Collection consists of materials created and accumulated by Bertram R. Davis on the history of Bristol and the romantics. Includes correspondence between 164 correspondents, 45 manuscript groups, research notes, photographs, clippings, articles, offprints, excerpts, and other ephemera. Also included is a file of correspondence from Bertram donated by Kenneth Curry and a file of correspondence relating to portraits of Southey donated by Dr. Warren U. Ober.

Arranged in six series as follows:
1. Manuscripts Held in Trust
2. Chattertonian Manuscript;
3. Correspondence;
4. Articles, Offprints, etc.;
5. Bertram R. Davis Research Files;
6. Visual Materials.

Series is comprised of a collection of manuscripts held in trust, given to the archive by Doris Davis, widow of Bertram R. Davis. The items include letters, poetry, an indenture and other miscellaneous notes by romantic poets and their relatives including Robert Southey, William Wordsworth, and Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

Autograph letter to Caroline Bowles (who became Mrs. Robert Southey). March 1, 1828. Says he would be glad to send her his "plain statements, of all the circumstances of the case of the poor woman whom I was able to deliver from her horrible doom." Deals with other matters also.

Corrected proofs for article "To the Rev. C. Cuthbert Southey" (Robert Southey's son) for Fraser's Magazine, Dec. 1, 1850. Says of Southey "never in the course of my existence have I known a man so excellent on so many points." Two full sentences inserted in proof, in Landor's handwriting.

Autograph letter, 1811 (?) to the Rev. Mr. Haiveis. Enclosed letter from Mr. Hornes suggest taking no notice "till we see the result from Lambeth."

Autograph letter to William Perry. "Mr. Davis's friends hope he will stand" "Can you think of any votes that we might ask for?"

Autograph letter. Sept. 3, 1819. Long letter to an unknown correspondent concerning the arrival of a book and other matters. Note at top in different hand "To be kept - part addressed to AG."

Autograph letter to Robert Southey. January 13, 1823. Her client, Alfred Pettitt, an invalid music teacher, wishes to publish a collection of hymns. Mrs. Opie hopes that Southey and Wordsworth will be willing to supply compositions for his collection.

Autograph note to "Mr. Ullock." June 24, 1842. Asking for details concerning a wheel chair for sale. She needs the chair for Mr. Southey. (Southey died in 1843).

Autograph invitation from "Mr. & Mrs. Southey & Mrs. Coleridge" to "Mr. & the Misses Philips, Royal-Oak."

Autograph passage dated April 2, 1805. Written in the form of a note in a common-place book, but it reads as if it is a letter from a gentleman to a lady.

Autograph letter to Thomas Southey (Robert's brother and an officer in the Royal Navy.) March 14-15, 1809. Discusses progress on poem "Curse of Kehama." Reports that the Quarterly Review has been published, mentions his and Walter Scott's contributions, editorial deletions, his payment. Discusses development in the war, "Thalaba" has been finished. His Brazil reviewed by Sharon Turner, to be reviewed by Bedford and, possibly, S.T. Coleridge.
Published in Kenneth Curry's New Letters v.1 p. 502.

Autograph letter to the Rev. Dr. Bell. April 23, 1816. Acknowledges receipt of weather-glass, damaged in shipment. Hartley Coleridge has fellowship at Oriel. Has had visitor: a professor of chemistry from Columbia College, New York.

Autograph letter to Caroline Bowles. May 16, [1829?]. Forwards letter addressed to her but delivered to him by mistake. Compliments her as creative artist of letters. Refers warmly to Southey. Long, detailed letter.

Autograph letter to Charles Danvers. May 24, 1824. "Will leave tomorrow (Tuesday) at four p.m. and hopes to arrive at Danvers's door (in Bristol?) before three o'clock Wednesday."

Autograph letter. May 13, 1826. Mentions that a set of books directed by Southey in care of the recipient of the letter should have arrived.

Autograph letter addressed to Treuttel and Wurtz (probably Treutel and Wurtz, publishers). August 11, 1827. Acknowledges receipt of Bank of England post-bill for £100.

Autograph letter to Rev. Dr. Bell. February 27, 1828. Urges recipient not to worry about the matter that has been bothering him for so long. Now that he has established the discovery for his own, he should let the matter rest. Suggests meeting him in Cheltenham. Refers to Southey's daughter and son.

Autograph letter to "My dear H.T." June 4, 1829. Encloses a ballad for Allan C (unningham).

Autograph letter (to Edward Quillinan who became William Wordsworth's son-in-law). November 14, 1829. Apologizes for not saying farewell at Rydal Mount. Was under the impression he was remaining until the next evening. Provides annotation for "Your very pleasing poem upon the resurrection of Barber's tree."

"Document, signed, appointing his brother, Henry Herbert Southey, his lawful attorney, to receive any sum of money due to him as Poet Laureate." Also includes original auction advertisement for the item.

Autograph letter to Dr. Henry Herbert Southey. December 21, 1833. Southey's son-in-law has been given the living of "Patching cum Terring" in Sussex.

Autograph letter. October 22, 1836. Apologetically offers help to poor scholar who has applied to him for assistance. In doing his edition of Cowper he will need someone to indicate the lines of the original Homer included in each page of Cowper's translation. He will recommend that that publisher hire him.

Autograph letter to the Rev. John Horseman. December 21, 1835. "Renewing the acquaintance of his correspondent and giving him an account of himself and his family, referring to the tragic state (insanity) of his wife" (Southey at his best as a letter-writer).
Published in Kenneth Curry's New Letters, v. 2 p. 433.

Autograph letter to Caroline Bowles. June 30, 1831. Long letter beginning with reference to a book he has completed, one that should reach her soon. He speaks of their common friend Southey and his activities in literature and in the press.

Autograph letter. March 22, 1836. Hopes that the recipient obtains "the object of your petition." No Englishman had before him completed the expedition from Peru over the Andes and down the greatest river in South America. All merchants who trade with that part of the world have gained valuable information from his journal of the expedition.

Autograph letter to "my dear H.T." February 23, 1837. Reports that the weather at Keswick "is as bad here as it was in London, but not so ugly, tho as ugly as it can be in such a country."

Autograph sheet (2 pages). Outlines, memoranda, and lists of letters relating to Southey's work on Cowper.

Autograph list of names and London addresses.

Autograph list of Southey's contributions to the Quarterly Review. 100-plus items, 2 sheets.

Autograph sentence beginning "indeed the adventurers arrived in fortunate time..."

Autograph prescription for treating "erisypelas measles and scarlet fever".

Autograph sentence on the back of a frank of John Rickman, Clerk of the House of Commons. "If anything can be more detestable...it is the manner in which there have been attempts to gloss over actions which public opinion..." The small paper fragment has been set into a larger sheet of paper showing an explanation of the item.

Autograph sheets containing quotations, lists of words, references, etc. 18 small leaves.

Autograph booklet of quotations from various authors (9 x 10 cm). About twenty leaves originally; a few have been removed in part or completely.

Autograph letter to Caroline Bowles. July 13, 1831. Informal, friendly letter discussing their name, speaking of his unfurnished house, their going with Mrs. Bowles to some destination.

Autograph sheets containing original memoranda, verse compositions (unpublished?), ideas for composition, and notes. 12 slips of paper.

Autograph pages from one of Southey's notebooks. Includes lists of Mexican, Greek, Oriental, Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish names for possible use in his poetry. Includes ideas for subjects for poems. One or two of the names may have a genuine connection with the poetry of Coleridge. One leaf in Spanish, headed "Papel publico em Madrid..." Nine leaves. Also included is the original auction advertisement for the group.

Autograph notes published in Southey's Common-Place book, Second Series. Ed. John Wood Warter, London, Longmans, 1849. (Titles and a few footnotes supplied in pencil by Warter). Notes are listed below and keyed to the pages in which they appear in the Common-Place book. The first number is the page; the second gives the note's place on the page; a partial note at the top of a page is counted as no. 1.

• 403-2,5
• 404-2,3,4
• 405-2,3
• 406-2,3,4,5
• 407-2
• 516-6
• 517-1,2,3
• 518-2
• 519-1,2
• 521-4
• 635-3,4,5,6,7,8
• 636-5,6
• 637-4,5,6,7
• 638-2,3,4,5,6
• 639-2,5,6
• 640-2,3,4,8
• 641-3,4,6
• 642-2,4,5
• 643-1,3
• 644-2,5,6,7
• 645-1,2,4
• 646-2,3,4,5,6,7
• 647-1,7,8
• 648-2,6
• 650-4
• 651-2,3,5,6
• 652-3,6,
• 653-2,4,5,6,
• 654-2,3,5
• 655-3,4,6,7
• 656-2,6,7
• 657-2,5,6
• 658-1,2,3,5
• 659-2
• 660-2
• 661-3,4,5
• 662-4
• 663-4,6
• 664-2,3,5
• 665-3
• 666-2,5,9
• 667-2,3,4,5,7
• 668-1,2,3 and "the Old Tradesman's oath at Lucca"

Autograph glossary of dialect terms (Scottish?; Lake District?) one sheet (2 pages) in an unknown hand.

Autograph transcription "copied from Cowper's sleeping room June 1833, Weston." Edith Mary Warter was Robert Southey's daughter.

Clipping of poem "Inscription for a Seat by a Road Side, Half Way up a Steep Hill, Facing the South" Morning Post (?) no. 10, 021 (Oct. 21, 1800?) ("thou, who in youthful vigour rich, and light") initialed W.W. in Wordsworth's autograph. Possibly actually T.S. Coleridge's poem.

Autograph letter to Caroline Bowles. June 1, 1832. Apparently encloses poetry (ms.? or book?) Mentions someone to whom he alludes in the preface. Comments on "disgusting and stupid bards of the pantry and wash-house." Unpublished?

Autograph letter to Caroline Bowles. June 5, 1832. Refers to the crisis facing the nation. Begs her to assure her friend of Bowles's esteem and respect. Bowles hopes that nothing he's said will offend her friend.

Clipping of poem "The Lethargist and Mad (man?)" from Morning Post (?) 1799-1800? no. 9679. ("In Good King Olem's Reign, I've read"). Initialed "S.T.C." in Coleridge's autograph.

Clipping of poem "The Kiss and the Blush" from Morning Post (?) May 12, 1803. ("My gentle, Grace, I did but seek"). Initialed "S.T.C." in Coleridge's autograph.

Untitled note in Coleridge's hand. Original envelope states "Autograph of Coleridge with Southey's attestation." (Nothing in Southey's hand) 2 pages on one sheet. "Now placed in vol. II of S.T. Coleridges Poet & Dramatic Works - page 86. Side by side with the poem it gives in ms. E. Dowden July 30, 1883." Dowden was a distinguished early scholar in the Romantic movement.

File consists of one manuscript titled "Chattertonian ms." The manuscript itself is a transcribed typed copy of the original, which was compiled and written by George Catcott. Catcott was the first person to be approached by Chatterton regarding the Thomas Rowley poems. The manuscript includes passages from works by Thomas Chatterton, letters to and from Catcott and Chatterton, as well as notes by Catcott on Chatterton and the Thomas Rowley affair. Inlaid in the front of the book is a signature of Thomas Chatterton's as well as a letter addressing the authenticity of the signature. Also included is a print of George Catcott. The bookplate reads "Conrad P. Fry oneth me is me jure tenet, and this booke confesse to be quieunque me invenit."

File consists of a typed transcription of the Chattertonian Manuscript, possibly by George Catcott. The manuscript is comprised of works by Chatterton, a history of the Rowley affair, letters from Chatterton to Catcott, with notes by Catcott throughout. This typed copy has been bound together with an index and table of contents. In the front of the book is laid in a signature of Thomas Chatterton and its accompanying auction notice, as well as a letter regarding the authenticity of the signature. Also included is a print showing George Catcott.

Series consists of approximately 5,900 items of correspondence between 165 correspondents. Includes correspondence to and from Bertram R. Davis, correspondence to and from unknown correspondents, and correspondence between others. Also includes two files of correspondence on a specific topic. One file is on portraits of Southey and the other is on the Portugues author Jose Maria de Eca de Queiroz.
Correspondents include:

• All American Cables
• Baldwyn, L.
• Bathietwell, William
• Beddoe, Dorothy
• Bell, Whitefield Jr.
• Bennett, Rhoda
• Bentley, G.E. Jr.
• Bernard Quariten Ltd.
• Blunden, Edmund
• Boots Cash Chemists
• Boult, Nellie A.
• Boyce, R.R.
• Brace, Keith
• Bremer, Heather
• Bremner, Robert
• British Council, The
• British Museum, The
• Bronson, Bertrand
• Browning, Daphne DuMaurier
• Buchan, Alexander M.
• Cabral, Adolfo De Oliveira
• Cabral, Maria de Gloria Ramos de Oliveira
• Calme, John
• Carnall, Geoffrey
• Cartwright, Revd. Canon R.F.
• Cascas, Artur Simoes
• Charles Lamb Society Bulletin
• Cheyne, A.D. Gordon
• Christ’s Hosptial
• Coburn, Kathleen
• Collis, Ivan
• Crook, Arthur
• Crowsley, Ernest G.
• Curry, Kenneth
• Darbshire, Helen
• Davis, Annabel
• Davis, Doris
• Davis, Watson
• de Eca de Queiroz, Antonio
• de Eca de Quieroz de Castro, Maria
• De Sousa-Lead, J.
• do Ceu Costa, Maria
• Early, Benjamin W.
• Early, Margaret Sue
• Edward, P. Welson
• Espstein, Jason
• Faliscue-Brickdale, Matthew
• Filler, Louis
• Fisher, Dorothy
• Fitzgerald, Maurice
• Flack, Ellis
• Flack, G. Ellis
• Fox, Levi
• Gandy, Norman
• Gardner, WH.
• Garlick, Kenneth
• Gayford, J.C.
• Gibbs, Donald T.
• Goodland, Alice
• Green-Armytage, R.N.
• Griggs, Earl Leslie
• Haller, William
• Harris, Roy
• Haugh, W.S.
• Havens, Raymond D.
• Heaton, P.
• Highman, Norman
• His Excellency the Portuguese Ambassador
• Hoover, Ben
• Hope, Warren T.
• Hough, Henry B.
• Howe, H.W.
• Hynes, Mary
• Kaderley, Nat Lewis
• Kaderly, Nat Lewis
• Kaufman, Paul
• Keens, R. Lyall
• Kew, S.F.
• Kopaitic, Boris (Commander)
• Kuhn, A.J.
• Kurahashi, J.
• Lamoine, Georges
• Laverick, D.M.
• Lee, Chi-Pui
• Lindsay, Philip C.
• Looker, Samuel J.
• Lowes, John Livingston
• Mabbott, Thomas Ollive
• Manogue, Ralph Anthony
• Mansfield, John
• Mason, A.S.
• Massey-Stewart, John
• McElderry, Bruce Robert
• Merritt, Theodore E.
• Metford, J.C.J.
• Meyerstein, E.H.W.
• Middendorf, John H.
• Middleton, Arthur Pierce
• Miller, C.A.
• Mooman, Mary
• Moore, R.W.
• Morgan, P.F.
• Morley, E.J.
• Morris, Christopher
• Munday, Katherine
• Mure, G.R.G.
• New House Museum
• Nowell, Charles
• Nunes de Silva, Henrique
• Ober, Warrun U.
• Ormond, R.L.
• Osborne, Edgar
• Peck, Walter Edwin
• Penney, Clara L.
• Pinney, Hester
• Pinto, Abranches
• Pleasance, Antony C.
• Polhemus, George W.
• Prabhakar, T.
• Pugsley, N.S.E.
• Purchase, J.L.
• Raepe, Elizabeth
• Ramos, Charles
• Rawnsley, E.F.
• Rawnsley, H.D.
• Reeves, Florence S.
• Rich, Norman
• Rodgers, Betsy
• Ross, Archibald
• Ross, James
• Russell, P.E.
• Shaffer, Elinor
• Shaver, Chester L.
• Simmons, Jack
• Smith, Elsie
• Smith, H.G.
• Sproule, Hugh
• Sypher, Gale
• Sypher, Lucy
• Sypher, Wylie
• Taylor, Donald
• Taylor, L. Acland
• Taylor, Rachel
• Thompson, J.E.
• Thone, Frank
• Times Literary Supplement, The
• Times, The
• Times, The
• Turnbull, J.M.
• University of Toronto Quarterly
• Usher, H.W.F.
• Wakefield, [?]
• Waller, Robert
• Wallis, F.S.
• Wasserman, Earl R.
• Watson, Rowland
• Wells, Charles
• West, S. George
• Whalley, George
• Whiting, F.
• Wilkinson, Norman B.
• Williams, M.G.
• Williams, Rev. H. Fulford
• Wilson, R.A.
• Woof, Robert

File consists of one item of correspondence from R. Lyall Keens of The Bristol Incorporated Chamber of Commerce and Shipping.

File consists of one item of correspondence from S.F. Kew of Bristol Literary Dinners.

File consists of four items of correspondence between Bertram R. Davis and Commander Boris Kopaitic.

File consists of two items of correspondence between Bertram R. Davis and A.J. Kuhn.

File consists of one item of correspondence from J. Kurahashi.

File consists of thirty nine items of correspondence between Bertram R. Davis and Georges Lamoine.

File consists of twelve items of correspondence from Chi-Pui Lee.

File consists of one item of correspondence from Philip C. Lindsay.

File consists of one item of correspondence from Samuel J. Looker.

File consists of fifteen items of correspondence from John Livingston Lowes including one item from his wife Mary Lowes.

File consists of one item of correspondence from Thomas Ollive Mabbott.

File consists of one item of correspondence from Bertram R. Davis to Ralph Anthony Manogue.

File consists of one item of correspondence from John Mansfield.

File consists of three items of correspondence from A.S. Mason.

File consists of two items of correspondence from Bruce Robert McElderry and copies of McElderry's obituary.

File consists of twenty eight items of correspondence between Bertram R. Davis and E.H.W. Meyerstein.

File consists of one item of correspondence from John H. Middendorf of the Johnsonian News Letter.

File consists of two items of correspondence from Arthur Pierre Middleton of Colonial Williamsburg.

File consists of eight items of correspondence from C.A. Miller.

File consists of one item of correspondence from Mary Mooman.

File consists of one item of correspondence from R.W. Moore of The Grammar School, Bristol.

File consists of one item of correspondence from P.F. Morgan.

File consists of one item of correspondence from E.J. Morley.

File consists of one item of correspondence from Christopher, Morris.

File consists of nine items of correspondence from Katherine Munday of the Salisbury Poetry Circle.

File consists of one item of correspondence from Charles Nowell, Chief Librarian of Manchester Public Libraries.

File consists of one item of correspondence from Bertram Davis to Dr. Warren U. Ober.

File consists of one item of correspondence from Walter Edwin Peck.

File consists of fifteen items of correspondence from Hester Pinney.

File consists of one item of correspondence from Antony C. Pleasance.

File consists of two items of correspondence from George W. Polhemus.

File consists of two items of correspondence from Bertram R. Davis to T. Prabhakar, Esq.

File consists of three items of correspondence between Bertram R. Davis and N.S.E. Pugsley.

File consists of four items of correspondence between Bertram R. Davis and J.L. Purchase of The Council House, Bristol.

File consists of three items of correspondence from Elizabeth Raepe of The Council House, Bristol.

File consists of nine items of correspondence between Bertram R. Davis and Charles Ramos.

File consists of nine items of correspondence between Bertram R. Davis and Florence S. Reeves of The Charles Lame Society.

File consists of one item of correspondence from Norman Rich of The Western Daily Press & Bristol Mirror.

File consists of two items of correspondence from Betsy Rodgers.

File consists of two items of correspondence from Archibald Ross.

File consists of three items of correspondence from James Ross of City and Council of Bristol Public Libraries.

File consists of two items of correspondence from P.E. Russell.

File consists of one item of correspondence from Elinor Shaffer.

File consists of two items of correspondence from Chester L. Shaver.

File consists of two items of correspondence from Jack Simmons.

File consists of three items of correspondence from Elsie Smith.

File consists of fourteen items of correspondence between Bertram R. Davis and H.G. Smith.

File consists of three items of correspondence from J. de Sousa-Lead.

File consists of one item of correspondence from Hugh Sproule.