MS Lowell 1

Brontë, Charlotte, 1816-1855. Charlotte Brontë juvenilia: Guide.

Houghton Library, Harvard College Library

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Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 USA

Conservation and imaging funded by the Class of 1952 Manuscript Department Fund.

Last update on 2011 December 21

Descriptive Summary

Repository: Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
Call No.: MS Lowell 1
Creator: Brontë, Charlotte, 1816-1855.
Title: Charlotte Brontë juvenilia,
Date(s): 1829-1830.
Quantity: 1 volume (.1 linear ft.)
Language of materials: Collection materials are in English.
Abstract: Nine miniature manuscript books, written by English author Charlotte Brontë and her brother Patrick Bronwell Brontë, written when they were children.

Access Restrictions:

Originals restricted. Readers should use digital surrogates linked in this finding aid.

Images linked to this finding aid are intended for public access and educational use. This material is owned and/or held by the Houghton Library, and is provided solely for the purpose of teaching or individual research. Any other use, including commercial reuse, mounting on other systems, or other forms of redistribution requires the permission of the curator.

Preferred Citation for Publication:

Charlotte Brontë Juvenilia (MS Lowell 1). Houghton Library, Harvard University.

Historical Note

Charlotte Brontë (1816-1855) was an English poet and novelist and sister of Patrick Branwell Brontë (1817-1848). They were the siblings of Emily and Anne Brontë, also English writers of the 19th century. From an early age, the Brontë children collaborated to dream up imaginary worlds and created miniature books from their stories and poetry. They first wrote of the Glasstown Confederacy, a fantasy world inspired by a box of twelve wooden toy soldiers given to Branwell by his father, and later Branwell and Charlotte wrote about Angria, while Emily and Anne created Grondol.

Amy Lowell was an American Imagist poet and Thomas James Wise was an English bibliographer and book collector.

Scope and Content

Nine juvenilia miniature manuscript books: Six by Charlotte Brontë, and three by Patrick Branwell Brontë. These books form part of a series written by the Brontë children in the years 1829-1830.

Manuscript booklets are hand-lettered, some containing simple drawings as illustrations, and sewn into paper covers, with dated and signed title pages.

Also includes notes on the manuscript by Amy Lowell and Thomas James Wise.

Bibliography

Alexander, Christine. The Early Writings of Charlotte Brontë. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1983.

Alexander, Christine and Jane Sellars. The art of the Brontës. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995, p.289-290.

Patrick Branwell Brontë. Branwell's Blackwood's magazine : The glass town magazine written by Branwell Brontë ; with contributions from his sister Charlotte Brontë ; introduced and edited by Christine Alexander ; assisted by Vanessa Benson and illustrated by Rebecca Alexander. Edmonton: Juvenilia Press, 1995.

Judith Chernaik. "An unpublished tale by Charlotte Brontë," TLS: 1973 Nov. 23.

An Edition of the Early Writings of Charlotte Brontë, ed. Christine Alexander; vol. 1: 1826-1832; vol. 2 Part 1: 1833-1834; Part 2: 1834-1835. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1987, 1881.

The Works of Patrick Branwell Brontë: An Edition, ed. Victor A. Neufeldt, 3 vols. New York: Garland, 1997, 1999.

Container List

(1) Brontë, Charlotte, 1816-1855. An interesting passage in the lives of some eminent personages of the present age, by Lord Charles Wellesley [pseud.] . . . : AMsS ; [Haworth], 1830 June 18. 8f.(16p.) 5.3 x 3.9 cm.
In miniature script.

With original blue paper wrapper.
Click for color digital facsimile

(2) [Brontë, Charlotte, 1816-1855.] The poetaster: a drama in two volumes. Vol I. By Lord Charles Wellesley [pseud.] : AMsS (initials) ; [Haworth], 1830 July 6. 8f.(16p.) 5.3 x 3.3 cm.
In miniature script.

With original yellow paper wrappers.
Click for color digital facsimile

(3) [Brontë, Charlotte, 1816-1855]. The adventures of Mon. Edouard de Crack, by Lord C. Wellesley [pseud.] : AMs (unsigned) ; [Haworth], 1830 Feb. 22 10f.(20p.) 5.3 x 3.6 cm.
In miniature script.

With original yellow paper wrappers.
Click for color digital facsimile

(4) [Brontë, Charlotte, 1816-1855]. Scenes on the great bridge By the Genius C.B. : AMsS (initials) ; [Haworth], 1829 Nov. 8f.(16p.) 5.6 x 3.6 cm.
In miniature script.

With original gray paper wrappers.
Click for color digital facsimile

(5) [Brontë, Charlotte, 1816-1855]. The silver cup: a tale : AMsS (initials) ; [Haworth], 1829 Oct. 8f.(16p.) 5.5 x 3.5 cm.
In miniature script.

With original gray paper wrappers.
Click for color digital facsimile

(6) Brontë, Charlotte, 1816-1855. Blackwoods young mens magazine . . .Edited by the Genius C.B. : AMsS ; [Haworth], 1829 Aug. 10f.(19p.) 5.3 x 3.4 cm.
Includes: A true story by C.B., and others.

In miniature script.

With original gray paper wrappers.
Click for color digital facsimile

(7) Brontë, Patrick Branwell, 1817-1848. Branwells Blackwoods magazine . . . : AMsS (initials) ; [Haworth], 1829 June. 9f.(18p.) 5.2 x 3.6 cm.
In miniature script.

Includes The enfant: part 2, by Charlotte Brontë.

With original wrappers of letterpress fragment.
Click for color digital facsimile

(8) [Brontë, Patrick Branwell, 1817-1848]. Magazine . . . : AMsS (initials) ; [Haworth], 1829 Jan. 5f.(8p.) 5.4 x 3.6 cm.
In miniature script.

With original wrappers of letterpress fragment; cover includes brown yarn running stitch.
Click for color digital facsimile

(9) [Brontë, Patrick Branwell, 1817-1848]. Branwells Blackwoods magazine . . . : AMsS (initials) ; [Haworth], 1829 July. 11f.(22p.) 5.2 x 3.6 cm.
In miniature script.

With original wrappers of letterpress fragment.
Click for color digital facsimile

(10) Lowell, Amy, 1874-1925 and Thomas James Wise, 1859-1937. . Notes concerning the Brontë juvenilia : AMss, undated. 2s.(2p.) in 2 mats.
Notes concerning these manuscripts by former owners Amy Lowell and Thomas James Wise. Wise's notes concern the bibliographic details of these manuscripts. Lowell's note indicates that the manuscripts were given to her by Thomas J. Wise in London on 1905 Sept. 11. She also notes that "Mr. Wise bought everything that the Rev. Arthur Bell Nichols (Charlotte Brontë's husband) had relating to his wife and his wife's family.

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