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 2025-08-05
Parent Collections (2)
Subcollections (1)
There are no visible subcollections.
Works (382)
231. Letter from Kathleen Raine to Herbert Read, December 05, [1949?-1965?]
- Title:
- Letter from Kathleen Raine to Herbert Read, December 05, [1949?-1965?]
- Description:
- Part of a collection of correspondence from Kathleen Raine to Herbert Read. Raine was a British scholar and poet who was awarded the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry in 1992. The correspondence here follows Raine’s work on a book about William Blake’s mythology. Other topics include discussion of philosophical and metaphysical subjects, and references to acquaintances in literary and arts circles. In this letter Raine thanks Read for his help in getting her a grant from the Bollingen Foundation, and says that she has finally begun to write again. Raine also discusses philosophy around writing poetry, referencing a lecture given by T. S. Eliot.
- Subject:
- Modernism (Literature), Critics, Poets, English, Literature, Modern, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Poets, Anarchists, Scholars, Philosophers, Authors, English--Correspondence, Authors, Raine, Kathleen, 1908-2003, Art historians, Authors, English, and Philosophers, Modern
- Creator:
- Raine, Kathleen, 1908-2003
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1949-12-05?/1965-12-05?
- 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/KR 28-30
- Extent:
- 6 pages
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--London
- Coordinates:
- 51.50853, -0.12574
- 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: 9.40
- 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:
- 2022-10-11
- Technical Note:
- Scanning and metadata by Rowan O'Brian and additional metadata by SC.
232. Letter from F. E. McWilliam to Herbert Read, [1950]
- Title:
- Letter from F. E. McWilliam to Herbert Read, [1950]
- Description:
- Part of a collection of letters to Herbert Read from the Northern Irish sculptor F. E. McWilliam. A short note from McWilliam.
- Subject:
- McWilliam, F. E., 1909-1992, Novelists, English, Sculptors, Authors, English, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Anarchists, Poets, Novelists, Poets, English, Art historians, and Authors
- Creator:
- McWilliam, F. E., 1909-1992
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1950?
- 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/FEM-3
- Extent:
- 1 page
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--London
- Coordinates:
- 51.50853, -0.12574
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Handwritten in blue ink on The Studio letterhead.
- 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: 9.15
- Fonds Title:
- Sir Herbert Edward Read fonds
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collections finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/sir-herbert-edward-read-fonds
- Date Digitized:
- 2022-11-24
- Technical Note:
- Scanning and metadata by Rowan O'Brian and additional metadata by SC
233. Letter from J.R. Ackerley to Herbert Read, Thursday, [1950]
- Title:
- Letter from J.R. Ackerley to Herbert Read, Thursday, [1950]
- Description:
- Part of a collection of letters to Herbert Read from Joe Randolph "J. R." Ackerley (writer and literary editor of the BBC's weekly magazine The Listener). Ackerley states he is an idealist about people and human relations. He discusses an article by W.E. Williams.
- Subject:
- Art historians, Literature, Modern, Gay authors, Ackerley, J. R. (Joe Randolph), 1896-1967, Authors, Modernism (Literature), Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Authors, English--Correspondence, Editors, Poets, Authors, English, and Poets, English
- Creator:
- Ackerley, J. R. (Joe Randolph), 1896-1967
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1950
- 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/JA 7-8
- Extent:
- 2 pages ; 25.3 x 20.1 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Broadcasting Corporation
- Coordinates:
- 51.4975, -0.1357
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Handwritten in black ink. Letterhead from The Listener.
- 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: 8.1
- 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:
- 2021-10
- Technical Note:
- Scanned on Epson Expression 10000XL at 600 DPI TIFF and images cropped & resized for Vault to be under 35MB by PD. Metadata by SC.
234. Letter from John Nash to Herbert Read, [1950?]
- Title:
- Letter from John Nash to Herbert Read, [1950?]
- Description:
- Part of a collection of correspondence between Herbert Read and John Nash (British painter, engraver and illustrator, younger brother to Paul Nash).
- Subject:
- Authors, English, Authors, Nash, John, 1893-1977, Modernism (Literature), Modernism (Art), Artists, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, and Literature, Modern
- Creator:
- Nash, John, 1893-1977
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1950?
- 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/JN 4
- Extent:
- 1 page ; 12.8 x 20.3 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--Colchester
- Coordinates:
- 51.88921, 0.90421
- 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: 9.28
- 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.
235. Letter from J.R. Ackerley to Herbert Read, [February 1950]
- Title:
- Letter from J.R. Ackerley to Herbert Read, [February 1950]
- Description:
- Part of a collection of letters to Herbert Read from Joe Randolph "J. R." Ackerley (writer and literary editor of the BBC's weekly magazine The Listener). Ackerley transcribes the poem Nutting by Richard Church and comments on it.
- Subject:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Literature, Modern, Art historians, Ackerley, J. R. (Joe Randolph), 1896-1967, Gay authors, Modernism (Literature), Authors, English, Authors, Editors, Poets, English, Authors, English--Correspondence, and Poets
- Creator:
- Ackerley, J. R. (Joe Randolph), 1896-1967
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1950-02?
- 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/JA 9-10
- Extent:
- 2 pages ; 17.6 x 17.7 cm ; 17.5 x 22.7 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--London--Putney
- Coordinates:
- 51.46072, -0.21814
- 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:
- letters (correspondence) and correspondence
- Archival Item Identifier:
- File: 8.1
- 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:
- 2021-10
- Technical Note:
- Scanned on Epson Expression 10000XL at 600 DPI TIFF and images cropped & resized for Vault to be under 35MB by PD. Metadata by SC.
236. Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, Saturday, February 21, 1950
- Title:
- Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, Saturday, February 21, 1950
- 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 notes her feelings about Peter's death.
- Subject:
- Authors, English--Correspondence, Poets, English, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Artists--Correspondence, Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975, Art movements, Art historians, Authors, English, Artists, Women artists, Poets, and Authors
- Creator:
- Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1950-02-21
- 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 204
- Extent:
- 1 page
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--St. Ives (Cornwall) and England--Cornwall (County)
- Coordinates:
- 50.40303, -4.83416 and 50.20861, -5.4875
- 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: 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.
237. Letter from J.R. Ackerley to Herbert Read, [March, 1950]
- Title:
- Letter from J.R. Ackerley to Herbert Read, [March, 1950]
- Description:
- Part of a collection of letters to Herbert Read from Joe Randolph "J. R." Ackerley (writer and literary editor of the BBC's weekly magazine The Listener). Ackerley mentions George Gurdjieff, P.D. Ouspensky, Douglas Cooper. He is looking forward to his visit with Read.
- Subject:
- Gay authors, Literature, Modern, Editors, Poets, Modernism (Literature), Authors, English, Authors, English--Correspondence, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Authors, Art historians, Poets, English, and Ackerley, J. R. (Joe Randolph), 1896-1967
- Creator:
- Ackerley, J. R. (Joe Randolph), 1896-1967
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1950-03?
- 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/JA 17-21
- Extent:
- 5 pages ; 11.2 x 17.7 cm ; 11.3 x 17.7 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--London--Putney
- Coordinates:
- 51.46072, -0.21814
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Handwritten in black and 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: 8.1
- 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:
- 2021-10
- Technical Note:
- Scanned on Epson Expression 10000XL at 600 DPI TIFF and images cropped & resized for Vault to be under 35MB by PD. Metadata by SC.
238. Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, March 02 and 05, 1950
- Title:
- Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, March 02 and 05, 1950
- 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. Sir William Worsley bought 3 items at Hepworth's exhibition.
- Subject:
- Poets, Art movements, Artists--Correspondence, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Art historians, Poets, English, Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975, Authors, English, Artists, Authors, Women artists, and Authors, English--Correspondence
- Creator:
- Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1950-03-02/1950-03-05
- 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 110-113
- Extent:
- 4 pages
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--Cornwall (County) and England--St. Ives (Cornwall)
- Coordinates:
- 50.40303, -4.83416 and 50.20861, -5.4875
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Handwritten in pencil and 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: 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.
239. Letter from J.R. Ackerley to Herbert Read, March 10, 1950
- Title:
- Letter from J.R. Ackerley to Herbert Read, March 10, 1950
- Description:
- Part of a collection of letters to Herbert Read from Joe Randolph "J. R." Ackerley (writer and literary editor of the BBC's weekly magazine The Listener). Ackerley would like to visit Read but is concerned about bringing his dog with him.
- Subject:
- Gay authors, Ackerley, J. R. (Joe Randolph), 1896-1967, Authors, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Modernism (Literature), Editors, Authors, English--Correspondence, Poets, Literature, Modern, Authors, English, Art historians, and Poets, English
- Creator:
- Ackerley, J. R. (Joe Randolph), 1896-1967
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1950-03-10
- 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/JA 11-16
- Extent:
- 6 pages ; 11.2 x 17.7 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--London--Putney
- Coordinates:
- 51.46072, -0.21814
- 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:
- letters (correspondence) and correspondence
- Archival Item Identifier:
- File: 8.1
- 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:
- 2021-10
- Technical Note:
- Scanned on Epson Expression 10000XL at 600 DPI TIFF and images cropped & resized for Vault to be under 35MB by PD. Metadata by SC.
240. Letter from David Jones to Herbert Read, August 22, 1950
- Title:
- Letter from David Jones to Herbert Read, August 22, 1950
- Description:
- Correspondence between Sir Herbert Read and David Jones (painter and modernist poet).
- Subject:
- Authors, Anarchists, Jones, David, 1895-1974, Literature, Modern, Authors, English, Art historians, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Philosophers, Modernism (Literature), Painters, Poets, and Authors, English--Correspondence
- Creator:
- Jones, David, 1895-1974
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1950-08-22
- 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. and Digital publication made possible with permission from the Trustees of the Estate of David Jones.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
- Identifier:
- HR/DJ 05-08
- Extent:
- 4 pages ; 33.2 x 20.3 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--Harrow
- Coordinates:
- 51.57835, -0.33208
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- Handwritten, 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: 9.2
- 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:
- 2021-10-21
- Technical Note:
- Scanned on Plustek OpticBookA300 at 600 DPI Tiff; Images cropped and resized for Vault to be under 35MB by pD. Metadata by KD.