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Letters to John Cowper Powys from his mother Mary Cowper Powys (1), 1914, his sister-in-law Violet Powys (wife of Theodore Francis Powys) (1) (partial), [c. 1915], his father the Reverend Charles Francis Powys (2), 1918, his sister-in-law Alyse Gregory (wife of Llewelyn Powys) (7), 1924-1925, 1929, 1939-1940, 1960, his brother Llewelyn Powys (4), 1925, 1927 and undated, his sister-in-law Mabel Powys (first wife of Littleton Charles Powys) (2), [1939] and undated, his sister Katie (Philippa) Powys (1 + 1 postcard), 1941, 1949; his sisters Gertrude Powys, Lucy Penny and 'Marz' [?Marian Powys] (1 telegram), 1942; his brother Littleton Charles Powys (1 telegram), [1942]; his sister Lucy Penny (1, with an enclosed letter from Lucy to Phyllis Playter) 1946; his companion Phyllis Playter (1), undated; his son Littleton Alfred Powys (1 [?Christmas card]), undated; and Ernest Angell (aka Peter Grey), father of Powys's nephew Peter Powys Grey (1), undated; also an envelope (contents removed) from his sister Marian Powys (1954).

Twenty-two letters, 1951-1952, to John Cowper Powys from his sister, Gertrude Powys, containing mostly personal and family news, including Gertrude's response to a piece for radio broadcast by John Cowper Powys relating to their brother Llewelyn Powys ('Lulu'), who died in 1939, and to reading John Cowper Powys's novel Porius (published 1951), and Gertrude's and her sister Philippa (Katie)'s memories and reflections on their mother, Mary Cowper Powys. There is an ink drawing by Gertrude of 'Mr Kent' [?her brother Littleton Charles Powys's landlord] on f. 19. Enclosures comprise three letters to Phyllis Playter from Gertrude, two letters to Gertrude from her sister-in-law Elizabeth (wife of her brother William Ernest ('Willie') Powys), two letters to John Cowper Powys from Katie Powys, and one letter to Phyllis Playter from Katie Powys. Written at the head of the final letter in this collection is a note signed 'J' which reads: 'This is our Gertrude's last letter she must have died soon after writing this.'

Correspondence and other papers, 1962, 1967-[1990], relating to the publication, disposal and literary copyright of the works and manuscripts of John Cowper Powys, with one letter (f. 4) relating to the disposal of Theodore Francis Powys letters. The material includes forty-six letters (some of which are photocopies), 1980-1990, to Francis Llewellyn Powys from Bertram Rota Ltd, booksellers, London, together with three letters, 1984, and two undated drafts to Anthony Rota from Francis Llewellyn Powys; eight letters, 1972-1973, to Phyllis Playter from Michelmores, solicitors, Exeter and four letters, 1972, 1974, to Phyllis Playter from Wilfred T. Fry Ltd, taxation consultants, Exeter relating to the transfer of John Cowper Powys's literary copyright from Phyllis Playter to Francis Llewellyn Powys; three notebooks, [1980s-1990s], of Francis Llewellyn Powys containing draft letters, some of which are addressed to Gerald Pollinger of Laurence Pollinger Ltd, literary agents, London; a list of books in Alyse Gregory's library; etc.

Photocopies of one hundred and five letters, [1883, 1902, 1906-1907, 1909, 1912, 1914-1919, 1921-1933], 1935-1936, 1938, 1941-1949, 1951, from John Cowper Powys to his brother Theodore Francis Powys, the earliest of which was written by John Cowper Powys from Sherborne School, together with a typescript copy of one letter, 1947, possibly made by Phyllis Playter (f. 317), and one letter, 1956, from John Cowper Powys to Violet Powys, widow of Theodore (ff. 340-342). A substantial portion of the letters are undated, with likely dates (and other notes) added in pencil by Morine Krissdottir. The letters contain mostly personal, professional and family news and some are illustrated with John Cowper Powys's drawings. Enclosures comprise a photocopy of a printed article containing a review of Theodore Powys's The House with the Echo (1928) and photocopies of letters to John Cowper Powys from Barnet B. Ruder and Reginald Moore. The originals of these letters are housed in Texas. The photocopies were made by Jeffrey Kwintner and given to Morine Krissdottir.

Photocopies of sixty letters, 1948-1952, 1954, from John Cowper Powys to the poet Huw Menai (Huw Owen Williams), including two letters, 1952, dictated by John Cowper Powys to Phyllis Playter. The letters include references to works in progress, health matters, house-hunting in Blaenau Ffestiniog, and family news, including the death of Phyllis Playter's mother in 1953 and of Powys's son Littleton Alfred in 1954. Enclosed with one letter is a photocopy of a letter of invitation to an official lunch from the Mayor of Merthyr Tydfil to Huw Menai (f. 111). Some of the letters are illustrated with Powys's ink drawings, which include caricatures of himself and of Huw Menai, the latter sometimes depicted as a sea-serpent. Together with four poems by Huw Menai, one of which (dated 23rd February 1956) is dedicated to John Cowper Powys and includes notes on the poem.

Seven notebooks, [1970s-1990s], of Francis Llewellyn Powys, one of which has most of the leaves and the front cover missing with the volume inverted and the text written from the rear, mostly relating to the proposed publication of John Cowper Powys's letters and diaries. They contain draft letters, a short autobiographical piece (f. 68), what appears to be a draft of a driver's insurance claim (ff. 1, 2, 3), personal accounts, arithmetical calculations and rough memoranda. Two of the notebooks (ff. 85- 221) contain notes detailing receipt of royalties from publication, film adaptations, etc. of John Cowper Powys's and Theodore Francis Powys's works. Some of the notebooks contain rough sketches and drawings and there is evidence of watercolour paint mixing on f. 83. Also included are an undated draft letter from Francis Llewellyn Powys to Denzil de Silva of Laurence Pollinger Ltd, literary agents, London, relating to sales and royalties of some of John Cowper Powys's works and a copy of a letter, 1976, to Phyllis Playter, but marked for the attention of Francis Llewellyn Powys, from Laurence Pollinger Ltd, on the back of which Francis has written rough arithmetical calculations and a draft letter, probably his intended response to Pollinger's letter.

Eighty letters, 1971-1973, to Francis Llewellyn Powys from Laurence Pollinger Ltd, literary agents, London, concerning the publication and translation of, and copyright, literary copyright, royalties, etc. relating to, the works and other papers (eg letters) of John Cowper Powys. Most of the letters are signed by Laurence Pollinger. Some rough arithmetical calculations are written on the reverse of some of the letters in Francis Llewellyn Powys's hand. Enclosures include copies of letters, 1971, 1973, to Phyllis Playter from Laurence Pollinger, a copy of a letter, 1973, to Laurence Pollinger from Phyllis Playter, and a copy of a press review of Essays on John Cowper Powys ([ed. Belinda Humfrey, 1972]). Four of the letters contain references to an alleged incidence of plagiarism (ff. 44, 46-8, 71, 78). Also included are two letters, 1971, 1972, to Francis Llewellyn Powys from the author Malcolm Elwin, a letter, 1973, to Francis Llewellyn Powys from Anthony Ward of K. A. Ward, publisher and bookseller, Essex, and an undated draft letter to 'Miss M' (possibly Yvonne Muller of Laurence Pollinger Ltd) from Francis Llewellyn Powys.

Eighteen letters, 1963, 1969-1970, to Francis Llewellyn Powys and ten letters, 1970, to Phyllis Playter from Laurence Pollinger Ltd, literary agents, London, concerning the publication of, and copyright, royalties, performance rights, etc. relating to, the works and other papers (eg letters and diaries) of John Cowper Powys. Almost all the letters are signed by Laurence Pollinger. Amongst the enclosed items are a copy of a letter, 1969, to Laurence Pollinger from Phyllis Playter, copies of five letters, 1970, to Phyllis Playter from Laurence Pollinger, copies of six letters, 1970, to Laurence Pollinger from Anthony Rota of Bertram Rota Ltd, publishers, London, and a copy of a letter, 1970, to Laurence Pollinger from Francis Llewellyn Powys. Also included is one [?]incomplete letter to Laurence Pollinger from Francis Llewellyn Powys, one letter, 1970, to Francis Llewellyn Powys from the author Malcolm Elwin, and two draft letters, 1970, from Francis Llewellyn Powys to unspecified recipients, one of which relates to a personal insurance policy.

Miscellaneous material of or relating to Father Littleton Alfred Powys, son of John Cowper Powys. They comprise Littleton Alfred's baptismal certificate, [1914]; his Declaration of Ordination, 1927, 1928; birthday greetings to him from his mother Margeret Powys, 1930; a press cutting relating to his service as army chaplain during the Second World War; a holograph copy of his poem 'The Sound'; four photographs showing a procession of nuns and children from Nympsfield Orphanage, Dursley, Gloucestershire, 1950 (with notes on dorse by Littleton Alfred); an undated photograph of Dinah White, close friend of Littleton Alfred, with Dinah's name inscribed on the back cover in Phyllis Playter's hand; press obituaries (one in Welsh) of Littleton Alfred Powys, [1954], including one taken from The Beda Review; an envelope containing an embroidered handkerchief and photograph [?of Littleton Alfred], undated, the envelope inscribed 'From Littleton Alfred's Silver Box' in Phyllis Playter's hand; a copy, in the hand of Littleton Charles Powys (Littleton Alfred's uncle), of a letter from Dinah White, dated 22 August 1954, to Littleton Charles, together with typescript notes by Littleton Charles on Littleton Alfred's poem 'Ode to the West Wind', including public response to the work (see also NLW MS 24061D); and a printed copy of Littleton Alfred's poem 'Ode to the West Wind', at the back of which is inserted a press cutting from The Listener, 24 June 1954, relating to Theodore Francis Powys's possible influence on Dylan Thomas's 'Under Milk Wood'. There is a note in Morine Krissdottir's hand on f. 8.

Miscellaneous items of or relating to John Cowper Powys, comprising printed signed confirmations by Henry Barclay Swete, Regius Professor of Divinity at Cambridge, and Herbert Edward Ryle, Hulsean Professor of Divinity at Cambridge, that Powys attended a course of their lectures during 1892 and 1893, with a note by Powys's father the Reverend Charles Francis Powys; Powys's certificate of rejection from the Army Medical Board, 29 May 1918 (signed by Powys); an envelope inscribed by Powys 'Little Objects of unknown value belong to me' containing various receipts, 1919, a cheque dated 22 May 1919 made out to Powys's wife Margaret Powys, a printed calling card of Mrs T. Oatley Bennett, an envelope containing butterfly antennae (the contents noted on the envelope by Powys), and an undated newspaper cutting detailing accommodation to let; an immigration visa (as nonquota returning immigrant) dated 2 September 1924, which is signed by Powys and displays a photograph of him; a printed announcement of a testimonial dinner held in honour of Powys, 29 May 1929; a prescription note for Powys from Dr Max Einhorn of New York City to Dr C. Thomas, dated 15 March 1930, suggesting a diagnosis of excess stomach acid and possible gastric ulcer; a poem by William J. Williams ('The Catholic') entitled L'Ours' written out in Powys's hand; a watercoloured ink drawing by Powys depicting caricatures of Owain Glyndŵr, Hitler, a sea-serpent (possibly the poet Huw Owen Williams (Huw Menai), whom Powys often depicted in this guise) holding the sword Excalibur, and Powys himself (bottom left); a pocket diary for 1949 containing mainly names and addresses and memoranda, with a photograph on f. 22 inscribed on the back by Powys 'Sammy Clemens great nephew or great cousin of Mark Twain!!'; an address book, with occasional entries also by Phyllis Playter; a caricatured ink drawing of Powys and Phyllis Playter by Powys, dated 29 April 1951; a copy of Blaenau Observed A Broadcast Poem (Dock Leaves Press, 1957) by Raymond Garlick, inscribed 'Raymond Garlick 30:XII:57'; a list written on headed British Museum paper 'For John Cowper Powys, from some admirers of his genius' (comprising Museum staff and University lecturers); an invitation to attend a Buckingham Palace garden party held on 20 July 1961; an address book, with occasional entries also by Phyllis Playter; printed cards 'to his Friends' announcing that Powys would no longer be writing letters 'owing to the Physical and Mental Infirmities of Old Age'; a certificate and related material from the University of Wales, Cardiff conferring (in absentia) on Powys the honourary degree of D.Litt., July 1962; a list of household expenses in Powys's hand, showing that 'stationary & Postage' was the single greatest expense for the period in question; and a typescript copy of a radio broadcast, dated 24 May 1976, entitled A Glastonbury Romance, written and read by P. J. Kavanagh. Together with an undated poem entitled Forum Romanum by Frances Gregg, with whom Powys had a relationship prior to settling down with Phyllis Playter, and two typescript biographical pieces on the novelist, pamphleteer and physician Louis Ferdinand Auguste Destouches (Louis-Ferdinand Céline), one of which is by Powys translator Marie Canavaggia (undated) and the other by 'J. C[?anavaggia], dated June 1962.

Early poems by John Cowper Powys, some in draft form. They include a poem addressed to Powys's mother (ff. 1-4), one booklet labelled 'Very early poems by J.C.P.' (ff. 5-7), one poem dated August 1904 (ff. 8-9), another inscribed 'Sherborne Abbey - March 18th 1888. J.C.P. aged 16 or 15' (f. 11), and one poem in Latin (f. 19). Together with an envelope bearing a note of its (former) contents in Phyllis Playter's hand.

Draft manuscript and some typescript poems by John Cowper Powys, including one poem (f. 3) in the hand of Phyllis Playter.

Unpublished poems by John Cowper Powys, all but one (typescript) of which are in manuscript, some in draft form. Attached (f. 1) is a note in Phyllis Playter's hand regarding date of production.

A typescript copy of an unfinished study by John Cowper Powys of Aristophanes' play The Acharnians, together with an envelope, in which the typescript was originally kept, bearing a note on the contents in the hand of Phyllis Playter. The manuscript of the work is in the Powys Collection at Dorset County Museum. The text was published in 1984.

A manuscript draft of John Cowper Powys's story 'The owl, the duck, and "Miss Rowe! Miss Rowe!"' (Chicago, 1930), which differs from the published version. Ff. 32-35, also in manuscript draft form, are in the hand of Phyllis Playter.

Sixty envelopes, 1938-1945, 1947, 1950-1951, 1953-1954, 1956-1959 and indiscernible/missing postmarks, addressed to C. Benson Roberts, fifty-seven of which are from John Cowper Powys, two from Phyllis Playter and one (f. 58) from an unidentified correspondent; and twenty-one envelopes, 1958-1961, addressed to Susanne Lane, with one (f. 75) to Cyril J. Lane, from John Cowper Powys. The contents of the envelopes have been removed. These items were purchased with the letters contained in NLW MSS 23493-23498E, 23499D and should be considered as part of that collection.

Four letters, 1929, [1932], from John Cowper Powys to Phyllis Playter's mother Minnie H. Playter, with one letter addressed to Minnie Playter and Phyllis Playter. The letters include references to the death of Toby [?a dog or cat], the acquisition of British rights to the publication of Powys's novel A Glastonbury Romance (1933), and mention of "my little Philosopy Book", possibly A Philosophy of Solitude, published in 1933. F. 2-verso is in Phyllis Playter's hand. The envelopes and all but one letter are annotated by Powys biographer Morine Krissdottir.

Carbon copies of one hundred and twenty-three typed letters (three of which are incomplete), 1916-1919, 1922-1923, 1927-1946 and undated, to John Cowper Powys from the poet Edgar Lee Masters, containing mostly discussions of Masters's own and others' writings and his responses to John Cowper Powys's works, with a reference also to the death of John Cowper Powys's brother Llewelyn Powys in 1939. Some of the copies bear annotations in Phyllis Playter's hand. Also included is a press cutting, dated 24 August 1949, relating to Masters's eightieth birthday and a list of crossed-out dates - probably relating to the sending or receipt of letters - in Phyllis Playter's hand.

Three letters, 1962-1963, to John Cowper Powys from John Redwood Anderson, one of which includes a note to Phyllis Playter from Anderson's wife Gwyneth. Enclosures comprise one letter from Anderson to Phyllis Playter and typed copies of poems by Gwyneth Redwood Anderson (f. 15). Also included are advertising flyers (ff. 1-3) for Anderson's book While the Fates Allow (1962), a typescript English translation of Iorwerth Peate's review of While the Fates Allow (published in Y Cymro, 10 August 1962) (ff. 7-9), a letter, 1963 (ff. 16-verso), from Anderson to Gerard [ ? ] following the death of John Cowper Powys, and two photographs (ff. 17-18) of Anderson.

Seventeen letters, 1958, to John Cowper Powys from John Redwood Anderson, several of which contain comments on John Cowper Powys's novel Homer and the Aether (1959), and three of which include notes to John Cowper Powys and to Phyllis Playter from Anderson's wife Gwyneth Anderson. Enclosures comprise a letter to John Cowper Powys from Gwyneth Anderson, typed copies of poems by John and Gwyneth Redwood Anderson, and a typed copy of a translation by John Redwood Anderson of No XXVI of Les Heures d'Après-midi by Emile Verhaeren. There are notes in John Cowper Powys's hand on f. 77 verso. Also included are typescript drafts (ff. 78-82) of part of John Cowper Powys's novel Homer and the Aether (1959), together with a typescript copy of Anderson's own prose translation of Chapter III of Homer's Iliad (ff. 83-90).