- Collection Overview
- Collection Description & Creator Information
- Access & Use
- Collection History
- Find Related Materials
Expanded View
Collection Overview
- Creator:
- Cowper, William, 1731-1800
- Title:
- Kenneth Povey Collection of William Cowper
- Repository:
- Manuscripts Division
- Permanent URL:
- http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/5d86p023h
- Dates:
- 1727-1845
- Size:
- 1 box and 0.45 linear feet
- Storage Note:
- ReCAP (scarcpxm): Box 1
- Language:
- English
Abstract
The Kenneth Povey Collection of William Cowper consists of materials from the life of Cowper, collected by Kenneth Povey, a scholar of eighteenth-century poetry.
Collection Description & Creator Information
- Scope and Contents
Consists of letters, manuscripts, documents, and memorabilia relating to Cowper, collected by Kenneth Povey. Correspondents include John Johnson, William Hayley, and John Newton. The collection includes one signed, autograph letter of Cowper; a document signed by Cowper in 1758 as Commissioner of Bankrupts; a copy by John Johnson of a fragment of a diary by Cowper, published in the London Mercury, 1927, as "Cowper's Spiritual Diary"; and a volume containing 20 watercolor "Illustrations from Cowper's TASK" (1837) by "NN".
- Collection Creator Biography:
Cowper, William, 1731-1800
William Cowper was an English poet. Born in 1731 in Great Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, Cowper was schooled in Markyate and Winchester and trained for a career in law. However, he found himself ill-suited for the profession and instead was appointed a commissioner in bankruptcy. He suffered from severe mental instability and was institutionalized on several occasions. A true romantic, Cowper wrote much of his poetry in honor of the women in his life. Among his most famous compositions are The Task and The Journey of John Gilpin. Cowper died in 1800.
Joseph Hill was a close friend of Cowper who served as his mentor in matters of business.
Collection History
- Processing Information
This collection was processed in 1998. Finding aid written in 1998.
Biography written by Jessica Marati, '08.
Access & Use
- Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research use.
- Conditions Governing Use
Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.
- Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.
- Credit this material:
Kenneth Povey Collection of William Cowper; Manuscripts Division, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library
- Permanent URL:
- http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/5d86p023h
- Location:
-
Firestone LibraryOne Washington RoadPrinceton, NJ 08544, USA
- Storage Note:
- ReCAP (scarcpxm): Box 1
Find More
- Bibliography
The following sources were consulted during preparation of biographical note: Biography from British Authors Before 1800 (1952).
- Subject Terms:
- Bankruptcy -- England -- 19th century.
Poets, English -- 18th century. - Genre Terms:
- Drawings -- 19th century
Legal documents -- England --19th century. - Names:
- Povey, Kenneth, 1898-1965
