Subseries III: Manuscripts and Printed material, 1763-1976, bulk 1763-1788
Sub-Series
Dates
- 1763-1976, bulk 1763-1788
Access:
All series and subseries within this collection are open for research, with the exception of a few files within the Academia series that are restricted. The Academia series contains financial and sensitive institutional records from Wilkes College, and financial report records from Princeton University that will remain restricted for 80 years upon creation.
Extent
From the Collection: 17 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Subseries III: Manuscripts and Printed material, 1763-1976, bulk 1763-1788
Subsubseries III: Manuscripts, 1763-1976, bulk 1763-1788 is arranged chronologically and contains manuscripts, pay records, correspondence, and other printed materials such as John Wilkes’ 1763 Essay on Woman.
Essay on Woman is one of the most controversial items written by Wilkes which led to the figure being charged with obscene libel, and a copy of the book made in 1788 is contained within the collection. The book is a parody of Alexander Pope’s Essay on Man and was considered to be extremely obscene and even pornographic for the time. The parody was originally created by Thomas Potter, a friend of Wilkes, however it was never completed due to the figure’s death until Wilkes inherited and continued work on the manuscript given to him.
Some examples of the scenes and events depicted or referenced within this subseries include Wilkes’ duel against Secretary of Treasury Samuel Martin which occurred on November 16, 1763 and resulted in Wilkes getting shot, the Middlesex Petition, the aforementioned controversial Essay on Woman, his imprisonment in 1769, and his position as mayor of London. Also included within this subseries is a fake/inaccurate letter signed by J. Wilkes eleven years after his death, as well as a brief biography of the figure written by John C. Dann in 1976. Some figures referenced within this subseries include Samuel Martin, Lord Vere, Archibald Stewart, Sir Robert Herries Knight, George Henderson, John Murdoch, Jean Baptiste Suard, and Lord Sandwich.
Repository Details
Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository
Contact:
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu