Conditions Governing Use

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from the Curator of Manuscripts and Rare Books, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Preferred Citation

May Sarton papers, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchased using the Special Collections Research Center Fund.

Biographical / Historical

May Sarton (1912–1995) was an American poet, novelist, and memoirist, celebrated for her introspective and lyrical explorations of human emotions and relationships. Born Eleanor Marie Sarton in Wondelgem, Belgium, she spent her early years in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Sarton's literary career spanned several decades, and her work often delved into themes of love, solitude, and the human experience. Some of her notable poetry collections include "Encounter in April" (1937), "Inner Landscape" (1969), and "Collected Poems, 1930-1993" (1993). One of her most famous works is the memoir "Journal of a Solitude" (1973), in which she reflects on her life, creativity, and the challenges of maintaining a sense of self in the face of societal expectations. Sarton's writing emphasized a keen sensitivity to the nuances of human relationships and an unflinching examination of her own emotional landscapes.

Content Description

Letters from May Sarton to Evelyn Phoup, including a get-well card, a Valentine's Day card, photographs, and a condolence card to Jean Hudson regarding the death of Evelyn Phaup.

Separated Material

The following titles have been transferred to the Rare Book Collection:

Sarton, May, et al. The Fur Person / by May Sarton ; Illustrations by Barbara Knox. Illustrated by Barbara Knox, Rinehart & Company, 1957. https://wm.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01COWM_INST/oaj29m/alma991018283379703196

Sarton, Eleanor Mabel, et al. Letters to May. Puckerbrush Press, 1986. https://wm.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01COWM_INST/oaj29m/alma991034138753603196

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• American poetry--20th century
• Lesbians -- United States
• Novelists, American
• Novelists, American--20th century
• Women authors, American--20th century