OPIE MSS.
The Opie mss., 1952-1959, consist of letters from Gershon Legman primarily to Peter Opie, dealing frequently with folklore and jest origins. Included is a form letter, dated 29 February 1956, requesting help in preparing a "comprehensive collection of American and British ballads and folk songs...generally omitted from published collections because of their sexual forthrightness." An autograph limerick by Gershon, unsigned but with a penciled note by Peter Opie confirming the source as "the editor" (i.e. editor of The Limerick: 1700 Examples with Notes, Variants and Index).
The final item in the collection is the printer's manuscript for The Lore and Language of Schoolchildren, by Iona and Peter Opie (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1959) (Lilly GR475.O67 1959).
A folder list is available.
Purchase. Justin G. Schiller, Ltd. New York, NY 2002
Folder List
- folder 1: Letters, 1952-1957, from Gershon Legman to Peter and Iona Opie (11 items)
- also: "A student of mine is named Gorey...," limerick, by Legman. 1954 A.D. 1p.
- folders 2-7: Printer's manuscript for The Lore and Language of Schoolchildren , by Iona and Peter Opie (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1959). T.D. xiii, 516p. 28cm.
Collection size: 13 items