Emily Hale to T. S. Eliot
I write on this paper in order to try to express as clearly and as fully the report [sic] on my ‘historic’ visit to Princeton. Moving as seldom as I do among University or College scholars or students, I can hardly realize the impact of this gift of your correspondence upon the world of literature, nor the fact that everything related to your life – large or small – is of lasting importance. LetHarvard Universitypossible deposit for Hale letters;d3 me say at once that IYale Universitypotential place of deposit for correspondence;b5 could never have gone to Harvard or Yale with this present of your letters – forThorp, Willardobjects to TSE's 50-year moratorium;d1 Willard andDix, William Shepherdobjects to 50-year moratorium;a3 Mr Dix the librarian (MrClark, Alexander P.and EH's Princeton bequest;a1 Alex Clark also (the curator of precious manuscripts)1 were respectively and jointly most courteous and adapting themselves [sic] to my desires – and Mr D. is a man who at once impresses one as the finest type of gentleman to be in custody of so marked an honor as he considers this to be. I am enclosing his letter that you may read for yourself.
NowHale, Emilycorrespondence with TSE;w3attempts to shorten TSE's moratorium;j5, Tom, both men most strongly express disapproval of the very long term of years we placed on the letters before they are to be opened; if it were 50 years after the death of the survivor of the two of us, many now living who are fine students of your poetry and place in the world now – could in all probability not be alive themselves to take advantage of any of the value of the letters. Faced with many such questions related to the public – and not ourselves – I feel almost unequal to making the decisions as far as I am concerned. I told the men I must [?] of course write you first, wishing they might also add their personal appeal to shorten the term of disclosure. So this is the solution as suggested by me with their concurrence; the letters since you received the Nobel Prize (1949 was it not) and 1956, be immediately open to scholars for reading only, as you would know nothing can be quoted or published direct. If you shrink from personal references as I am sure you will, I can go to Princeton after the letters are catalogued, and take out for the present, any which would contain references, in my judgement not best to be read (if you would so trust me), all letters from 1930 to ’49 would be sealed for ten years after the death of the survivor of us. (These are the most personal, as you will realize).
2. The next hope is that you would send my letters to be placed at Princeton also – in my opinion not worthy to be opened now, but at the time of the expiration of the 10 yr. term.
This is enough for now. TheThorps, the;f3 Thorps were most kind and I repeat I could not discuss any of this except with friends who are so professionally wise and personally kind.
1.AlexanderClark, Alexander P. P. Clark, Curator of Manuscripts, Princeton University Library.
1.AlexanderClark, Alexander P. P. Clark, Curator of Manuscripts, Princeton University Library.
1.WilliamDix, William Shepherd Shepherd Dix (1910–78): Librarian, Princeton University, 1953–75. Having gained first degrees (BA and MA) at the University of Virginia, he earned a doctorate in American literature at the University of Chicago. After working first as a teacher and English instructor, he became Associate Professor of English and Librarian of Rice Institute, Houston, Texas (now Rice University), 1947–53. Resolutely opposed to censorship and intellectual constraint, he served as chair of the Intellectual Freedom Committee of the American Library Association (ALA), 1951–3; chair of the International Relations Committee, 1955–60; and President of the ALA, 1969–70. In addition, he was Executive Secretary, 1957–9, and President, 1962–3, of the Association of Research Libraries. Recognised as one of the topmost figures in librarianship, he was honoured by the American Library Association with the Dewey Medal, 1969, and the Lippincott Award, 1971.
1.Margaret Thorp, née Farrand (1891–1970), contemporary and close friend of EH; noted author and biographer. WillardThorp, Willard Thorp (1899–1990) was a Professor of English at Princeton University. See Biographical Register. See further Lyndall Gordon, Hyacinth Girl, 126–8, 158–9.