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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:

National Theatre Society, Ltd. at Abbey Theatre, program for W.B. Yeats's On Baile's Strand; Lady Gregory's The Doctor in Spite of Himself and Spreading the News; J.M. Synge's In the Shadow of the Glen; and William Boyle's The Building Fund, 1906 April

 File — Box 1, Folder: 11
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: 1906 April

"Poems" by W. B. Yeats, 1935

 Item — Box 1, Folder: 2
Scope and Contents

1 copy. 30 copies privately printed for Eleanor Lady Yarrow.

Access Note

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

Dates: 1935

Print No. 54, "The Lover Tells of the Rose", between 1969-1979

 File — Box 4, Folder: 19
Scope and Contents

Yeats, W.B. (Poet).

Access Note

Collection is open for research.

Dates: between 1969-1979

Print No. 56, "The Pity of Love", between 1969-1979

 File — Box 4, Folder: 20
Scope and Contents

Yeats, W.B. (Poet).

Access Note

Collection is open for research.

Dates: between 1969-1979

Print No. 85, "The Lover Pleads with His Friends", between 1908-1968

 File — Box 3, Folder: 11
Scope and Contents

Yeats, W.B. (Poet).

Access Note

Collection is open for research.

Dates: between 1908-1968

Print No. 89, "Into the Twilight", between 1908-1968

 File — Box 4, Folder: 8
Scope and Contents

Yeats, W.B. (Poet).

Access Note

Collection is open for research.

Dates: between 1908-1968

Print No. 90, "The Pity of Love", between 1908-1968

 File — Box 3, Folder: 12
Scope and Contents

Yeats, W.B. (Poet).

Access Note

Collection is open for research.

Dates: between 1908-1968

Print No. 91, "Prose Quotation from the Celtic Twilight", between 1908-1968

 File — Box 3, Folder: 13
Scope and Contents

Yeats, W.B. (Poet).

Access Note

Collection is open for research.

Dates: between 1908-1968

Proofs, 1904-1943, undated

 Sub-Series — Box 3, Folder: 3
Scope and Contents

Includes "The last and inspiring address of Thomas MacDonagh", "The Nuts of Knowledge" by George Russell (AE), "Twenty one poems written by Lionel Johnson: selected by William Butler Yeats", "Mosada" by W. B. Yeats, "John M. Synge: A Few Personal Recollections with Biographical Notes by John Masefield". Note that at least one work is from Dun Emer Press.

Access Note

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

Dates: 1904-1943, undated

Reflections by W. B. Yeats, transcribed and edited by Curtis Bradford from the journals, 1970-1971

 Item — Box 19
Scope and Contents

Signed on front endpaper "With every good wish for Molly Gill, Michael Yeats, January 27th 1971, The first book from the new Cuala Press."

Access Note

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

Dates: 1970-1971

School prize, Atholl Academy, between 1870-1885

 File — Box 1, Folder: 34
Scope and Contents From the Series:

Artworks, correspondence, and ephemera related to siblings Elizabeth Corbet, Jack B., Lily, and W.B. Yeats, as well as one letter written by their father, John Butler, and a printing plate by W.B.'s daughter Anne. The bulk of the material concerns Jack B. Yeats.

Access Note

Collection is open for research.

Dates: between 1870-1885

The Fiddler of Dooney / Loeffler, Ch. M.; lyrics: W. B. Yeats. Key of D. New York: G. Schirmer, 1934 - 1934

 File — Box 17, Folder: 31
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: 1934 - 1934

The Host of the Air / Loeffler, Ch. M.; lyrics: W. B. Yeats. Key of B. New York: G. Schirmer, 1934 - 1934

 File — Box 18, Folder: 20
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: 1934 - 1934

W. B. Yeats, 1918

 Item — Box 1, Folder: 8
Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Bookplates, most produced by Cuala Press, but at least one from Dun Emer Press. They are uncolored unless otherwise noted. Names are presented in the form they are written on the bookplates.

Access Note

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

Dates: 1918

W. B. Yeats, 1937

 File — Box 76, Folder: 15
Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Of note are newspaper clippings of letters between Noyes and W.B. Yeats regarding Casement which were published in The Irish Press.

Access Note Collection is open for research.Audio recordings have been digitally copied; all original media were retained, but may not be played due to format. Digital use copies can only be accessed in the Burns Library Reading Room. The reel-to-reel tapes are not available for playback due to format impermanence and can not be reformatted by Burns Library at this time. Please let Burns Library Public Services know of your specific interest; when it becomes possible we will schedule...
Dates: 1937

W. B. Yeats - Alfred Noyes correspondence published in The Irish Press, 1937

 File — Box 76, Folder: 16
Scope and Contents From the Sub-Series:

Of note are newspaper clippings of letters between Noyes and W.B. Yeats regarding Casement which were published in The Irish Press.

Access Note Collection is open for research.Audio recordings have been digitally copied; all original media were retained, but may not be played due to format. Digital use copies can only be accessed in the Burns Library Reading Room. The reel-to-reel tapes are not available for playback due to format impermanence and can not be reformatted by Burns Library at this time. Please let Burns Library Public Services know of your specific interest; when it becomes possible we will schedule...
Dates: 1937

W. B. Yeats papers, 1884-1974, undated

 Series
Scope and Contents From the Collection: This collection documents the Yeats family through their artwork, correspondence, manuscripts, notebooks, and photographs. Materials were created by siblings W. B., Elizabeth Corbet, Lily, and Jack B. Yeats; their father, John Butler Yeats; the wife of W. B., Georgie Yeats; the daughter of W.B., Anne Yeats; and the son of W.B., Michael B. Yeats. Topics include W. B.'s writing projects, business matters, and family matters; W. B.'s and Lily’s interest in the occult and psychic visions; and...
Access Note

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

Dates: 1884-1974, undated

W.B. Yeats, approximately 1880-1918

 Sub-Series
Scope and Contents From the Series:

Artworks, correspondence, and ephemera related to siblings Elizabeth Corbet, Jack B., Lily, and W.B. Yeats, as well as one letter written by their father, John Butler, and a printing plate by W.B.'s daughter Anne. The bulk of the material concerns Jack B. Yeats.

Access Note

Collection is open for research.

Dates: approximately 1880-1918

Boston College collection of Yeats family papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS-1986-054
Abstract

The Boston College collection of Yeats family papers includes artwork, correspondence, manuscripts, notebooks, and photographs by and about siblings W. B., Elizabeth Corbet, Lily, and Jack B. Yeats; their father, John Butler Yeats; the wife of W. B., Georgie Yeats; the daughter of W.B., Anne Yeats; and the son of W.B., Michael B. Yeats. It also documents the running of Cuala Press, a Yeats family business.

Access Note

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

Dates: 1884-1993, undated; Majority of material found within 1900-1940

Yeats, W. B., no year, December 15-16

 File — Box 2, Folder: 21
Scope and Contents From the Collection: This collection contains correspondence to and from Seán O'Faoláin, manuscript material for short stories written by O'Faoláin which appeared in published form as Tales and Stories (1966) and clippings about O'Faoláin's autobiography Vive Moi!. Correspondents of note include Brendan Connolly, Robert Fetridge, Edward Garnett, Julia O'Faoláin, J.F. Powers, George Bernard Shaw and William Butler Yeats. Topics include both...
Access Note

Collection is open for research.

Dates: no year; December 15-16

Yeats, W. B., 1926-1993, undated

 File — Box 6, Folder: 4-11
Scope and Contents From the Collection:

Consists primarily of newspaper clippings and articles related to twentieth century American, English, and Irish authors and poets. Includes personal correspondence, pamphlets, lectures, and photographs. A significant amount of the material pertains to the lives and works of Hilaire Belloc, Robert Frost, William Butler Yeats, and Graham Greene.

Access Note

Open for research.

Dates: 1926-1993, undated

Yeats, W. B. The Countess Cathleen, playbill, 1944 June

 File — Box 1, Folder: 12
Scope and Content Note From the Collection: This collection documents the activities of the Lyric Players Theatre in Belfast. It includes correspondence relating to the operation of the in-house literary magazine, Threshold. Of note is correspondence between editor Mary O'Malley and author John Montague. The collection also contains Ray Rosenfield's collection of the theater's playbills, programs, and publications. Rosenfield was a writer who was a literary correspondent for the ...
Access Note

Collection is open for research.

Dates: 1944 June

Yeats, W. B. (William Butler), undated

 File — Box 5
Scope and Contents From the Collection: This collection consists primarily of letters to Anna O’Neill Johnson in her capacity as chair of the Boston Committee for the Fatherless Children of France charity during the World War I era, for which she solicited letters, manuscripts, and artworks from well-known persons to be sold at auction as a fundraiser. The collection also contains some of Johnson's personal correspondence documenting her political interests and her work arranging lectures. Please note that secretaries often...
Access Note

Collection is open for research. The Fatherless Children of France manuscripts are fragile and should be handled with extra care.

Dates: undated

Yeats, William Butler, undated

 File — Box 10, Folder: 4-7
Scope and Contents From the Series: Contains subject files connected to Murphy's academic interests in Irish literature, culture, history, and folklore. The majority of the series consists of Murphy's research and lecture files and notes which were used for the purposes of teaching and writing. Subjects include the Book of Kells, the Irish Mass, Irish bards, monasticism, Saint Patrick, Irish hospitality, and women in Ireland. Also included are files on Irish authors and poets. In addition, this series contains lectures given...
Access Note

Collection is open for research.

Dates: undated

Yeats, William Butler, undated

 File — Box 4, Folder: 43
Scope and Contents From the Collection: This collection consists primarily of letters to Anna O’Neill Johnson in her capacity as chair of the Boston Committee for the Fatherless Children of France charity during the World War I era, for which she solicited letters, manuscripts, and artworks from well-known persons to be sold at auction as a fundraiser. The collection also contains some of Johnson's personal correspondence documenting her political interests and her work arranging lectures. Please note that secretaries often...
Access Note

Collection is open for research. The Fatherless Children of France manuscripts are fragile and should be handled with extra care.

Dates: undated