Emily Hale to Frederick Hard1
Concord, Massachusetts
ForScripps College, Claremontbequeathed EH's TSE book collection;f9 some years I have planned to leave a bequest of a personal nature to Scripps College, where, for two years, I lived, as head of Toll Hall, and directed the dramatic and speech work of the college.
AsGeorge, Ruthand EH's Scripps College Library Eliot collection bequest;a1 is usually customary, the bequest was to be carried out after my death, and known only to a few at the present time. I have decided, however, to make public the bequest now, that the dear friend and colleague whom I wish to honour in making this gift, may have the pleasure of knowing her name is linked with the gift, while she is still teaching at Scripps.
Therefore, to honor Miss Ruth George, whose name I wish always identified with the bequest, I am very happy to leave to the Scripps College Library, my personal collection of writings by T. S. Eliot, many of them first editions, and almost all of the books inscribed personally to me.2
Ittravels, trips and plansTSE's 1933 westward tour to Scripps;a8in EH's recollection;b6 may interest the present faculty and student body to know that Mr Eliot stayed in Claremont the first part of 1934, I think it was – possibly ’33 – for a quiet rest between heavy lecture engagements. HeLear, Edwardillustrates Scripps talk on English humour;a1 spoke to the college and guests, however – ‘The Nonsense Verse of Edward Lear’ – and met informally small groups of students in English literature. Miss George was among those of my friends who met and knew him then, and you know better than I how sympathetic and understandingly gifted an interpreter of T. S. Eliot she has been to successive years of classes since that time.
I feel that the combination of these facts as I have told you of them, makes the beautiful Scripps College Library a fitting place for the collection, – a reminder always of a distinguished man of letters who saw the campus himself, and of a beloved teacher and interpreter of the humanities, herself a writer with much to give.
1.FrederickHard, Frederick Hard, a Shakespeare scholar, was President of Scripps College 1944–64.
2.RuthGeorge, Ruth George (1880–1959), Associate Professor of English, Scripps College, Claremont, California, had become a close friend of EH at Scripps in 1932–4. EH was to donate thirty-two inscribed books to Scripps; five inscribed items to Princeton University Library.
2.RuthGeorge, Ruth George (1880–1959), Associate Professor of English, Scripps College, Claremont, California, had become a close friend of EH at Scripps in 1932–4. EH was to donate thirty-two inscribed books to Scripps; five inscribed items to Princeton University Library.
1.FrederickHard, Frederick Hard, a Shakespeare scholar, was President of Scripps College 1944–64.