Showing 30 results

The Rector, Exeter College, Oxford - Admires how Frazer keeps up his work despite his handicap; wishes his own book on Tylor was better, but was pressured with space constraints and instructions to be critical, which he felt was 'indecent', given how much Oxford owes Tylor.

10 Wood Lane, Highgate, London, N.6. - Thanks her for the printed copy of Sir James' acceptance of the Freedom of Glasgow; wonders what would have happened had Sir James gone to Balliol, 'faced the High Church flood, and engaged in the raging controversies of philosophy'; finds himself in their University [having been named William Wyse Professor of Social Anthropology]; rejoices Frazer has paid tribute to Tylor, whom he knew, and to Robertson Smith, a great scholar whose work he admires greatly.

4 The University, Glasgow - Thanks them for their hospitality; found Marett's [Frazer] lecture to be most useful, particularly his defence of Tylor's theory.

E. & A. Antiquities, British Museum. Dated 13 November 1902 - Does not know if E. B. Tylor's theory about figures [on the Assyrian reliefs in the British Museum as the King fertilising the palm tree] is accepted by orientalists generally; sends the reference to the paper's publication; Tylor explains the object they are holding; answers Frazer's questions about fir trees, and eagle-headed figures.

Highgarth, Gloucester - Sends [Frank] Jevons' article [not present]; says not to worry about [E. B.] Tylor, who is immersed in his Gifford Lectures; is glad [Franz] Cumont sent the note [about the Acts of St Dasius], is amused [Andrew] Lang misunderstands others despite complaining that others misunderstand him.

From the Rector, Exeter College, Oxford - Thanks her for her valentine, will now think of her as his Flaminica; marvels at how quickly 'The Times' moved to publish his review of 'Aftermath'; busy with estate management affairs [at Oxford]; has agreed to write a book on Tylor, whose relations are not helpful; will give a Presidential Address to the Sociological Institute in which he will tell them to leave the subject of Race to the anthropologists.

Highgarth, Gloucester - Doesn't feel they have enough evidence to say what the origin of totemism is; doesn't see a clear line between magic and religion; mentions Baldwin Spencer's letter which points in favour of Frazer's theory; asks if he has read [Jesse] Fewkes' article on the Owakülti Altar at Sichomovi Pueblo; agrees with Frazer about [Andrew] Lang's use of [Alfred] Howitt and [Henry] Roth; is surprised to hear the story about [E. B.] Tylor wishing to supress a chapter in Spencer and Gillen's book; agrees with Frazer about [Frank] Jevons' difficulty because he generalized too soon; will write to [George] Theal.

Leams End, West Hoathly, East Grinstead, Sussex - Thanks her for the Downie biography; was struck that it was reading Tylor that first put him on the path to anthropology, as Tylor was important to him as well; admires the Latin epilogue to 'The Gorgon's Head': Frazer writes in two dead languages, Latin and English; has retired from the Museum.

Strafford House, Aldeburgh, Suffolk. Dated 30/9/06 - Thanks him for 'Adonis, Attis and Osiris', and makes suggestions for further sources to consult, concerning examples of dismembered gods and the propitiation of slain animals; quotes a letter from Edwin Pears about Rhodes; remarks on the interpretation of data in and through the processes of spiritual Evolution; [Henry Thomas?] Buckle had glimmerings but was 'just pre-Darwinian, and there lies the dividing line marking the profound Revolution'; found [E. B.] Tylor in broken health two months back.

The Shiffolds, Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking. - Is sorry for leaving behind the books; thanks her for sending them on. Has tried to find out about the symbol of the serpent biting its tail: copies out a passage from [Edward Burnett] Tylor's "Primitive Culture; mentions the article on serpent-worship in the "Encyclopaedia Britannica" by S. A. Cook; and cites the treatment of the snake in Frazer's "Folklore of the Old Testament". Also discusses her husband's wish to use 'Sapph' as a diminutive for Sappho, which Hermann supports, and talks about the possible influence of the Lesbian dialect; however, he feels 'Sapph' might look odd and more like a misprint. He and his wife very much enjoyed their visit to the Bridges. Is very glad to have seen the later poems of their daughter [Elizabeth].

Wadhurst, Sussex. Dated October 8, 1888 - Thanks him for 'Totemism'; is sending his questions to two missionary friends, and will be able to check their answers against one another; thanks him for his offer of help in publishing his book; hopes [E. B.] Tylor will give him advice; doesn't think there is any idea of a deposit of life in the 'tamaniu'.

1 Marloes Road, Kensington, W. - Shares what he has learned about the Hirpi fire trick; sent an Australian MS on crystal gazing to the Folklore Society from [W. A.?] Squire; refers to Tylor's objection of calling sacred beasts 'Totems' but thinks it is an objection merely of terminology.

Linden, Wellington, Somerset. Dated September 6, 1898 - Has received his letter and says that he needs to look at his books before he can say more about George Wilken's paper on Animal and Plant Souls as compared to Frazer's 'Golden Bough'; has been writing to Macmillan about compressing [Baldwin] Spencer's book.

The Museum House, Oxford. Dated September 15, 1898 - Regrets raising the Baldwin Spencer question [of compressing part of Spencer and Gillen's book, 'The Native Tribes of Central Australia'] as it is so late in the process.

The Museum House, Oxford. Dated October 8, 1898 - Continues to discuss the correct attribution of a theory of totemism to Wilken's 'Animism'; thinks the Spencer book ['The Native Tribes of Central Australia'] must go through as it began.

The Museum House, Oxford. Dated October 14, 1898 - Continues to discuss [George] Wilken's theory, has not been able to consult the original paper, has submitted his own paper making it clear that Frazer's argument was preceded by Wilken.

Trinity College, Cambridge. Dated 16 October, 1898 - Replies to Tylor's letter that he is altering a statement in his paper about Frazer's citation of Wilken in his work, and maintains that he did not know Wilken's 'De Betrekking' when he wrote GB; thinks Tylor does not believe him, and in case the correspondence is to stop he expresses his great obligation to him.

The Museum House, Oxford. Dated October 19, 1898 - Regrets that Frazer thinks he is implying he is untruthful, and believes what he says about which source of [George] Wilken's he used, but thinks in the second edition of GB he should make clearer his debt to Wilken's work.

Trinity College, Cambridge. Dated 20 October, 1898 - Thanks him for his letter in which Tylor said he believed his account of using [George] Wilken's work; is grateful for Wilken for opening up to him the field of ethnological research in the Dutch East Indies; describes the work he is doing now in Dutch literature in preparation for a new edition of GB.

The Museum House, Oxford. Dated November 1, 1905 - Thanks him for 'Lectures on the Early History of the Kingship'; has heard from Baron v. Hügel about wanting to get the Anthropological Museum at Cambridge enlarged.

The Museum House, Oxford. Dated October 23, 1907 - Thanks him for his 'Folk-lore in the Old Testament', is interested in the 'souls in bags' and rag-tree; wanted to go to Cambridge to a club meeting but his wife [Anna] wouldn't let him; is writing one final volume which he hopes will have a few new things; doesn't think Animism will be worked out in their time.

Quedley, Haslemere. Dated September 27, 1907 - Admires the little book of 'Questions [on the Customs, Beliefs, and Languages of Savages']; finds it curious how many pleasures of life continue unimpaired, despite his age of 85 1/2; fears [E. B.] Tylor must regret his inability to 'do justice to his own large collections, by finishing his projected work on the origins of religion'.

Inch-ma-home, Cambridge. Dated 19 April, 1901 - [Franz] Cumont sent a copy of a defense of the Acts of St Dasius; regrets that [Andrew] Lang is publishing a book and has not been in contact since writing the 'Fortnightly' articles; he had not heard of [F. B.] Jevons' article, and notes that [E. B.] Tylor hasn't written to acknowledge the book Frazer sent; could not vouch for Miss Lister's information; there is no need to say anything in print about his review.

Highgate [recte Highgarth], Gloucester. Dated 21 April 1901 - Sends [Frank] Jevons' article [not transcribed]; says not to worry about [E. B.] Tylor, who is immersed in his Gifford Lectures; is glad [Franz] Cumont sent the note [about the Acts of St Dasius], is amused [Andrew] Lang misunderstands others despite complaining that others misunderstand him.

Trinity College, Cambridge. Dated 22 September, 1901 - Agrees that they should get [George McCall] Theal's authority for South African totemism, asks Hartland to write as he abhors correspondence, especially with a stranger; has had letters from Baldwin Spencer on the totemism of the Kaitish, and his [and Alfred Howitt's] dislike of [Andrew] Lang's use of Howitt's statements; Frazer believes that [Henry] Roth feels the same way about Lang's use of his writings; Frazer has not read Lang's book but has found him obtuse on the subject of Spencer and Gillen's writings, and [E. B.] Tylor went so far as to suggest to George Macmillan that the chapter of 'intichima ceremonies' be curtailed, to which Frazer strenously objected; benefited from his visit to Wiesbaden to see [Hermann] Pagenstecher about his eyes; thanks him for the [F. B.] Jevons articles on the science of religion, finds that the discovery that totemism is probably not a religion but a system of magic has badly affected his argument, was aware of the blows he was giving Jevons' arguments when he wrote his articles on totemism.

Highgate [recte Highgarth], Gloucester. Dated 23 September, 1901 - Doesn't feel they have enough evidence to say what the origin of totemism is; doesn't see a clear line between magic and religion; mentions Baldwin Spencer's letter which points in favour of Frazer's theory; asks if he has read [Jesse] Fewkes' article on the Owakülti Altar at Sichomovi Pueblo; agrees with Frazer about [Andrew] Lang's use of [Alfred] Howitt and [Henry] Roth; is surprised to hear the story about [E. B.] Tylor wishing to supress a chapter in Spencer and Gillen's book; agrees with Frazer about [Frank] Jevons' difficulty because he generalized too soon; will write to [George] Theal.

Trinity College, Cambridge. Dated 16 December, 1901 - Returns [George] Theal's letters, and thinks South African totemism squares with the Wilken-Tylor theory, not his own; has more letters from Baldwin Spencer about the totemism of new tribes; [Alfred] Howitt has sent him a chapter of his forthcoming book dealing with burial of the dead; [Otto] Siebert has given Howitt stories about the Mura-Muras among the Dieri.

Tangier, Morocco - Is sorry to have missed their letter and invitation, but is in Morocco making some revisions to his book; is glad to hear that 'The Worship of Nature' will be published soon, as it will be an important work on a subject that has not had much attention since the days of [E. B.] Tylor.

as from Trinity College, Cambridge - Thanks him for his letter, and suggests that Payne read Tylor's 'Primitive Culture', as it was the reading of this book that led him to study anthropology.

Tells Sidgwick that it is very good of him 'to attend to [his] paradoxes.' Admits that his 'Psychics' are very unpopular, 'but Tyler [E. B. Tylor?] brought them in, and left them hanging in the air, and did little to the civilised side of them.' Informs him that he will find [fire walls] in his Modern Mythology. Reports that he has published more in the Westminster Gazette, and that the New Zealand [observations] 'will appear at length in the proceedings of their scientific society.' States that the performances 'were well tested, and quite unexplained.' Claims to know no competent anthropologist 'in the line of beliefs' apart from Frazer and Tyler. The latter has not been well and his wife has not allowed him Lang's book, '"for fear it might injure the brain".' Believes that [Sir Alfred?] Lyall has read it, and thinks that 'part II holds water'. Would correct the points in relation to 'S.P.R.' [the Society for Psychical Research] and hopes Myers had kept him straight.' States that he may 'correct in the French.' Refers to a comment made by Sidgwick on Hume and claims that he [Hume] 'certainly advised absolute disregard of evidence'.