Herbert Read Collection
User Collection Public
Sir Herbert Edward Read (1893-1968) was a poet, art historian, anarchist, literary critic, philosopher, prolific author, and champion of modern artists in Britain.
This collection consists of his correspondence with many important and influential individuals including Barbara Hepworth, T. S. Eliot, George Orwell among many others.
For more information and a complete list of correspondents, please visit the Special Collections fonds: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/sir-herbert-edward-read-fonds
Permalink: http://vault.library.uvic.ca/collections/07631c3d-47fa-4d81-893c-4c72e8feb6ed
Collection Details
- Items 383
- Last Updated 2025-07-09
Parent Collections (2)
Subcollections (1)
There are no visible subcollections.
Works (382)
101. Letter from Walter de la Mare to Herbert Read, January 13, 1939
- Title:
- Letter from Walter de la Mare to Herbert Read, January 13, 1939
- Description:
- One of a pair of letters to Herbert Read from English writer Walter de la Mare. De la Mare is best known for his writing for children and his horror fiction, but he also wrote poetry and a considerable number of short stories. This letter is published with acknowledgement to The Literary Trustees of Walter de la Mare and the Society of Authors as their Representative. In this letter de la Mare asks for permission to include a passage from Read's "Collected Essays" in an upcoming book about dreams and sleep.
- Subject:
- Novelists, Authors, English, Novelists, English, Art historians, Poets, Philosophers, Modern, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Anarchists, Philosophers, Authors, Poets, English, and De la Mare, Walter, 1873-1956
- Creator:
- De la Mare, Walter, 1873-1956
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1939-01-13
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
- Extent:
- 2 pages
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--Taplow
- Coordinates:
- 51.53299, -0.68682
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Typewritten and handwritten in black ink.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Sir Herbert Edward Read collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- correspondence and letters (correspondence)
- Archival Item Identifier:
- File: 8.28
- Fonds Title:
- Sir Herbert Edward Read fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC100
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/sir-herbert-edward-read-fonds
- Date Digitized:
- 2022-11-29
- Technical Note:
- Scanning and metadata by Rowan O'Brian and additional metadata by SC
102. Letter from Adrian Stokes to Herbert Read, March 03, 1939
- Title:
- Letter from Adrian Stokes to Herbert Read, March 03, 1939
- Description:
- Part of a collection of correspondence between Adrian Stokes and Herbert Read spanning from 1934-1962. Stokes was a painter and art critic who also had an interest in psychoanalysis. It was largely due to his efforts and work that the small fishing port of St. Ives became a centre of modernist art culture. In this letter Stokes discusses archetypes and their potential application to various scholarly fields.
- Subject:
- Authors, Art historians, Art critics, Poets, English, Stokes, Adrian, 1902-1972, Painters, Authors, English, Poets, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Psychoanalysis, and Anarchists
- Creator:
- Stokes, Adrian, 1902-1972
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1939-03-03
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
- Identifier:
- HR/AS-38-39
- Extent:
- 2 pages
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--London--Hampstead
- Coordinates:
- 51.55744, -0.18213
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Handwritten in blue ink.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Herbert Read Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- correspondence and letters (correspondence)
- Archival Item Identifier:
- File: 9.62
- Fonds Title:
- Sir Herbert Edward Read fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC100
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/sir-herbert-edward-read-fonds
- Date Digitized:
- 2022/2023
- Technical Note:
- Scanning and metadata by Rowan O'Brian and additional metadata by SC.
103. Letter from Michael Sadler to Herbert Read, March 03, 1939
- Title:
- Letter from Michael Sadler to Herbert Read, March 03, 1939
- Description:
- Part of a collection of letters to Sir Herbert Read from Michael E. Sadler. Sadler was a historian and educationalist who worked most of his career in university of administration. He was a champion of the English public school system, and also spent time as the president of the Leeds Arts Club. In this letter Sadler responds to a project Read wrote about in a previous letter, and invites Read to lunch.
- Subject:
- Poets, Educators, Anarchists, Authors, Art historians, Poets, English, Authors, English, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Historians, and Sadler, Michael, Sir, 1861-1943
- Creator:
- Sadler, Michael, Sir, 1861-1943
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1939-03-03
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
- Identifier:
- HR/MES-7-10
- Extent:
- 5 pages
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--Oxford
- Coordinates:
- 51.75315, -1.23854
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Handwritten in black ink.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Herbert Read Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- correspondence and letters (correspondence)
- Archival Item Identifier:
- File: 9.5
- Fonds Title:
- Sir Herbert Edward Read fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC100
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/sir-herbert-edward-read-fonds
- Date Digitized:
- 2022/2023
- Technical Note:
- Scanning and metadata by Rowan O'Brian and additional metadata by SC.
104. Letter from Michael Sadler to Herbert Read, November 28, 1939
- Title:
- Letter from Michael Sadler to Herbert Read, November 28, 1939
- Description:
- Part of a collection of letters to Sir Herbert Read from Michael E. Sadler. Sadler was a historian and educationalist who worked most of his career in university of administration. He was a champion of the English public school system, and also spent time as the president of the Leeds Arts Club. In this letter, Sadler says he will complete a favour for Read "cum amore".
- Subject:
- Poets, Educators, Poets, English, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Historians, Anarchists, Authors, Sadler, Michael, Sir, 1861-1943, Art historians, and Authors, English
- Creator:
- Sadler, Michael, Sir, 1861-1943
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1939-11-28
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
- Identifier:
- HR/MES-11-12
- Extent:
- 2 pages
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--Oxford
- Coordinates:
- 51.75315, -1.23854
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Handwritten in black ink.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Herbert Read Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- letters (correspondence) and correspondence
- Archival Item Identifier:
- File: 9.5
- Fonds Title:
- Sir Herbert Edward Read fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC100
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/sir-herbert-edward-read-fonds
- Date Digitized:
- 2022/2023
- Technical Note:
- Scanning and metadata by Rowan O'Brian and additional metadata by SC.
105. Enclosure from Herbert Read to Paul Nash, [1940's?]
- Title:
- Enclosure from Herbert Read to Paul Nash, [1940's?]
- Description:
- Part of a collection of correspondence between Herbert Read and Paul Nash (British surrealist painter, printmaker, war artist, and older brother to Paul Nash). This is a biographical essay titled "Paul Nash" by Herbert Read.
- Subject:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Authors, Modernism (Art), Authors, English, Nash, Paul, 1889-1946, Literature, Modern, Artists, and Modernism (Literature)
- Creator:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Contributor:
- Nash, Paul, 1889-1946
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 194X
- Rights Statement:
- Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial
- License:
- Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
- Identifier:
- HR/PN 18 Encl.01-Encl.18
- Extent:
- 18 pages ; 20.2 x 25.2 cm
- Alternative Title:
- Paul Nash by Herbert Read
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Typewritten, corrections handwritten in ink.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Herbert Read Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- letters (correspondence) and correspondence
- Archival Item Identifier:
- File: 9.28
- Fonds Title:
- Sir Herbert Read fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC100
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/sir-herbert-edward-read-fonds
- Date Digitized:
- 2021-10-21
- Technical Note:
- Scanned on Epson Expression 10000XL at 600 DPI TIFF, images cropped & resized for Vault to be under 35MB by PD. Metadata by KD.
106. Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, February 07, [1940s?]
- Title:
- Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, February 07, [1940s?]
- Description:
- Part of a collection of letters to Sir Herbert Read from Dame Barbara Hepworth (English artist and sculptor and, along with Read, a member of the modern art movement Unit One founded by Paul Nash), that span the time period of 1940 to 1965 and discuss their artistic and literary endeavors, philosophical and political views, and personal lives. Discusses economic conditions. Letter is dated February 7.
- Subject:
- Artists, Artists--Correspondence, Art movements, Poets, Authors, Art historians, Authors, English--Correspondence, Poets, English, Women artists, Authors, English, Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975, and Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Creator:
- Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 194X
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- Writings by Barbara Hepworth © Bowness. Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
- Identifier:
- HR/BH 49-54
- Extent:
- 6 pages
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--Cornwall (County) and England--St. Ives (Cornwall)
- Coordinates:
- 50.20861, -5.4875 and 50.40303, -4.83416
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Handwritten in pencil.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Herbert Read Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- letters (correspondence) and correspondence
- Archival Item Identifier:
- File: 8.61
- Fonds Title:
- Sir Herbert Edward Read fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC100
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/sir-herbert-edward-read-fonds
- Date Digitized:
- 2010-06-15
- Technical Note:
- Metadata by SC.
107. Letter from Adrian Stokes to Herbert Read, February 14, [1940?]
- Title:
- Letter from Adrian Stokes to Herbert Read, February 14, [1940?]
- Description:
- Part of a collection of correspondence between Adrian Stokes and Herbert Read spanning from 1934-1962. Stokes was a painter and art critic who also had an interest in psychoanalysis. It was largely due to his efforts and work that the small fishing port of St. Ives became a centre of modernist art culture. In this letter, Stokes discusses psychoanalysis.
- Subject:
- Art historians, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Authors, Art critics, Poets, English, Authors, English, Painters, Anarchists, Stokes, Adrian, 1902-1972, Psychoanalysis, and Poets
- Creator:
- Stokes, Adrian, 1902-1972
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1940-02-14?
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
- Identifier:
- 14/2
- Extent:
- 7 pages
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--St. Ives (Cornwall)
- Coordinates:
- 50.19681, -5.47874
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Handwritten in black ink.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Herbert Read Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- letters (correspondence) and correspondence
- Archival Item Identifier:
- File: 2.7
- Fonds Title:
- Sir Herbert Edward Read fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC100
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/sir-herbert-edward-read-fonds
- Date Digitized:
- 2022/2023
- Technical Note:
- Scanning and metadata by Rowan O'Brian and additional metadata by SC.
108. Letter from Eric Gill to Herbert Read, March 14, 1940
- Title:
- Letter from Eric Gill to Herbert Read, March 14, 1940
- Description:
- Part of a collection of correspondence from Eric Gill to Sir Herbert Read. Gill was a renowned early 20th century English printmaker, typeface designer, and sculptor. In this letter, Gill thanks Read for a letter with an enclosed poem and magazine article. In closing Gill writes he hopes Read will visit again soon.
- Subject:
- Anarchists, Poets, English, Authors, English, Artists' books, Gill, Eric, 1882-1940, Authors, Artists, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Art historians, Poets, Sculptors, and Printmakers
- Creator:
- Gill, Eric, 1882-1940
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1940-03-14
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
- Identifier:
- HR/EG-11-12
- Extent:
- 2 pages
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--High Wycombe
- Coordinates:
- 51.62907, -0.74934
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Typewritten.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Herbert Read Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- letters (correspondence) and correspondence
- Archival Item Identifier:
- File: 8.47
- Fonds Title:
- Sir Herbert Edward Read fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC100
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/sir-herbert-edward-read-fonds
- Date Digitized:
- 2022/2023
- Technical Note:
- Scanning and metadata by Rowan O'Brian and additional metadata by SC.
109. Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, Thursday, May 02 [1940?]
- Title:
- Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, Thursday, May 02 [1940?]
- Description:
- Part of a collection of letters to Sir Herbert Read from Dame Barbara Hepworth (English artist and sculptor and, along with Read, a member of the modern art movement Unit One founded by Paul Nash), that span the time period of 1940 to 1965 and discuss their artistic and literary endeavors, philosophical and political views, and personal lives. Spanish poems and a quarrel with a surrealist group are discussed. Leslie Martin, architect, is mentioned.
- Subject:
- Art historians, Artists--Correspondence, Poets, Art movements, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Authors, English--Correspondence, Women artists, Artists, Authors, Poets, English, Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975, and Authors, English
- Creator:
- Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1940?-05-02
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- Writings by Barbara Hepworth © Bowness. Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
- Identifier:
- HR/BH 1-3
- Extent:
- 3 pages
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--Cornwall (County) and England--St. Ives (Cornwall)
- Coordinates:
- 50.20861, -5.4875 and 50.40303, -4.83416
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Handwritten in pencil.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Herbert Read Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- correspondence and letters (correspondence)
- Archival Item Identifier:
- File: 8.61
- Fonds Title:
- Sir Herbert Edward Read fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC100
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/sir-herbert-edward-read-fonds
- Date Digitized:
- 2010-06-15
- Technical Note:
- Metadata by SC.
110. Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, May 08 [1940?]
- Title:
- Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, May 08 [1940?]
- Description:
- Part of a collection of letters to Sir Herbert Read from Dame Barbara Hepworth (English artist and sculptor and, along with Read, a member of the modern art movement Unit One founded by Paul Nash), that span the time period of 1940 to 1965 and discuss their artistic and literary endeavors, philosophical and political views, and personal lives. Hepworth wants to privately publish a wartime chronicle of new prose, verse, paintings, sculpture and architecture.
- Subject:
- Poets, English, Artists, Authors, Art movements, Poets, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Art historians, Artists--Correspondence, Women artists, Authors, English, Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975, and Authors, English--Correspondence
- Creator:
- Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1940?-05-08
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
- License:
- Writings by Barbara Hepworth © Bowness. Use of this material is permitted for research and private study purposes only. For all other uses, contact University of Victoria Special Collections and University Archives.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
- Identifier:
- HR/BH 4-7
- Extent:
- 4 pages
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--Cornwall (County) and England--St. Ives (Cornwall)
- Coordinates:
- 50.20861, -5.4875 and 50.40303, -4.83416
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Handwritten in pencil.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Herbert Read Collection
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- letters (correspondence) and correspondence
- Archival Item Identifier:
- File: 8.61
- Fonds Title:
- Sir Herbert Edward Read fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC100
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/sir-herbert-edward-read-fonds
- Date Digitized:
- 2010-06-15
- Technical Note:
- Metadata by SC.