Conditions Governing Use:

Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Conditions Governing Access:

Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Preferred Citation:

John Masefield Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Biographical Information:

John Masefield, English poet, author, scholar and poet laureate, is famous for his ballads of the sea based on personal experience. His best know work is "Reynard the Fox", 1919. He was appointed poet laureate, in 1930 and produced occasional pieces for 37 years. He was awarded honorary degrees from Oxford, Liverpool and St. Andrews universities. Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki: .

Scope and Contents

Correspondence between John Masefield and Marguerite Osborne, the editor of the Virginia Gazette (newspaper), regarding the publishing of his poem in commemoration of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's visit, in 1957, to Jamestown in connection with the 350th anniversary of the settlement of Jamestown. Includes copy of this poem, "The Virginian Adventure", newspaper clipping of Masefield's "Sea Fever" from the Newport News Daily Press, 1967 and Israel Shenker's tribute to Masefield in the New York Times, 1970.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Correspondence
• English poetry--20th century
• Jamestown (Va.)--History--20th century
• Jamestown 350th Anniversary
• Jamestown Festival (1957)
• Poets, English--20th century--Correspondence