John Ruskin Papers

The collection contains approximately 874 pieces of correspondence and manuscripts chiefly related to English author John Ruskin (1819-1900) and his career as a writer, professor, and art critic. A large portion of the collection is made up of approximately 500 pieces of correspondence from Ruskin and his friend Susan Beever, circa 1870-1870 (JR 1-526). In these letters, Ruskin talks about his writings, ideas and thoughts, and health. There are also approximately 230 letters, dating from 1887 to 1893, from Beever to Albert Fleming, an editor and close friend of Ruskin, that primarily discuss Beever's everyday life, her neighbors on Coniston Water, and news about Ruskin. The letters from Beever to Fleming were written during her last illness, with a few letters from others regarding her death (JR 555-753). In addition, there are approximately 150 letters and documents of and addressed to Albert Fleming, dated 1887 to 1893, regarding the publication of a selection of the Ruskin letters to Beever by George Allen under the title Hortus Inclusus, with corrected proof sheets for the 1902 revised edition. Pen-and-ink sketches are included in items JR 15, 138, 246, 257, 341, 356. There is also a poem by Ruskin, "Last Added Stanzas to Dame Wiggins of Lee" (JR 494).

Other correspondents include George Allen, Edward Clayton, Sir Edward Cook, Frederick Furnivall and Alexander Wedderburn.