Robert Fuller Murray, transcripts and poems, 1886 and 1893.

This material is held atUniversity of St Andrews Special Collections

  • Reference
    • GB 227 msPR5101.M5 (ms269, ms5477)
  • Dates of Creation
    • 1886, 1890, 1893
  • Name of Creator
  • Language of Material
    • English
  • Physical Description
    • 2 volumes: ms269: i-ii + 1-166 pp; ms5477: i-viii + 1-202 ff.

Scope and Content

Robert Fuller Murray, two autograph volumes, the first miscellaneous poems copied from various sources, the second Love poems and others by Murray.

Two volumes:-

ms269: Transcripts, in the hand of Robert Fuller Murray, of poems from various printed collections and bearing a date panel [p.i] St Andrews, 30 October 1886 [but citing works printed in 1890].

ms5477: Love poems and others. A fine copy, in the hand of Robert Fuller Murray dedicated to J M D Meiklejohn with manuscript imprint 'London, A M Holden, 23 Paternoster Row, 1893'. It is the author's fair copy prepared for publication shortly before his death. It was not, in fact, published in this form but selections were made for a volume entitled: Robert F. Murray (author of the Scarlet Gown), his poems; with a memoir by Andrew Lang, London New York : Longmans, Green, and Co, 1894.

Frontispiece: photograph of Robert Fuller Murray.

Administrative / Biographical History

Robert Fuller Murray (1863-1894) was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, the son of a Unitarian minister. He was brought to Kelso by his father when aged 6 and educated in England. He came to the United College of St Andrews University in 1881 with a scholarship won as an external student of Manchester New College. During his time at St Andrews, he fell in love with the town, and stayed on to work as a research assistant for Professor John MD Meiklejohn. He later worked as a journalist and published poetry, including The scarlet gown; being verses by a St Andrews man, published in 1891. A second volume of poems was published after his death from tuberculosis in 1894, by his friend Andrew Lang.

Access Information

By appointment with the Keeper of Manuscripts. Access to records containing confidential information may be restricted.

Acquisition Information

ms269: Presented to the library by John Ritchie of Perth, 26 October 1921.

ms5477: Presented to the library by A H Murray of Edinburgh, 1927

Note

Call numbers used to be ms269, ms5477

Other Finding Aids

Individual Manuscripts and Small Collections database available as part of Manuscripts Database.

Physical Characteristics and/or Technical Requirements

ms269: binding quarter calf with blue boards. Paper: 20.3x33cm.

ms5477: binding white parchment on board with 'R.F. Murray' in red capitals on cover. Paper: 18.8x23.5cm, gold-edged.

Archivist's Note

Description compiled by Maia Sheridan, Archives Hub project archivist, based on material from the Manuscripts Database.

Conditions Governing Use

Applications for permission to quote should be sent to the Keeper of Manuscripts. Reproduction subject to usual conditions: educational use and condition of documents.

Custodial History

ms269 was in the hands of Murray's widow and subsequently given by her to John Ritchie.

Bibliography

College Echoes, 27/28 (1927) p.78