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Princeton University Library Collection of Robert H. Taylor
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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
Robert H. Taylor graduated from Princeton University in 1930 with a major in architecture. He continued his studies in architecture, first at Yale University then at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, but never practiced as an architect. He was a lifelong collector of books and manuscripts of English and American literature, ranging from early English manuscripts to works by authors contemporary to him. In 1961, he moved to Princeton from Yonkers, New York into a house with a specially built library room. In 1971, he deposited his collection at Princeton University Library into refurbished rooms on the first floor of Firestone Library, thus providing both better security as well as improved scholarly access to his collection. He published and spoke regularly on bibliographical and book collecting topics. In 1980, he published Certain Small Works, a compendium of his writings on collecting, the writer's craft, and one of his favorite authors, Anthony Trollope. His collection, together with an endowment, came to the Library as a bequest upon his death in May 1985.
Consists of material by and about Robert H. Taylor, with his writings making up the bulk of the collection. Materials include drafts of his speeches and articles; correspondence relating to his publications; obituaries, tributes, and correspondence after his death; photographs of him, family, and friends; audiocassette tapes of interviews; and a few records from the Yonkers Rationing Board during World War II, presumably while Taylor was working for the Office of Price Administration.
Materials were arranged by type.
This collection consists of the personal papers of Robert Taylor that were originally part of the curatorial collection files, i.e., administrative files, for the Robert H. Taylor Collection of English and American Literature (RTC01) (AM 2024-019).
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 by Stephen Ferguson during September 2023. Finding aid written by Stephen Ferguson in September 2023, and Amy C. Vo in March 2024.
- Publisher
- Manuscripts Division
- Finding Aid Author
- Stephen Ferguson and Amy C. Vo
- Finding Aid Date
- 2024
- Access Restrictions
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The collection is open for research.
- Use Restrictions
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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.
Collection Inventory
Manuscript draft and typescript of lecture given at the Houghton Library in Fall 1984.
Physical Description1 folder
Includes "Preface" and "Note on the Text."
Physical Description1 folder
Manuscript draft and typescript.
Physical Description1 folder
Manuscript draft and typescript.
Physical Description1 folder
Manuscript draft and typescript.
Physical Description1 folder
Manuscript draft and offprint regarding the Robert H. Taylor Collection of English and American Literature (RTC01).
Physical Description1 folder
Manuscript draft of lecture likely delivered at the Grolier Club at the opening of their 1976 exhibition "The Gothic Novel."
Physical Description1 folder
Manuscript text of introduction and checklist of exhibition with some pencil corrections in the hand of Earl Coleman; where and when displayed is unknown.
Physical Description1 folder
Manuscript drafts; 1986 offprint; and ephemera regarding a related lecture.
Physical Description1 folder
Offprint.
Physical Description1 folder
Correspondence and typescript of projected posthumous publication titled "The Talks of Robert H. Taylor."
Physical Description1 folder
Correspondence and some ephemera relating to the distribution of special hardbound gift copies to major libraries as well as individuals; includes reviews.
Physical Description1 folder
Correspondence relating to distribution and reception of Taylor's 1980 publication "Certain Small Works"; includes reviews.
Physical Description1 folder
Manuscript drafts; offprints; Typescript by Jeremiah Finch for Certain Small Works published in 1980.
Physical Description1 folder
Includes memoranda, offprints, a memorial service program, clippings, and obituaries.
Physical Description3 folders
Correspondence, clippings, and photographs.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
Oversize portrait photographs of Robert H. Taylor; one signed by Riell (?), and the other signed by Fleisher.
Physical Description1 folder
Photographic print and photocopies.
Physical Description1 folder
Photographic prints and contact sheets, correspondence, photocopies related to the photoshoot by photographer Cliff Moore for the 1976-1977 issue of "Gifts to Princeton."
Physical Description1 folder
Photographs and correspondence from Al Perrin to A. D. Wainwright describing the photographs taken of Robert H. Taylor.
Physical Description1 folder
Photographs of Robert H. Taylor and Michael Papantonio; some taken by Al Perrin
Physical Description1 folder
Robert H. Taylor at his house at Hancock Point, M.E.; one with Robert Wickenheiser; 1985 auction of the contents of the house
Physical Description1 folder
Photographs of Robert H. Taylor and a couple artworks; printed brochure from the Grolier Club.
Physical Description1 folder
Travel diary issued by the Grolier Club for their 1967 trip.
Physical Description1 folder
Senior yearbook with entry for Robert H. Taylor (Riverdale Class of 1926) on page 44. Includes a loose photograph of the graduation stage.
Physical Description1 folder
Records of the Yonkers Rationing Board (the War Price and Rationing Board). Contains several filled forms of application or registration; correspondence; and some ration stamps. Also consists of a Certificate of Award from the Office of Price Administration to Robert H. Taylor for his contributions to the Price Control and Rationing Program during World War II.
Physical Description2 folders
Metal die of Robert Taylor's first bookplate. It has "Becker Brothers" stamped on the back.
Physical Description1 folder
Includes seven audiocassettes and a CD-ROM. Three audiocassettes are labeled, "Robert H. Taylor's BBC interview, 1984," and one of these three tapes additionally has "Other side: Max Beerbohm reading 'The Crime' and 'London Revisited'" written on it. The CD-ROM contains the 1984 BBC interview recording. Two tapes are labeled "Robert Taylor," one of which also has a note about creating copies of the recording. One tape has "Bob Taylor 7-21-89" written on it. One tape is labeled "'Bob Taylor in Princeton' with Al Perrin / 7-21-89," though the reverse notes "Continuation Perrin & RHT interview at RHT's home in Princeton 1965."
There is 1995 library correspondence related to Robert H. Taylor's 1984 BBC Radio 4 interview, clippings, and a published transcript of the interview from 2011.
Physical Description4 folders