be put towards my Sylvia Plath research.
All links accessed 19 January 2020.