Mary Borland Thayer Fox papers, 1919-1973


Brown University Library, Special Collections
Box A, John Hay Library
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Tel: 401-863-2146
Fax: 401-863-2093
email: hay@brown.edu

Published in 2008

Collection Overview

Title: Mary Borland Thayer Fox papers
Date range: 1919-1973
Creator: Borland, Mary, 1903-1938
Extent: 2 linear feet (2 record center boxes)
Abstract: The Mary Borland Thayer Fox papers consist chiefly of Fox's own writings, written under the pseudonym, "Mary Borland." The collection includes poetry, short stories and essays, ballet libretti, and a diary detailing a visit in 1936 to the Soviet Union. In addition, the collection contains several scrapbooks; commonplace books; sheet music, written for her or simply given to her as a gift; news clippings and copies of literary journals in which her work appeared; and finally, correspondence, either addressed to her in response to some of her published writings, or written in regard to the publication of a posthumous volume of her work.
Language of materials: English
Repository: Brown University Library, Special Collections
Collection number: Ms. 78.14

Scope & content

The collection consists chiefly of Fox's poetry and prose dating from 1919-1938. Much of the collection remained unpublished during Fox's lifetime, not coming to press until printed in a memorial volume in 1960. The analysis of the collection which follows closely corresponds to the physical arrangement of the papers.

Approximately one hundred separate poems are represented in the collection, most of which appear in manuscript or typed draft versions. The collection also includes typed transcripts (made more that twenty years later) which served as a selection tool for the posthumous volume of her poetry, A path across the night (New York, 1961). In addition to these more or less finished products, there are two notebooks of manuscript verse which appear to be of an earlier date and quite plainly draft or working copies. All of Fox's published work is found in this collection.

A total of 38 different examples of her prose appear in the collection, many of which are in two or three drafts. This material consists of short stories some of which were written obviously for juveniles as well as other material that is of a purely didactic nature. Her essays deal with contemporary subjects of her time and include articles on the Depression and its effects on the common man; fears of totalitarianism; social mores, and socialism. The titles of the works are usually a good indication of the content, and in some instances, the author's attitudes towards a subject. Also included in this section is a diary account written in 1936 of her trip to the Soviet Union to visit her brother, Charles W. Thayer (Thayer was attached to the United States Embassy there). Good descriptions of Russian historical places and of the Soviet people themselves are included in the narrative.

The final section of the collection containing the original writings of Fox consists of a number of original libretti for ballet, at least one of which was professionally produced; also, two scrapbooks of clipped verse and illustrations, some of which may have served as inspiration and/or models for Fox's own work. Likewise there are newspaper clippings relevant to her work as well as some copies of publications in which her writings appeared.

The second major division of the collection contains material not directly authored by Mary Fox. It consists chiefly of correspondence and includes: a) 34 letters written to Mary Fox in response to her essay in the April 1935 issue of The Atlantic Monthly entitled, "The Art of Dying"; b) 47 letters between William Logan Fox, her husband, Joseph M. Fox, her son, and Catharine M. Wright, one of her literary executors. Most of this correspondence deals with the publication of a posthumous volume of Fox's work A Path Across the Night; c) 31 letters written to William Logan Fox, congratulating him on the publication of this volume.

Finally in this section are seven pieces of sheet music, two of which are in manuscript, by Charles Cohen and Arthur Farwell. Cohen's work includes a song set to verse of Fox: "Alas, that spring should vanish with the rose". Farwell's music includes songs set to the poetry of William Blake: "The Lamb" and Emily Dickinson's: "These Saw Vision."

Access Points

Subject Names Subject Names Subject Topics Subject Topics Document Types Occupations

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in five series:

  • Series 1. Writings
  • Series 2. Correspondence
  • Series 3. Printed materials
  • Series 4. Sheet music
  • Series 5. Photograph

In Series 1. Writings, both the poetry and the prose are arranged alphabetically by title and by first line where no title is given. The verse precedes the prose which in turn is followed by the ballet libretti.

The correspondence is arranged by subject: a) Letters to Mary Borland Thayer Fox in response to "The Art of Dying" (arranged alphabetically by correspondent); b) Other letters directed to Mrs. Fox; c) Correspondence in regard to the publication of A Path Across the Night (arranged chronologically); d) Letters to William L. Fox following the publication of the volume; e) Other correspondence to and from Mr. Fox.

Biographical note

Born in 1903, Mary Borland Thayer Fox, poet and author, died in 1938 of cancer. A resident of Pennsylvania for most if not all her life, she married William Logan Fox, had at least one child, Joseph M. Fox, and was the sister of Charles Wheeler Thayer (1910 - 1969), a writer and diplomat.

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: Mary Borland Thayer Fox papers, Ms. 78.14, Brown University Library.
Contact information: Brown University Library, Special Collections
Box A, John Hay Library
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Tel: 401-863-2146
Fax: 401-863-2093
email: hay@brown.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION  
Acquisition: The Mary Borland Thayer Fox Papers were given to Brown University in 1975 by Joseph M. Fox and Catharine M. Wright.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID  
Author: Finding aid prepared by John E. Ingram, Manuscripts Processor, under the direction of Clifton H. Jones, Manuscripts Curator, May 1978.
Encoding: Finding aid encoded by Vasundhara Prasad 2008 October 02

Additional Information

Other information:

Inventory

Series 1. Writings, 1919-1938
1 box, 15 folders

A. Poetry, 1919-1938
46 folders

Folders 2-33 are an alphabetical arrangement of poems written by Fox. Originals and carbon copies; also, later (1950's) typed manuscripts of these poems which were used as the basis for the posthumous volume 'A Path Across the Night'.

Container Description Date
Box 1, Folder 1 Early verse
8 items
Box 1, Folders 2-3 Verse: A
Box 1, Folders 4-5 Verse: B
14 items
Box 1, Folders 6-7 Verse: C
17 items
Box 1, Folder 8 Verse: D
2 items
Box 1, Folder 9 Verse: E
11 items
Box 1, Folders 10-12 Verse: F
20 items
Box 1, Folder 13 Verse: G-H
6 items
Box 1, Folders 14-15 Verse: I
23 items
Box 1, Folder 16 Verse: J-K
3 items
Box 1, Folders 17-18 Verse: L
17 items
Box 1, Folder 19 Verse: M
9 items
Box 1, Folder 20 Verse: N
5 items
Box 1, Folders 21-22 Verse: O
20 items
Box 1, Folder 23 Verse: P-Q
4 items
Box 1, Folder 24 Verse: R
10 items
Box 1, Folders 25-28 Verse: S
47 items
Box 1, Folders 29-30 Verse: T
30 items
Box 1, Folder 31 Verse: U-V
8 items
Box 1, Folder 33 Verse: W-Z
11
Box 1, Folder 33 Verse: Untitled
31 items
Box 1, Folder 34 Published poetry of Mary Borland Thayer Fox
11 items

Contents Note:
  • In Mode of Wisdom
  • Necessities for Heaven
  • Petra, the Lost City
  • Into the Woods
  • Lonliness
  • The Bowl
  • Immortal Gold
  • Evenings
  • On the Kenelly-Heaviside Sayer
  • From the Japanese I
Box 1, Folders 35-38 The Madman
4 items

Contents Note: Two originals, two typed manuscripts.
Box 1, Folders 39-41 A Path Across Night
3 items

Contents Note: Typescripts which were drafts for publisher, including final submitted version.
Box 1, Folder 42 Notebook of Verse (Notes on the season)
1 item

Contents Note: Draft versions of poetry contained in Box 1: folders 2 - 33.
Box 1, Folder 43 Notebook of Verse ("Poems")
1 item

Contents Note: Draft versions of poetry contained in Box 1: folders 2 - 33
Box 1, Folders 44-45 Commonplace Books
2 items

Contents Note: Original verse by Fox (typescripts in box 1: folders 2-33) and verses by others.

Box 1, Folder 46 Notebook of poems
1 item

Contents Note: Transcriptions made by Fox

B Prose works, 1919-1938
39 folders

Container Description Date
Box 1, Folder 47 The art of charm
1 item
Box 1, Folder 48 The artistic impulse
1 item
Box 1, Folder 49 Character and Immortality
1 item
Box 1, Folder 50 Christman shopping
1 item
Box 1, Folder 51 Conversation with an imbecile
1 item
Box 1, Folder 52 The day-lily
1 item
Box 1, Folder 53 The decay of individualism
1 item
Box 1, Folder 55 Elinor Wylie
1 item
Box 1, Folder 55 The fairies in the rain-drops (2 copies)
2 items
Box 1, Folder 56 The familiar dragon (3 copies)
3 items
Box 1, Folder 57 Fashions for birds and insects (4 copies)
4 items
Box 1, Folder 58 Findle and Julia (2 copies)
2 items
Box 1, Folder 59 From far away (2 copies)
2 items
Box 1, Folder 60 The galloping ancestor (3 copies)
3 items
Box 1, Folder 61 Gray Hair
1 item
Box 1, Folder 62 The Horse-Thieves
1 item
Box 1, Folder 63 A hunting accident
1 item
Box 1, Folder 64 Iseult of the Tawny Hair (2 copies)
2 items
Box 1, Folder 65 Let's stop here (3 copies)
3 items
Box 1, Folder 66 The Little gargoyle (4 copies)
4 items
Box 1, Folder 67 The lonely Naiad (3 copies)
3 items
Box 1, Folder 68 Magic and religion
i tem
Box 1, Folder 69 On Joyful wing (3 copies)
3 items
Box 1, Folder 70 One winter's day (what God is like) (3 copies)
3 items
Box 1, Folder 71 The order which is our refuge
1 item
Box 1, Folder 72 Reading as a vice
1 item
Box 1, Folder 73 Rich food
1 item
Box 1, Folder 74 The Sky-Heifer
1 item
Box 1, Folder 75 Sunday
1 item
Box 1, Folder 76 Tommy and the Troll
1 item
Box 2, Folder 1 Too Much Leisure
1 item
Box 2, Folder 2 Towards a new literature
1 item
Box 2, Folder 3 The two apple-trees (2 copies)
2 items

Contents Note: Under the pseudonym of Penelope Deveruex.

Box 2, Folder 4 Two fables
1 item
Box 2, Folder 5 Upon Thee the sins of the world
1 item
Box 2, Folder 6 Wash Day
1 item
Box 2, Folder 7 Where the moon rises (5 copies)
5 items
Box 2, Folder 8 Why the spring was late this year (4 copies)
4 items
Box 2, Folder 9 Russian Diary: 1936
1 item

Contents Note: Basically, a tourist's description of Leningrad, Moscow and Kiev, some very perceptive accounts of the Russian people and mores.

C. Libretti
4 folders

Box 2

Container Description Date
Box 2, Folders 10-13 Libretti
27 items

Contents Note: Libretti for ballets, some of which were performed.

D. Other materials
2 folders

Box 2

Container Description Date
Box 2, Folder 14 Scrapbook
1 item

Contents Note: Verse and illustrations clipped from journals and/or hand-written by Fox.
Box 2, Folder 15 Scrapbook
1 item

Contents Note: Verse and illustrations clipped from journals and/or written by Fox.

Series 2. Correspondence
20 folders

Container Description Date
Box 2, Folders 16-22 The art of dying
34 items

Contents Note: Letters addressed to Fox replying to her article on approaching death, which appeared anonymously in "The Atlantic Monthly", April 1925. The letters are arranged alphabetically by author.

 1925
Box 2, Folder 23 Published verse
5 items

Contents Note: Letters addressed to Fox complimenting her on her poetry.
Box 2, Folders 24-29 Publication of 'A path across the night'
47 items

Contents Note: Correspondence dealing with publication of book, including lay-out, forword, and poems which were not selected; chiefly between literary executor of Fox, Mrs. Sydney L. (Kit) Wright and Fox's husband and son. Familial and personal matters are discussed. Arrangement is chronological.
Box 2, Folders 30-34 A path across night
31 items

Contents Note: Letters addressed to Fox's husband, William Logan Fox, congratulatory on posthumous volume of wife's writings.

Box 2, Folder 35 Correspondence to W. L. Fox
14 items

Contents Note: Miscellaneous matters discussed including his comments on a decision of the Supreme Court and his opinion of Felix Frankfurter.

Series 3. Printed materials
5 folders

Container Description Date
Box 2, Folders 36-37 Atlantic Monthly
2 items

Contents Note: Two copies of the issue containing Fox's anonymously printed "The art of dying."

 1935 Apr
Box 2, Folder 38 Forum
1 item

Contents Note: Contains Fox's "Minor and Major Poetry".

 1937 Jun
Box 2, Folder 39 American Poetry Journal
1 item

Contents Note: Contains Fox's "The Swan Maiden".

 1935 Apr
Box 2, Folder 40 Newspaper clippings
5 items

Contents Note: Contemporary commenst on Fox's poetry and prose and also some comments on posthumous volume, "A path across the night."

Series 4. Sheet music
2 folders

Container Description Date
Box 2, Folders 41-42 Original and printed sheet music
7 items

Contents Note:
  • "In mock of wisdom": music by Charles Cohen; lyrics by Mary Borland Thayer Fox; autograph manuscript signed
  • "Alas, that spring should vanish with the rose": music by Charles Cohen; words from Rubaiyat of Omar Khayan; printed
  • "The Lamb": music by Arthur Farwell; words by William Blake; autograph manuscript signed
  • "These saw Vision": music by Arthur Farwell; words by Emily Dickinson; autograph manuscript signed
  • "Land of Luthany"; Two songs; Vale of Enitharmon: Music by Arthur Farwell; printed

Series 5. Photograph
1 folder

Container Description Date
Box 2, Folder 43 Photograph of Mary Borland Thayer Fox
1 item