Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1900-1914 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
3 volumes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Mary Edith Durham born in London on 8 December 1863; educated at Bedford College, 1878-1882; became an artist, and trained at the Royal Academy Schools. Following illness and at nearly forty years old she travelled to the Balkans and worked as a political missionary. She first visited the area in 1900. She started travelling in search of health and was an anthropologist as well as a gifted artist. She travelled to the Balkans annually from 1900 to 1914. When uprisings occurred, in 1903 and 1909, she provided medical aid and food. Following the end of the Second World War, Durham was offered a permanent home in Albania by the Albanian Government. She refused, choosing to remain independent and settled in London writing books and articles. She died in London on 15 November 1944.
Archival history
GB 1446 MS 41 1900-1914 collection 3 volumes Durham , Mary Edith , 1863-1944 , Balkan traveller and author
Mary Edith Durham born in London on 8 December 1863; educated at Bedford College, 1878-1882; became an artist, and trained at the Royal Academy Schools. Following illness and at nearly forty years old she travelled to the Balkans and worked as a political missionary. She first visited the area in 1900. She started travelling in search of health and was an anthropologist as well as a gifted artist. She travelled to the Balkans annually from 1900 to 1914. When uprisings occurred, in 1903 and 1909, she provided medical aid and food. Following the end of the Second World War, Durham was offered a permanent home in Albania by the Albanian Government. She refused, choosing to remain independent and settled in London writing books and articles. She died in London on 15 November 1944.
Presented to the archives on 14 September 1987.
Papers of Mary Edith Durham, 1900-1914, comprise 'My Balkan notebook' which comprises detailed drawings, photographs and notes relating to her experience in the Balkans, these include 'Primitive implements', a notebook depicting boats, hearths, buildings in various Balkan districts, costumes, buildings in Serbia; notebook with Sun and moon designs, tattoos, graves in Bosnia and Albania, buildings, costumes, war mutilations in Montenegro and notebook concerning Albania depicting tribes, costumes, buildings.
Arranged into three bound volumes.
Appointments are necessary for all visits; please contact the archivist by email to arrange; a fee of £10 is payable by all visitors except Fellows and Members; membership details can be found on the RAI web site; access to material referring to the most recent thirty years is restricted; some material is very fragile and may not be available for view; a few items are of restricted or forbidden access.
Photocopies and scans for personal research only may be arranged at the discretion of the archivist; charges apply; in all cases forms governing use of copies must be signed; use of digital cameras is not allowed.
English
Hand list available in the Institute's Reading Room.
Entry compiled by Samantha Velumyl.
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
April 2008 Bosnia and Herzegovina Durham , Mary Edith , 1863-1944 , traveller and anthropologist National cultures Ethnic groups Tribes Travel Travel abroad Eastern Europe Cultural heritage Customs and traditions Fashion Balkans Serbia Yugoslavia Albania
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Presented to the archives on 14 September 1987.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of Mary Edith Durham, 1900-1914, comprise 'My Balkan notebook' which comprises detailed drawings, photographs and notes relating to her experience in the Balkans, these include 'Primitive implements', a notebook depicting boats, hearths, buildings in various Balkan districts, costumes, buildings in Serbia; notebook with Sun and moon designs, tattoos, graves in Bosnia and Albania, buildings, costumes, war mutilations in Montenegro and notebook concerning Albania depicting tribes, costumes, buildings.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Arranged into three bound volumes.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Appointments are necessary for all visits; please contact the archivist by email to arrange; a fee of £10 is payable by all visitors except Fellows and Members; membership details can be found on the RAI web site; access to material referring to the most recent thirty years is restricted; some material is very fragile and may not be available for view; a few items are of restricted or forbidden access.
Conditions governing reproduction
Photocopies and scans for personal research only may be arranged at the discretion of the archivist; charges apply; in all cases forms governing use of copies must be signed; use of digital cameras is not allowed.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Hand list available in the Institute's Reading Room.
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
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; 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