Update from the Archive Day 1: The Plath Family Papers

Snow, sleet, and rain greeted me today on my drive to New Haven. I have been to this city only one time before, about 20 or so years ago on a day trip to see the Plath Sites. Or, the Richard Norton sites, such as my 2001 or 2002 self knew. I was not impressed. Anyway, the atrocious weather may have been a blessing as the George Washington Bridge was sans traffic. As was every other road I travelled to get here until I got here. The Merritt Parkway--a road which Sylvia Plath herself took on excursions to Manhattan--was fine. A few back-ups on hills, because apparently driving uphill in Connecticut is just as hard as running up them. The last few miles seemed to take the most amount of time. Ah---anticipation.

The Beienecke Library recently opened the Plath Family Papers. Word or mouth was that there was nothing shocking or revolutionary in them, but that is not really what I am looking for as I look through them. Maybe I do not even know what it is I am looking for, but whatever I find I am grateful for.

The first materials I worked with were the letters from Sylvia Plath to various recipients in Box 1. There are a bunch of letters that were not made available to us for The Letters of Sylvia Plath; and I look forward to trying to see that they are published along with the thirty-odd letters I have gathered since 2019 when the paperbacks were issued in the United Kingdom.

The second thing I worked with was the letters from Assia Wevill to Mrs. Plath. I sent copies off to my good friend and colleague Julie Goodspeed-Chadwick immediately. The marvel of modern archival research. She read them and her reactions to them made me tear up a bit. And I cannot even blame allergies.

I had about two or so hours with the first boxes that I called for and it was strange, weird, nice, awesome, and interesting, to say to least to work with these materials. It is the first Plath-centric archival trip I have had since 2022. I am, honestly, worried about my stamina. Can I survive three full days of this from Wednesday through Friday? Well, I will try. And if and when I get cranky there is chocolate and coffee nearby, I am sure.

I have written a fictional biography of Esther Greenwood and I hope it is something you might find interesting

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My focus today was just taking pictures. I can read everything in the coming weeks of dark nights and short days. In three hours I took 407 images. Glory!

It has long been a dream to visit the Beinecke. To get to spend 3+ days here with the Plath Family papers is a true honor. I look forward to discussing some of what I see here with in via the blog in the next few days.

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All links accessed 2 December 2025.

Famous Quotes of Sylvia Plath

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