NOTES
These notes include identifications of significant people and places mentioned in Sylvia Plath’s journals, as well as explanations of textual variants. Introductory paragraphs describe the physical characteristics of each journal. Notes are grouped by the individual journals to which they apply and are keyed to the page numbers of the printed journals. The terms to be identified (retaining Plath’s original spelling and punctuation) are presented in italic type. Following a colon, explanations appear in roman type. People and places are identified at their first mention in the journals. Whenever possible, full names and dates are supplied, along with the individual’s relationship to Sylvia Plath. Women are generally identified by the name they used when Plath knew them. Maiden names are often supplied as middle names for married female contacts. Notes for Plath’s classmates include their academic degrees in the current format preferred by the college or university from which they graduated. Some graduate degrees are also supplied. Notes for Plath’s professors and colleagues include their highest academic rank at Smith College or Cambridge University. Descriptions of other contacts include their professions. Current locations of businesses appear in these notes. The following abbreviations are used: SP (Sylvia Plath) and TH (Ted Hughes).
JOURNAL July 1950 – July 1953
Autograph manuscript on lined paper bound in three-quarter red and black cloth ledger binding, gold-stamped on spine: LAW / NOTES / 6-L / COOP. Pagination: 432 numbered pages (pages 421–32 blank); 26.7 × 20.5 cm.
1 Ilo: Ilo Pill, an Estonian refugee; dated and corresponded with SP, 1950–1953.
2 (being raped.): this phrase is written in SP’s autograph in a different ink.
3 Bob: Robert George Riedeman (1930–); B.A. 1952, M.S. 1955, University of New Hampshire; dated SP, 1949–1950.
4 Linden Street: located in Wellesley, Massachusetts, near the railroad tracks.
5 mother: Aurelia Schober Plath (1906–1994); associate professor, College of Practical Arts and Letters, Boston University, 1942–1971; SP’s mother.
6 farm: Lookout Farm, South Natick, Massachusetts. SP worked at Lookout Farm, summer 1950.
7 Eddie Cohen: Edward M. Cohen (1928–); SP’s correspondent from Chicago, Illinois. Cohen and SP corresponded from 1950 until 1954 and met during SP’s spring vacations in 1951 and 1952.
8 Peter: Peter Aldrich; SP’s neighbor from Wellesley, Massachusetts. C. Duane Aldrich and Elizabeth Cannon Aldrich lived across the street from the Plaths at 23 Elmwood Road with their nine children: Duane, Peter, Stephen, John, Mark, Elizabeth, Ann, Amy, and Sarah.
9 Warren: Warren Joseph Plath (1935–); educated at Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, New Hampshire; A.B. 1957, Harvard College; Fulbright student at the University of Bonn, 1957–1958; Ph.D. 1964, Harvard University; SP’s brother.
10 best story: SP’s ‘Den of Lions’ published in Seventeen 10 (May 1951), third-place winner in Seventeen’s short-story contest.
11 Bill: William Albert Gallup, Jr (1929–); B.A. 1951, Amherst College; dated SP in 1950.
12 Perry: Charles Perry Norton (1932–); B.S. 1954, Yale College; M.D. 1957, Boston University School of Medicine; SP’s friend from Wellesley, Massachusetts. SP dated Perry Norton in high school and later dated his older brother Richard Norton.
13 Amherst: Amherst, Massachusetts. Amherst College and the University of Massachusetts are located in Amherst, Massachusetts.
14 I cannot: ‘And I cannot’ appears in the original manuscript (line 8 of entry 32).
15 enough heart-beat: ‘And enough heart-beat’ appears in the original manuscript (line 30 of entry 32).
16 And warmth enough … : following this line (line 35 of entry 32), SP deleted the following stanza: ‘For a dry, crisp / Flat, stale / Saltless tower of / For a limp wisp, / Sad, pale / Moon wet flower. / (And never you / Haunts my days. / I am dry and barren / And the river of voices / Of girls in the adjoining room / Smoothes the edges / Of my dismays. / To bed, and sleep, / And tearless creep / The formless gray hours, / No laughter and no sunlight / And no flowers.)’
17 Anne Davidow: Ann Davidow (1932–); SP’s friend from Highland Park, Illinois. Ann Davidow withdrew from Smith College in January 1951 following her first semester.
18 Guy: Guy Wyman Wilbor (1932–); B.A. 1954, Amherst College; dated SP, 1950–1951.
19 Austin: Austin Walsh Kenefick, Jr (1932–); B.A. 1954, Amherst College; briefly dated SP in 1950.
20 Pat: Patricia Gibson O’Neil (1932–); B.A. 1954, Smith College; SP’s friend from Wellesley, Massachusetts.
21 Corby Johnson: Corbet Stephens Johnson, Jr (1932–); B.A. 1953, Amherst College; briefly dated SP in 1950.
22 Haven House: residence of SP during her first two years at Smith College, 1950–1952. Haven House is located at 96 Elm Street, Northampton, Massachusetts.
23 Grammy: Aurelia Greenwood Schober (1887–1956); SP’s maternal grandmother.
24 Clem: Clement Moore Henry; Warren Plath’s roommate at Phillips Exeter Academy.
25 Hump: Robert Hills Humphrey; B.Arch. 1952, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; dated SP, 1950–1951.
26 Tooky: probably SP’s classmate Lois Winslow Sisson (1931–); B.A. 1952, Smith College; M.A. 1958, University of Chicago; married Robert Webb Ames (divorced 1969).
27 House Dance: each student residence at Smith College hosted its own winter and spring dances in the 1950s.
28 Hopkins House: student residence at Smith College located on the west side of Haven House. Hopkins House was designed in 1861 by William Fenno Pratt in the Gothic Revival style.
29 mental hospital on the hill in back of the college: Northampton State Hospital, Northampton, Massachusetts, home to nearly 2,500 patients in the 1950s.
30 Marcia: Marcia Brown (1932–); B.A. 1954, Smith College; SP’s friend and roommate at Haven House during her sophomore year.
31 father: Otto Emil Plath (1885–1940); German instructor and biology professor at Boston University, 1922–1940; SP’s father.
32 And you won’t see him if he asks again: SP originally ended entry 45 with the following sentences: ‘But you will see him if he asks again. You are a girl.’ SP erased these sentences and wrote: ‘And you won’t see him if he asks again.’ Earlier in the paragraph SP originally wrote: ‘You know that you will go out with him again if he asks.’ She later changed ‘will’ to ‘won’t’. SP continued to see Bill after her first date.
33 would no doubt be shallow: SP wrote the following definitions at the top of page 81 in the original manuscript in reference to entry 47:
’shallow: low in frequency and amplitude
’deep: high in frequency and amplitude
34 Mr. Crockett: Wilbury A. Crockett (1913–1994); SP’s English teacher at Wellesley High School (formerly Gamaliel Bradford High School), 1947–1950.
35 Dick: Richard Allen Norton (1929–); B.A. 1951, Yale College; M.D. 1957, Harvard University; dated SP, 1951–1953. Norton’s parents Mildred Smith Norton (1905–) and William Bunnell Norton (1905–1990) were friends of Aurelia Plath.
36 Lake Saltonstall: Saltonstall Ridge and the west side of Lake Saltonstall are located in East Haven, Connecticut.
37 Chem Lab: Yale University’s Sterling Chemistry Laboratory, Prospect Street, New Haven, Connecticut.
38 younger brother: David William Norton (1944–); youngest brother of Richard Allen Norton.
39 the lady or the tiger: reference to the short story ‘The Lady, or The Tiger?’ by Frank R. Stockton (1882).
40 experimental film: art film Un Chien Andalou, directed by Luis Buñuel and Salvador Dalí in 1928.
41 art studio: located in the old Hillyer Art Building at Smith College; replaced by the Fine Arts Center in 1972.
42 Cohen: H. George Cohen (1913–1980); art professor, Smith College, 1940–1978. Cohen taught basic design (Art 13) completed by SP, 1950–1951, and principles, methods and techniques of drawing and painting (Art 210) completed by SP, 1951–1952.
43 Botany: general botany course (Botany 11) completed by SP, 1950–1951. The course was directed by Kenneth E. Wright (1902–1988); botany professor, Smith College, 1946–1967; SP’s faculty adviser; SP’s colleague, 1957–1958.
44 Grampy: Frank Schober (1880–1965); maître d’hôtel at Brookline Country Club; SP’s maternal grandfather.
45 Mrs. Koffka: Elisabeth Ahlgrimm Koffka (1896–1994); history professor, Smith College, 1929–1961. Koffka taught general European history (History 11) completed by SP, 1950–1951.
46 Cape: Cape Cod, Massachusetts, a peninsula in eastern Massachusetts.
47 Mayos: Dr Frederic B. Mayo (1915–) and Anne Blodgett Mayo (1918–1990). During the summer of 1951, SP was a mother’s helper at the Mayos’ home in Swampscott, Massachusetts, where she took care of their three children: Frederic (1944–), Esther (‘Pinny’) (1947–), and Joanne (1949–).
48 Marblehead: Marblehead, Massachusetts, a coastal town north of Swampscott, Massachusetts.
49 Blodgetts: John Henry Blodgett (1881–1971) and Ruth Sargent Paine Blodgett (1890–1967), B.A. 1912, Smith College, and their children: Esther Blodgett Meyer (1916–), B.A. 1937, Smith College; Anne Blodgett Mayo (1918–1990); John H. Blodgett, Jr (Jack); and Donald W. Blodgett. Marcia Brown took care of Mrs Meyer’s children who lived at their grandparents’ home in Swampscott, Massachusetts, during the summer of 1951.
50 Ann: Elizabeth Ann Hunt (1930–); A.B. 1952, English, Radcliffe College.
51 Frank and Louise, Dot and Joe: SP’s uncle Frank Richard Schober (1919–) married to Louise Bowman Schober (1920–), and SP’s aunt Dorothy Schober Benotti (1911–1981) married to Joseph Benotti (1911–1996).
52 Honor Board: a student-faculty group that judged infringements of the academic honor system at Smith College. During the 1952–1953 academic year, SP served as secretary of Honor Board, under the direction of Helen Whitcomb Randall (1908–2000); English professor at Smith College, 1931–1973; dean of the college, 1948–1960; SP’s colleague, 1957–1958.
53 Press Board: SP wrote news releases about Smith College for local papers, including the Springfield Daily News, the Springfield Union, and the Daily Hampshire Gazette, as a Press Board correspondent, 1951–1954.
54 Smith Review: a literary magazine of Smith College. During her junior and senior years, SP served on the editorial board of the Smith Review.
55 Belmont Hotel: SP worked as a waitress at the Belmont, a hotel in West Harwich, Massachusetts, June 1952.
56 Alison: Alison Vera Smith (1933–); SP’s friend and Smith classmate from New York City. In June 1952, Alison Smith withdrew from Smith College to attend Johns Hopkins University.
57 Princeton boy: Philip Livingston Poe Brawner (1931–); B.A. 1953, Princeton University; dated SP in 1952. Brawner was vice-president of the American Whig-Cliosophic Society, Princeton’s debating club, which also published the Nassau Literary Magazine.
58 College Fiction Contest: SP’s short story ‘Sunday at the Mintons” won one of two first prizes ($500) in Mademoiselle’s national fiction contest and was published in Mademoiselle 35 (August 1952).
59 encouraging letter from a well-known publisher: SP received a 26 June 1952 letter from Harold Strauss, editor-in-chief of Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.
60 Polly: Pauline LeClaire; B.S. 1956, social and behavioral sciences, University of Massachusetts; SP’s roommate at the Belmont, June 1952.
61 Ray: Ray C. Wunderlich, Jr (1929–); B.S. 1951, University of Florida; M.D. 1955, Columbia University; dated SP, 1952–1953.
62 Art Kramer: Arthur Bennet Kramer (1927–); B.S. 1949, Yale College; M.A. 1951, LL.B., 1953, Yale University; dated SP, 1952–1953.
63 Rodger: Roger Bradford Decker (1931–1993); B.A. 1953, Princeton University; dated SP in 1952.
64 Cantors: Margaret Kiefer Cantor (1910–) and M. Michael Cantor (1906–). During the summer of 1952, SP was a mother’s helper at the Cantors’ summer home in Chatham, Massachusetts, where she took care of their children: Joan (1939–), Susana (1947–), and William Michael (1949–). A twenty-two-year-old cousin, Marvin Cantor, frequently visited.
65 first story in print: SP’s short story ‘And Summer Will Not Come Again’, Seventeen 9 (August 1950).
66 Val Gendron: American fiction writer Val Gendron (1913–), formerly Ruth C. Fantus.
67 August 12: SP dated Robert Shepard Cochran (1935–1956) during the summer of 1952. He was a senior at the Clark School in Hanover, New Hampshire, and a summer resident of Chatham, Massachusetts.
68 Attila: Attila A. Kassay, Hungarian; B.A. 1955, business administration, Northeastern University; dated SP in 1952.
69 Jim McNealy: James DuBois McNeely (1933–); B.A. 1954, B.Arch. 1960, Yale College; dated SP in 1952.
70 Mrs. Morrill: SP studied watercolor painting with Mrs Morrill, summer 1949.
71 Sue Slye: Susan Slye (1930–); B.A. 1952, Smith College; resident of Haven House with SP.
72 Phy. Sci. 193: SP completed the first semester of an interdepartmental course about the world of atoms (Physical Science 193), fall 1952, and audited the second half of the course, spring 1953. The course was directed by Kenneth Wayne Sherk (1907–1972); professor of chemistry, Smith College, 1935–1972; SP’s colleague 1957–1958.
73 Constantine: Constantine Sidamon-Eristoff (1930–), American; Russian Orthodox (religion); B.S. 1952, Princeton University; dated SP, 1951–1952.
74 John Hall: John A. Hall; B.A. 1953, Williams College; dated SP in 1949.
75 Doctor Booth: Dr Marion Frances Booth (1899–1963); college physician and professor of bacteriology and public health, Smith College, 1941–1961; SP’s Smith psychiatrist, 1954–1955; SP’s colleague, 1957–1958. SP served on Honor Board with Dr Booth, 1952–1953.
76 Miss Drew: Elizabeth A. Drew (1887–1965); English professor, Smith College, 1946–1961; SP’s colleague, 1957–1958. Drew taught a course on the literature of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries (English 211) completed by SP, 1951–1952, and modern poetry (English unit) completed by SP, 1952–1953.
77 Francesca Raccioppi: Dr Francesca M. Racioppi Benotti (1916–1998); the Plaths’ family doctor who practiced in Wellesley, Massachusetts, under her maiden name Francesca M. Racioppi, M.D.
78 Prouty: American novelist Olive Higgins Prouty (1882–1974). SP received the Olive Higgins Prouty scholarship when she was a student at Smith College.
79 Cal: Carol Lynn Raybin (1932–); B.A. 1954, Smith College; friend of SP.
80 Thanksgiving I met a man: Perry Norton’s classmate Myron Lotz (1932–); B.S. 1954, Yale College; Henry fellow, 1955–1956, Oxford University; M.D. 1958, Yale University; intern at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, 1958–1959; dated SP, 1952–1954.
81 Saranac: SP visited Richard Norton at Ray Brook, a sanatorium in Saranac, New York, where he was recovering from tuberculosis, 1952–1953.
82 Haven, Albright, Wallace, Northrop, Gillett: student houses at Smith College. Wallace House was razed in 1959.
83 Browns: Marcia Brown and her mother Carol Taylor Brown. During her junior year, Marcia Brown lived off campus with her mother at 211 Crescent Street, Northampton, Massachusetts.
84 I moved to a new house: SP was required to work one hour per day for part of her room and board at Lawrence House, where she lived from September 1952 until her graduation from Smith College in June 1955. SP’s roommate junior year was Mary A. Bonneville (1931–); B.A. 1953, Smith College.
85 Chaucer unit: medieval literature taught by Howard Rollin Patch (1889–1963); English professor, Smith College, 1919–1957.
86 Milton next term: Milton (English 39) taught by Eleanor Terry Lincoln (1903–1994); English professor, Smith College, 1934–1968; SP’s colleague, 1957–1958.
87 Schubert: Shubert Theater, 247 College Street, New Haven, Connecticut.
88 Al Haverman: SP attended Christmas vespers and the Haven House dance on 15 December 1951 with Richard Norton’s friend Al Haverman.
89 Rahar’s: Rahar’s Inn, a bar and restaurant located at 7 Old South Street, Northampton, Massachusetts, in the 1950s.
90 coffee shop: the Coffee Shop, a restaurant located at 56 Green Street, Northampton, Massachusetts, in the 1950s.
91 gordon: Gordon Ames Lameyer (1930–1991); B.A. 1953, Amherst College; dated SP, 1953–1955; traveled with SP in Europe, April 1956. Gordon Lameyer was encouraged to date SP by his mother Helen Ames Lameyer (1894–1980), B.A. 1918, Smith College.
92 McCurdy: Philip Emerald McCurdy (1935–); A.B. 1956, Harvard College; SP’s friend from Wellesley, Massachusetts.
93 
: entry 170 is followed by entry 180 in the original manuscript.
94 Doctor Chrisman: O. Donald Chrisman (1917–); a Northampton orthopaedist who maintained private clinic hours at the Elizabeth Mason Infirmary, Smith College.
95 Look Park: Look Memorial Park, Northampton, Massachusetts.
96 junior phi bete: SP was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, September 1953.
97 sandy: son of M. E. Lynn and Dr William Lynn, Richard Norton’s physician at Ray Brook. Sandy Lynn died in an accident on 3 March 1953.
98 Auden: English-born poet Wystan Hugh Auden (1907–1973); William Allan Neilson Research Professor, Smith College, 1953.
99 BU: Boston University (Boston, Massachusetts).
100 O’Connor: Irish-born writer Michael John O’Donovan (1903–1966) who published under the name Frank O’Connor. In 1953, O’Connor taught two courses at the Harvard University Summer School: the twentieth-century novel and the short story, an advanced composition course with limited enrollment.
101 Hans: Hans-Joachim Neupert; SP’s correspondent from Grebenhain, Germany. Neupert and SP corresponded from 1947 to 1952.
102 Smith Quarterly article: SP’s article ‘Smith Review Revived’ published in the Smith Alumnae Quarterly 45 (Fall 1953).
103 Miss Abels: Cyrilly Abels (1904–1975); managing editor of Mademoiselle, 1947–1962. SP worked for Abels as guest managing editor of Mademoiselle, June 1953. During her month in New York, SP dated United Nations simultaneous interpreter Gary Kamirloff and Peruvian legal delegate José Antonio La Vias. Carol LeVarn, SP, and many of the other guest editors suffered from ptomaine poisoning on 17 June 1953.
JOURNAL 22 November 1955 – 18 April 1956
Typescript on white paper with autograph manuscript corrections, 38 numbered leaves; 28 × 21.7 cm. Many of the entries in this journal are excerpts from letters to Richard Sassoon.
1 Excerpt from letter: ‘Excerpt from letter to Sassoon.’ appears in the original typescript.
2 at midnight, when the moon makes blue lizard scales of roof shingles: ‘Cf. poem’ written in SP’s autograph in the margin opposite this line, possibly a reference to an image in SP’s poem ‘Dialogue Over a Ouija Board’.
3 sassoon: Richard Laurence Sassoon (1934–); B.A. 1955, Yale College; attended the Sorbonne, 1955–1956; dated SP, 1954–1956. Sassoon was born in Paris, France, and raised in Tryon, North Carolina.
4 Excerpt: December 11: ‘Excerpt: December 11 Letter to Sassoon.’ appears in the original typescript.
5 January 11: ‘To Sassoon: January 11’ appears in the original typescript.
6 from letter january 15: ‘from letter to Sassoon january 15’ appears in the original typescript.
7 January 28: ‘To Sassoon: January 28’ appears in the original typescript.
8 Win: Winthrop Dickinson Means (1933–), American; A.B. 1955, Harvard College; Fulbright fellow, research student, Emmanuel College, Cambridge, 1955–1956; Ph.D. 1960, geology, University of California, Berkeley; friend of SP.
9 John: John Nicholas Lythgoe (1934–), British; B.A. 1957, Ph.D. 1961, natural sciences, Trinity College, Cambridge; dated SP, 1955–1956.
10 Chris: Christopher Rene Levenson (1934–), British; B.A. 1957, English and modern languages, Downing College, Cambridge; dated SP, 1955–1956.
11 Nat: Warren Plath’s friend Nathaniel D. LaMar, Jr (1933–), American; A.B. 1955, Harvard College; research student on a Henry fellowship at Pembroke College, Cambridge, 1955–1956; dated SP, 1955–1956.
12 Mallory: Joseph Mallory Wober (1936–), British; B.A. 1957, natural sciences, King’s College, Cambridge; dated SP, 1955–1956.
13 Iko: Isaac Meshoulem (1934–), Israeli; B.A. 1957, M.A. 1961, economics and law, Pembroke College, Cambridge; dated SP, 1955–1956.
14 Brian: Brian Neal Howard Desmond Corkery (1933–), British; B.A. 1957, history, Pembroke College, Cambridge; dated SP, 1955–1956.
15 Martin: Martin Deckett (1931–), British; B.A. 1956, M.A. 1960, mathematics and economics, Pembroke College, Cambridge; dated SP in 1955.
16 David: David Keith Rodney Buck (1933–1989), British; B.A. 1958, English, Christ’s College, Cambridge; dated SP in 1955.
17 Stephen Spender: English writer Stephen Harold Spender (1909–1995).
18 Jane: Jane Lucille Baltzell (1935–), American; B.A. 1955, Brown University; B.A. 1957, Newnham College, Cambridge; Ph.D. 1965, University of California, Berkeley. Baltzell read English on a Marshall scholarship at Cambridge and was SP’s housemate at Whitstead, 1955–1956.
19 bronze boy: a copy of Andrea del Verrocchio’s sculpture Boy with Dolphin stands in Newnham College gardens, a 1930 gift of Miss Fanner.
20 Vence story: SP’s short story ‘The Matisse Chapel’, inspired by her January 1956 trip to Vence, France, with Richard Sassoon. SP visited the Chapelle du Rosaire designed by Henri Matisse.
21 Elly: Elinor Linda Friedman (1934–), American; B.A. 1956, Smith College; SP’s friend.
22 Sue: Susan Lynn Weller (1933–1990), American; B.A. 1955, Smith College; B.A. 1958, M.A. 1962, philosophy, politics, and economics, Somerville College, Oxford; SP’s friend and fellow resident of Lawrence House.
23 I was going mad night after night being a screaming whore in a yellow dress: SP played the part of Alice in the Cambridge Amateur Dramatics Club production of Ben Jonson’s Bartholomew Fair, winter 1955.
24 Dick Gilling: Christopher Richard Gilling (1933–), British; B.A. 1956, English, Trinity Hall, Cambridge; dated SP in 1955.
25 Cambridge article and drawing: SP’s article ‘Leaves from a Cambridge Notebook’ published in the Christian Science Monitor (5 March 1956 and 6 March 1956).
26 Redpath: Robert Theodore Holmes Redpath (1913–1997); fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, and lecturer in English, 1951–1980.
27 Grove Lodge: a house situated next to the Fitzwilliam Museum at Cambridge University used for lectures in the 1950s.
28 P.S.: the entire postscript is written in SP’s autograph.
29 Hamish: David Hamish Stewart (1933–), Canadian; B.A. 1956, English, Queens’ College, Cambridge; dated SP in 1956.
30 Derek: Derek William Strahan (1935–), British/North Ireland; B.A. 1956, modern and medieval languages (French and Spanish), Queens’ College, Cambridge; dated SP in 1956.
31 Ira: Ira O. Scott, Jr (1918–), American; instructor at Harvard University, 1953–1955; dated SP, summer 1954.
32 St. Botolph’s: Cambridge journal Saint Botolph’s Review, edited by David Ross. A party was held on 25 February 1956 to celebrate the launching of this new literary journal.
33 Hunter: Nancy Jean Hunter (1933–), American; B.A. 1955, Smith College; SP’s friend and roommate at Lawrence House, 1954–1955. During the summer of 1954, SP and Hunter also sublet an apartment in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with Kay Quinn and Joan Smith.
34 E. Lucas Meyers: Elvis Lucas Myers (1930–), American; B.A. 1953, University of the South; B.A. 1956, archaeology and anthropology, Downing College, Cambridge; friend of Ted Hughes and contributor to Saint Botolph’s Review.
35 Mr. Fisher: Alfred Young Fisher (1902–1970); English professor, Smith College, 1937–1967; SP’s colleague, 1957–1958. SP completed a special studies in poetry writing with Fisher, 1954–1955.
36 Mr. Kazin: Alfred Kazin (1915–1998); William Allan Neilson Research Professor, Smith College, 1954–1955. Kazin taught short story writing (English 347) and the twentieth-century American novel (English 417) completed by SP, 1954–1955.
37 Mr. Gibian: George Gibian (1924–); associate professor of English and Russian literature, Smith College, 1951–1961; SP’s thesis adviser, 1954–1955; SP’s colleague, 1957–1958. Gibian taught Tolstoy and Dostoevsky (Russian literature 35b) completed by SP, spring 1954. SP’s thesis The Magic Mirror: A Study of the Double in Two of Dostoevsky’s Novels was awarded the Marjorie Hope Nicolson Prize in 1955.
38 Falcon’s Yard: Falcon Yard, an old inn yard reached from a city centre street called Petty Cury in Cambridge, England.
39 Bert: Bertram Wyatt-Brown (1932–), American; B.A. 1953, University of the South; B.A. 1957, history, King’s College, Cambridge; dated SP’s housemate Jane Baltzell.
40 Dan Huys: Daniel Huws (1932–), British; B.A. 1955, Peterhouse, Cambridge; friend of Ted Hughes and contributor to Saint Botolph’s Review. Huws lent Hughes his flat at 18 Rugby Street, London, 1955–1956.
41 Than Minton: Nathaniel David Minton (1935–), British; B.A. 1956, M.A. 1975, natural sciences, Trinity College, Cambridge; friend of Ted Hughes and contributor to Saint Botolph’s Review.
42 Weissbort: Daniel Jack Weissbort (1935–), British; B.A. 1956, M.A. 1981, economics and history, Queens’ College, Cambridge; friend of Ted Hughes and contributor to Saint Botolph’s Review.
43 Ross: David Andrews Ross (1935–), British; B.A. 1956, M.A. 1971, history, Peterhouse, Cambridge; friend of Ted Hughes and editor of Saint Botolph’s Review.
44 Ted Hughes: English poet Edward James Hughes (1930–1998); B.A. 1954, M.A. 1958, archaeology and anthropology, Pembroke College, Cambridge; SP’s husband, 1956–1963.
45 Varsity: Cambridge weekly undergraduate newspaper. SP wrote articles for Varsity.
46 Philip Booth: Philip E. Booth (1925–); assistant professor of English, Wellesley College, 1954–1961; married to Margaret Tillman Booth; nephew of Smith College physician Dr Marion Frances Booth.
47 March 1: ‘To Richard: March 1’ appears in the original typescript.
48 “Only listen to me this last once: ‘My darling Richard. “Only listen to me this last once.n appears in the original typescript.
49 Being a woman: ‘Being a woman, my darling one, it is like being crucified’ appears in the original typescript.
50 For, I am committed to you: ‘For, my Richard, I am committed to you’ appears in the original typescript.
51 I thought even: ‘I thought even, at the most desperate time, when I was so sick and could not sleep, but only lie and curse the flesh, of Gordon whom I was going to marry’ appears in the original typescript.
52 I was thinking of the few times in my life: ‘I was thinking, my darling, of the few times in my life’ appears in the original typescript.
53 Wertz: Richard Wayne Wertz (1933–), American; B.A. 1955, Yale College; resident of Westminster College, Cambridge, 1955–1956; friend of Nancy Hunter; roommate of Richard Sassoon at Yale College; dated SP, 1955–1956.
54 Ruth Beuscher: SP’s American psychiatrist Ruth Tiffany Barnhouse Beuscher (1923–1999). SP was Dr Beuscher’s patient at McLean Hospital in 1953 and continued private therapy through 1959.
55 Keith: Robert Keith Middlemas (1935–), British; B.A. 1958, history, Pembroke College, Cambridge; friend of SP.
56 Miss Burton: Kathleen Marguerite Passmore Burton (1921–); lecturer in English, Newnham College, Cambridge, 1949–1960; director of studies in English, 1952–1960; SP’s director of studies and supervisor.
57 Miss Welsford: Enid Elder Hancock Welsford (1892–1981); director of studies in English, Newnham College, Cambridge, 1929–1952; author of The Fool: His Social and Literary History (London: Faber and Faber, 1935). SP attended Welsford’s lectures on tragedy in 1955.
58 Dr. Krook: Dorothea Greenberg Krook (1920–1989); research fellow at Newnham College, Cambridge, and assistant lecturer in English, 1954–1958; SP’s supervisor.
59 Lou: Louis Hollister Healy, Jr (1929–1992), American; B.S. 1951, engineering, Yale College; dated SP in 1954. Healy was SP’s neighbor during the summer of 1954 when she was living in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and attending elementary German classes at the Harvard University Summer School.
60 Gary: Garry Eugene Haupt (1933–1979), American; B.A. 1955, Yale College; B.A. 1957, English, Pembroke College, Cambridge; dated SP in 1956.
61 Miss Barrett: Anne Judith Barrett (1930–); temporary assistant lecturer in French, Girton College, Cambridge, 1956–1957; SP’s French tutor, 1955–1956.
62 Manuscript club: Wrexham Trust Association at Yale University.
63 Willey: Basil Willey (1897–1978); lecturer and King Edward VII Professor of English, Cambridge University, 1923–1964.
64 Dr. Davy: Brian William Davy (1914–1993); SP’s Cambridge psychiatrist in 1956.
65 Dreaming of being home in Winthrop: the word ‘poem’ is written in SP’s autograph in the fore-edge margin opposite this paragraph in the original typescript, possibly a reference to SP’s poem ‘Dream with Clam-Diggers’.
66 April 18: ‘To Sassoon: April 18’ appears in the original typescript.
JOURNAL 15 July 1956
Typescript on white paper with autograph manuscript corrections, 5 numbered leaves; 27.7 × 21.5 cm.
1 Benidorm: a fishing village in eastern Spain on the Mediterranean Sea.
2 strewn with a few odd crabs, star-fish and shells: ‘mixed strewn with occasional a few odd crabs, star-fish and shells / squid.’ appears in the original typescript.
3 Alicante: a Mediterranean port in southeastern Spain.
4 We also had trouble with the petrol stove: In the inner margin opposite this sentence, SP wrote the following calculation: 500 divided by 40 equals 12.
JOURNAL 22 July 1956 – 26 August 1956
Typescript with autograph manuscript corrections, 18 leaves, probably torn from a Challenge Triplicate Book; 24.7 × 18.1 cm. Each leaf is stamped with a number. Triplicate leaves with the same number are differentiated in these notes by [a], [b], and [c]. Leaf [a] is ruled paper and leaves [b] and [c] are blank paper. Many leaves are missing. SP used this copybook for her creative writing as well as journal writing. Many of the surviving journal entries are drafts for short stories and articles, including ‘Sketchbook of a Spanish Summer’.
1 Benidorm: July 22: entry typed on leaves 4[b–c]–5[a] of the original copybook.
2 book about how all the animals became: TH’s children’s book How the Whale Became (London: Faber and Faber, 1963).
3 Tomas Ortunio: SP and TH rented a house at 59 Tomas Ortunio, Benidorm, Provincia de Alicante, Spain, after their brief stay with Señora Mangada.
4 Benidorm: July 23 (continued): typed on leaf 10[a] of the original copybook. The first part of this entry is lacking.
5 In the station: SP’s fictional entry is typed on leaves 20[a-c] of the original copybook. The draft fragment begins with the phrase ‘grayed the sky and they switched trains at Irun.’ The word ‘omit’ is written in SP’s autograph in the inner margin at the top of leaf 20[a].
6 Benidorm: August 14: entry typed on leaves 70[b–c]–71[a–b] of the original copybook.
7 Vox: TH filled out an application to teach at Instituto Vox (Madrid, Spain).
8 Ted finding ant-track: ‘Ants’ is written in SP’s autograph in the inner margin opposite this paragraph, possibly a reference to the ant imagery in SP’s poem ‘Spider’.
9 Benidorm: August 17: entry typed on leaves 76[b–c]–77[a] of the original copybook.
10 Pinewood studios: When TH met SP in 1956, he was a reader at Pinewood Studios Ltd, a British film studio chaired by J. Arthur Rank.
11 Paris: August 26: entry typed on leaf 83 [b or c] of the original copybook. The word ‘SPAIN’ is printed in SP’s autograph at the top of the leaf.
12 Sketchbook of a Spanish Summer: entry typed on leaves 92[b–c]–93[a] of the original copybook. SP’s article ‘Sketchbook of a Spanish Summer’ was published with four of her drawings in the Christian Science Monitor (5 and 6 November 1956).
JOURNAL 3 January 1957 – 11 March 1957
Typescript on white paper with autograph manuscript corrections, 10 leaves; 27.8 × 21.5 cm.
1 Cambridge: January 3: Walk to Granchester: ‘See last pages: Fish & chip shop’ is written at the top of the first leaf in SP’s autograph along with the phrase ‘Cows & Chaucer’ in the inner margin opposite the first paragraph describing SP’s walk from Cambridge along the river Granta to nearby Grantchester, England.
2 SRL: New York weekly Saturday Review of Literature.
3 Wendy: Wendy Christie; friend of Dorothea Krook and SP from Cambridge, England.
4 ML Rosenthal: American poet and critic Macha Louis Rosenthal (1917–1996); poetry editor of the Nation, 1956–1961.
5 giovanni: Giovanni Perego; Paris correspondent of Paese Sera; dated SP, spring 1956.
6 Mary Ellen Chase: American writer Mary Ellen Chase (1887–1973); professor of English, Smith College, 1926–1955.
7 Turned onto the Fen Causeway: ‘Fish & Chips’ is written in SP’s autograph next to this paragraph in the inner margin.
JOURNAL 15 July 1957 – 21 August 1957
Typescript on white paper with autograph manuscript corrections and underlining, 10 leaves; 27.8 × 21.4 cm.
1 Dan Aaron: Daniel Aaron (1912–); English professor, Smith College, 1939–1972; director of the freshman English course (English 11) taught by SP, 1957–1958.
2 Sam Lawrence: American publisher Seymour Lawrence (1926–1994).
3 Spaulding: Myrtle and Lester Spaulding; proprietors of Hidden Acres, a cottage colony on McKoy Road in Eastham, Massachusetts. SP and TH stayed in one of the Spauldings’ cabins during the summer of 1957.
4 Ted’s rosy mother: SP’s mother-in-law Edith Farrar Hughes (1898–1969); married to William Henry Hughes (1894–1981).
5 Sat Eve Post: Philadelphia journal the Saturday Evening Post.
6 Sassoons: George Thornycroft Sassoon (1936–), British; B.A. 1958, natural sciences, King’s College, Cambridge; son of English poet Siegfried Sassoon and distant cousin of SP’s friend Richard Sassoon. In 1957, George Sassoon and his wife Stephanie Munro Sassoon (1938–) lived above SP and TH at 55 Eltisley Avenue, Cambridge, England.
7 Miss Cohen: Ruth Louisa Cohen (1906–1991); principal of Newnham College, Cambridge, 1954–1972.
8 Miss Morris: Irene Victoria Morris (1913–); lecturer in German, Newnham College, Cambridge, 1947–1966.
9 white goddess: reference to The White Goddess by Robert Graves (1948).
10 How we cling to these days of July: August is a September month: SP changed ‘mother’ to ‘month’ in the original typescript.
11 July 29: Monday: the names next to this heading are written in SP’s autograph.
12 Get into novel deep enough so it will go on at the same time: SP placed an exclamation mark in the inner margin against this sentence.
13 Yesterday, the rejection of my poetry book: SP’s poetry collection ‘Two Lovers and a Beachcomber’ was rejected for the Yale Series of Younger Poets Award in 1957.
14 A.C.Rich: American poet Adrienne Cecile Rich (1929–).
15 Donald Hall: American poet Donald Hall (1928–).
16 Mavis Gallant: Canadian short story writer Mavis Gallant (1922–). SP read Gallant’s short stories in the New Yorker and her novel Green Water, Green Sky (1959).
17 Hamp: SP’s abbreviation for Northampton, Massachusetts.
JOURNAL 28 August 1957 – 14 October 1958
Autograph manuscript on lined paper half-bound in red cloth with maroon paper over boards, blind-stamped on back cover: C. Combridge Ltd. / Birmingham / C. B. 900. Pagination: iv,181,[3] numbered pages (pages 177–78 are lacking); 32.2 × 20 cm. Provenance: When this journal was sold to Smith College in 1981, it was wrapped in acid-free tissue paper and sealed in an envelope, with the following note written on the paper envelope (in TH’s autograph): ‘Sylvia Plath / Diary 1957–59 / Sealed 2d Sept 1981 / in presence of / Ted Hughes / Not to be opened until 11t February 2013 / WITNESSED BY: / R. L. Davids (signature) / Felix Pryor (signature)’. Unsealed by TH on 14 September 1998.
1 (girl thought she wanted “sultry”): ‘(girl / she thought she wanted “sultry”)’ appears in the original manuscript.
2 Sibyl Moss: the following names also appear in the original manuscript at the end of the first short story: ‘Sibyl / Moss, Evi / Glidden, Milton / Greenough, Curt-Quandt / Ward Will / Geoffrey-Fleischmann’.
3 Evi Larkin: ‘Evi Larkin, Lois Jill Holly Ford, Julian Gascoigne, Bradley Chandler Whipple’ appear in the original manuscript at the end of the second short story.
4 Max Goldberg: Maxwell Henry Goldberg (1907–); English professor, University of Massachusetts (Amherst campus), 1928–1930, 1933–1962; head of the English department in 1958 when TH taught at the university.
5 Mr. Hill: SP’s colleague Charles Jarvis Hill (1904–1999); English professor, Smith College, 1932–1966; acting chairman of the English department, fall 1957.
6 Freeman’s yellow house: William H. Freeman (1884–1954) and Marion Saunders Freeman (1908–1998) lived at 8 Somerset Terrace, Winthrop, Massachusetts, with their children David (1932–) and Ruth (1933–). The Freemans were neighbors and friends of the Plath family.
7 Mr. Petersson: Robert Torsten Petersson (1918–); English professor, Smith College, 1952–1985; SP’s colleague, 1957–1958.
8 James: British writer James Guy Bramwell (1911–), who published under the pseudonym James Byrom. SP read Byrom’s autobiography The Unfinished Man (1957).
9 Joan: SP’s British colleague Joan Maxwell Bramwell (1923–); English professor, Smith College, 1957–1992; married to British writer James Guy Bramwell.
10 Sally: Sallie Harris Sears (1932–); instructor of English, Smith College, 1957–1961; SP’s colleague, 1957–1958.
11 Monas: Sidney Monas (1924–); assistant professor of history, Smith College, 1957–1962; SP’s colleague, 1957–1958.
12 Marlies: Marlies Kallmann Danziger (1926–); assistant professor of English, Smith College, 1951–1958; SP’s colleague, 1957–1958.
13 Leonard: American fiction writer Leonard Michaels (1933–); friend of SP’s Smith classmate Elinor Friedman.
14 Sage: Sage Hall at Smith College with an auditorium seating 700 persons.
15 McKee: Minerva and John McKee; SP’s neighbors. The McKees rented a second-floor apartment at 337 Elm Street, Northampton, Massachusetts.
16 Spofford: Edward Washburn Spofford (1931–); classics instructor, Smith College, 1957–1961; SP’s colleague, 1957–1958.
17 Ventura: Dody Ventura is a character in SP’s short story ‘Stone Boy with Dolphin’, along with Leonard, Mrs Guinea, Miss Minchell, and Hamish, among others.
18 Dido: Dido Milroy Merwin; married to American poet William Stanley Merwin (1927–), separated in 1968 and divorced in 1978. Dido Merwin’s maiden name was Diana Whalley. She was born in 1912 or 1914 in Gloucestershire, England, and died in 1990.
19 Arvin: Newton Arvin (1900–1963); English professor, Smith College, 1922–1960; SP’s colleague, 1957–1958; resident of 45 Prospect Street, Northampton, Massachusetts. Arvin taught American fiction from 1830 to 1900 (English 321) at Smith College. SP completed this course as a student in 1954 and corrected papers for it as an instructor in 1958.
20 Oscar Williams: American poet Oscar Williams (1900–1964); married to the American poet Gene Derwood (1909–1954). Williams mailed a sound recording of The Poems of Gene Derwood (Spoken Arts, 1955) to TH in 1958. Williams also concluded his revised edition of The Pocket Book of Modern Verse (1958) with three poems by TH: ‘The Martyrdom of Bishop Farrar’, ‘The Hag’, and ‘The Thought-Fox’.
21 Mike: Davenport Plumer III (1932–); B.A. 1955, Dartmouth College; married to SP’s friend Marcia Brown (divorced 1969). Plumer adopted boy-girl twins and a younger son with Marcia Brown and fathered a daughter in a subsequent marriage.
22 Bob Tucker: TH’s colleague Robert G. Tucker (1921–1982); English professor, University of Massachusetts (Amherst campus), 1951–1981; married to Jean Knorr Tucker.
23 Sid Kaplan: TH’s colleague Sidney Kaplan (1913–1993); English professor, University of Massachusetts (Amherst campus), 1946–1978; married to Emma Nogrady Kaplan (1911–), assistant reference librarian, Smith College, 1953–1977.
24 Leonard Baskin: American sculptor and graphic artist Leonard Baskin (1922–2000); art professor, Smith College, 1953–1974; SP’s colleague, 1957–1958; friend of TH and SP.
25 Wendell: Wendell Stacy Johnson (1927–1990); associate professor of English, Smith College, 1952–1962; SP’s colleague, 1957–1958.
26 Alison: D. Alison Gilbert (1931–); assistant professor of history, Smith College, 1958–1959; SP’s colleague in 1958.
27 Miss Van der Poel: Priscilla Paine Van der Poel (1907–1994); art history professor, Smith College, 1934–1972. SP audited Van der Poel’s course on modern art (Art 315) in 1958.
28 Dunn: Esther Cloudman Dunn (1891–1977); English professor, Smith College, 1922–1960; SP’s colleague, 1957–1958. Dunn taught Shakespeare (English 36) completed by SP, 1954–1955.
29 Isabella Gardner: American poet Isabella Gardner (1915–1981).
30 Sultans: SP’s colleague Stanley Sultan (1928–); instructor of English, Smith College, 1955–1959; married to Florence Lehman Sultan (divorced 1964); father of James Lehman and Sonia Elizabeth.
31 Tuesday night: February 4th: entries for 4 February 1958 (evening) through 28 February 1958 are written on pages 32–59 and 1–28 of the original manuscript (numbered simultaneously by SP).
32 Paul Roche: Donald Robert Paul Roche (1928–); instructor of English, Smith College, 1956–1958; SP’s colleague, 1957–1958. Roche read from his unpublished reminiscences of Virginia Woolf, ‘Portrait of Virginia’, on 27 February 1958 and from his translation of Oedipus the King with TH and members of the Smith College faculty on 21 May 1958.
33 Clarissa: Clarissa Tanner Roche (1931–); married to SP’s colleague Paul Roche (divorced 1983); mother of Pandora, Martin, Vanessa, and Cordelia. Paul Roche was hired as an instructor at Smith College through the connections of Clarissa Roche’s aunt Virginia Traphagen (1904–1968), B.A. 1926, Smith College.
34 John Sweeney: John Lincoln Sweeney (1906–1986); professor of English, Harvard University; sixth curator of the Woodberry Poetry Room at Harvard University; married to Celtic literature scholar Maíre Sweeney; brother of James Johnson Sweeney, former head of the Museum of Modern Art, N.Y., N.Y.
35 Pat Hecht: Patricia Harris Hecht (1933–); married to SP’s colleague Anthony Hecht (divorced 1961); mother of Jason and Adam.
36 Olwyn: Olwyn Marguerite Hughes (1928–); SP’s sister-in-law.
37 Whelans: Northampton police sergeant James J. Whalen (1916–1998) and Constance Linko Whalen (1928–). SP and TH rented a furnished third-floor apartment from the Whalens, who lived at 337 Elm Street, Northampton, Massachusetts, with their three children: David, Lawrence, and Sara.
38 Buckleys: On 6 October 1951, Mr and Mrs William F. Buckley hosted a supper dance at their home in Sharon, Connecticut, in honour of their daughter Maureen Lee Buckley (1933–1964); B.A. 1954, Smith College. Maureen Buckley invited all her housemates at Haven House to the party, including SP.
39 Tony Hecht: American poet Anthony Evan Hecht (1923–); assistant professor of English, Smith College, 1956–1962; SP’s colleague, 1957–1958. SP interviewed Hecht for her article ‘Poets on Campus’ published in Mademoiselle 37 (August 1953).
40 Wheelwright: Philip Ellis Wheelwright (1901–); William Allan Neilson Research Professor, Smith College, 1958. SP and TH attended Wheelwright’s 10 February 1958 Neilson lecture ‘Humanism and Symbolism’.
41 Antoine: TH’s friend Antoine Michel Marie Tavera (1926–); B.A. 1953, M.A. 1957, Pembroke College, Cambridge; Licencié ès Lettres, 1948, Diplômé d’Etudes Supérieures, 1949, Agrégé de l’Université, 1955, Sorbonne; instructor in French, Mount Holyoke College, 1956–1958; resident of Dickinson House, South Hadley, Massachusetts.
42 Miss Hornbeak: Katherine Gee Hornbeak (1897–1985); English professor, Smith College, 1930–1962; SP’s colleague, 1957–1958. SP and Hornbeak shared an office (room 59) in William Allan Neilson Library, Smith College.
43 Van Voris: William Hoover Van Voris (1923–); English professor, Smith College, 1957–1988; SP’s colleague, 1957–1958.
44 Barry Fudger: Barry John Fudger (1934–1984), British; B.A. 1959, M.A. 1965, English, St John’s College, Cambridge.
45 Ildiko Hayes: Ildiko Patricia Hayes (1936–), British; B.A. 1958, English Newnham College, Cambridge.
46 Judy Linton: Judith Anne Linton (1936–), British; B.A. 1957, M.A. 1965, English, Newnham College, Cambridge.
47 Dan Massey: Daniel Raymond Massey (1933–1998), British; B.A. 1956, M.A. 1960, English, King’s College, Cambridge; fellow actor with SP in the Cambridge Amateur Dramatics Club production of Bartholomew Fair in 1955.
48 Ben Nash: Benjamin Joliffe Nash (1935–), British; B.A. 1958, modern and medieval languages, King’s College, Cambridge.
49 Tony: Anthony James Gray (1936–), British; M.A. 1956, New College, Oxford; toured Paris with SP, spring 1956.
50 Sylvan: Sylvan Schendler (1925–); assistant professor of English, Smith College, 1956–1967; SP’s colleague, 1957–1958.
51 Bill Scott: William Taussig Scott (1916–1999); physics professor, Smith College, 1945–1962; SP’s colleague, 1957–1958.
52 March 1: entries for 1 March 1958 through 6 April 1958 (‘chocolate rabbit & ten tiny’) are written on pages 60–90 and 1–31 in the original manuscript (numbered simultaneously by SP).
53 millionairess: Anna B. Eldon; resident of 345 Elm Street, Northampton, Massachusetts; SP’s neighbor.
54 Dave Clarke: TH’s colleague David Ridgley Clark (1920–); English professor, University of Massachusetts (Amherst campus), 1951–1985; married to Mary Matthieu Clark. SP attended a poetry reading by Clark, TH, and two other members of the English department on 4 March 1958 in the Norfolk Room of the student union at the university.
55 Ann: American writer Ann Birstein (1927–); second wife of Alfred Kazin, SP’s creative writing instructor at Smith College.
56 Miss Schnieders: Marie Schnieders (1906–1973); German professor, Smith College, 1937–1971; 1954 class dean; SP’s colleague, 1957–1958.
57 Reinhart Lettau: Reinhard Adolf Lettau (1929–1996); associate professor of German, Smith College, 1957–1967; SP’s colleague, 1957–1958.
58 Peter Viereck: American poet Peter Robert Edwin Viereck (1916–); assistant professor of history, Smith College, 1947–1948; history professor, Mount Holyoke College, 1948–1987; since 1991, Russian history professor, Mount Holyoke College.
59 George Abbe: American poet George Bancroft Abbe (1911–). SP and TH attended Abbe’s 17 March 1958 lecture ‘The Poet as Novelist’ at Smith College.
60 Evelyn: Evelyn Ann Masi (1927–); assistant professor of philosophy, Mount Holyoke College, 1956–1961.
61 Miss Mill: Anna Jean Mill (1892–1981); English professor, Mount Holyoke College, 1931–1966.
62 Wrinch: Dorothy Maud Wrinch (1894–1976); lecturer, research fellow, and visiting professor of physics, Smith College, 1941–1966.
63 chocolate eggs, each wrapped: Following this phrase, entries for 6 April 1958 through 11 May 1958 are written on pages 91–120 and 1–30 of the original manuscript (numbered simultaneously by SP).
64 Al Conrad: Alfred Haskell Conrad (1924–1970); associate professor of economics, Harvard University, 1954–1966; married to American poet Adrienne Cecile Rich.
65 Pierson: Carol Pierson (1932–); B.A. 1954, Smith College; SP’s friend and fellow resident of Haven House, 1950–1952.
66 Peter Davison: American poet Peter Hubert Davison (1928–); assistant editor at Harcourt, Brace & Co., 1953–1955; assistant to the director at Harvard University Press, 1955–1956; editor at the Atlantic Monthly Press, 1956–1985; dated SP in 1955. Davison married SP’s Smith housemate Jane Truslow in 1959 and fathered Edward Angus and Lesley Truslow.
67 Spanish Gordon: probably Manuel E. Durán (1925–); associate professor of Spanish, Smith College, 1953–1960; SP’s colleague, 1957–1958.
68 Lee Anderson: American poet Lee Anderson (1896–1972). Anderson recorded SP reading her poems on 18 April 1958 in Springfield, Massachusetts, for the Archive of Recorded Poetry and Literature (Library of Congress).
69 Kay: J. Catherine Annis Gibian (1926–1993); married to SP’s colleague George Gibian (divorced 1967); mother of Peter, Mark, Stephen, Gregory, and Lauren. ‘Cay’ was Mrs Gibian’s nickname.
70 Denis Johnston: Irish playwright William Denis Johnston (1901–1984); English professor, Mount Holyoke College, 1950–1962; professor of theatre and speech, Smith College, 1960–1966. SP and TH saw Johnston’s 2 May 1958 production of Finnegans Wake in the Chapin Auditorium of Mary E. Woolley Hall at Mount Holyoke College.
71 Robert Lowell: American poet Robert Traill Spence Lowell, Jr (1917–1977). SP and TH attended Lowell’s 6 May 1958 poetry reading at the University of Massachusetts (Amherst campus). In 1959, SP audited writing of poetry (English 306), Lowell’s creative writing course at Boston University where he was lecturer on English.
72 Esther: Esther Tane Baskin (1926–1973); married to SP’s colleague Leonard Baskin; mother of Tobias Isaac Baskin; author of Creatures of Darkness (Boston: Little, Brown, 1962).
73 Marie: Marie Edith Borroff (1923–); associate professor of English, Smith College, 1948–1960; SP’s colleague, 1957–1958.
74 African students scholarships: Smith College’s Relief Committee collected donations in William Allan Neilson Library, 7–14 May 1958, for the African Medical Scholarship Trust Fund to aid victims of apartheid in South Africa.
75 May 13: entries for 13 May 1958 through 4 July 1958 are written on pages 121–50 and 1–30 of the original manuscript (numbered simultaneously by SP).
76 John Lehmann: English writer and editor Rudolph John Frederick Lehmann (1907–1987); founding editor of the London Magazine, 1953–1961.
77 Aunt Alice: TH’s aunt Alice Thomas Farrar; married to Walter Farrar.
78 Jean Stafford: American writer Jean Stafford (1915–1979); first wife of American poet Robert Lowell (divorced 1948). Lowell dedicated Lord Weary’s Castle (1946) ‘To Jean’.
79 Chris Denney: Christine Kingsley Denny (1934–); teaching fellow in theatre, Smith College, 1956–1958; M.A. 1959, Smith College.
80 Jackie: Jacqueline Van Voris (1922–); married to SP’s colleague William Van Voris; mother of Alice and Richard.
81 Thursday: July 4: SP’s 3 July 1958 entry misdated ‘July 4’.
82 Cruikshank: William H. Cruickshank, Jr (1925–); SP’s Wellesley neighbor. William H. Cruickshank and Dorinda Pell Cruickshank lived next door to the Plath family at 24 Elmwood Road, Wellesley, Massachusetts, with their four children: Dorinda, Pell, Blair, and Cara.
83 June 17: SP’s 17 July 1958 entry misdated ‘June 17’.
84 Rodman: American poet and art critic Selden Rodman (1909–); father of Oriana Rodman with his third wife Maja Wojciechowska. Rodman’s article on Leonard Baskin, ‘A Writer as Collector’, was published in Art in America 46 (summer 1958).
85 Mrs. Yates: Catherine C. Yates; resident of 333 Elm Street, Northampton, Massachusetts; SP’s neighbor.
86 Oesterreich: SP read Possession, Demoniacal and Other by Traugott Konstantin Oesterreich (London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co., 1930).
87 seive: SP’s pen and ink drawing follows her notes on demoniac possession and is embedded within this and the following sentence in the original manuscript. Two parallel lines begin this paragraph in the original.
88 I must write – every morning, an: following this phrase, pages 177–78 of the original journal are missing. The text up to ‘Who else in the world could I live with’ (14 September 1958 entry) is transcribed from an incomplete typescript supplied by the Sylvia Plath estate.
89 Otto Emil / Glasby-Boole / Nettleton / Mrs. Whorley / Mrs. Groobey: SP bracketed these five names.
JOURNAL 12 December 1958 – 15 November 1959
Typescript on verso of pink Smith College memorandum paper with autograph manuscript corrections, annotations, and drawings, 71 leaves; 27.8 × 21.8 cm. Provenance: When this journal was sold to Smith College in 1981, it was wrapped in acid-free tissue paper and sealed in an envelope, with the following note written on the paper envelope (in TH’s autograph): ‘SYLVIA PLATH / BEUTSCHER NOTES / Sealed 2nd Sept 1981 / in presence of Ted Hughes / Not to be opened until during / the lifetime of Aurelia Schober Plath and Warren Plath, S.P.’s / mother and brother. / WITNESSED BY: / R. L. Davids (signature) / Felix Pryor (signature)’. Unsealed by TH on 14 September 1998.
1 Why don’t I write a novel?: after this question is written ‘I have! August 22, 1961: THE BELL JAR’ in SP’s autograph.
2 Gerta: American poet Gerta Kennedy; editor at Houghton Mifflin Co.
3 Fassett’s: Stephen B. Fassett (1915–1980); married to Hungarian pianist Agatha Fassett; head of the Fassett Recording Studio (Boston, Massachusetts), where SP and TH recorded their poetry for the Woodberry Poetry Room at Harvard University.
4 Richard Gill: Richard Thomas Gill (1927–); assistant professor and lecturer in economics at Harvard University and master of Leverett House, 1949–1971; married to Elizabeth Bjornson Gill.
5 Jane Truslow: Jane Auchincloss Truslow (1932–1981); B.A. 1955, Smith College; resident of Lawrence House with SP, 1952–1955. Truslow married SP’s friend Peter Davison on 7 March 1959.
6 Rosalind: American writer Rosalind Baker Wilson (1923–); editor at Houghton Mifflin Co., 1949–1958, 1962–1964.
7 Roger & Joan Stein: Roger Breed Stein (1932–); graduate student at Harvard University, A.B. 1954, A. M. 1958, Ph.D. 1960; married to Joan Workman Stein (divorced 1976).
8 Elizabeth Harkwicke: American writer Elizabeth Bruce Hardwick (1916–); married to American poet Robert Lowell (divorced 1972).
9 Peter Brooks: American poet Peter Brooks; married to ballet instructor Esther Brooks; friend of Robert Lowell.
10 Wilbur: American poet Richard Purdy Wilbur (1921–); English professor, Wesleyan University, 1957–1977. SP interviewed Wilbur for her article ‘Poets on Campus’ published in Mademoiselle 37 (August 1953).
11 Shirley: Shirley Baldwin Norton (1931–1995); married to SP’s friend Dr C. Perry Norton (divorced 1978); mother of John Christopher, Steven Arthur, Heidi, and David Allan.
12 Joanne: Joanne Colburn Norton (1932–); married to SP’s friend Dr Richard Allen Norton.
13 Kunitz: American poet Stanley Jasspon Kunitz (1905–); married to American artist Elise Asher (1914–).
14 Ann Hopkins: Ann Hopkins; resident of Cambridge, Massachusetts; summer resident of Martha’s Vineyard; friend of Peter Davison and SP.
15 writing (which I somehow boggle at spelling): the word ‘writing’ was mistyped and corrected by SP in the original typescript.
16 Arthur and Geraldine (Kohlenberger?): American writer Geraldine Warburg Kohlenberg; married to Arthur Kohlenberg; mother of Teresa and Andrew Max; later married to Dr Louis Zetzel.
17 Engel: American novelist Monroe Engel (1921–); assistant professor of English and lecturer at Harvard University, 1955–1989. SP mentioned Engel’s second novel The Visions of Nicholas Solon (1959).
18 Ann Sexton: American poet Anne Harvey Sexton (1928–1974). In 1959, Sexton audited Robert Lowell’s poetry writing course at Boston University with SP and George Starbuck.
19 Ingalls: Daniel Henry Holmes Ingalls (1916–); assistant and associate professor, 1949–1956, Wales Professor of Sanskrit and chairman of the department of Sanskrit and Indian studies, Harvard University, 1956–1983; married to Phyllis Day Ingalls; father of Sarah, Rachel, and Daniel. SP worked part-time for Ingalls, spring 1959.
20 Starbuck: American poet George Edwin Starbuck (1931–1996); editor at Houghton Mifflin Co., 1958–1961; married Janice King, 25 April 1955 (divorced); father of Margaret Mary, Stephen George, and John Edward by his first wife Janice King.
21 MK: American writer Maxine Winokur Kumin (1925–).
22 PJHH: American poet Peter J. Henniker-Heaton; editor of the Home Forum page at the Christian Science Monitor, 1952–1963.
23 Hitchen: Rev. Herbert Hitchen (1894–1979); born in Norland, Yorkshire; pastor of the Unitarian Church of Northampton, Massachusetts, 1958–1966; collector of Irish literature.
24 Max: Rev. Max David Gaebler (1921–), minister of the First Unitarian Society of Madison, Wisconsin, 1952–1987; son of Hans Gaebler, who was a friend of Otto Plath.
25 Frances Minturn Howard: American poet and author Frances Minturn Hall Howard (1905–1995); great-granddaughter of Julia Ward Howe; married to Thomas Clark Howard.
26 Dudley Fitts: American poet, critic, and translator Dudley Fitts (1903–1968); English instructor at Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts.
27 John Holmes: American poet John Albert Holmes (1904–1962); English professor, Tufts University, 1934–1962.
28 Galway Kinnell: American poet and translator Galway Kinnell (1927–).
29 Emilie McLeod: American author Emilie Warren McLeod (1926–1982); children’s book editor at the Atlantic Monthly Press, 1956–1976, associate director, 1976–1982.
30 September 16: ‘22.P.’ is written after this heading in an unidentified hand.
31 Yaddo: Library: SP’s 24 September 1959 descriptions and drawings of the library at Yaddo are in her autograph.
32 Mrs. A.: Elizabeth Ames (1885–1977); executive director of Yaddo, 1923–1969.
33 Miss Pardee: Allena Pardee (d. 1947); tutor and governess of Christina Trask and Spencer Trask, Jr, until their death in 1888; companion to Katrina Trask until her death in 1922; first secretary of Yaddo.
34 Jim Shannon: James Shannon; buildings and grounds staff member at Yaddo.
35 May Swenson: American writer May Swenson (1919–1989); guest at Yaddo from 2 November to 3 December 1959. SP read Swenson’s second book of poetry A Cage of Spines (1958), including ‘By Morning’, ‘At Breakfast’, and ‘Almanac’.
36 Gordon Binkerd: American composer Gordon Ware Binkerd (1916–); music professor, University of Illinois, 1949–1971; guest at Yaddo from 30 September to 6 December 1959.
37 Polly: American poet Pauline Hanson (1910–); resident secretary of Yaddo, 1950–1975; acting director, fall 1959.
38 Nicholas: SP was pregnant with her daughter Frieda Rebecca Hughes (born 1 April 1960) when she wrote ‘The Manor Garden’. SP’s son Nicholas Farrar Hughes was not born until 17 January 1962.
39 M. Cowley: American writer Malcolm Cowley (1898–1989); literary adviser at Viking Press, 1948–1985. Cowley served on the board of Yaddo, 1958–1989.
40 Howard: American painter Howard Sand Rogovin (1927–); guest at Yaddo from 2 July to 4 December 1959; served as assistant to the executive director of Yaddo, September–December 1959.
41 NOVEMBER 11: entries for 11 November 1959 through 15 November 1959 are typed on white paper with three-hole punching.
42 Ted’s play: TH’s first verse play ‘The House of Taurus’ based upon The Bacchae by Euripides.
43 Monteith: Charles Montgomery Monteith (1921–1995), editor and director of Faber and Faber, 1953–1973, vice-chairman, 1974–1976, chairman, 1977–1980; TH’s editor.
APPENDIX 1 JOURNAL FRAGMENT 17 – 19 October 1951
Autograph manuscript on lined notebook paper, 4 leaves (6 pages); 27.9 × 21.4 cm. SP wrote this entry while she was recovering from sinusitis at the Elizabeth Mason Infirmary, Smith College. Another journal fragment, written by SP in March 1951, is part of the Sylvia Plath Collection at the Lilly Library, Indiana University, in her August 1949 – March 1951 diary, pages 32–35.
1 HMS: Harvard Medical School (Boston, Massachusetts).
2 government: introduction to politics (Government 11); Religion: introduction to the study of religion (Religion 14); art: principles, methods and techniques of drawing and painting (Art 210); English lit course: literature of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries (English 211); creative writing course: practice in various forms of writing (English 220), completed by SP, 1951–1952.
3 two basal metabolism cases that came in for the morning: ‘two basal metabolism cases / patients that came in for the morning’ appears in the original manuscript.
4 Miss Gill: Elizabeth Gill; nursing assistant at Smith College.
APPENDIX 2 BACK TO SCHOOL COMMANDMENTS
Autograph manuscript list on yellow paper, 1 leaf; 27.8 × 14 cm. SP probably wrote this list in January 1953. Annotated: first three entries are crossed out; next to commandments 1–8, SP wrote ‘O.K.’; next to commandment 9, ‘Well … / I’m / trying’; next to silence from Myron in commandment 10, ‘O.K.! / going / to / Jr. / Prom!’; below the P.S., SP drew an arrow and wrote ‘January 18: / I’ll say!’
1 Davis: Robert Gorham Davis (1908–1998); English professor, Smith College, 1943–1958. Davis taught studies in style and form (English 347), a creative writing course completed by SP, 1952–1953. SP also served on Honor Board with Davis, 1952–1953.
APPENDIX 3 JOURNAL FRAGMENTS 24 March 1953 – 9 April 1953
Typescripts, 3 leaves, torn from pocket notebooks. SP probably typed the 24 March fragment in 1953; 15.5 × 9.6 cm, 21.5 × 13.9 cm, 12.5 × 6.2 cm.
1 true Confession: SP’s short story ‘I Lied for Love’.
APPENDIX 4 JOURNAL FRAGMENT 19 June 1953
Typescript on verso of yellow Street & Smith Publications memorandum paper, 1 leaf. 21.5 × 13.9 cm. Fragment from June 1953 when SP was guest managing editor of Mademoiselle in New York. SP’s annotated 1953 calendar is in the Sylvia Plath Collection at the Lilly Library, Indiana University.
1 All right, so the headlines blare the two of them are going to be killed: Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were executed on 19 June 1953 by the United States government for conspiracy of espionage.
APPENDIX 5 LETTER June – July 1953
Typescript, 3 leaves; 27.8 × 21.5 cm. Verso of leaves [2–3]: typed drafts of 3 July 1953 letters to the director of graduate schools at Columbia University requesting information about scholarships and graduate programs in education, journalism, English, and psychology.
1 Sally: Sarah Schaffer (1933–); B.A. 1954, Smith College. During the summer of 1953, Sally Schaffer shared an apartment in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with SP’s Smith classmates Jane Truslow and Marcia Brown.
APPENDIX 6 JOURNAL FRAGMENT 31 December 1955 – 1 January 1956
Typescript on lined paper with autograph manuscript corrections, 5 numbered leaves, torn from a two-hole notebook; 20.2 × 16 cm.
1 New Year’s Eve: 1956: ‘Nice: winter / Paris: spring vacation’ is written in SP’s autograph above the heading.
APPENDIX 7 JOURNAL 26 March 1956 – 5 April 1956
Typescript on lined paper with autograph manuscript corrections, 24 numbered leaves, torn from a two-hole notebook; 20.2 × 16 cm. SP visited TH at 18 Rugby Street in London at the beginning of her spring break.
1 Emmet: Emmet J. Larkin (1927–); B.A. 1950, New York University; M.A. 1951, Ph.D. 1957, Columbia University; graduate student at London School of Economics and Political Science, 1955–1956; author of James Larkin: Irish Labour Leader, 1876–1947 (Boston: M.I.T. Press, 1965). In March 1956, Emmet Larkin gave SP and his British friend Janet Drake a ride to Paris.
2 Boddy: Michael George Boddy (1934–), British; B.A. 1956, M.A. 1960, English, Queens’ College, Cambridge; friend of Daniel Huws.
APPENDIX 8 JOURNAL FRAGMENT 1 April 1956
Autograph manuscript on lined paper, 1 leaf, torn from a two-hole notebook; 20.2 × 16 cm. Verso (in SP’s autograph): ‘2 × 550 = 1 • 100’
APPENDIX 9 JOURNAL FRAGMENT 16 April 1956
Autograph manuscript on lined paper, 1 leaf, torn from a two-hole notebook; 20.2 × 16 cm.
APPENDIX 10 JOURNAL 26 June 1956 – 6 March 1961
Autograph manuscript, 70 leaves, in blue paper wrappers; 21.3 × 13 cm. Each leaf is stamped with a number in black ink. Duplicate leaves with the same number are differentiated by [a] and [b] in these notes. Leaf [a] is ruled paper and leaf [b] is blank paper. Many leaves are missing. SP used this copybook to record descriptions, creative writing ideas, poems, reading notes, and drawings.
Printed cover: Challenge Duplicate Book, 100 leaves in duplicate (Feint Ref. 6565).
Inside front cover (in TH’s autograph):
| ‘Leave Benidorm |
Arr. |
Alic Valencia’ |
| ‘" Alicante Valencia |
arr |
Barc’ |
| ‘" Barcelona |
arr |
Cerbère’ |
Inside front cover (in SP’s autograph): ‘NB – Ted – list of eccentrics at Cambridge’.
1 Café Franco-Oriental: SP’s drawings from the Café Franco-Oriental are on leaf 10[b] of the original copybook.
2 Into the still, sultry weather: ‘And is come / Into the still, sultry weather’ appears in the original copybook.
3 Until bird-racketing dawn: ‘Until sallow bird-racketing dawn / When her shrike-face / pecked open those locked lids, / (And ate) to eat crown, palace, all / That all night had (kept) safe free her male (whole.) / And with her yellow beak / Lie and suck / The last red-berried blood drop / from his trap raw heart.’ appears on the verso of leaf 17[b] of the original copybook, a draft of SP’s poem ‘The Shrike’.
4 Mrs. Nellie Meehan & Clifford, Herbert (cousin): SP originally wrote ‘Herbert (brother)’ in the original manuscript below which is the name ‘Gabert’. A fragment of lined paper filed with this copybook includes the following phrases (in SP’s autograph): ‘– Daffy: numb as a tree/ – I just got a postcard from Kathleen – she’s in The Arctic Circle –.’ Some of these phrases appear in SP’s short story ‘All the Dead Dears’.
5 Uncle W: TH’s uncle Walter Farrar; brother of Edith Farrar Hughes.
6 green tent of slender draped willow leaves: ‘green vault / tent of slender draped willow leaves’ appears in the original copybook.
7 42[a]: poem fragments are written on the verso of leaf 42[a] (in TH’s autograph) – ‘A wind off Scout Rock / Wounds many a neck; / Any neck may lack / Protection some old sock / Could provide well– / Pride prevents what’s ill us all. / I mean, using a sock. / Using of a sock, I mean, / For swaddling the glottle. / Inwardly, plying of the bottle, / Outwardly, from New York / Come a scrap of comfort / Come / Parks in New York / New York you walk / A long way from New York / Warm with the fat of Xmas Pork / If, / Over the Atlantic / Where waves are frantic / And winds at their antics / Over Atlantic / Waves frantic / Winds at their antics / Blow / or blow flutter a little / Bit lighter; and what’ll / Swaddle your glottle. / Now ply the bottle.’
8 42[b]: SP’s description of Top Withens is torn into thirds and glued onto another sheet of paper with the word ‘Howarth?’ written on the inner margin in SP’s autograph.
9 About this time: this paragraph is bracketed and starred in the inner margin of leaf 45[a].
10 On her deathbed: this paragraph is bracketed, starred, and the word ‘COLD’ is printed in the inner margin of leaf 45[b].
11 52[a]: SP attended the second day of the obscenity trial for Lady Chatterley’s Lover, held on 27 October 1960 at the Old Bailey in London. Witnesses for the defense included: Graham Goulden Hough, Dame Helen Louise Gardner, Joan Bennett, Dame Rebecca West, John A. T. Robinson (bishop of Woolwich), Vivian de Sola Pinto, Rev. Alfred Stephan Hopkinson, and Richard Hoggart.
12 Helga: Helga Kobuszewski Huws (1931–), German; married to TH’s Cambridge friend Daniel Huws.
13 Pooker: Frieda Rebecca Hughes (1960–), SP’s and TH’s daughter.
14 UCH: University College Hospital (London, England).
15 RADA: Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (London, England).
APPENDIX 11 JOURNAL June 1957 – June 1960
Autograph manuscript, 20 leaves, probably torn from a Challenge Triplicate Book; 20.8 × 13.8 cm. Each leaf is stamped with a number in blue ink. Triplicate leaves with the same number are differentiated by [a], [b], [c] in these notes. Leaf [a] is ruled paper and leaves [b] and [c] are blank paper. Many leaves are missing. The surviving pages are torn into thirds and glued onto backing paper. SP used this copybook to record descriptions, conversations, creative writing ideas, poems, and drawings.
1 Trafalgar Square: SP’s description of Trafalgar Square was probably written in June 1960, but may have been written in June of 1961 or 1962.
2 pediment: verso of leaf 97[c] (in TH’s autograph) – ‘Frontal / Blandish / Blank (rob) / Blare / Blatter / Blatant / Fetor / Replica / Ampoule / Festerer / Fiat.’
APPENDIX 12 LETTER 1 October 1957
Typescript on white paper with autograph manuscript corrections, 4 numbered pages; 21.5 × 14 cm.
1 Miss Williams: Edna Rees Williams (1899–1992); English professor, Smith College, 1930–1964; SP’s colleague, 1957–1958. Williams taught freshman English (English 11) completed by SP, 1950–1951.
APPENDIX 13 JOURNAL FRAGMENT 5 November 1957
Typescript on white paper with autograph manuscript corrections, 2 numbered leaves; 21.5 × 14 cm.
APPENDIX 14 HOSPITAL NOTES
Typescript on verso of pink Smith College memorandum paper, 5 numbered leaves; 27.8 × 21.8 cm. These case histories were typed in 1958 when SP worked at Massachusetts General Hospital’s adult psychiatric clinic.
1 HOSPITAL NOTES: ‘5.P.’ is written after this heading in an unidentified hand. Surnames are omitted throughout this appendix by the editor.
APPENDIX 15 JOURNAL 1962
Typescript on lined legal-size paper with autograph manuscript corrections, 34 pages (5 blank); 33 × 21.5 cm. SP’s descriptions of her Devonshire neighbors were typed over a period of months. They are arranged thematically by the editor as SP did not indicate a specific order.
1 NICOLA (16): SP typed the phrase ‘on April 14, 1962.’ above Nicola Tyrer’s name and age. Presumably, Nicola Tyrer’s sixteenth birthday was on 14 April 1962.
2 Baskin article: TH’s introduction to Leonard Baskin: Woodcuts and Wood-engravings (London: RWS Galleries, 1962).
3 John Wain: English writer John Barrington Wain (1925–1994).
4 Marvin Kane: American-born actor and author Marvin Kane (1929–). Kane interviewed SP in North Tawton on 10 April 1962 and again on 20 August 1962. A World of Sound was broadcast on 7 September 1962 by the BBC Home Service as part of a seven-programme series with the overall title What Made You Stay? The series was about Americans like Kane and SP who had decided to live in England. SP and Kane also read poems for the BBC Third Programme, 1960–1963.
5 Hilda and Vicky: TH’s aunt Hilda A. Farrar (1908–); mother of TH’s cousin Victoria Farrar (1938–).
6 ROSE & PERCY KEY (68): ‘13.R.’ is written after this heading in an unidentified hand.
An annotated daily calendar for 1962 (Letts Royal Office Tablet Diary, 1 January 1962 – 5 January 1963) is part of the Sylvia Plath Collection at Smith College along with letters, drafts of poems, and a final typescript of ‘ARIEL and other poems by Sylvia Plath’.