A collection of some letters

War Poets Collection

The few months Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon spent at Craiglockhart in 1917 were productive for both of them. Their relationship was mutually beneficial to their work, particularly to Owen who was only beginning to find his poetic voice.

As a tribute and commemoration to Owen, Sassoon and other poets of the First World War, the University established The War Poets Collection in 1988, on the 70th Anniversary of the signing of the Armistice: 11 November 1918.

Primarily, the War Poets Collection aimed to collect the works of Siegfried Sassoon, Wilfred Owen and selected contemporary poets and to set them in their literary, historical and social context.

In addition to this original collection policy, the Library now acquires items and information relating to other individuals with connections to Craiglockhart. This includes the medical and nursing staff, officers treated in the war hospital, and information associated with the Craiglockhart College of Education.

The Collection now comprises of more than 400 items, including:

  • First edition books and volumes of poetry by Sassoon, Owen and selected contemporary poets
  • Biographies and published letters
  • Photographs and memorabilia pertaining to the war poets and the history of the Craiglockhart building
  • Anthologies of poetry and prose
  • Critical works
  • Information regarding the lands and building of Craiglockhart, encompassing various periods in its history
  • Information regarding individuals who had connections with Craiglockhart

The War Poets Collection also contains photocopies of The HYDRA, the magazine of the War Hospital which for a time was edited by Owen and published both his and Sassoon's work.

All of the items in the collection can be found using the library catalogues. The collection can also be accessed during Craiglockhart Campus Library opening hours.

Enquiries should be directed to the Campus Library Manager, Catherine Walker, in the first instance.

To find out more about the war poets, the Carmichael family, the history of Craiglockhart and the psychiatric therapies carried out here, further background information can be found on The War Poets at Craiglockhart.