Finding Aid for the William Roscoe Collection 1774-1887,
undated
Processed by Rebecca Fenning.
William Andrews Clark Memorial Library
University of California, Los Angeles
2520 Cimarron Street
Los Angeles, CA 90018
Phone: (323) 731-8529
Fax: (323) 731-8617
Email: rfenning@humnet.ucla.edu
URL: http://www.humnet.ucla.edu/humnet/clarklib/
©2009
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: William Roscoe Collection,
Date (inclusive): 1774-1887, undated
Collection number: MS.2008.023
Creator: Roscoe, William
1753-1831
Extent:
2 boxes and 4 volumes (2 linear feet)
Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles.
William Andrews Clark Memorial Library
Los Angeles, California 90095-1490
Abstract: Contains correspondence to and from William
Roscoe, his family circle and various friends, booksellers and
colleagues as well as commonplace books compiled by his wife Jane
Griffies, portrait engravings and ephemera, dating 1774-1887 and
undated.
Physical location: Clark Library
Language of Material: Collection materials in English
Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright has not been assigned to the William Andrews Clark Memorial
Library, UCLA. All requests for permission to publish or quote from
manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Librarian. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of the William Andrews Clark Memorial
Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to
include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be
obtained.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], William Roscoe Collection, 1774-1887, undated, MS.2008.023,
William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, University of California, Los
Angeles.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Professor David H. Weinglass and Marilyn Carbonell, 2008.
Biography
William Roscoe was born in 1753 in Liverpool. Although he trained to
become an attorney and worked in that capacity for 20 years, his true
passion was literature and the arts, particularly the study of Italy. In
1781, Roscoe married Jane Griffies, to whom he was happily married for
over 40 years. Their family of seven sons and three daughters was a
close and loving one, something that is well-reflected in the
correspondence collected here.
Beginning when he was around 16, Roscoe had published and circulated
some poetry that was well-received by the critics, but it was the Life
of Lorenzo published in 1796 that earned him his reputation as a writer
and historian. This was followed by a Life of Leo X in 1805, which was
not as well-received. Roscoe retired from his career in the law soon
after the publication of the Life of Lorenzo and dedicated his time to
writing and the arts, as well as farming, abolition and politics. In
1816, a bank in which he was a partner failed and Roscoe was forced to
sell his home of Allerton Hall as well as his sizeable collections of
books, paintings and manuscripts.
Though Roscoe continued working as a writer and as an advocate for
culture in Liverpool, his family moved often because of financial
worries. Jane Griffies Roscoe died in 1824 and Roscoe himself died at
78, in 1831.
Scope and Content
The William Roscoe collection, dating 1774-1887 and undated, consists
primarily of correspondence between Roscoe, his family circle and
various friends, booksellers and professional colleagues. The collection
also contains 4 volumes of commonplace books compiled by his wife, Jane
Griffies Roscoe, contemporary and modern images of Roscoe and his
residences, and related ephemera.
The majority of the correspondence collected here consists of
outgoing letters written by Roscoe to his sons and to colleagues and
friends in the worlds of publishing, art and politics, as do incoming
letters sent to Roscoe and to others. Some letters are brief notes
regarding social engagements, while others contain more substantive
discussions of topics ranging from slavery to bookselling and art
collecting. Frequent correspondents include sons Robert, Richard, Thomas
and Henry as well as booksellers Cadell & Davies and artist Martin
Archer Shee.
The four volumes of commonplace books, dating 1774-1790, compiled by
Jane Griffies Roscoe contain autograph contributions by Roscoe, as well
as works by him written in Jane's hand. The volumes also contain what
appear to be Jane's original compositions in addition to works by poets
such as William Collins, Thomas Gray, Phillis Wheatley and Anna Laetitia
Barbauld.
Ephemera and images, dating 1805-1853 and undated, include portrait
engravings of Roscoe and of his residence at Allerton Hall, as well as
related newspapers and other clippings. A medal issued on his centenary
in 1853 by Joseph Mayer, Liverpool arts patron and possible former owner
of parts of this collection, is also included.
The collection is organized into the following series:
- Series 1. Correspondence, 1796-1833, 1887, undated. 1 box
- Series 2. Poetical commonplace book, 1774-1790. 4 volumes
- Series 3. Images and ephemera, 1805-1853, undated. 1 box
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this
collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Subjects
Cadell
& Davies
Dunston, Frederick
Warburton
Mayer,
Joseph, 1803-1886
Roscoe,
Henry, 1800-1836
Roscoe, Jane
Griffies
Roscoe, Richard
Roscoe, Robert
Roscoe,
Thomas, 1791-1871
Weinglass, David H.
Authors, English -- 18th
century -- Archives
Genres and Forms
Commonplace
books
Engravings (prints)
Ephemera
Letters
Container List
Series 1.
Correspondence
1796-1833,
1887,
undated
Physical Description: 1 box
Scope and Content Note
The majority of the correspondence collected here consists of
outgoing letters written by Roscoe to his sons and to colleagues and
friends in the worlds of publishing, art and politics, though there are
also incoming letters addressed to him and others close to him. Some
letters are brief notes regarding social engagements, while others
contain more substantive discussions of topics ranging from slavery to
bookselling and art collecting. Frequent correspondents include sons
Robert, Richard, Thomas and Henry as well as booksellers Cadell and
Davies and artist Martin Archer Shee.
Arrangement
Items are arranged in two subseries: Subseries 1. Correspondence from
William Roscoe, 1797-1830, undated and Subseries 2. Correspondence and
material from others, 1796-1833, 1887, undated.
Subseries 1.
Outgoing correspondence from William Roscoe
1797-1830, undated
Physical Description: 47 letters
Arrangement
Letters are arranged in chronological order.
Box 1, Folder 1
To James Heath (1757-1834)
4 March 1797
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 2
To Cadell & Davies
[1799?]
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 3
From Rev. Henry Boyd, with appended note from Roscoe to
Cadell & Davies, booksellers
August 1802
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 4
To Messrs. Lackington, Allen & Co., booksellers
8 December 1803
Physical Description: 1 item
Scope and Content Note
Ordering 13 books and requesting book catalog.
Box 1, Folder 5
To unknown correspondent
8 February 1805
Physical Description: 1 item
Scope and Content Note
Regarding an engraving of Allerton Hall.
Box 1, Folder 6
To unknown correspondent
9 June 1805
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 7
To Joseph Cooper Walker
26 August 1805
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 8
To Rev. William Parr Greswell (1765-1854)
22 June 1806
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 9
To Cadell & Davies
6 September 1806
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 10
To Richard Taylor (1781-1858)
30 January 1807
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 11
To [David Steuart Erskine], Lord [Buchan]
3 March 1807
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 12
To William Barber
19 March 1807
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 13
To Thomas Winstanley
6 April [1807?]
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 14
To [Thomas Cadell?]
5 December 1807
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 15
To [Cadell & Davies]
[24 January 1808]
Physical Description: 1 item
Scope and Content Note
List of persons to whom WR would like sent his Considerations.
Box 1, Folder 16
To Cadell & Davies
26 May 1808
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 17
To Martin Archer Shee (1769-1850)
4 November 1808
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 18
To W[illiam] M[acDowal] Tartt
2 January 1809
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 19
To William Wilberforce
10 July 1809
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 20
To Henry Wilckens
18 April 1810
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 21
To unknown correspondent
20 October 1814
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 22
To [Dawson Turner (1775-1858)?]
25 November 1814
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 23
To Martin Archer Shee
17 April 1819
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 24
To Robert Roscoe
24 April 1819
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 25
To Archibald Constable
28 July 1819
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 26
To Thomas Winstanley
[ca. 1820]
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 27
To William Bullock (fl. 1808-1828)
1 January 1820
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 28
To Edward Rushton
15 September 1821
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 29
To unknown recipient
13 October 1821
Physical Description: 1 item
Scope and Content Note
Fragment of a letter, with signature on verso and six lines of text
on recto. Mentions a present to His Majesty and Sir Benjamin Bloomfield.
Box 1, Folder 30
To William Earle
6 October 1822
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 31
To [James Cropper?]
23 January 1823
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 32
To Mrs. [Frances Smith] Martin
10 Sept [ca. 1825-27?]
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 33
To Miss [Margaret] Holford
19 January 1825
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 34
To [Mr. Barclay?]
15 September 1825
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 35
To unknown correspondent
12 November 1825
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 36
To Rev. Domenico Moreni
20 January 1826
Physical Description: 1 item
Scope and Content Note
In Italian.
Box 1, Folder 37
To J. Wesley?
29 September 1826
Physical Description: 1 item
Scope and Content Note
Name of correspondent from docket; not clearly legible.
Box 1, Folder 38
To Jonathan Trevanion Hatfield (1793-1840)
[February 1827]
Physical Description: 1 item
Note
Signature and date cut away from original letter, affecting
several lines of text. Modern paper inlaid, with missing text supplied
in pencil and autograph supplied from another source.
Box 1, Folder 39
To [William] Jevons
15 August 1827
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 40
To Thomas Thompson (1776-1861)
5 December 1827
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 41
To Samuel Parker
7 December [1827]
Physical Description: 1 item
Scope and Content Note
Remargined and repaired with modern paper.
Box 1, Folder 42
WR autograph and poetical quotation
26 March 1829
Physical Description: 1 item
Scope and Content Note
With pencil note from one of WR's grandchildren. Remargined in modern
paper.
Box 1, Folder 43
To George Smith
23 July 1829
Physical Description: 1 item
Note
Tipped onto gray album page.
Box 1, Folder 44
To [Nathaniel Wallich]
17 May 1830
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 45
To Mr Dodd
20 September 1830
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 46
To John McCreery (1768?-1832)
undated
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 47
To William Rathbone (1787-1868)
undated
Physical Description: 1 item
Subseries 2.
Correspondence from others
1796-1833,
1887,
undated
Physical Description: 14 letters
Arrangement
Letters are arranged in chronological order.
Scope and Content Note
This subseries includes letters written to Roscoe, as well as letters
written to third parties connected to him. Several letters communicate
messages to and from Roscoe to other parties via his sons Robert,
Richard, Thomas and Henry. A letter from 1887 to great-grandson Frederick Warburton Dunston documents his acquisition of
the items detailed in Series 2 of this finding aid.
Box 1, Folder 48
From Cadell & Davies to WR
30 Oct [1796]
Physical Description: 1 item
Scope and Content Note
Apparent draft copy of a letter to WR.
Box 1, Folder 49
From Georgiana Cavendish, Dutchess of Devonshire, to Dr. John
Moore (1729-1802)
[19 December 1798]
Physical Description: 1 item
Scope and Content Note
Letter intended to be forwarded by Moore to WR.
Box 1, Folder 50
From Mary Ann Roscoe Jevons to Mr Marples
9 January 18--?
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 51
From William Parr Greswell to Cadell & Davies
6 April 1801
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 52
From Richard Roscoe to Cadell & Davies
[ca. 1814]
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 53
From Robert Roscoe to Cadell & Davies
7 June 1819
Physical Description: 1 item
Scope and Content Note
Gives instructions sent from WR.
Box 1, Folder 54
From Robert Roscoe to [?] Horwood
2 October 1826
Physical Description: 2 items
Scope and Content Note
Letter and autograph of W. Roscoe.
Box 1, Folder 55
From Henry Roscoe to unknown correspondent
19 June 1833
Physical Description: 1 item
Scope and Content Note
Regards his biography of WR and the unknown's friendship with WR.
Box 1, Folder 56
From Richard Roscoe to unknown correspondent
undated
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 57
From Henry Roscoe to unknown correspondent
undated
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 58
From Thomas Roscoe to Cadell & Davies
undated
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 59
From Henry Roscoe to John McCreery
undated
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 60
Excerpt from The butterfly's ball and the grasshopper's feast
in Jane Griffies Roscoe's hand
undated
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 61
From Sotheran and Co., booksellers, to Frederick Warburton
Dunston
15 July 1887
Physical Description: 1 item
Series 2.
Poetical commonplace book
1774-1790
Physical Description: 4 volumes
Scope and Content Note
This series consists of 4 volumes of commonplace books kept by
William Roscoe's wife Jane Griffies Roscoe before and after their
marriage. The volumes each contain contributions from Roscoe in his own
hand, as well as poems written by him but copied by his wife. They also
appear to contain original work written by Jane, as well as works by
poets such as William Collins, Thomas Gray, Phillis Wheatley, Anna
Laetitia Barbauld, Lord Lyttleton and Samuel Johnson. Each volume
contains an inscription on the first page by Frederick Warburton
Dunston, dated 3 November 1893, noting that he purchased the "volumes at
Sotheby's on or about 19 July 1887" and that the transcriber was Jane
Griffies, afterwards wife of Wm. Roscoe of Liverpool." Dunston owned 5
volumes of this commonplace, but there are now only 4 volumes and it is
unclear when the fifth may have been lost. He believed that all 5
volumes were at "one time in the possession of the late Joseph Mayer of
Liverpool," who probably purchased them "from the widow of my great
uncle Richard Roscoe MD," who had been a great collector of Roscoe
family documents.
Arrangement
The four volumes of this work are organized in chronological order.
Box MS.2008.023 v.1
Volume 1
1774
Physical Description: 180 p. ; 21 cm.
Scope and Content Note
Calligraphic title page with ink drawings, reading "Poems extracted
from several authors : with a few originals, JG, 1774." Contains what
appear to be original compositions by JGR and WR on pages 1-21, and in
other places throughout the volume.
Box MS.2008.023 v.2
Volume 2
1775
Physical Description: 7, [173] p. ; 21 cm.
Scope and Content Note
Calligraphic title page with embellishments reads, "Poems, JG, 1775."
Box MS.2008.023 v. 3
Volume 3
ca. 1775-1780
Physical Description: 160, [20] p. ; 21 cm.
Scope and Content Note
Calligraphic title page reading, "Poems collected by JG, Liverpool."
There are black and white watercolor illustrations presumably by Jane
Griffies on both the title page and a later page in the text. "To Julia"
(the title has been supplied in pencil) on p. 1 is in the hand of
William Roscoe.
Box MS.2008.023 v.4
Volume 4
ca. 1780-1790
Physical Description: [180] p. ; 21 cm.
Scope and Content Note
No title page. Several works apparently by JGR or WR; several works
closer to the end of the volume signed "WR."
Series 3.
Images and ephemera
1805-1853, undated
Physical Description: 1 box
Scope and Content Note
This series contains various pieces of Roscoe-related ephemera and
images of Roscoe himself and his residences, collected by donor David H.
Weinglass. Many items are undated, but the bulk of material appears to
date from the first half of the 19th century. A medal issued on Roscoe's centenary (1853) by Joseph Mayer, a Liverpool arts
patron and possible former owner of parts of this collection is also included.
Box Art storage room
"Allerton Hall, Lancashire" colored engraving in
frame
undated
Physical Description: In frame 23 x 27 cm.
Scope and Content Note
Additional unframed copy of this print in Box 1, Folder 74.
Box Art storage room
"Birth-place of William Roscoe, Liverpool" hand-colored
engraving in frame
undated
Physical Description: In frame 23 x 27 cm.
Box 1, Folder 62
Memoir of William Roscoe, Esq. The European Magazine
July 1822
Physical Description: 10 p.
Scope and Content Note
An article about WR published in 1822, with an engraved portrait by
J. Thompson.
Box 1, Folder 63
Engraved monogram "J McC"
undated
Physical Description: 1 item
Scope and Content Note
Possibly the monogram of WR correspondent and Liverpool printer John
McCreery.
Box 1, Folder 64
"W. Roscoe aetat: 38" black and white engraving from Bohn's
standard library edition of the Life of Leo the Tenth
undated
Physical Description: 6 p.
Scope and Content Note
Engraving and several pages from a later 19th century edition of WR's
work.
Box 1, Folder 65
"Roscoe" engraving with pencil attribution to Williamson and
Edwards
undated
Physical Description: 26.5 x 17.5 cm.
Scope and Content Note
Apparently original printing of the same portrait as in folder 64.
Light foxing to edges of sheet.
Box 1, Folder 66
Photograph reproduction of Roscoe portrait in Walker Art
Gallery collection
undated
Physical Description: 18.5 x 16 cm.
Box 1, Folder 67
Engraving of Roscoe portrait by J. Lonsdale,
undated
Physical Description: 21 x 16 cm.
Scope and Content Note
Engraved by S. Freeman.
Box 1, Folder 68
Prospectus for the Landscape Annual, edited by Thomas
Roscoe
1830
Physical Description: 1 item
Box 1, Folder 69
Roscoe portrait etching by Alfred Croquis
undated
Physical Description: 22 x 13 cm., mounted to 25 x 21 cm.
Scope and Content Note
Published by James Fraser, 245 Regent Street, London. Pasted to gray
album page.
Box 1, Folder 70
Cabinet card photograph of Roscoe portrait
undated
Physical Description: 10 x 6.5 cm.
Scope and Content Note
Captioned "Wm. Roscoe" in ink. Produced by E. Cox-Walker, Liverpool
& Rock Ferry.
Box 1, Folder 71
Engraving of Roscoe portrait by Hopwood
1815
Physical Description: 12.5 x 10.5 cm.
Scope and Content Note
Published by I.W.H. Payne, July 1st, 1815. Trimmed down from original
size.
Box 1, Folder 72
Modern Roscoe related postcards and ephemera
20th century
Physical Description: 4 items
Box 1, Folder 73
Engraving of Allerton Hall by J. Storer from a drawing by E.
Goodwin
1805
Physical Description: 21.5 x 13 cm.
Scope and Content Note
Captions read "For the Beauties of England and Wales" and "Allerton
Hall, the residence of W. Roscoe, Esqr., Lancashire." Published by
Vernor & Hood Poultry, March 1, 1805.
Box 1, Folder 74
"Allerton Hall, Lancashire" colored engraving
undated
Physical Description: 20 x 13 cm.
Scope and Content Note
Framed copy of the same engraving stored separately, as above.
Box 2, Folder 1
William Roscoe, Esq., Engraved by C. Picart from an original
picture by M. Haughton in the possession of Mr. J. McCreery
1813
Physical Description: 36 x 23.5 cm.
Scope and Content Note
Published Jan. 11, 1813 by T. Cadell & W. Davies, Strand, London.
Box 3, Folder 2
"Letter to William Roscoe, Esquire of Toxteth Park near
Liverpool" from Roberts Vaux, Philadelphia, 10 May 1827. In Paulson's
American Daily Advertiser
18 May 1827
Physical Description: 4 p.
Scope and Content Note
4 pages from the American Daily Advertiser of Philadelphia.
Box 2, Folder 3
Roscoe centenary commemorative medal
8 March 1853
Physical Description: 1 item
Scope and Content Note
Recto with Roscoe bust in profile also reads "Mayer Liverpool
direxit" and "Allen & Moore f[ecit]." Joseph Mayer, the former owner
of parts of this collection, is the likely candidate for the "Mayer"
mentioned here.
