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Minna G. O'Brien Letter

A description of the item at Syracuse University


Finding aid created by: MRC
Date: 30 Jun 2010



Biographical History

Mary (Minna) Gertrude O'Brien (1867- ) was the mother of American writer, poet, editor and anthologist Edward Joseph Harrington O'Brien (1890-1941). Walter E. Peck (1891-1954) was a literary critic, professor, and author, who edited several volumes of Shelley's poetry as well as writing a biography, Shelley: His Life and Work (1927). The name of his wife, the recipient of the letter in the collection, is not known.

Note: Special Collections Research Center expresses its gratitude to Joshua Kotin of Princeton University for his identification of O'Brien.


Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Minna G. O'Brien Letter consists of a single letter from O'Brien to an unnamed friend, the wife of British literary critic and Shelley biographer Walter E. Peck. The letter offers congratulations on "the advent of the son and heir," discusses Shelley's description of Florence's art and sculpture, and mentions "a small revolution that we have had here...with many killed and a large number of wounded; bombs thrown, and the city bristling with armed soldiers."

The sheets bear the letterhead of The British Institute of Florence, founded in 1917 by a group of Anglo-Italian scholars.


Arrangement of the Collection

Single item.


Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

The majority of our archival and manuscript collections are housed offsite and require advanced notice for retrieval. Researchers are encouraged to contact us in advance concerning the collection material they wish to access for their research.

Use Restrictions:

Written permission must be obtained from SCRC and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.


Subject Headings

Persons

O'Brien, Minna G.
Shelley, Percy Bysshe, 1792-1822.

Corporate Bodies

British Institute of Florence.

Subjects

Architecture -- Italy -- Florence.

Places

Florence -- Description and travel.

Genres and Forms

Correspondence.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Minna G. O'Brien Letter,
Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Transfer from Rare Books, 1970.


Table of Contents

Correspondence


Inventory