The paper ‘The ultimate basis of aesthetic experience’, by William Ronald Dodds Fairbairn, was read by Fairbairn at a meeting of the Scottish Branch of the British Psychological Society, 29 January 1938. Fairbairn read a slightly revised version of the paper, under the title ‘The nature of aesthetic experience’, to a meeting of the British Psycho-Analytical Society, 2 March 1938.

The papers formed the basis of Fairbairn’s subsequent article, published in the ‘British Journal of Psychology’, ‘The ultimate basis of aesthetic experience’.

The typescripts have been arranged in the order in which they would appear to have been created and revised.

Annotated typescript, 1938, of the paper, ‘The Ultimate Basis of Aesthetic Experience’, by William Ronald Dodds Fairbairn. The paper was read at the British Psychological Society, Scottish Branch meeting, 29 January 1938. The typescript has been amended by Fairbairn. Folios 1-23.

Typescript announcement, 1938, of a meeting of the British Psycho-Analytical Society, 2 March 1938, at which William Ronald Dodds Fairbairn was to read his paper, ‘The Nature of Aesthetic Experience’. Folio 24.



Typescript summary, [1938], probably issued with the announcement of the meeting of the British Psycho-Analytical Society, 2 March 1938 (folio 24), of an earlier paper on art by William Ronald Dodds Fairbairn, ‘Prolegomena to a psychology of art’. Folio 25.

Carbon copy of a typescript summary, 1938, of the paper ‘The nature of aesthetic experience’, by William Ronald Dodds Fairbairn. The summary was issued in advance of the meeting of the British Psycho-Analytical Society, 2 March 1938. Folio 26.

Amended draft typescript, ‘a’, 1938, of the paper ‘The ultimate basis of aesthetic experience’, by William Ronald Dodds Fairbairn. The amendments are by Fairbairn and include the revision of the title, ‘nature’ having been added above ‘ultimate basis’. Folios 27-50.

Revised typescript, ‘b’, 1938, of original folios [1]-3 of the paper ‘The nature of aesthetic experience’, by William Ronald Dodds Fairbairn. Folios 51-53.

Amended carbon copy, ‘c’, 1938, of original folios [1]-3 of the paper ‘The nature of aesthetic experience’, by William Ronald Dodds Fairbairn. The carbon copy has been annotated by Fairbairn at the head of folio [1]: ‘Alterations for British Psycho-Analytical Society’. Folios 54-56.

Amended typescript, ‘d’, 1938, including some folios in carbon copy, of the paper ‘The nature of aesthetic experience’, by William Ronald Dodds Fairbairn. Folios 57-78.

Amended typescript, 1938, of the paper ‘The nature of aesthetic experience’, by William Ronald Dodds Fairbairn. Folios 79-100.

Press cuttings.

Press cutting, 1938, from ‘The Scotsman’ newspaper of a review, ‘Aesthetic experience. Psychology of Surrealism. Beauty misconceptions’. The review concerns the paper ‘The Ultimate Basis of Aesthetic Experience’, by William Ronald Dodds Fairbairn, read at the British Psychological Society, Scottish Branch meeting, 29 January 1938. Folio 101.

Press cutting, 1938, from ‘The Scotsman’ newspaper of a review, ‘Art interests. Surrealism’. The review concerns the paper ‘The Ultimate Basis of Aesthetic Experience’, by William Ronald Dodds Fairbairn, read at the British Psychological Society, Scottish Branch meeting, 29 January 1938. Folio 102.