One of my favorite collections that we have is the Browning Collection, composed of the published works, manuscripts, love letters, and other items belonging to Victorian poets Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Robert Browning. If you’ve ever visited Special Collections, you may have noticed the stately brown door to the left of the main entrance. This is the actual front door to the Barrett House at 50 Wimpole Street in London, and the golden mail slot is where the love letters between Elizabeth and Robert passed through. It is a lovely reminder every time you come to Special Collections of the richness and history of its holdings.
Mail slot of Barrett House door from 50 Wimpole Street, London
Gift of Mrs. Charles F. Griffith
A year ago today the digitized manuscripts of the 573 courtship letters exchanged between Elizabeth and Robert were made available to the public for free as part of a collaborative project between Wellesley College and Baylor University.
Today we wanted to celebrate Valentine’s Day by sharing with you one of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s most famous sonnets about love–“How do I love thee?” We have many editions of her sonnets, but we’ve chosen one that is especially beautiful to share with you.
From Sonnets from the Portuguese (Boston: Ticknor & Company, 1886)
Gift of Fannie Browning (originally given to her by Robert Browning)
We hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day, and we encourage you to visit the online collection and read some of the beautiful courtship letters in the handwriting of their authors!
Erin Corcoran
Wellesley ‘13
Student Assistant, Special Collections