This collection is open for research.
Plath was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and began writing poetry as a child. She
entered Smith College in 1950 and, after an abortive suicide attempt in August of
1953, graduated in 1955. She then attended Newnham College in Cambridge for two
years on a Fulbright Fellowship where late in her first year she met and shortly
thereafter married poet Ted Hughes. Plath took her degree in June 1957, after which
she and Hughes sailed to America for a year of teaching and a second year of writing
and travel. In late 1959 they returned to England where Plath lived until her death
in February 1963.
Materials are arranged in chronological order.
The Plath mss. collection, 1958–1961, consists of poems and some story fragments by Sylvia Plath.
Plath mss. II
Series:
Box 1
Collection
"Hardcastle Craigs,"
1958 June 24 (poem)
T.D. 1p. 28cm.
Published in
The Colossus... London:
Heinemann, [l960], p. 16. Printer's copy with proof-reader's notes.
Originally titled "Nocturne" changed to "Walk in the Night"; changed to
"Night Walk." Published as "Hardcastle Crags."
"The Hanging Man,"
1960 June 27 (poem)
T.D. (carbon). 1p. 28cm.
Published in
Ariel... London: Faber and
Faber, 1965, p.70.
"On Deck,"
1960 July (poem)
"Two Campers in Cloud Country (Rock Lake,
Canada),"
1960 July (poem)
2 drafts. T.D. (carbon) and T.D. 1p. each. 28 cm.
Published in
New Yorker, XXXIX (August 3,
1963), p.28 and
Crossing the Water, p.50.
Carbon draft has holograph changes.
"Leaving Early,"
1960 Sept. 25
(poem)
T.D. (carbon). 1p. 28cm.
Published in
London Magazine, i (August
1961), p.5-10 and
Crossing the Water,
1971, p.33.
"Love Letter,"
1960 Oct. 16 (poem)
T.D. (carbon). 1p. 28cm.
Published in
Poetry, XCIX (March 1962),
p.350 and
Crossing the Water, p.44.
"Candles,"
1960 Oct. 17 (poem)
T.D. (carbon). 1p. 28cm.
Published in
Listener, LXIV (November 17,
1960), p.877 and
Crossing the Water,
p.41.
"A Life,"
1960 Nov. 18 (poem)
2 drafts. T.D. (carbon) and T.D. 1p. each. 28cm.
Published in
Crossing the Water, p.53.
Carbon draft has holograph revisions.
"Parliament Hill Fields,"
1961 Feb. 11 (poem)
T.D. 1p. 28cm.
Published in
London Magazine, i (August
1961), p.5-10 and
Crossing the Water,
p.19.
"Whitsun,"
1961 Feb. 14 (poem)
T.D. (carbon). 1p. 28cm.
Published in
London Magazine, i (August
1961), p.5-10 and
Crossing the Water,
p.60.
"Face Lift,"
1961 Feb. 15 (poem)
2 drafts. T.D.S. and T.D. (carbon). 1p. each. 28cm.
Published in
Poetry, XCIX (March 1962),
p.349 and
Crossing the Water, p.17.
Signed draft has holograph revisions. Typescript carbon of p.5 of story
"The Kitchen of the Fig Tree" on verso.
"Morning Song,"
1961 Feb. 19 (poem)
2 drafts. T.D. and T.D. (carbon). 1p. each. 28cm.
Published in
Ariel, p.11. On verso of
typescript draft is typescript carbon of p.2 of the article "Watching
the Water–voles."
"Small Hours,"
1961 Feb. 21 (poem)
2 drafts. T.D. and T.D. (carbon). 1p. each. 14 and 28cm.
Published in
London Magazine, i (August
1961), p.5-10 and
Crossing the Water,
1971, p.46. Title changed from "Night Thoughts." verso of typescript
fragment of
The Bell Jar.
"Heavy Women,"
1961 Feb. 22 (poem)
2 drafts. T.D. and T.D. (carbon). 1p. each. 14 and 28cm.
Published in
Poetry, XCIV (March 1962),
p.350 and
Crossing the Water, p.37. Type
script originally titled "Waiting Women." Has numerous holograph changes
and notes about fishing on verso. Removed from verso of typescript
fragment of
The Bell Jar.
"Private Ground,"
1961 Feb. 25 (poem)
8 drafts. T.D.S. (6 drafts), T.D. (carbon), and T.D. 1p. each.
28cm.
Published in
Critical Quarterly, III
(Summer 1961), p.141 and
Crossing the
Water,
p.36. Seven drafts have holograph revisions. Four
drafts carry title "In Frost Time."
"Tulips,"
1961 Mar. 18 (poem)
T.D. (carbon). 2p. 28cm.
Published in
New Yorker, XXXVIII (April 7,
1962), p.40 and Ariel, p.20. Holograph addition at bottom.
"I Am Vertical,"
1961 Mar. 28 (poem)
2 drafts. T.D.S. and T.D. 1p. each. 28cm.
Published in
Critical Quarterly, III
(Summer 1961), p.140-141 and
Crossing the
Water,
p.26. Holograph revisions on T.D.S.
"Widow,"
1961 May 16 (poem)
3 drafts. A.D.S. 3p., T.D.S. 1p., and T.D. 1p. 28cm.
Published in
Poetry XCIX (March 1962),
p.347 and
Crossing the Water, p.38.
A.D.S. and T.D.S. have holograph revisions. Typescripts of Ted Hughes'
"My Mother" and "My Father" from
Meet My
Folks!
on versos.
"Insomniac,"
1961 May (poem)
T.D. 1p. 28cm.
Published in
The Guinness Book of Poetry
1960/1961, London: Putnam, 1962, p.33 and
Crossing the Water, p.21.
"The Rival,"
1961 July (poem)
3 drafts. T.D.S., T.D., and T.D. (carbon). 2p. each.
28cm.
Published in
Observer, January 21, 1962,
p.31 and
Ariel, p.53. One draft has
holograph revisions. Typescripts of "Man in Black" and "Snakecharmer" on
versos of T.D.S. "Man in Black" published in New Yorker, XXXVI (April 9,
1960), p.40 and
The Colossus, p.52.
"Snakecharmer" published in
London
Magazine,
vi (March 1959), p.33-6 and
The Colossus, p.54.
"Blackberrying,"
1961 Sept. 23
(poem)
3 drafts. A.D.S. 2p., T.D.S. 1p., and T.D. (carbon) 1p.
28cm.
Published in
New Yorker, XXXVIII
(September 15, 1962), p.48 and Crossing the Water, p.24. Two drafts have
holograph revisions. Typescripts of "The Ghost's Leavetaking" and "I
Want, I Want" on versos of A.D.S. "The Ghost's Leavetaking" published in
Sewanee Review, LXVII (Summer 1959), p.446 and
The Colossus, [1960], p.39. "I Want, I Want" published in
Partisan Review, 26 (Fall 1959),
p.558 and
The Colossus, p.36. Typescript
of "Suicide Off Egg Rock" on verso of T.D.S. Published in
Hudson Review, XIII (Fall 1960), p.415 and
The Colossus, p.33.
"Finisterre,"
1961 Sept. 29
(poem)
8 drafts. A.D.S. (3 drafts – 1p.,1p., and 3p.), T.D.S. (3 drafts –
1p. each), A.&T.D.S. (2p.), T.D. (carbon - 1p.). 28cm.
Published in
Observer, August 5, 1962,
p.14 and
Crossing the Water, p.15. Seven
drafts have holograph revisions. On versos are typescripts of
"Aftermath," "All the Dead Dears," "Point Shirley," "Lorelei," and "The
Colossus." All were published in
The
Colossus,
p.20–26, 29–31. Also on versos, two typescript
pages of Ted Hughes'
Meet My Folks!
"The Surgeon at 2 A.M.,"
1961 Sept. 29
(poem)
5 drafts. A.D.S. (2 drafts - 1p. and 5p.), T.D.S. (3 drafts - 1p.
each). 28cm.
Published in
Listener, LXVIII (September
20, 1962), p.428 and
Crossing the Water,
p.48. Four drafts have holograph revisions. Typescripts of "Departure,"
"Hardcastle Crags," "The Eye-mote," "Two Views of a Cadaver Room,"
"Night Shift," and "The Manor Garden" on versos. "Departure" published
in
Nation, CLXXXVIII (March 7, 1959),
p.212 and
The Colossus, p.19. "The
Eye-mote" published in
Chelsea Review,
VII (May 1960), p.71 and
The Colossus,
p.14. "Two Views of a Cadaver Room" published in
Times Literary Supplement, 3010 (November 6, 1959), p.xxiii
and
The Colossus, p.10. "Night Shift"
published in
The Colossus, p.11. "The
Manor Garden" published in
Critical
Quarterly,
II (Summer 1960), p.155-7 and
The Colossus, p.9. Typescript of Ted Hughes'
"My Brother Bert" from Meet My Folks! on verso of one draft.
"Wuthering Heights,"
1961 Sept. (poem)
6 drafts. A.D.S. 6p., T.D.S. (2 drafts – 1p. each), A.&T.D.S.
(2 drafts – 3p. and 7p.), T.D. 1p. 28cm.
Published in
New Statesman, LXIII (Mar.
16, 1962), p.390 and
Crossing the Water,
p.11. Five drafts have holograph revisions. Two drafts titled "Withins."
Two p. of the 7p. draft are titled "The Bald Truth About: Grass at
Wuthering Heights." On versos are typescripts of "The Surgeon at 2
A.M.," "A Life," "Faun," "Metaphors," "Morning Song," "Home Thoughts
from London," "Maudlin," "Full Fathom Five," and the title and first
pages of
The Bed Book. "Faun" published
in
Poetry, LXXXIX (January 1957), p.234
and
The Colossus, p.18. "Metaphors"
published in Partisan Review, XXVII (Summer 1960), p.435 under the title
"Metaphors for a Pregnant Woman" and in The Colossus, p.41. "Maudlin"
published in The Colossus, p.48. "Full Fathom Five" published in
Audience, vi (Spring 1955), p.34 and
The Colossus, p.46.
The Bed Book published London: Faber and Faber, 1976.
Holograph drafts of "Queen Mary's Rose Garden" and "Withins" on
versos.
"Last Words,"
1961 Oct. 21
(poems)
5 drafts. A.D.S., T.D.S. (3 drafts), and T.D. (carbon). 1p. each.
28cm.
Published in
New American Review, II, New
York: Simon and Schuster, 1971, p.232 and
Crossing the Water, p.63. Holograph revisions on all but
typescript carbon.
"The Moon and the Yew Tree,"
1961 Oct. 22 (poem)
3 drafts. A.D.S. 4p., T.D.S. (2 drafts - 1p. each).
28cm.
Published in
New Yorker, XXXIX (August 3,
1963), p.28-29 and in
Ariel, p.47.
"Mirror,"
1961 Oct. 23 (poem)
4 drafts. A.D.S., T.D.S. (2 drafts), and T.D. (carbon). 1p. each.
28cm.
Published in
New Yorker, XXXIX (August 3,
1963), p.28-29 and
Crystal
Gazer...
London, Rainbow Press, 1971, p.20. Originally titled
"Mirror Talk." Three drafts have have holograph revisions.
"The Babysitters," 1961 Oct. 29 (poem)
7 drafts. A.D.S. (3 drafts -1p. each), A.& T.D.S. 3p., T.D.S.
(2 drafts – 1p. each), T.D. (carbon – 1p.). 28cm.
Published in
New Yorker, XLVII (March 6,
1971), p.36 and
Crossing the Water, p.27.
Six drafts have holograph revisions. One holograph draft has title
change. Typescripts of 5p. of draft from
The Bell
Jar,
London: Heinemann, 1963, on versos. Typescripts of
"Whitsun," "Magi" and "Black Rock in Rainy Weather" on versos. Latter
published in
Antioch Review, XVII
(January 1957), p.232 and
The Colossus,
p.42.
"The Beggars,"
undated
(poem)
T.D. (carbon). 1p. 28cm.
Published in
Chelsea Review, VII (May
1960), p.70 and
Crystal Gazer, p.12. Has
holograph revisions. Originally titled "The Beggars of Benidorm Market."
Unidentified holograph draft on verso.
"The Bell Jar,"
undated (novel
fragments)
2 drafts. T.D.S (carbon). 1p. each. 28cm.
Published in
The Bell Jar, London:
Heinemann, 1963. Both drafts of p.136 of
The Bell
Jar.
"Small Hours" and "Heavy Women" removed from
versos.
"The Fifteen Dollar Eagle,"
undated
(story)
2 drafts. T.D. (carbon) and T.D. 20 and 21p. 28cm.
Published in
Sewanee Review, LXVIII (Fall
1960), p.603. Holograph changes on typescript carbon.
"In Plaster,"
undated
(poem)
2 drafts. T.D.S. and T.D. 2p. each. 28cm.
Published in
London Magazine, I (Fall
1962), p.15 and
Crossing the Water, p.30.
Signed draft has holograph revisions. Typescripts of "Private Ground"
and Ted Hughes' "Squirrel in January" on versos.
"Magi,"
undated
(poem)
T.D. (carbon). 1p. 28cm.
Published in
New Statesman, LXI (March 31,
1961), p.514 and
Crossing the Water,
p.4O.
"Sleep in the Mojave Desert,"
undated
(poem)
Published in
Observer, November 19, 1961,
p.28 and
Crossing the Water, p.47
"Stars Over the Dordogne,"
undated
(poem)
2 drafts. T.D.S. and T.D. 1p. each. 28cm.
Published in
Poetry, XCIX (March 1962),
p.346. Signed draft has holograph changes. Title changed from "Stars at
Lacan." Typescript of "The Companionable Ills" on verso. Published in
Spectator, CCII (January 30, 1959),
p.163 and
The Colossus, p.63.
"Stillborn,"
undated
(poem)
T.D.S. 1p. 28cm.
Published in
New Statesman, 81 (March 19,
1971), p.384 and Crossing the Water, p.35. Titled changed from "A Book
of Dead Poems." Holograph draft of an untitled poem on verso; first
line: "The breath of my body steams up to me, I am warm."
"Words for a Nursery,"
undated
(poem)
2 drafts. T.D. (carbon) and T.D. 1p. each. 28cm.
Published in
Atlantic, CCVIII (August
1961), p.66. Carbon draft has holograph revisions. Title changed from
"Hand Song," to "Rhyme for a Nursery," to "Words for a \ Nursery."
"You're,"
undated
(poem)
T.D. (carbon). 1p. 28cm.
Published in
Harper's, CCXIII (June 1961),
p.40 and Ariel, p.57.
"Zoo Keeper's Wife,"
undated
(poem)
T.D. (carbon). 1p. 28cm.
Published in
London Magazine, i (August
1961), p.5-10 and Crossing the Water, p.58.
