Papers of W.Y. Evans-Wentz

Reference: GB 0161 MSS. Eng. misc. b. 393, c. 841-5, d. 1238-47, e. 1349-67, f. 799-832; Eng. lett. c. 577-8; Eng. poet. d. 232, e. 180-3, f. 40-1
Title: Papers of W.Y. Evans-Wentz
Dates of creation: 1902-83
Held at: Bodleian Library, University of Oxford
Extent: 78 shelfmarks
Level of Description: fonds
Language of Material: English

Administrative/Biographical History

Walter Yeeling Evans-Wentz (1878-1965) was an anthropologist.

Scope and Content

Papers of W.Y. Evans-Wentz, including:

  • Pocket-books, containing intermittent diary entries, travel notes, and some verse, 1907-38
  • Letters to Evans-Wentz, 1902-38
  • Annotated proofs of Evans-Wentz, The fairy-faith in Celtic countries (Oxford etc., 1911)
  • Extracts concerning folklore, not used in The fairy-faith
  • Articles, addresses, pocket-books and excercises containing notes on Celtic subjects and folklore
  • Verse by Evans-Wentz
  • Transcripts and translations of oriental, mainly Tibetan, texts
  • Texts and notes, mainly on yoga and Buddhism
  • Photographs of Evans-Wentz and friends and of scenes and people in India
  • Miscellaneous issues of The Buddhist Chronicle , Ceylon, many containing articles by Evans-Wentz, 1922-4

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The papers were bequeathed, with some Oriental manuscripts (now in the Department of Oriental Books, Bodleian Library) and artefacts (now on loan to the Ashmolean Museum) by Evans-Wentz, 1965. Many of the books and papers bequeathed were found to be so badly damaged by damp that they had to be destroyed.

Access Conditions

Entry to read in the Library is permitted only on presentation of a valid reader's card (for admissions procedures see http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/dept/scwmss/ ).

Finding Aids

M. Clapinson and T.D. Rogers, Summary Catalogue of Post-Medieval Western Manuscripts in the Bodleian Library Oxford. Acquisitions 1916-1975. (Oxford, 1991), vol. I, nos. 43358-435.

Publication Note

The papers were used by Ken Winkler in Pilgrim of the clear light. The biography of Dr Walter Y. Evans-Wentz (Berkeley, California, 1982).