FRAZ/1-4 consists of four boxes containing just over 575 letters, most of them addressed to J. G. Frazer. The letters span 1888-1941, but the bulk date from the 1920s and 1930s, and primarily concern Frazer’s works and related personal business. An alphabetic sequence of letters spans the four boxes, preceded by a shorter one of 62 letters in FRAZ/1, and succeeded by a collection of 110 letters written to congratulate Frazer on the award of the Order of Merit in FRAZ/4. FRAZ/1 is unusual in that it includes the only original letters from J. G. Frazer in the papers (29 of them: Items 4-29, 39, 42-43); there are also thirteen typed copies of his letters in this box (Items 44-54, 82 and 84) dating from the 1930s, after Frazer's eyesight failed and a secretary was employed. There are 9 original letters from Lilly Frazer to William James Lewis (Items 30-38), and a copy of a letter from Lilly to Sir John Myres (Item 55). Three other copies of James's letters from the late 1930s appear in boxes 2-4 (Items 2/95, 3/43, 3/47), and there is also a draft of a letter to Lord Stamfordham in box 4 (Item 119). Two other copies of letters from Lilly appear in box 3: to R. R. Marett (Item 3) and Norman Parley (Item 44).
Letter concerning deposit of card catalogue of Sir James Frazer's library to Trinity College Library. With later note in pencil that the cabinet of cards had been delivered.
Trinity College, Cambridge - Wishes to withdraw from the Library Committee, as his specialty is not one in which the Library is strong; also doubts the utility of College libraries, 'a system which gives us in Cambridge eighteen very imperfect libraries and not one really good one.'
Trinity College, Cambridge - Thanks him for his letter, has reconsidered, and will stay on the Library Committee, distrusts his own judgment in the practical matters which come before the committee.
Trinity College - Thanks him for his kind words, and feels that he is simply doing his duty; 'This life of study and research is my ideal life' and is grateful to the College for enabling him to pursue it.
Trinity College, Cambridge - Informs Butler that Warde Fowler has found a mistranslation of Pliny in a central argument in 'The Golden Bough', and Frazer suggests the fellowship committee should be informed and his fellowship re-evaluated in light of the new information. Accompanied by the envelope and photographs of the letter, mounted on two sheets.
Trinity College, Cambridge - Supports the proposal that the College should get a bust of J. F. McLennan.
Trinity College, Cambridge - Is happy to hear his fellowship has been renewed and asks him to thank the Council; regrets that his Pausanias is not yet printed, but the first two are in press at the moment, and when it is done, he has other books to write, for which the material is partly collected.
Trinity College Cambridge - covering letter only, returning letters from Sir James George Frazer to his father Henry Montagu Butler. [Letters are FRAZ/1/4-21 in the collection.]
Barclay's Bank Limited, Cambridge - Receipt for collection of papers described as Catalogue of Library of Sir James George Frazer.
Inch-ma-home - Thanks him for his kind letter [in response to his apology for not paying his respects at the meeting of the Library Committee], will treasure the volume of sermons.
Inch-ma-home, Cambridge - In letter of 2 June, Frazer asks Butler to sign some enclosed memorials to the Australian government about some anthropological work and has received a letter from Mr [Francis?] Galton, who had just returned from Greece and heard 'a graphic account of my first (alas! it will not be my last) journey to the Styx.'
Inch-ma-home, Cambridge - Does not expect Butler to read all three volumes [of 'The Golden Bough']: 'I quite understand that to many minds the descriptions of foolish and absurd customs which make up the bulk of the book may be tedious and even painful'; had a happy winter in Rome, but had to cut short their visit to return because their tenant left their house in Cambridge early.
St Keyne's - Asking if he may bring his friends Dr and Mrs [Sydney Richard?] Scott to Lewis's rooms when they arrive.
1, Brick Court, Middle Temple, E. C. - Discusses preferring Cowper to Addison; expresses dismay at reports that Germans in England have been treated poorly.
No. 1 Brick Court, Temple, London, E. C. - Reacting to news of Lewis' accident in Switzerland, mentions seeing a thriving [Henry Cobden?] Haslam.
Hotel Lutetia, Paris - Refers to Lilly's recovery from illness; his distaste for [Godfrey Harold] Hardy, then leaving for Cambridge for Oxford; discusses Darwin's theories, having just read 'The Origin of Species'; has also read Einstein's explanation of his theories in an article and finds his arguments 'cloudy and confused'.
Inch-ma-home, Cambridge - Writes concerning the memorials he had sent Butler [to the Australian government concerning some anthropological work] and says that if Butler has any reservations Frazer will not use his name; [Francis?] Galton has already declined.
No. 1 Brick Court, Middle Temple, London - Thanks for the gift of Butler’s own 6 volume copy of Richard Hurd’s 'Works of Joseph Addison'.
Hotel Lutetia, Paris – Lilly is working on the French translation of the abridged 'Golden Bough'; J. G. is preparing a translation of Ovid’s Fasti for the Loeb Library; they have decided to build a house in Cambridge; mentions hearing from Haddon who finds term work burdensome.
Trinity College - Apologises for not paying his respects at the meeting of the Library Committee, and explains that he did not realise he was there until too late.
Inch-ma-home - Thanks him for his congratulations for the Oxford degree.
Inch-ma-home - Asks him to submit two questions to College Council as to work allowed under the terms of his fellowship.
Inch-ma-home - Thanks him for his letter conveying the answer of the College Council that he is free to work as he thinks best.
Trinity Coll. - Encloses a ticket to a lecture on the sacred and magical functions of kings in early society, and advises Lewis to stay away lest he be 'corrupted'.
Trinity College - Acknowledges congratulations from Lewis. Refers to the role their mutual friend Mrs Browne had in hiring his wife Lilly Frazer to teach at the Girls’ High School in Liverpool, with the story of her first day there.
No. 1 Brick Court, Temple, E. C. - Declining an invitation to visit.
24 Abercromby Square, Liverpool - Expresses intense regret that J. G. has chosen to leave Liverpool.
Inch-ma-home, Cambridge - Thanks him for his letter giving his permission to use his name on the memorial [to the Australian government on preserving the anthropological record of 'primitive men now left on the globe']; other signatories are Professors [Sir Richard] Jebb, [Frederic?] Maitland, [Charles] Waldstein [later Walston], [James?] Ward, [Henry Francis?] Pelham, Andrew Lang, Henry Jackson, and James Bryce, and of Cambridge science men, [Sir Michael?] Foster, [Alfred?] Newton, [Sir Francis?] Darwin, [John Newport] Langley, [Adam?] Sedgwick.
1 Brick Court, Middle Temple, E. C. - Describes the daily routine of quiet life at home.