Harford W. H. Powel collection on T. S. Eliot, 1905-1955


John Hay Library , Special Collections
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Tel: 401-863-2146
email: hay@brown.edu

Published in 2013

Collection Overview

Title: Harford W. H. Powel collection on T. S. Eliot
Date range: 1905-1955
Creator: Powel, Harford Willing Hare, 1916-1965
Extent: .25 linear feet (116 items)
Abstract: This material was collected by Powel for his master's thesis, Notes on the life of T. S. Eliot 1888-1910, Brown University, 1954. Autograph and typed letters to and from Eliot's classmates; miscellaneous manuscripts relating to T. S. Eliot and Harvard College circa 1909; photostats of selected contributions by Eliot to Smith Academy Record and Harvard Advocate.
Language of materials: English
Repository: John Hay Library , Special Collections
Collection number: Ms.Powel

Scope & content

Correspondence (eighty-three items) and other papers assembled by Harford W. H. Powel for a master's thesis (Brown University 1954) on the early life of T. S. Eliot, including his association with Harvard University circa 1909. Part of the collection consists of photocopies of Eliot's prose and poetry which appeared in the Smith Academy Record and the Harvard Record. Correspondents include:

  • Van Wyck Brooks
  • Norman Foerster
  • Donald C. Gallup
  • Mark A. DeW. Howe
  • Walter Lippmann
  • David T. W. McCord
  • Thomas H. McKittrick
  • Waldo Pierce
  • Martin H. Post
  • Gluyas Williams

Access Points

Subject Names Subject Organizations Occupations Document Types Subject Topics

Arrangement

The collection is divided into two series:

  • Series 1. Correspondence
  • Series 2. Miscellaneous manuscripts

Items within Correspondence, are ordered alphabetically by the author of the letter. Miscellaneous manuscripts are arranged chronologically.

Biographical note

Harford Willing Hare Powel, Jr. was born to Harford Willing Hare and Lydia Valentine Bond Powel in New York City in 1916. His father was an accomplished writer and publicist, who collaborated with others on a variety of works, from musical comedy to an assessment of advertising. Harford Jr. grew up in Boston, after moving there with his parents as a young child. During World War II, Powel enlisted in the U. S. Army, where he served in a variety of departments, from Quartermaster's Corps to the K-9 Division to the Signal Corps. In the latter branch, he worked as a staff photographer in the Southwest Pacific and the Phillipines, attaining the rank of Sergeant. In 1945, while on maneuvers, he suffered a serious injury which resulted in several years of convalescence. He subsequently attended Brown University, earning his A.B. degree in 1952 and an M.A. in English in 1954. That same year, he joined the faculty of Phillips Andover Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, where he taught English for the next few years. Increasing debility due to his war-related injury forced his retirement at the end of 1959.

Powel married Virginia Lewis Worthington sometime during World War II, prior to his departure for the Phillipines. Virginia Powel taught art for some years at Abbot Academy, and was the illustrator of a book of Andover reminiscences entitled In My Time. They apparently had no children.

Following his retirement from teaching, Powel attempted to keep active. He planned to write a musical comedy and a series of articles on the Dorr Rebellion. It is unknown whether he was able to complete these projects. However, he did write a volume of poems that was published in 1967, after his death. Powel died in Andover, Massachusetts in 1965.

Access & Use

Access to the collection: There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested..
Use of the materials: Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Preferred citation: Harford W.H. Powel collection on T. S. Eliot, Ms. Powel, Brown University Library.
Contact information: John Hay Library , Special Collections
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Tel: 401-863-2146
email: hay@brown.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION  
Acquisition: The Harford W.H. Powel collection on T. S. Eliot were the gift of Mrs. Harford Powel in 1970.
Processing information: The title page image is a detail of a letter from M.A. DeWolfe Howe to Harford W.H. Powel, dated November 11, 1951, located in Series 1. Correspondence.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID  
Encoding: This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2013-02-14

Additional Information

Related material: Related material held by Brown University Library:
  • Powel, Harford Willing Hare, 1916-1965. Notes on the life of T. S. Eliot, 1888-1910 (1954 typescript master's thesis-Brown University). Call numbers: 1-SIZE 1-N M954 P6, 1-SIZE 1-N M954 P6 c.2, 1-SIZE 1901 E424 xP882.
  • Powel, Harford Willing Hare, 1916-1965. Poems (Providence, 1967). Call numbers: 1951 P882 H35p, 1-U P866p.
A biographical file is located in the University Archives with a copy of Powel's M.A. thesis.
Other information:

Inventory

Series 1. Correspondence, 1952-1955
Box 1
Inventory not completely encoded. PDF version available.

Series 2. Miscellaneous manuscripts, 1905-1910
Box 1
Inventory not completely encoded. PDF version available.