Letters from Robert Bridges to A.F. Scholfield, 1923-27

This group of letters is concerned principally with the gathering by Bridges of specimens of distinguished modern handwriting, to be reproduced in a publication of the Society for Pure English (founded by Bridges in 1919). He enlisted the help of A.F. Scholfield to find suitable material in Cambridge. The volume appeared in 1926, and the quality and quantity of specimens gathered was such that Bridges was able to publish a second selection in the following year.

In addition to Bridges' own letters, the group includes single letters to Scholfield from Monica Bridges, and from his friend Arthur Cole. All, with the exception of the Cole letter, were written from Bridges' house, Chilswell, on Boar's Hill outside Oxford.

Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

The letters were presented to Cambridge University Library by their recipient, A.F. Scholfield.

A catalogue of the collection can be found on ArchiveSearch.

A further letter from Bridges to Scholfield (27 November 1923) has been catalogued as MS Add.4251/149