Richard Francis Burton Library Manuscripts Collection, 1842-1947

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Summary

Creators:
Burton, Richard Francis, Sir, 1821-1890.
Abstract:
This collection consists mainly of manuscripts, correspondence, drawings, and printed material related to the work of British explorer and writer Richard Francis Burton (1821-1890) and his interests in swords, fencing, and Middle Eastern poetry and history. The collection contains research material and early drafts of Burton's The Book of the Sword and To the Gold Coast.
Extent:
12.86 Linear Feet (14 boxes)
Language:
English, also Arabic, French, German, Italian, Persian, and Spanish.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Richard Francis Burton Library Manuscripts Collection, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists mainly of manuscripts, correspondence, drawings, printed material, and catalogues related to Burton's work and interest with swords, fencing, and his interest in Middle Eastern poetry and history; the collection contains research material and early drafts of Burton's The Book of the Sword, Vols. I-III, and To the Gold Coast. The correspondence includes letters from, among others, Verney Lovett Cameron, Richard S. Charnock, Chatto and Windus, Dominic E. Colnaghi, Alexander Fergusson, Violet Greville, John Latham, Augustus H. L. Pitt-Rivers, Bernard Quaritch, William Tinsley, H. Schütz Wilson, Henry Yule and Hermann Zotenberg.

The papers consist of the following series:

1. Manuscripts - Volumes (Boxes 1-5) are arranged alphabetically by author and title. The volumes include one manuscript by Burton, and manuscripts by other authors, which reflect Burton's interest in Iceland and Middle Eastern history and poetry, including the Arabian Nights.

This series also includes printed material, clippings, catalogues, pamphlets, illustrations used and annotated by Burton; there is also one folder of Ephemera.

2. Manuscripts - Folders (Boxes 6-10) are arranged alphabetically by author and title. This series mainly consists of Burton's work on the sword and fencing, including The Book of the Sword, Infantry Sword Exercise, "Selected System of Fencing" and "The Sentiment of the Sword…;" it also includes a page from The Highlands of Brazil and an early draft of To the Gold Coast…: A Personal Narrative. There are a few manuscripts by other authors, mainly dealing with swords and fencing.

3. Manuscripts - Drawings (Box 11) are arranged by subject. This series is mainly drawings and illustrations for The Book of the Sword, Vols. I-III, and one illustration for North Borneo.

4. Correspondence and catalogues (Boxes 12-14) are arranged alphabetically by author. The majority of the letters are written to Richard Burton and deal with his ongoing work and interest in swords and fencing; there are a few letters to Isabel Burton. This series includes letters by, among others, Verney Lovett Cameron, Richard S. Charnock, Chatto and Windus, Dominic E. Colnaghi, Alexander Fergusson, Violet Greville, John Latham, Augustus H. L. Pitt-Rivers, Bernard Quaritch, William Tinsley, H. Shütz Wilson, Henry Yule and Hermann Zotenberg. Also includes one box of catalogues related to Burton's library.

Biographical / historical:

Richard Francis Burton (1821-1890) was a British explorer, linguist, writer, diplomat and translator; he explored Africa, the Middle East, South America and Iceland, and translated, among many other titles, The Arabian Nights. Burton married Isabel Arundell (1831-1896), in 1861, and she, thereafter, accompanied Burton on many of his travels, and became his amanuensis and editor, as well as publishing her own travel volumes and an autobiography. Burton died of a heart attack on October 19, 1890, and Isabel Burton died from complications of ovarian cancer on March 22, 1896.

Acquisition information:
Acquired from The Christensen Fund, November 1997.
Custodial history:

At the time of Isabel Burton's death in 1896, the main part of Richard Burton's surviving manuscripts and library were deposited at the Central Library, Kensington; in 1955, the Royal Borough of Kensington gave the library to the Royal Anthropological Institute for safe-keeping. In 1986, The Christensen Fund acquired the entire library from the R.A.I., and deposited it at the Huntington Library, until November 1997, when The Christensen Fund formally gave the manuscripts and 2,500-volume library to the Huntington Library (Accession 1861).

Processing information:

1. As noted in the acquisition information at the beginning of this finding aid this material has been owned by Burton, as well as several institutions over the years. Therefore, the manuscripts contain autograph notes by Burton, as well as autograph annotations by various catalogers, including pencilled page numbers and the "Kensington Public Libraries" stamp on many of the pages. The notes by Burton are noted on the folders and in the finding aid only if substantive.

2. Burton was in the habit of heavily annotating his printed books as well as inserting all manner of extra material into the books in his library; this material included letters, clippings, articles and other printed matter. It was decided not to remove any of this material from the books but include detailed information in the electronic record for each book. The Burton Library is part of the Rare Books Department; please consult the Huntington Library Online Catalogue for information about this material and contact the Rare Books Department for paging information or any questions about this material.

3. A small number of letters were removed from the manuscripts and cataloged in Correspondence; the original location of these letters were noted on the folders and in the finding aid.

4. There are references to swords, sword-play and fencing throughout the entire collection; it was decided that, unless it was a substantive reference, it would not be noted as a subject on the folders or in the finding aid.

Arrangement:

Organized in the following manner: 1. Manuscripts - Volumes (Boxes 1-5); 2. Manuscripts - Folders (Boxes 6-10); 3. Manuscripts - Drawings (Box 11); 4. Correspondence and catalogues (Boxes 12-14).

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Terms of access:

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Richard Francis Burton Library Manuscripts Collection, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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