Rocco Verrilli Collection of Frederick Rolfe Correspondence and Manuscripts, 1880-1975, bulk 1897-1912

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Summary

Creators:
Rolfe, Frederick, 1860-1913
Abstract:
Letters, a book, manuscript notes and drafts written by gay English author Frederick Rolfe, also known as Baron Corvo. The letters address the publication and reception of his work, his financial difficulties, Catholics and Catholicism, photography, and the Order of Sanctissima Sophia.
Extent:
1.0 box (24 folders)
Language:
Collection materials are primarily in English with one item in Latin and two items in Italian.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Rocco Verrilli Collection of Frederick Rolfe Correspondence and Manuscripts (GLC 97), Gay and Lesbian Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Background

Scope and content:

Letters, a book, manuscript notes and drafts written by gay English author Frederick Rolfe, also known as Baron Corvo. The letters address the publication and reception of his work, his financial difficulties, Catholics and Catholicism, photography, and the Order of Sanctissima Sophia. The collection includes a few letters from James Walsh to Rolfe biographer A. J. A. Symons.

Biographical / historical:

Frederick William Rolfe, also known as Baron Corvo, was a gay English writer, artist, and photographer. He was born in London on July 22, 1860. He converted to Roman Catholicism in 1886 and felt himself called to the priesthood. Though he was never ordained a priest, the desire persisted throughout his life.

Rolfe spent most of his life as a freelance writer and relied on benefactors for support. In a number of his stories and novels he himself is the thinly-disguised protagonist. His better known works include: Stories Toto Told Me (1898), later republished as In His Own Image (1901); Hadrian the Seventh (1904); and The Desire and Pursuit of the Whole (written 1910–1913, published 1934). Other works include the Chronicles of the House of Borgia (1901), and two books in collaboration with Harry Pirie-Gordon.

From 1895 to 1899 Rolfe lived in Holywell in North Wales, where he painted a number of processional banners for the church. The banners are mentioned in one letter. Rolfe died in Venice, Italy on October 25, 1913. His life provided the basis for The Quest for Corvo (1934) by A.J.A. Symons.

Dr. Rocco Verrilli (1923-2008) was a urologist by profession; he was also a collector of books and manuscripts. He purchased material from both American and British booksellers and at auction in New York and London. Some of the Corvo books and papers were purchased directly from Corvo biographer Donald Weeks; other books were purchased from bookseller Timothy D'Arch Smith. The majority of Verrilli's Corvo book collection was sold at auction in June 2014 in London.

Acquisition information:
Donated by Barbara (Mrs. Rocco) Verrilli, December 16, 2014. Collection acquired by Rocco Verrilli during his lifetime of work as an antiquarian book dealer and collector.
Arrangement:

Arranged chronologically.

Physical location:
The collection is stored onsite.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours.

Terms of access:

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Rocco Verrilli Collection of Frederick Rolfe Correspondence and Manuscripts (GLC 97), Gay and Lesbian Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Location of this collection:
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102, US
Contact:
(415) 557-4567
sfhistory@sfpl.org
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