The archive consists of minutes of annual meetings (1933-1969) and of Executive Committee Meetings (1954-1975), press cuttings (1928-1978), papers and memoranda (1932-1933).
Anglican Group for the Ordination of Women to the Historic Ministry of the ChurchRecords of the headquarters of the Mothers' Union, Mary Sumner House, Westminster. The majority of the archive dates from when the Mothers' Union established a centralised structure in the 1890s, and contains a small number of papers from members who, although not always based at Mary Sumner House, played important roles within the MU (see MU/MSS/2). Although some files run into the 1990s, many of the series stop in the early 1980s, which coincides with a survey undertaken of the archive in Mary Sumner House (see MU/CO/1/127).
The foundation of the Mothers' Union is dated to the publication of the first membership card in 1876. The society was established by Mary Sumner, wife of the Rector of Old Alresford in the Diocese of Winchester, to defend the institution of marriage and promote Christian family life. This concern broadened over time to consider all factors affecting the morality of society, within the home and without.
Initially a network of meetings in parishes in the Diocese of Winchester, by the mid 1890s, the MU had established a centralised governing body in London, and had a number of branches overseas; from the early twentieth century, departments were established to deal with specialised tasks in the society's work. Although the society was primarily concerned with the role of the mother and the upbringing of children, married women without children and unmarried women were allowed to join as Associate Members from the outset. Throughout the twentieth century the MU addressed a variety of contemporary social issues (such as runaway children, drug dependence, venereal disease, housing conditions and birth control), but reserved particular efforts for campaigning against divorce and marriage breakdown.
Faced with a need to address a liberalisation in both society and the Church in the decades following the Second World War, the Mothers' Union revised its constitution in 1974 giving greater autonomy to the MU overseas and no longer excluding divorcées. Further reassessment took place in the early 1990s when the need to comply with charity regulations prompted a restructuring of the organisation.
Mothers' UnionThe archive consists of a certificate of appointment as Deaconess in the Parishes of Mere with West Knoyle in the County of Wiltshire and Diocese of Salisbury, 30 Jan 1933; correspondence with the Diocesan Registry, Salisbury to Deaconess Belfield; copy of her Assent to the 39 Articles, Jan 1937; press cutting relating to Dorothea Belfield's status and office and to the debate bout the status, role and office of deaconess, as opposed to deacon, within the Church.
Belfield , Dorothea Edith , fl 1933-1940 , deaconessLetter from Jean Joseph Louis Blanc of 87 Piccadilly, London, 17 Aug 1850. 'Vous me parlez de la necessite de rattacher le socialisme a la tradition chretienne. Oui, a condition que le Christianisme ne sera pas compris a la mania re de ceux qui, au lieu d y voir la proclamation de l'egalite et della fraternite, n y ont cherche que la consecration de la double tyrannie exprimee dan l'histoire par le mot pratre et par le mot roi.' Autograph, with signature.
Blanc , Jean Joseph Louis , 1811-1882 , political thinker and exile x Blanc , LouisArchive of the British Humanist Association, including: papers of the British Humanist Association and it's predecessors bodies, The Union of Ethical Societies, The Ethical Union and the Humanist Association,1887 - c.2001; papers of the Humanist Trust, 1958 - 1996; papers of groups affiliated to the British Humanist Association and it's predecessor bodies, The Union of Ethical Societies and The Ethical Union, 1892 - 2007; Uncatalogued material of the British Humanist Association, c.2000-2014. (1887-2014)
British Humanist AssociationThe archive consists of entitled 'Unconventional Talks with a Modern DD' this typescript collated letters and reflections spanning 1905-1911 and was published in 1912. Addressed to a friend who was a clergyman (DD = Doctor of Divinity) the letters are critical of the Church's teaching with regard to women: in addition to suggesting revision of the Marriage Service they recommended reconsideration of women's place in the economic system and role within the Church Ministry. The letters show that after a woman friend had been deputized to cool the relationship, Isobel said farewell to her 'mentor' in Feb 1911.
Denby , Isobel , fl 1905-1912 , writerThe archive consists of papers relating to the Guildhouse Fellowship and lecture tours of Dr Agnes Maude Royden. It includes Guildhouse Fellowship newsletters (1941, 1942, 1950) and lists of key events and speakers at the Guildhouse (1921-1940). Detailed letters from Daisy Dobson report home to friends and colleagues on travels in the United States of America and India during Royden's world lecture tour (1928). As well as providing information on Royden's schedule, the letters describe the landscape, people and culture of the countries they visit and comment with humour and frustration on the practicalities of their trip. A later letter describes sea travel during the Second World War for Royden's lecture tour of the United States of America (1941-1942).
Dobson , Daisy , fl 1927-1950 , secretary to Agnes Maude RoydenThe archive consists of:
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press cutting album (1977-1994) and index
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UK research material relating to St Joan's Alliance, Catholics for a Changing World, Women in Ministry, Distinctive Dioconate, the Society of St Margaret, etc (1988-1995)
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United States of America and Canada research material relating to Priests of Equality and the Women's Ordination Conference (1992-1995)
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correspondence re Catholic Women's Ordination Day (1993-1995)
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campaign file for Catholic Women's Ordination Day (1994-1995) and Vatican II and Planet Earth; further resource material (1994-1995)
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books and photocopy manuscript by Feeny (1995-1996)
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scrapbook by Feeny (1937-1999).
Letter from Jean Gribomont of Pontificia Abbazia de San Girolamo in Urbe, Via di Torre Rossa 1, Roma to Canon Donald Rea, 21 Jan 1958. Discussing a proposed visit by G K A Bell, [Anglican] Bishop of Chichester, to Rome; the discussion principally concerns the World Council of Churches and persons Bell might like to meet.
Typescript, signed by Gribomont.
Gribomont , Jean , fl 1958 , Roman Catholic priest and theologianPapers of co-operator and secularist George Jacob Holyoake, 1831-1985, including correspondence to and from Holyoake regarding various topics at all stages of his career, including press cuttings of correspondence with Dr Kalley and correspondence between Holyoake, Austin Holyoake and Thomas Cooper, 1837-1943; series of engagement diaries kept by Holyoake, including brief handwritten notes on daily events and ephemera, including handbills, press cuttings and letters concerning meetings, lectures and public and political events pasted into pages, 1847-1905; printed material relating to all aspects of Holyoake's career, including handbills for lectures and addresses by Holyoake and meetings of co-operative societies, secularist organisations and other political movements, press cuttings of letters by Holyoake to the national and local press, various articles by Holyoake and others, and reviews of addresses and works, circulars and miscellaneous ephemera produced by Holyoake and supported movements, and various handwritten documents regarding Holyoake's political and personal life, 1831-1978; press cuttings of serialised articles and columns written by Holyoake for various national, local and international newspapers and periodicals, including London Correspondence, Town Talk, Private Correspondence, Our London Letter and other articles produced for the Brighton Guardian, Agricultural Economist, The Sun and the Co-operative News, along with press cuttings regarding the opening of Holyoake House in Manchester and the unveiling of the Holyoake Memorial at Highgate Cemetery, London, 1867-1911; loose press cuttings collected and compiled by Holyoake and relating to his life and work, including cuttings concerning visits to America and Canada, co-operation, co-operative congresses and festivals, co-operative societies, parliamentary reform and other miscellaneous cuttings concerning lectures and letters by Holyoake, secularism, republicanism, atheism and other various topics, 1857-1911; miscellaneous publications and notebooks by Holyoake, including manuscript drafts of works, early notes on lectures and their content, predominantly at the Birmingham Mechanics Institute, log books containing diary notes and thoughts, papers relating to the London Atheistical Society, accounts relating to Fleet Street House, London and press cuttings of letters by Holyoake written under the name `Ion', 1838-1861; miscellaneous manuscripts relating to Holyoake's life and career, co-operation and secularism, along with press cuttings and ephemera, including material relating to mathematics, Brighton, spiritualism, trade unions, grammar, the Newspaper Stamp Abolition Committee, the Social Economist, along with papers relating to Holyoake's arrest in 1842, Fleet Street House, London, the Congress of Social Reformers, Leeds Secular Society, the Thomas Allsop Prize Essay Competition and the Polish Legion, 1839-1978; galley proofs of printed copies of articles by Holyoake on various topics, 1893; press cuttings and extracts from journals concerning biographical details of Holyoake, his life and work, along with articles and obituary material published following his death in 1906, 1875-1917; minute books of the Travelling Tax Abolition Committee, of which Holyoake was Chairman, including handwritten minutes and printed statements, circulars and Committee documents pasted into each volume, along with loose circulars, ephemera and press cuttings concerning the Committee and its work, 1877-1901; minutes and papers of the Garibaldi Special Fund Committee, including Central Committee minutes, muster roll, ephemera, press cuttings and fund certificates recording members of the British Legion of excursionists to Italy, along with more general material relating to Garibaldi, Italian Unification and reaction in England, including cuttings from the Illustrated London News and secondary articles, 1860-1985; circulars, ephemera and press cuttings regarding to the Holyoake Testimonial Fund, including letters to subscribers, fund reports and a programme for a performance by the Victoria Dramatic Club in aid of the Fund, 1853-1889; four photographs of Holyoake taken late in his life, n.d.
Holyoake, George Jacob (1817-1906) freethinker and co-operatorThe archive consists of a photocopy of a typescript memoir (28 pages). In 1985 Lois Lang-Sims wrote this memoir about her aunt, Agnes Maude Royden (see also 7AMR) the suffragist and campaigner for the ordination of women.
Sims , Lois , Lang- , fl 1936-1995 , writerThe archive consists of one file relating to the dissolution of the League of Church Militant, including some information about its history, 1928.
League of Church MilitantThe archive consists of memorabilia of suffrage activities including press cuttings, objects and hunger-strike medal; publications and manuscript material on the ordination of women and animal protection; correspondence; correspondence from Hove Borough Council relating to a commemorative plaque and photographs.
Lidiard , Victoria Simmonds , 1889-1992 , suffragetteAdministrative records, deeds, financial records, patient records, nursing records and photographs.
The London Jewish HospitalDocuments, including terriers and notarial instruments, relating to the church of Nuestra Senora de Atocha of Madrid.
UnknownLetter from Vincent McNabb of St Dominic's Priory, Southampton Road, London to Dr G K A Bell, Bishop of Chichester, 14 Dec 1941. Covering note enclosing a copy of his book Some mysteries of Jesus Christ (1941); 'I am venturing to give myself the undeserved Christmas joy of offering you a few words about the Word'; praises Bell's moral courage 'whose purpose of peace has been a dedication'.
Autograph, with signature.
McNabb , Vincent Joseph , 1868-1943 , Dominican monk, theologian and social criticItems belonging to Iris Murdoch presented by Audi Bayley. These items were from Iris Murdoch's former home in Charlbury Road and include letters written by Iris Murdoch to Borys and Audi Villers [later Audi Bayley], a planning notebook for Jackson's Dilemma, and a range of objects. Includes:
1) Large bust of Iris Murdoch mounted on marble
2) Iris Murdoch's teddy bear 'Jimbo'
3) Painting by Iris Murdoch 1941
4) Tapestry by Iris Murdoch of fish with the initials IM and JB
5) Gold edged bowl
6) 5 stones and 9 Asian religious figurines / icons from Murdoch's writing desk
7) Letters from Iris Murdoch to Audi Bayley and her first husband Boris Villiers
8) Green box containing brooch- appears to be enamelled George IV shilling from 1820s
9) 4 replica medieval icons mounted on wood
10) Framed photographs from Iris Murdoch's study of Murdoch as a child and Murdoch's parents
11) 3 Canadian stone figurines depicting an owl, a penguin and a seal
12) 2 stone figurines of a cow and a lion, with painted and gilded details
13) 11 dress necklaces worn by Murdoch and kept in her study
14) A notebook with planning notes by Murdoch for the novel 'Jackson's Dilemma'
Murdoch , Dame , Jean Iris , 1919-1999 , author20 letters from Iris Murdoch to writer and economist Devaki Jain, largely regarding arrangements to meet but also regarding thoughts on religion, clothes, travelling and family. Dated mostly from the 1960s with one possible from 1980. With copies of 2 letters from Devaki Jain to Iris Murdoch, and 8 copies of title pages from Iris Murdoch novels with handwritten dedications from Iris Murdoch to Devaki Jain.
Murdoch , Dame , Jean Iris , 1919-1999 , author Jain , Devaki , 1933- , economist , writerPapers of Robert G Philip, [c1930-1950], comprising an unpublished work titled A ninth century view of Christ, based on the Anglo-Saxon poem Heliand. The manuscript comprises analysis followed by a translation of the poem.
Philip , Robert G , fl 1913 , religious minister and scholarThe archive consists of correspondence with, inter alia, Dr Emil Oberholzer and Dr Maude Royden, arising out of Mrs Roberts' association with the Anglican Group for the Ordination of Women and the interdenominational Society for the Ministry of Women in the Church. Papers of these organisations include memoranda for submission to Lambeth Conferences. Also included are Press cuttings re the ordination of women, and manuscript extracts in English and Latin, from theological writings on the position of women in the Early Church.
Roberts , Ursula , 1887-1971 , suffragist and supporter of women's ordinationVolume containing material relating to the life and execution (in 1621) of Rodrigo Calderon; the Aragon conspiracy of 1648; and the expulsion of the Jesuits by Charles III in 1667. The latter includes copies of letters exchanged between Charles III and Pope Clement XIII.
UnknownThe archive consists of correspondence files of Maude Royden (1936-56), papers and correspondence of Hudson Shaw (1883-1944), general correspondence (1900s-1950s), papers related to the death and memory of Royden (1956-61), materials for biographies of Chiang Kai-Shek and Ralph Rooper (c.1944), sermon diaries including press cuttings (1917-1920), engagement diaries (1948, 1952-55), family photographs, papers related to preaching at Guildhouse (1920s-1940s), draft of autobiography, notebooks and papers (1920s-1930s), scrapbooks (1915-1931), copies of articles, press cuttings (1911-13), pamphlets and publications.
Please note: when transferring the catalogue to the database in 2006, undated items were given the circa date of 1930.
Royden , Agnes Maude , 1876-1956 , writer, preacher and feminist x Shaw , Agnes MaudeContains the following items: ff 1-7, 118-119: 'Divine Paradoxes or seeminge Contradictions in Christianitye'; 1644 ff 10-114: 'Sermons concerning the necessity and manner of divine invocation: wherein is taught how our Prayers may be made acceptable unto God, comfortable to our selves', 1626.
Palmer , Herbert , 1601-1647 , Puritan writerComprises: memorandum relating to churchwardens' account book and parish ordinances, [1495]; memorandum of expenses for an obit mass 'for the good benefactors and all Christian souls', 1507; ratification regarding the observance of the feast day of St Audoen alias St Ewin, 1533.
St Audoen alias St Ewin parishComprises: Bequests, Wills and Probate; Church Fabric; Constable and Scavenger; Certificates; Churchwardens; Finance; Images and Press Cuttings; Militia; Parish Appointments; Parish Boundaries; Poor Law; Printed Material; Plans of the Church; Parish Property; Parish Registers; Parish Maintenance; Loose Rate Assessment Papers; Registers of Services and Preachers; Tithes; Vicar and Hospitaller; Vestry.
St Bartholomew the Less , City of LondonRecords of St Nicholas Shambles parish, 1253-1526, comprising churchwardens' account book, 1452-1526; indulgence from Walter [Cantilupe], Bishop of Worcester, to the parishioners of St Nicholas Shambles, 22 Jan 1253; indulgence from Nicholas, Bishop of Kildare, to all who say the Lord's Prayer and Ave Maria for the soul of Simon de Finchinfield, buried in the church of St Nicholas, 8 Sep 1280.
St Nicholas Shambles , City of LondonThe archive consists of literary and general correspondence including press cuttings (1888-1938); correspondence on Ecce Mater (1914-1918); letters and press cuttings on article 'Women Preachers'; papers related to Cambridge; letters and papers found in copy of Past and Future of Ethics (1923-1951); manuscript article 'Clothes and the Women' (undated.); genealogy of family of Tuker (undated.); printed pamphlets and articles by Tucker (1887-1921). Her correspondence includes letters from prominent women including suffragette leaders and includes a letter from Dr Joan Malleson.
Tuker , Mildred Anna Rosalie , fl 1862-1957 , writer