May Sarton papers

Access and use

Location of collection:
Special Collections Research Center
Earl Gregg Swem Library
College of William and Mary
400 Landrum Drive
PO 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (757) 221-3090
Fax: (757) 221-5440
Restrictions:

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.

Terms of access:

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from the Curator of Manuscripts and Rare Books, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Preferred citation:

May Sarton papers, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary

Collection context

Summary

Extent:
0.1 Linear Feet 1 legal sized folder
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

May Sarton papers, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary

Background

Scope and content:

Letters from May Sarton to Evelyn Phoup, including a get-well card, a Valentine's Day card, photographs, and a condolence card to Jean Hudson regarding the death of Evelyn Phaup.

Biographical / historical:

May Sarton (1912–1995) was an American poet, novelist, and memoirist, celebrated for her introspective and lyrical explorations of human emotions and relationships. Born Eleanor Marie Sarton in Wondelgem, Belgium, she spent her early years in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Sarton's literary career spanned several decades, and her work often delved into themes of love, solitude, and the human experience. Some of her notable poetry collections include "Encounter in April" (1937), "Inner Landscape" (1969), and "Collected Poems, 1930-1993" (1993). One of her most famous works is the memoir "Journal of a Solitude" (1973), in which she reflects on her life, creativity, and the challenges of maintaining a sense of self in the face of societal expectations. Sarton's writing emphasized a keen sensitivity to the nuances of human relationships and an unflinching examination of her own emotional landscapes.

Acquisition information:
Purchased using the Special Collections Research Center Fund.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard