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Kenneth Povey Collection of William Cowper
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Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
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.
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".
The following sources were consulted during preparation of biographical note: Biography from British Authors Before 1800 (1952).
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.
This collection was processed in 1998. Finding aid written in 1998.
Biography written by Jessica Marati, '08.
People
Subject
- Publisher
- Manuscripts Division
- Finding Aid Date
- 1998
- Access Restrictions
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Collection is open for research use.
- Use Restrictions
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Collection Inventory
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(with a copy of a letter from Mr. Newton to Dr. Stuart about Cowper)
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(album of watercolor drawings by an amateur, signed with a monogram, apparently NN.)
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(spine of volume lettered "Cowper Poems Ms.")
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(negative from John Rylands Library)
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signed "Johnny of Norfolk" (with page of verse in Cowper's hand, translation of Iliad XVIII, 590-605, with notes)
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