Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1993-1998 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
0.25 A box (1 folder)
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Mary Barbara Hamilton Cartland (1901-2000) was born in Edgbaston, West Midlands in 1901 and attended Malvern Girls' College and Abbey House, Netley Abbey, Hampshire. Her father was killed in Flanders in 1918 and the family subsequently moved to London where her mother opened a dress shop in Kensington. Cartland wrote the first of a long series of novels, Jig-Saw, at the age of 20 while she was working as gossip columnist for the Daily Express. It was published 1925 and was followed by a play, 'Blood Money'. In 1927 she married Alexander George McCorquodale but was later divorced from him, going on to marry Hugh McCorquodale, a cousin of her first husband, in 1936. During the Second World War, Cartland became Chief Lady Welfare Officer for Bedfordshire (1941-45). She was later a political speaker for the Conservatives, county councillor for Hertfordshire, chair of the St. John Council, deputy president of St. John Ambulance Brigade, and president of Hertfordshire branch of Royal College of Midwives as well as founding the National Association of Health in the 1960s. Cartland was also involved in campaigns for better conditions and salaries for women in nursing and improvements in the status of the elderly. In 1991 she was made Dame of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) and by 1993 had sold over 600 million copies of her books, making her name synonymous with the romantic novel. She was also famous for her love of pink chiffon clothing and small dogs. She died on 21 May 2000, after a short illness.
Repository
Archival history
GB 106 7BCA 1993-1998 fonds 0.25 A box (1 folder) Cartland , Dame , Mary Barbara Hamilton , 1901-2000 , author
Mary Barbara Hamilton Cartland (1901-2000) was born in Edgbaston, West Midlands in 1901 and attended Malvern Girls' College and Abbey House, Netley Abbey, Hampshire. Her father was killed in Flanders in 1918 and the family subsequently moved to London where her mother opened a dress shop in Kensington. Cartland wrote the first of a long series of novels, Jig-Saw, at the age of 20 while she was working as gossip columnist for the Daily Express. It was published 1925 and was followed by a play, 'Blood Money'. In 1927 she married Alexander George McCorquodale but was later divorced from him, going on to marry Hugh McCorquodale, a cousin of her first husband, in 1936. During the Second World War, Cartland became Chief Lady Welfare Officer for Bedfordshire (1941-45). She was later a political speaker for the Conservatives, county councillor for Hertfordshire, chair of the St. John Council, deputy president of St. John Ambulance Brigade, and president of Hertfordshire branch of Royal College of Midwives as well as founding the National Association of Health in the 1960s. Cartland was also involved in campaigns for better conditions and salaries for women in nursing and improvements in the status of the elderly. In 1991 she was made Dame of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) and by 1993 had sold over 600 million copies of her books, making her name synonymous with the romantic novel. She was also famous for her love of pink chiffon clothing and small dogs. She died on 21 May 2000, after a short illness.
These papers were given to The Fawcett Library by Dame Barbara Cartland DBE DstJ in May 1999 as part of the 'Contemporary Women' project.
The archive consists of a typescript autobiography by Cartland and a pamphlet about her publications. The autobiography describes her work as a campaigner and in local government as well as her work as a romantic novelist. It includes accounts of her work to provide wartime brides with white wedding dresses and her campaigns to enable traveller children to attend school. She also writes about her romances, marriages and social life.
This collection is available for research. Readers are advised to contact The Women's Library in advance of their first visit.
English
Dame Barabara Cartland's correspondence and literary papers are held by the BBC Written Archives Centre.
Finding aid created by export from CALM v7.2.14 Archives Hub EAD2002. Edited for AIM25 by Sarah Drewery.
In compliance with ISAD (G): General International Standard Archival Description - 2nd Edition (1999); UNESCO Thesaurus, December 2001; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
08/02/2008 Literary forms and genres Prose Biographies Authors Women authors Government Public administration Local government Literature Women Cartland , Dame , Mary Barbara Hamilton , 1901-2000 , Author Sex Sex distribution
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
These papers were given to The Fawcett Library by Dame Barbara Cartland DBE DstJ in May 1999 as part of the 'Contemporary Women' project.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The archive consists of a typescript autobiography by Cartland and a pamphlet about her publications. The autobiography describes her work as a campaigner and in local government as well as her work as a romantic novelist. It includes accounts of her work to provide wartime brides with white wedding dresses and her campaigns to enable traveller children to attend school. She also writes about her romances, marriages and social life.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
This collection is available for research. Readers are advised to contact The Women's Library in advance of their first visit.
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Dame Barabara Cartland's correspondence and literary papers are held by the BBC Written Archives Centre.
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
- Literary forms and genres
- Literary forms and genres » Prose
- Literary forms and genres » Prose » Biographies
- Authors
- Authors » Women authors
- Government
- Government » Public administration
- Government » Public administration » Local government
- Literature
- Sex distribution » Sex » Women
- Sex distribution » Sex
- Sex distribution
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
In compliance with ISAD (G): General International Standard Archival Description - 2nd Edition (1999); UNESCO Thesaurus, December 2001; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English