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Senate House Library, University of London

Spencer, Herbert: letter, 31 May 1852

IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 0096 AL467

Held at: Senate House Library, University of London

Title: Spencer, Herbert: letter, 31 May 1852

Date(s): 1852

Level of description: Collection

Extent: 1 leaf

Name of creator(s): Spencer | Herbert | 1820-1903 | philosopher

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

Herbert Spencer was born in Derby and educated at Derby Grammar School and privately by his uncle, Rev Thomas Spencer, in Somerset. Instead of going to university, he trained as a civil engineer and spent several years working for railway companies. He dabbled in mechanical inventing and read widely before becoming a journalist for The Economist in London (1848-1853). Inheriting money on his uncle Thomas's death, he was able to pursue an independent writing career, producing several works of sociology and philosophy. His views are now seen as largely conforming to classical liberalism.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Letter from Herbert Spencer of 340 Strand, [London] to Robert Chambers, 31 May 1852. Covering note enclosing a copy of Spencer's pamphlet A theory of population (1852). Autograph, with signature. The front wrapper of the pamphlet is inscribed to Chambers.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English

System of arrangement:

See hard copy catalogue

Conditions governing access:

Access to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Please contact the University Archivist for details. 24 hours notice is required for research visits.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.

Physical characteristics:

Finding aids:

Typescript catalogue available in the Library's Palaeography Room.

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

See archivist

Immediate source of acquisition:

Found inserted in a copy of Spencer's A theory of population (1852) [no 1 copy] - classmark: [G.L.] 1852

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

Presumably, Miss Treadwell retained the original letters after relinquishing these copies; the current whereabouts of the original letters is unknown.

Related material:

Publication note:

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Archivist's note: Compiled by Anya Turner.