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Papers of A. S. F. Gow
GOW · Fonds · 1887-1978

Personal material of A. S. F. Gow is catalogued under (A): this includes early biographical material he compiled for his nephew Sir Michael Gow, two photograph albums, and correspondence, particularly letters (1907-1920) from William Ridgeway. There is also a handwritten biography, perhaps by Gow, of Cyril Mowbray Wells with other material relating to Wells.

Academic papers, (B), include notes on classical texts, (?1928-1951) some for lectures given by Gow, and items found with the notes, as well as part of Gow's dissertation for a Fellowship at Trinity in 1911.

(C) comprises articles by Gow,"A Cambridge Seal Box of the Seventeenth Century" (1934); "Sir Stephen Gaselee, 1882-1943 - a memoir" (1944), with related material including correspondence, press clippings and so on. (E) consists of items removed from the printed books left by Gow to Trinity College Library (now catalogued under the shelfmark GOW), including correspondence, photographs, press clippings and reviews.

Material related to A. E. Housman (F) includes Gow's "A. E. Housman - a biographical sketch" (1936), along with related items such as corrections, reviews (1936-1938) and correspondence (1936-1963); a letter to J. W. Mackail by Housman, 25 Aug 1922, with a draft copy of his "Last Poems" and comments on it, and portrait sketches of Housman, some inscribed to him by William Rothenstein. There are also newspaper reviews of Housman's inaugural lecture as Professor of Latin at University College (1892, published in 1937) and of his edition of Manilius (1938). Items relating to Housman removed from printed books left by Gow to the Library also fall under this class; several of these are letters from the authors of books on Housman to Gow, such as Laurence Housman, Percy Withers, John Carter and Henry Maas.

Items related to academic societies and institutions fall under the (G) class: reports by the Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies (1899-1904) and the British School at Rome (1904-1919); accounts of excavations in Cyprus from the Journal of Hellenic Studies (1887-1891).

Finally, there are six bound volumes with Gow's bookplate (H) containing transcripts of Housman's lectures. Five are typescript: three transcripts of Housman's notes now in Cambridge University Library, "The Application of Thought to Textual Criticism" (containing note of thanks to Gow from 'B[ertram] G[oulding] B[rown]), "Ovid, Heroides I-IV" and "Ovid, Heroides VI-XII" (with additional MS notes by Gow); "Horace, Odes I-III" (transcript of notes taken at Housman's lectures by S. L. Franklyn in 1932, corrections from Housman's lecture notes by B. Goulding Brown 1940-1941); "Plautus, Captivi" (transcript of Housman's notes lent to assessors in the Classical Tripos part II, 1932). The last volume contains MS lecture notes by Gow on Housman's "The Application of Thought to Textual Criticism" (1292), "Notes on Martial", and an index; loose inside, a printed sheet of extracts from Manilius', with M. S. additions in pencil, and M.S. notes by Housman.

Gow, Andrew Sydenham Farrar (1886-1978), classical scholar
Add. MS c/103/43 · Item · 18 Mar. 1906
Part of Additional Manuscripts c

Says that she has often felt lately as if she were very lazy 'doing nothing but move about under a real Italian sky, looking at interesting things' while Nora is 'enveloped in work'. Refers to Edith Sharpley, from whom she presumes Nora has heard news of Gardner's visit to Italy. Reports that she had 'a delightful visit to Pompeii', and that her sister and one of her nieces have been there [in Rome] with her for the last week.

States that her brother [Percy Gardner's] lectures are very well attended, but laments the state of the British School in Rome. Expresses her gratitude for the copy of Henry Sidgwick: A Memoir., which she enjoyed reading it very much, and which Percy is reading it now. Would very much like to write a review of it, but fears that she does not have enough influence with any editor to secure its publication. Declares that one feeling that the book inspired in her was the desire for more. Remarks that some of Henry's traits, which were very noticeable to those who knew him less well, seem to be 'kept too much in the background': gives as an example the manner in which he tried to ignore his stammer. Refers also to 'his freedom from conventionality in small things.' Claims that the above all belonged to the characteristic that 'is made, in the Memoir, the key to his whole life: his persistent preference in all things for perfect truthfulness.'

Recalls the 'rather critical occasions' in her life when she had a private talk with Henry, 'which helped in determining [her] subsequent course'. Includes in these occasions her first arrival at Newnham, and recalls that it was Henry who interviewed her and 'who interpreted [her] desire as for the study of Kulturgeschichte', and also when she was unsure whether she should leave Bedford College to come to Newnham. Refers also to having, at Nora's suggestion, consulted him as to whether she should write about John the Scot. Adds that she would have to write at much greater length if she wanted to say in what ways both his teaching and his life as Nora records it are among the greatest possessions she [Gardner] has.