ROSENSTEIN, HARRIET.
Harriet Rosenstein research files on Sylvia Plath, 1910-2018
Harriet Rosenstein research files on Sylvia Plath, 1910-2018
Emory University
Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library
Atlanta, GA 30322
404-727-6887
rose.library@emory.edu
Permanent link: http://pid.emory.edu/ark:/25593/v42kp
Table of Contents
Descriptive Summary
Creator: | Rosenstein, Harriet. |
---|---|
Title: | Harriet Rosenstein research files on Sylvia Plath, 1910-2018 |
Call Number: | Manuscript Collection No. 1489 |
Extent: | 2 linear feet (4 boxes) and AV Masters: .5 linear feet (1 box) |
Abstract: | Research files created by Harriet Rosenstein while writing her dissertation about Sylvia Plath. |
Language: | Materials entirely in English. |
Administrative Information
Restrictions on Access
All requests subject to limitations noted in departmental policies on reproduction.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
Special restrictions apply: The collection contains some copies of original materials held by other institutions; these copies may not be reproduced without the permission of the owner of the originals.
Related Materials in Other Repositories
Sylvia Plath collection, Sophia Smith Collection of Women's History, Smith College; Ruth Tiffany Barnhouse papers, Sophia Smith Collection of Women's History, Smith College
Related Materials in This Repository
Source
Purchase from Peter Grogan, 2019
Custodial History
Peter Grogan, rare book and manuscript dealer, acquired this collection from Ken Lopez Bookseller. Lopez acquired the collection directly from Harriet Rosenstein in 2017, at which time the collection included correspondence between Sylvia Plath and her former psychiatrist, Ruth Barnhouse (also sometimes known by her married name Ruth Beuscher). Smith College filed suit against Lopez, claiming ownership of the Barnhouse/Plath letters as the repository of the Ruth Barnhouse papers. Smith College won the lawsuit and those letters were removed from this collection and transferred to Smith. Rose Library purchased the remainder of the collection from Grogan, who packed and shipped the material to the library from London, England.
For a more detailed examination of the context of this collection, see Paul Alexander's "The Psychiatrist Who Tried to Save Sylvia Plath," Literary Hub, October 23, 2018.
Citation
[after identification of item(s)], Harriet Rosenstein research files on Sylvia Plath, Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library, Emory University.
Appraisal Note
The collection was acquired by Jennifer Gunter King, Director of the Rose Library, as part of the Rose Library's holdings in literature and poetry. All material received with the collection has been retained.
Processing
Arranged and described at the file level by Sarah Quigley, December 2019. Original files were refoldered and most titles were transcribed. Original folders with notes or titles that differed from the contents inside were retained in the new folder. Files containing copies of Plath's articles and reviews by and about Plath were consolidated into a single file. Files with broken date ranges contain copies of correspondence between Plath and the individuals named on the file.
Plath scholar Catherine Rankovic provided the transcription of Harriet Rosenstein's shorthand notes to Rose Library staff in 2020. Sarah Quigley added the transcripts to the collection to facilitate access to the information in the notes. The transcripts were not originally part of the collection.
Many of the audio cassette tapes were mislabeled and physical items may no longer match titles in the finding aid. Sarah Quigley corrected the finding aid with information provided by Plath scholar Peter K. Steinberg.
This finding aid may include language that is offensive or harmful. Please refer to the Rose Library's harmful language statement for more information about why such language may appear and ongoing efforts to remediate racist, ableist, sexist, homophobic, euphemistic and other oppressive language. If you are concerned about language used in this finding aid, please contact us at rose.library@emory.edu.
Collection Description
Biographical Note
Harriet Rosenstein received a Ph.D. from Brandeis University (Waltham, Massachusetts) in 1973. Her dissertation, Sylvia Plath: 1932-1952, is a biography of the poet. Rosenstein had intended to publish her dissertation but conflict with the Plath estate ultimately prevented her from finishing the project.
Scope and Content Note
The collection consists of Harriet Rosenstein's research files on Sylvia Plath from 1910-2018. Files may include interview transcripts, correspondence between Rosenstein and various individuals who knew Plath, and copies of correspondence between Plath and the individuals named on the file. The collection also includes recordings of Rosenstein's interviews with individuals who knew Plath. There is also material relating to Rosenstein's book contract with Alfred A. Knopf, correspondence between Rosenstein and Olwyn Hughes regarding Rosenstein's research, and fragments of drafts of Rosenstein's dissertation.
Arrangement Note
Arranged in alphabetical order.
Finding Aid Note
A detailed inventory of letters in the collection, including excerpts, created by Peter Grogan, is available upon request.
Selected Search Terms
Personal Names
Topical Terms
- Biographers--United States.
- American poetry--20th century.
- Women biographers.
- Women poets, American--20th century.
Form/Genre Terms
Container List
Box | Folder | Content |
---|---|---|
1 | 1 | Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1970-1977 |
1 | 2 | Alvarez, Al, 1970-1974 |
1 | 3 | Ames, Elizabeth and Cyrilly Abels, 1971-1974 |
1 | 4 | Avery, John, 1970 |
AV1 | - | Avery, John, interview recording, undated (side A); Winifred Davies, interview recording, undated (side B) [original: audio cassette] |
1 | 5 | Axworthy, Nancy and Alan and Nan Jenkins, 1973-1975 |
AV1 | - | Axworthy, Nancy, interview recording, 1973 December 4 (side A); Iko and Felicity Meshoulam, interview recording, 1973 December 9 (side B) [original: audio cassette] |
1 | 6 | Barnhouse, Ruth, 1970-1974 |
1 | 7 | Baskin, Leonard, 1971 |
AV1 | - | Baskin, Leonard, interview recording, 1971 December 16 (side A); Margaret Shook, interview recording, 1971 December 16 (side B) [original: audio cassette] |
1 | 8 | Becker, Jillian, 1973-1975 |
1 | 9 | Blackwell, Connie Taylor, 1974 |
AV1 | - | Blackwell, Connie Taylor, interview recording, part one, 1974 April 20 (side A); Richard Murphy, interview recording, part three, 1974 April 19 (side B) [original: audio cassette] |
1 | 10 | Bloom, Harold, 1974 |
1 | 11 | Booth, Susan, 1973 |
AV1 | - | Booth, Susan, interview recording, 1973 December 5 (side A); Mallory Wober, interview recording, part one, 1973 December 7 (side B) [original: audio cassette] |
1 | 12 | Brody, Sally Rosenthal, 1971 |
1 | 13 | Burch, Susan Weller, 1974 |
1 | 14 | Burton, Kay, Evelyn Evans, and "Cambridge ladies," 1973-1974 |
1 | 15 | Butscher, Edward, 1971-1976 |
1 | 16 | Cantor, Margaret, 1972 |
1 | 17 | Chiasson, Dan, 2018 |
1 | 18 | Compton, David, 1973 |
AV1 | - | Compton, David, interview recording (end), undated and Ildiko Hayes, interview recording, undated (side A); Ildiko Hayes, interview recording, undated (side B) [original: audio cassette] |
1 | 19 | Crockett, Wilbury, 1949, 1971 |
1 | 20 | Davies, Winifred, 1970 |
1 | 21 | Davis, Robert Gorham, 1971-1976 |
AV1 | - | Davison, Jane, interview recording, part two, undated (side A); Perry Norton, interview recording, undated (side B) [original: audio cassette] |
1 | 22 | Davison, Peter and Jane, 1972-1975 |
AV1 | - | Davison, Peter and Jane, interview recording, part one and two, 1973 November 6 [original: audio cassette] |
AV1 | - | Davison, Peter, interview recording, 1973 November 6 (side A); Jane Davison, interview recording, 1974 April 8 (side B) [original: audio cassette] |
1 | 23 | Depression and suicide, 1973-1984 |
1 | 24 | Dickinson, Patric, 1973 |
1 | 25 | Fainlight, Ruth and Alan Sillitoe, 1970 |
AV1 | - | Fainlight, Ruth and Alan Sillitoe, interview recording, undated [original: audio cassette] |
AV1 | - | Fainlight, Ruth, interview recording, undated [original: audio cassette] |
1 | 26 | Fassett, Stephen, 1971 |
1 | 27 | Frankfort, Catherine, 1970-1971 |
1 | 28 | Frayn, Michael, 1957, 1973 |
1 | 29 | Freeman, David, circa 1945-1955, 1974 |
1 | 30 | Gibian, George and Smith College English faculty, 1971 |
1 | 31 | Goodall, Karen, 1974 |
1 | 32 | Gottlieb, Robert, 1972-1975 |
2 | 1 | Handleman, Claiborne, 1971-1974 |
2 | 2 | Horder, John, 1970-1971 |
AV1 | - | Horder, John, interview recording, undated (side A); Ruth Barnhouse, interview recording, undated (side B) [original: audio cassette] |
2 | 3 | Hughes family, circa 1975 |
2 | 4 | Hughes, Frieda, 2016-2017 |
2 | 5 | Hughes, Olwyn, 1970-1978 |
2 | 6 | Jacobson, Dan, 1973 |
AV1 | - | Jacobson, Dan, interview recording, 1973 November 16 [original: audio cassette] |
2 | 7 | Jenkins, Alan and Nan, 1973 |
AV1 | - | Jenkins, Alan and Nan, interview recording, 1973 December 4 [original: audio cassette] |
AV1 | - | "Judy," and "Nancy to WG," 1974 February [original: audio cassette] |
2 | 8 | Kane, Marvin, 1973-1974 |
AV1 | - | Kane, Marvin, interview recording, 1973 November 27 [original: audio cassette] |
2 | 9 | Kazin, Alfred, 1971 |
2 | 10 | Klein, Elinor, circa 1955-1958, 1971-1972 |
AV1 | - | Klein, Elinor, interview recording, part one and two, undated [original: audio cassette] |
AV1 | - | Klein, Elinor, interview recording, part three, undated and Marcia Stern, interview recording, part one, 1972 January 20 (side A); George Gibian and Smith College English faculty, interview recording, 1971 (side B) [original: audio cassette] |
2 | 11 | Kopp, Jane, 1974-1975 |
AV1 | - | Kopp, Jane, interview recording, part one and two, undated [original: audio cassette] |
2 | 12 | Krook, Dorothea, 1971-1974 |
2 | 13 | Lameyer, Gordon, 1974 |
2 | 14 | Lessing, Doris, 1973 |
2 | 15 | Levenson, Christopher, 1974 |
2 | 16 | Levy, Lisa L. and Connie Taylor Blackwell, 1974 |
AV1 | - | Levy, Lisa L., interview recording, undated [original: audio cassette] |
2 | 17 | Lucie-Smith, Edward, 1970 |
AV1 | - | Lucie-Smith, Edward, interview recording, July 28 [original: audio cassette] |
AV1 | - |
Macedo, Helder, interview recording, 1973 December 1 [original: audio cassette]
[Digital/digitized copy available in the Reading Room: id v55m6][Digital/digitized copy available in the Reading Room: id v55nb] Interview includes discussion of Plath's suicide. |
AV1 | - | Macedo, interview recording, end, undated and Kay Burton, interview recording, part one, December 11 (side A); Kay Burton, interview recording, part two, December 11 (side B) [original: audio cassette] |
AV1 | - | Macedo, interview recording, roll one, undated [original: audio cassette] |
AV1 | - |
Macedo, Suzette, interview recording, November 27 [original: audio cassette]
[Digital/digitized copy available in the Reading Room: id v8gfn][Digital/digitized copy available in the Reading Room: id v8ggs] Interview includes discussion of Hughes' affair with Assia Wevill. |
2 | 18 | Macedo, Suzette and Helder, 1961-1962, 1972-1974 |
AV1 | - | Macedo, Suzette and Helder, interview recording, parts three and four, 1973 December 1 [original: audio cassette] |
2 | 19 | Mark, Enid, 1952-1954, 1971 |
2 | 20 | McCullough, Frances, 1973-1975 |
2 | 21 | Merwin, W.S., 1973-1974 |
AV1 | - | Merwin, W.S., interview recording, undated (side A); Gordon Lameyer, interview recording, undated (side B) [original: audio cassette] |
2 | 22 | Meshoulam, Iko and Felicity, 1973 |
AV1 | - | Meshoulam, Iko and Felicity, interview recording, 1973 December 9 [original: audio cassette] |
2 | 23 | Milici, Nora and Elizabeth O'Malley, 1971 |
2 | 24 | Morris, I.V., 1974-1975 |
2 | 25 | Murphy, Richard, 1974 |
AV1 | - | Murphy, Richard, interview recording, part one and two, 1974 April 19 [original: audio cassette] |
2 | 26 | Newnham College, 1955-1957, 1973 |
2 | 27 | Norton, Perry and Shirley, circa 1951, 1971-1974 |
2 | 28 | Orr, Peter, undated |
AV1 | - | Orr, Peter, interview recording, July 28-29 [original: audio cassette] |
AV1 | - | Orr, Peter, interview recording, July 30 and [Pennah Beben ?] (side A); "Miss Morton," undated (side B) [original: audio cassette] |
3 | 1 | Page, Evelyn, 1972-1973 |
3 | 2 | Peterson, Robert T., 1971 |
3 | 3 | Plath, Aurelia, circa 1924-1970 |
3 | 4 | Plath, Otto, 1910, 1974-1975 |
3 | 5 | Plath, Otto, 1923-1975 |
3 | 6 | Plath, Otto, 1924-1977 |
3 | 7 | Plath, Otto, 1927-1932, 1974-1975 |
3 | 8 | Plath, Sylvia, articles by, 1951-1953 |
3 | 9 | Plath, Sylvia, letters, 1951-1962 |
3 | 10 | Plath, Sylvia, McLean Hospital record, 1953 |
3 | 11 | Plath, Sylvia, reviews of works by and about, 1966-2013 |
3 | 12 | Pratson, Pat O'Neill, circa 1954, 1972 |
AV1 | - | Pratson, Pat O'Neill, interview recording, part one and two, 1972 February 2 [original: audio cassette] |
AV1 | - | Pratson, Pat O'Neill, interview recording, part three, 1972 February 2 [original: audio cassette] |
3 | 13 | Prentice, Alison, 1971-1972 |
AV1 | - | Roche, interview recording, parts four and five, undated [original: audio cassette] |
AV1 | - | Roche, Clarissa, interview recording, parts two and three, 1973 November 20 [original: audio cassette] |
AV1 | - |
Roche, Clarissa, interview recording, part three, undated [original: audio cassette]
Tape is labeled with this information, but the tape has no recorded content. |
3 | 14 | Roche, Paul and Clarissa, 1962-1963, 1973 |
AV1 | - | Roche, Paul, interview recording, November 21 [original: audio cassette] |
3 | 15 | Rosenstein, Harriet, doctoral prospectus and book proposal, 1971-1972 |
4 | 1 | Rosenstein, Harriet, draft fragments, undated |
4 | 2 | Rosenstein, Harriet, general correspondence, 1971-1974 |
4 | 3 | Rosenstein, Harriet, shorthand notes, undated |
4 | 4 | Rosenthal, Jon, 1954-1955, 1971 |
AV1 | - | Rosenthal, Jon, interview recording, 1971 |
4 | 5 | Rosenthal, M.L., 1971-1973 |
4 | 6 | Sassoon, Richard, 1974-1976 |
4 | 7 | Secker-Walker, David and Lorna, 1970 |
4 | 8 | Sexton, Anne, 1974 |
4 | 9 | Shook, Margaret, 1971-1972 |
AV1 | - | Shook, Margaret, interview recording, December 17 [original: audio cassette] |
4 | 10 | Sigmund, Elizabeth Compton, 1962-1975 |
AV1 | - | Sigmund, Elizabeth Compton, interview recording, part one and two, undated [original: audio cassette] |
AV1 | - | Sigmund, Elizabeth Compton, interview recording, part three and four, undated [original: audio cassette] |
AV1 | - | Sigmund, Elizabeth Compton, interview recording, part five and six, undated [original: audio cassette] |
4 | 11 | Smith, Alison V., 1971 |
4 | 12 | Spender, Stephen, "Oxford and Cambridge Poetry," Gemini I, 1957 Spring |
4 | 13 | Steiner, Nancy Hunter, 1971 |
AV1 | - | Steiner, Nancy Hunter, interview recording, part one, undated (side A); Nancy Hunter Steiner, interview recording, part two, undated [original: audio cassette] |
4 | 14 | Sterling, William, 1971 |
4 | 15 | Stern, Marcia, 1951-1963 |
4 | 16 | Stern, Marcia, 1972-1973 |
AV1 | - | Stern, Marcia, interview recording, undated |
AV1 | - | Stern, Marcia, interview recording, two, undated (side B); "MB 4," undated (side A) [original: audio cassette] |
4 | 17 | Thwaite, Anthony, 1961, 1973-1974 |
AV1 | - | Thwaite, Anthony, interview recording, part one and two, undated [original: audio cassette] |
4 | 18 | Ward, Aileen, 1970-1973 |
4 | 19 | Weldon, Faye, 1973 |
AV1 | - | Weldon, [Faye?], November 19 (side A); Clarissa Roche, interview recording, part one, 1973 November 30 (side B) [original: audio cassette] |
4 | 20 | Wertz, Richard, 1970-1971 |
4 | 21 | White, Eric, 1962, 1970-1973 |
4 | 22 | Whitman, Ruth, 1970 |
4 | 23 | Wober, Mallory, 1973 |
AV1 | - | Wober, Mallory, interview recording, part two, 1973 December 7 and David Compton, interview recording, 1973 December 7 (side A); David Compton, interview recording, part two, 1973 December 7 (side B) [original: audio cassette] |
4 | 24 | Woody, J. Melvin, 1954, 1971-1972 |
AV1 | - | Woody, J. Melvin, interview recording, undated (side A); J. Melvin Woody, interview recording, undated and "group," interview recording, 1972 January 27 (side B) [original: audio cassette] |