We present the results of spectroscopic observations for 52 objects from the list of H{alpha} emission stars of Stephenson (1986ApJ...300..779S). Out of six known T Tauri stars observed, five showed H{alpha} in emission and in one (StHa 40), H{alpha} changed from being in absorption to emission over a period of two years, accompanied by photometric and spectral type variability. We confirm the T Tauri nature of one Stephenson object (StHa 48) on the basis of the presence of H{alpha} and H{beta} in emission, Li I {lambda}6708 in absorption, infrared excess and X-ray emission. Among the 52 objects observed, there were other emission line objects: 1 Ke star, 1 BQ[] star, 2 galaxies and 2 Be stars. We present a higher-resolution spectrum of StHa 62 showing permitted and forbidden lines in emission typical of BQ[] stars. Twenty five out of 30 newly observed objects failed to show H{alpha} in emission. We also present 2MASS observations for 112 StHa objects. We suggest three Stephenson objects (StHa 52, 125 and 129) to be YSOs on the basis of 2MASS, IRAS and ROSAT observations. These and all other known YSOs amongst StHa stars are found in regions of star-forming clouds in Taurus, Orion and Ophiuchus. YSOs at high galactic latitudes in other parts of the sky are therefore rare.