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Yeats, W. B. (William Butler), 1865-1939

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1865 June 13 - 1939 January 28

Biographical Note

Born in 1865, in Dublin, Ireland, William Butler Yeats's early years were spent in London, with vacations in Sligo, Ireland. He began to write poetry and drama around 1884. Some of his early work appeared in The Gael and The Boston Pilot. He was a founder of the Abbey Theatre and a spokesman for the Irish Literary Revival. Following the Irish War of Independence, W. B. was appointed a senator of the Irish Free State in 1923. He also won the Nobel Prize for Literature in that year. He died in 1939.

Found in 51 Collections and/or Records:

"A Last Inheritor: The Legacy of W.B. Yeats" BBC Belfast radio typescript, 1997 May 19

 File — Box 16, Folder: 8
Scope and Contents From the Series:

Includes drafts of lectures and speeches, a limited amount of related correspondence, event ephemera listing Dawe's participation, and recordings.

Access Note

Recordings of events and broadcasts have all been digitally copied; original media was retained, but may not be played due to format. Digital use copies can only be accessed in the Burns Library Reading Room.

Dates: 1997 May 19

"A Last Inheritor: The Legacy of W.B. Yeats" on BBC Radio 3, written and presented by Dawe, audio recording of program and Dawe's interviews with other poets about Yeats, 1997 June 8

 File — Multiple Containers
Scope and Contents From the Series:

Includes drafts of lectures and speeches, a limited amount of related correspondence, event ephemera listing Dawe's participation, and recordings.

Access Note

Recording has been digitally copied; all original media was retained, but may not be played due to format. Digital use copies can only be accessed in the Burns Library Reading Room.

Dates: 1997 June 8

"A Speech and Two Poems" by W. B. Yeats, 1937, 1939

 Item — Box 1, Folder: 3
Scope and Contents

1 copy. Signed from Georgie Yeats to Mollie Gill, Christmas 1939.

Access Note

Collection is open for research; portions of the collection available digitally.

Dates: 1937; 1939

Book, various poems, Christmas gift to E. Belloc, 1916

 File — Box 144, Folder: 2
Scope and Contents From the Series:

This series consists of a metal broach in the shape of Elodie's name, and a bound book of selections poems, dated Xmas 1916. Among the poems included in this small volume are Francis Thompson's The Hound of Heaven, W. B. Yeats' "A Dream of a Blessed Spirit" and "The Lake Isle of Innisfree," Alice Meynell's "The Shepherdess," and Katherine Tynan's "St Francis to the Birds."

Access Note

Collection is open for research.

Dates: 1916

Bookplate for W.B. Yeats, 1918

 File — Box 1, Folder: 33
Scope and Contents

In addition to the bookplate, there is a typed note about Sturge Moore designing the plate for W.B.

Access Note

Collection is open for research.

Dates: 1918

Bookplate with W. B. Yeats quote, undated

 File — Box 51, Folder: 10
Scope & Content note From the Collection: Papers documenting the career of Gerald Dawe as a poet, essayist, and academic consist of artifacts, audiovisual recordings, clippings, correspondence, ephemera, manuscripts and typescripts, notebooks, photographs, and scrapbooks primarily pertaining to Gerald Dawe's literary community, in particular modern Irish poets. Correspondence demonstrates Dawe's friendships and professional exchanges with other Irish authors and documents the administrative aspect of his speaking and...
Access Note

Collection is open for research.

Dates: undated

"Broadsides: A Collection of New Irish and English Songs", 1937

 Item — Box 1, Folder: 10
Scope and Contents

Includes an index with a preface signed by W. B. Yeats and Dorothy Wellesley, and numbers 1-12, which were issued monthly throughout the year, each individually titled "A Broadside".

Access Note

Collection is open for research; portions of the collection available digitally.

Dates: 1937

Card No. 142, "Silver Apples", between 1908-1968

 File — Box 2, Folder: 58
Scope and Contents

Yeats, W.B. (Poet).

Access Note

Collection is open for research.

Dates: between 1908-1968

Card No. 148, "Innisfree", between 1908-1968

 File — Box 2, Folder: 60
Scope and Contents

Yeats, W.B. (Poet).

Access Note

Collection is open for research.

Dates: between 1908-1968

Correspondence, W. B. Yeats to unidentified recipient, undated

 File — Box 5, Folder: 2
Scope and Contents From the Collection: This collection contains materials collected by Loretta Clarke Murray relating to the fight for Irish Independence, particularly materials belonging to women who fought for the cause. Included are materials by and about Cumann na mBan, Máire Gill, Maud Gonne, Countess Constance Markievicz, Helena Molony, Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington, and Margaret Skinnider in the form of correspondence, photographs, meeting minutes, autograph books of female prisoners, and handbills. Of note are an embroidered...
Access Note

Collection is open for research; portions of the collection available digitally.

Dates: undated

Down by the Sally Gardens / Hughes, Herbert (Arr.); lyrics: W. B. Yeats. Key of F. handwritten, undated

 File — Box 17, Folder: 10
Scope and Contents From the Series: Contains published sheet music that was located in McCormack’s sheet music cabinet. Most of the titles listed are individual songs, but some are books that contain collections of songs. Titles include title of work, composer, lyricist, arranger, key, and imprint. A more complete list, available upon request, includes descriptive notes such as name stamps (e.g., when stamped with the name of James McCormack, John’s brother) and other features. All titles are formatted: title of...
Access Note

The sheet music cabinet is not available for access at this time due to structural instability.

Dates: undated

Down by the Sally Gardens / Methold, Diana; lyrics: W. B. Yeats. London: J. B. Cramer, 1937 - 1937

 File — Box 17, Folder: 11
Scope and Contents From the Series: Contains published sheet music that was located in McCormack’s sheet music cabinet. Most of the titles listed are individual songs, but some are books that contain collections of songs. Titles include title of work, composer, lyricist, arranger, key, and imprint. A more complete list, available upon request, includes descriptive notes such as name stamps (e.g., when stamped with the name of James McCormack, John’s brother) and other features. All titles are formatted: title of...
Access Note

The sheet music cabinet is not available for access at this time due to structural instability.

Dates: 1937 - 1937

Marion Doyle collection of W. B. Yeats

 Collection
Identifier: MS-1997-033
Abstract

Collected materials about W. B. Yeats, particularly ephemera from the centennial of his birth. Also includes cards and pamphlets from Cuala Press.

Access Note

Collection is open for research.

Dates: 1935 - 1973

Irish National Theatre Society at Abbey Theater, opening performances flier (includes W.B. Yeats, Lady Gregory, and J.M. Synge), 1904 probably December

 File — Box 1, Folder: 3
Scope and Contents From the Series:

Includes leaflets, postcards, posters, and programs related to the Abbey Theatre, the Abbey Theatre Players, or to Irish theatre in general. In the late 1930s and early 1940s, the Abbey Theatre Players toured America; this series contains several programs for Irish plays put on by the Abbey Theatre in theaters in New York and Boston.

Access Note

Collection is open for research.

Dates: 1904 probably December

Irish National Theatre Society at Abbey Theater, program for W.B. Yeats's On Baile's Strand and Kathleen ni Houlihan, Lady Gregory's Spreading the News, and J.M. Synge's In the Shadow of the Glen, 1904 December

 File — Box 1, Folder: 4
Scope and Contents From the Series:

Includes leaflets, postcards, posters, and programs related to the Abbey Theatre, the Abbey Theatre Players, or to Irish theatre in general. In the late 1930s and early 1940s, the Abbey Theatre Players toured America; this series contains several programs for Irish plays put on by the Abbey Theatre in theaters in New York and Boston.

Access Note

Collection is open for research.

Dates: 1904 December

Irish National Theatre Society at Abbey Theater, second series of performances flier (includes J.M. Synge and W.B. Yeats), 1905 February

 File — Box 1, Folder: 5
Scope and Contents From the Series:

Includes leaflets, postcards, posters, and programs related to the Abbey Theatre, the Abbey Theatre Players, or to Irish theatre in general. In the late 1930s and early 1940s, the Abbey Theatre Players toured America; this series contains several programs for Irish plays put on by the Abbey Theatre in theaters in New York and Boston.

Access Note

Collection is open for research.

Dates: 1905 February

Irish National Theatre Society at Abbey Theatre, program for J.M. Synge's The Well of the Saints and W.B. Yeats's A Pot of Broth, 1905 February

 File — Box 1, Folder: 6
Scope and Contents From the Series:

Includes leaflets, postcards, posters, and programs related to the Abbey Theatre, the Abbey Theatre Players, or to Irish theatre in general. In the late 1930s and early 1940s, the Abbey Theatre Players toured America; this series contains several programs for Irish plays put on by the Abbey Theatre in theaters in New York and Boston.

Access Note

Collection is open for research.

Dates: 1905 February

Irish National Theatre Society at Abbey Theatre, program for Lady Gregory's Kincora, W.B. Yeats's The King's Threshold, and William Boyle's The Building Fund, 1905 April

 File — Box 1, Folder: 8
Scope and Contents From the Series:

Includes leaflets, postcards, posters, and programs related to the Abbey Theatre, the Abbey Theatre Players, or to Irish theatre in general. In the late 1930s and early 1940s, the Abbey Theatre Players toured America; this series contains several programs for Irish plays put on by the Abbey Theatre in theaters in New York and Boston.

Access Note

Collection is open for research.

Dates: 1905 April

Irish National Theatre Society at Abbey Theatre, program for W.B. Yeats's The Hour Glass and Padraic Colum's The Land, 1905 June

 File — Box 1, Folder: 9
Scope and Contents From the Series:

Includes leaflets, postcards, posters, and programs related to the Abbey Theatre, the Abbey Theatre Players, or to Irish theatre in general. In the late 1930s and early 1940s, the Abbey Theatre Players toured America; this series contains several programs for Irish plays put on by the Abbey Theatre in theaters in New York and Boston.

Access Note

Collection is open for research.

Dates: 1905 June

Lady Juliette Duff commonplace book, 1916

 Item — Volume MS.2001.018
Scope and Contents From the Collection:

This collection contains a single item: a commonplace book of poetry gathered by Lady Juliet Duff. Poets include Maurice Baring, Hilaire Belloc, G. K. Chesterton, and W. B. Yeats. The book is leather-bound and entitled J.D. 1916.

Access Note

Open for research.

Dates: 1916

Lake Isle of Innisfree / Larchet, John F.; lyrics: W. B. Yeats. Key of D. handwritten, undated

 File — Box 19, Folder: 38
Scope and Contents From the Series: Contains published sheet music that was located in McCormack’s sheet music cabinet. Most of the titles listed are individual songs, but some are books that contain collections of songs. Titles include title of work, composer, lyricist, arranger, key, and imprint. A more complete list, available upon request, includes descriptive notes such as name stamps (e.g., when stamped with the name of James McCormack, John’s brother) and other features. All titles are formatted: title of...
Access Note

The sheet music cabinet is not available for access at this time due to structural instability.

Dates: undated

Lyric Players Theatre collection

 Collection
Identifier: MS-2002-020
Abstract

Collection of programs and playbills from the Lyric Players Theatre in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Access Note

Collection is open for research.

Dates: 1944-2001, undated; Majority of material found within 1956-1979

Mac (Macnie, Isa M.). W.B. Yeats caricatures, drawings, probably 1920s

 File — Box 20, Folder: 44
Scope and Contents

2 caricatures.

Access Note

Collection is open for research.

Dates: probably 1920s

National Theatre Society, Ltd. at Abbey Theatre, program for a play by H. Sudermann translated from the German by Lady Gregory, George Fitzmaurice's The Piedish, and W.B. Yeats's The Golden Helmet, 1908 March

 File — Box 1, Folder: 16
Scope and Contents From the Series:

Includes leaflets, postcards, posters, and programs related to the Abbey Theatre, the Abbey Theatre Players, or to Irish theatre in general. In the late 1930s and early 1940s, the Abbey Theatre Players toured America; this series contains several programs for Irish plays put on by the Abbey Theatre in theaters in New York and Boston.

Access Note

Collection is open for research.

Dates: 1908 March

National Theatre Society, Ltd. at Abbey Theatre, program for Lady's Gregory's Spreading the News and The Rising of the Moon; W.B. Yeats's The Golden Helmet and Kathleen ni Houlihan, 1908 September

 File — Box 1, Folder: 19
Scope and Contents From the Series:

Includes leaflets, postcards, posters, and programs related to the Abbey Theatre, the Abbey Theatre Players, or to Irish theatre in general. In the late 1930s and early 1940s, the Abbey Theatre Players toured America; this series contains several programs for Irish plays put on by the Abbey Theatre in theaters in New York and Boston.

Access Note

Collection is open for research.

Dates: 1908 September