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Finding Aid - First Accrual
Finding Aid - Second Accrual

Carlyle, Thomas, 1795-1881

Thomas Carlyle collection. -- 1819-1968; 1819-1880 predominant. -- 50 cm of textual records and graphic material.

Thomas Carlyle, historian, biographer, essayist and translator, born in Ecclefechan, Dumfriesshire on 4 December 1795. He was educated at Annan Academy and at the University of Edinburgh. His great work was a six volume history of Frederick the Great, published between 1858-65. He died in London on 4 February 1881.

There are two accruals. The first accrual is arranged into 3 series: Thomas Carlyle correspondence, other Carlyle family correspondence, other materials. The second accrual measures 12 cm and is concerned with Thomas Carlyle's nephew, also named Thomas Carlyle (1833-1921). It consists of correspondence, financial statements, photographs, notebooks and photocopies of diaries. The second accrual also contains books which have been separately catalogued.To supplement this collection, the library has a microfilm copy of the letters from Alexander Carlyle to his brother Thomas dating from 1819 to 1854, and letters from John Aitken Carlyle to Thomas dating from 1827 to 1847. The originals of these letters are in the National Library of Scotland.

Title based on the content of the collection.

Second accrual (25-1996) was obtained from Ethelwyn Carlyle of Brantford, Ontario in 1996.
Finding aid is available in hard copy and electronically. The finding aid to the first accrual is supplemented by an index to the various correspondents on cards. This index includes postscripts as well as complete letters written by individuals. The index also contains publication details, if applicable.
There are no access restrictions.
Further accruals are expected.

Contact: archives@mcmaster.ca
Last Reviewed: May 15, 2003
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