Stephen Parks research collection on Charles Cotton
Scope and Contents
The Stephen Parks Research Collection on Charles Cotton consists of correspondence, notes, and research copies, spanning the years 1962-1987. The collection documents Stephen Parks's research regarding the handwriting of Charles Cotton (1630-1687), in order to authenticate a manuscript copy of Cotton's poem, "Contentation" (Osborn fb65). The collection is housed in 2 boxes (including 1 oversize box) and has been organized into two series: Research Files and Research Copies.
Series I, Research Files , is arranged alphabetically by name of file in folders 1-33. The files relate to the libraries, antiquarian book dealers, and individuals that Parks contacted in the course of his research, as well as some research subjects, and include correspondence, notes, photocopies, and photographs of Charles Cotton manuscripts. Repositories with which Parks corresponded include the Beinecke, Bodleian, British, Clark, Houghton, Huntington, and New York Public Libraries, as well as the Derby Borough Library. Among the individuals with whom Parks corresponded are Peter Croft and Alvin Dust.
Series II, Research Copies , is arranged by type of material in folders 34-43. The research copies consist of photocopies and photographs of Charles Cotton manuscripts, dealer catalogs listing Cotton-related material, Cotton-related secondary sources, and miscellaneous secondary sources. The copies include a complete copy of the Derby Manuscript, the primary manuscript source of Cotton's poetry. It is a commonplace book of verses kept by members of the Fitzherbert family, friends of Cotton's. The original is in the collection of the Derby Borough Library. Copies of Cotton manuscripts also include photographs used by Parks in "Charles Cotton and the Derby Manuscript."
Dates
- 1962 - 1987
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
The materials are open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The Stephen Parks Research Collection on Charles Cotton is the physical property of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. For further information, consult the appropriate curator.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Stephen Parks, February 2005.
Extent
1.33 Linear Feet (2 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Abstract
Correspondence, notes, and copies documenting Stephen Parks's research regarding Charles Cotton's autograph and handwriting in order to authenticate a manuscript copy of Cotton's poem, "Contentation." Research files include correspondence, notes, photocopies, and photographs of Cotton manuscripts from repositories including the Beinecke, Bodleian, British, Clark, Derby Borough, Houghton, Huntington, and New York Public Libraries, as well as dealers and scholars including Peter Croft and Alvin Dust. Research copies consist of manuscripts, including a complete copy the Derby Manuscript; photographs of manuscripts used in Parks's article on Cotton; dealer catalogs; and secondary sources.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Charles Cotton (1630-1687) was an English poet and translator. He is best known for writing the second part of Izaak Walton's The Compleat Angler.
Stephen Parks was the Curator of the James Marshall and Marie-Louise Osborn Collection at the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library from 1972 to 2004. Parks authenticated a Charles Cotton manuscript, "Contentation" (Osborn fb64), in his paper, "Charles Cotton and the Derby Manuscript" (in Stephen Parks and P.J. Croft, Literary Autographs, University of California, Los Angeles: William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, 1983).
Processing Information
In Series I, Research Files, Stephen Parks's file names have been retained. Titles of additional files created during processing are enclosed in brackets. During processing, loose, unsorted materials were integrated with research files (Series I) when possible. The remaining materials were organized into Series II, Research Copies.
- Title
- Guide to the Stephen Parks Research Collection on Charles Cotton
- Status
- Under Revision
- Author
- by Michael Rush
- Date
- June 2005
- Description rules
- Beinecke Manuscript Unit Archival Processing Manual
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Part of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library Repository
Location
121 Wall Street
New Haven, CT 06511
Opening Hours
Access Information
The Beinecke Library is open to all Yale University students and faculty, and visiting researchers whose work requires use of its special collections. You will need to bring appropriate photo ID the first time you register. Beinecke is a non-circulating, closed stack library. Paging is done by library staff during business hours. You can request collection material online at least two business days in advance of your visit, using the request links in Archives at Yale. For more information, please see Planning Your Research Visit and consult the Reading Room Policies prior to visiting the library.