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)
301. Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, May 30, 1959 and June 3, 1959
- Title:
- Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, May 30, 1959 and June 3, 1959
- 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 receives a letter from Rome. Frances McCain and Hoskins are mentioned.
- Subject:
- Authors, Artists, Poets, English, Women artists, Authors, English--Correspondence, Poets, Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975, Artists--Correspondence, Art movements, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Art historians, and Authors, English
- Creator:
- Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1959-05-30/1959-06-03
- 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 205-210
- 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 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: 8.61
- 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.
302. Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, June 21, [1959?]
- Title:
- Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, June 21, [1959?]
- 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 talks about Hoskins. Comments on her dealer's reaction to her postponing her New York show.
- Subject:
- Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975, Poets, Women artists, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Authors, English, Art movements, Authors, English--Correspondence, Artists--Correspondence, Art historians, Artists, Authors, and Poets, English
- Creator:
- Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1959?-06-21
- 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 211-218
- Extent:
- 8 pages
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--St. Ives (Cornwall) and England--Cornwall (County)
- Coordinates:
- 50.20861, -5.4875 and 50.40303, -4.83416
- 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: 8.61
- 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.
303. Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, Sunday, June 28, [1959?]
- Title:
- Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, Sunday, June 28, [1959?]
- 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 asks Read to write a foreword for her exhibition catalogue.
- Subject:
- Poets, Poets, English, Artists--Correspondence, Women artists, Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975, Art historians, Artists, Authors, English--Correspondence, Art movements, Authors, Authors, English, and Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Creator:
- Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1959?-06-28
- 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 219-222
- Extent:
- 4 pages
- 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:
- 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.
304. Letter from John Hayward to Herbert Read, June 30, 1959
- Title:
- Letter from John Hayward to Herbert Read, June 30, 1959
- Description:
- A letter to Sir Herbert Read from John Hayward, an editor, critic, and bibliophile who was a close friend of T.S. Eliot. In this letter, Hayward praises the speech Read made at a memorial service.
- Subject:
- Poets, English, Periodical editors, Hayward, John, 1905-1965, Poets, Authors, English, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Art historians, Authors, Critics, Anarchists, and Editors
- Creator:
- Hayward, John, 1905-1965
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1959-06-30
- 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--London
- Coordinates:
- 51.50853, -0.12574
- 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: 8.58
- 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.
305. Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, November 05, [1959?]
- Title:
- Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, November 05, [1959?]
- 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 recounts her visit to New York. Informs Read she has sent him some poems by Dore Ashton.
- Subject:
- Artists, Authors, English--Correspondence, Authors, Poets, Authors, English, Art historians, Poets, English, Women artists, Artists--Correspondence, Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, and Art movements
- Creator:
- Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1959?-11-05
- 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 223
- Extent:
- 1 page
- Geographic Coverage:
- England--St. Ives (Cornwall) and England--Cornwall (County)
- Coordinates:
- 50.20861, -5.4875 and 50.40303, -4.83416
- 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: 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.
306. Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, December 01, 1959
- Title:
- Letter from Barbara Hepworth to Herbert Read, December 01, 1959
- 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 discusses issues over a publisher's request to reprint one of her books.
- Subject:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Art movements, Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975, Authors, English--Correspondence, Women artists, Artists--Correspondence, Poets, Authors, English, Art historians, Artists, Poets, English, and Authors
- Creator:
- Hepworth, Barbara, 1903-1975
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1959-12-01
- 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 224-230
- Extent:
- 7 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 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.
307. Letter from Adrian Stokes to Herbert Read, January 18, 1960
- Title:
- Letter from Adrian Stokes to Herbert Read, January 18, 1960
- 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 the history of his writing.
- Subject:
- Poets, Psychoanalysis, Authors, English, Art historians, Art critics, Stokes, Adrian, 1902-1972, Authors, Anarchists, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Painters, and Poets, English
- Creator:
- Stokes, Adrian, 1902-1972
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1960-01-18
- 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-42-43
- 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:
- letters (correspondence) and 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.
308. Letter from Adrian Stokes to Herbert Read, May 28, 1960
- Title:
- Letter from Adrian Stokes to Herbert Read, May 28, 1960
- 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 says he would have written sooner but he was travelling in Rome and Athens, and writes that he returned to find his book had been rejected.
- Subject:
- Anarchists, Painters, Poets, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Art critics, Art historians, Stokes, Adrian, 1902-1972, Authors, English, Authors, Poets, English, and Psychoanalysis
- Creator:
- Stokes, Adrian, 1902-1972
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1960-05-28
- 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/AS-44-45
- 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:
- letters (correspondence) and 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.
309. Letter from J.R. Ackerley to Herbert Read, July 07, 1960
- Title:
- Letter from J.R. Ackerley to Herbert Read, July 07, 1960
- 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 explains how he fractured four bones in his neck while visiting Paris.
- Subject:
- Literature, Modern, Ackerley, J. R. (Joe Randolph), 1896-1967, Authors, English--Correspondence, Authors, Art historians, Gay authors, Poets, Poets, English, Authors, English, Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Editors, and Modernism (Literature)
- Creator:
- Ackerley, J. R. (Joe Randolph), 1896-1967
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1960-07-13
- 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
- Identifier:
- HR/JA 49-50
- Extent:
- 2 pages ; 20.2 x 25.4 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.
310. Letter from Lewis Mumford to Herbert Read, December 22, 1960
- Title:
- Letter from Lewis Mumford to Herbert Read, December 22, 1960
- Description:
- Part of a collection of correspondence between Herbert Read and Lewis Mumford (American historian, philosopher, and literary critic). Also included is an enclosure of a letter to Mumford, possibly from Read, dated December 13, 1960.
- Subject:
- Literature, Modern, Modernism (Literature), Read, Herbert, 1893-1968, Philosophers, Critics, Authors, Historians, Mumford, Lewis, 1895-1990, and Authors, English
- Creator:
- Mumford, Lewis, 1895-1990
- Contributor:
- Read, Herbert, 1893-1968
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1960-12-22
- 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:
- 61/134/5-61/134-6 and 61/134/5.01
- Extent:
- 3 pages ; 21 x 28 cm
- Geographic Coverage:
- New York (State)--Amenia
- Coordinates:
- 41.84926, -73.55679
- 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: 10.121
- 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:
- 2021-10-22
- 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.