Records of The Ananse Society, including minutes, correspondence, programmes, press cuttings and stationery. For detailed introductions to these series please see the individual series descriptions in the detailed catalogue.
The Ananse Society , black literature study and promotion groupThe collection includes Robert Hammond's record of service and his survey, when Master of the Society of Pilots of the Cinque Ports, of the southern North Sea in the cutter GEM, 1841. The volumes collected by Barker himself consist mainly of logs of naval ships. They include that of the ORION, in home waters, kept by an Edward Barker in 1794, containing an account of the Battle of First of June; the Clyde, 1796 to 1800, kept by Lieutenant John Smith (fl 1780-1805), in home waters; of the CHALLENGER, 1828 to 1831, East Indies Station, kept by Commander John M R Ince (fl 1808-1850); the CALEDONIA, 1835 to 1836, Mediterranean station; the FLY, 1842 to 1846, surveying Australian waters, and the PILOT, 1850, East Indies station. There is also a journal of a voyage in the merchant ship VESTAL from North America to the West Indies, 1759 to 1760, by the author William Falconer (1744-1824); some of Falconer 's unpublished poems appear at the end of this journal.
VariousPapers, mainly relating to Dr Anne Bohm's post as External Relations Consultant to the London School of Economics, 1920s-1990s. The papers include reports on visits and correspondence regarding setting up associations and friends groups, 1970s-1980s. In addition, there are some programmes for plays, ballet and concerts, and some lecture notes on George Bernard Shaw, 1920s-1940s. Most files relate to an individual country and include: reports on visits; correspondence regarding policy, setting up associations, friends groups, and similar; lists of donors; programmes of visits.
Bohm , Anne , 1910-2006 , Dean and Registrar of the Graduate School, London School of EconomicsPapers of Alexandre Dumas, [1830-1845], comprise a letter To 'Mon bien cher Hugo' [Victor Hugo], regreting that he was out when Hugo called but hopes to see him the following day.
Dumas , Alexandre , 1802-1870 , writer x Dumas , PèreLetters from the poet, Edward Thomas, to Eleanor Farjeon, Ian McAlister, Irene and Hugh MacArthur and John Freeman. There is also a draft copy of Rowland Watson's book "Memories of Edward Thomas" and a copy of "Table Talk: being the discourses of John Selden". The correspondence to Eleanor Farjeon mainly discusses his work, both poetry and criticism, and he also comments on work she has sent him, as well as talking about his decision to join the Army and his worries over money. The letters to Irene and Hugh MacArthur are family letters, which give news of his own family and talk about their difficult financial situation. Thomas's letters to Ian McAlister cover his work, his family and his worries over his finances, but also discuss in detail his mental health, and refer to his struggles with depression and "nerves" in a very honest manner. The correspondence to John Freeman primarily relates to his work, and to Freeman's work, as well as to mutual friends.
Please contact the Archive for further informationPapers of Aldous Leonard Huxley, 1918 , comprise a letter his brother, Julian Sorell Huxley, discussing books and society and literary figures.
Huxley , Aldous Leonard , 1894-1963 , authorRecords relating to the International Bookfair of Radical Black and Third World Books, including original programmes, stationery, correspondence and notes from members of The Alliance and from artists and those who attended the conferences. Also listings of families and individuals who provided accommodation for artists and rotas for the staffing of the Fairs.
The programmes are an excellent resource for information about the social and political issues that were of concern to Black people living in London in the 1980s and 1990s. They show the international links and connections between individuals of different artistic disciplines.
The development of the organisation and it's influence on diverse groups in the community are well documented in the correspondence and minutes; LMA/4462/M/01 and 02.
The photographs are both formal and informal. They show the Fair in action and special guests and artists performing or speaking at the different events. One album was put together by a participant as a gift to the Huntleys.
The press cuttings give valuable information on how the Fairs were being received by the Black community and others in London and internationally. There is an exclusive interview with Sonia Sanchez and an article by Margaret Busby which gives an historical overview of the Fair.
The copyright to these records rests with the depositors, Race Today Publications and New Beacon Books. Permission for the use of images for publication must be sought from all three organisations.
Bogle-L'Ouverture Publications Ltd , specialists in books from and about the Caribbean, Africa, Afro-America and Asia International Bookfair of Radical Black and Third World BooksPapers of Moses Mendelssohn, 1761-1785, comprise draft typescript transcriptions of Moses Mendelssohn's letters to Friedrich Nicholai, 1761-1785, along with a draft forweard by Richard Wolff and draft editorial notes.
Wolff , Richard , 1886-1985 , chairman of the PaulusbundPapers of Iris Murdoch, 1960s-1990s, comprising informal letters to her friend Barbara Dorf spanning a thirty-year friendship. The collection also contains letters from John Bayley to Dorf, written presumably when Murdoch was too ill to do so herself or following her death, thanking Dorf for being a special friend to Iris; a letter from Dorf to Dr Rowe at Kingston University discussing the Iris Murdoch collection and providing biographical information concerning Murdoch. The collection also includes a photocopy of an oil painting of Iris Murdoch by Barbara Dorf.
Murdoch , Dame , Jean Iris , 1919-1999 , author x Murdoch , IrisRecords relating to event 'Salkey's Score', commemorating the life of Andrew Salkey. Includes correspondence and minutes for the setting up of the committee. Biographical information on all participants. Drafts and proof copies for the programmes and letterhead. An original poster of Salkey's poem on the underground, A Song for England and copied pages from the comment book by attendees of the symposium.
Salkey's Score , cultural symposiumForged letter of Alfred Tennyson, 1876, to Mrs [Catherine] Gladstone, written and signed in an unknown hand, as if by Tennyson.
UnknownPapers of Anne Isabella Thackeray née Richie, [1863-1893], comprise four letters and one postcard to Mrs Jackson, Isabella [?Cole], Mrs James, Mrs Hugh Smith, Mrs Westlake. Items from both before and after Anne's marriage to Richmond T W Ritchie (1877) are included; the letters are dated with days of the week or dates and months, but the year is never given.
Ritchie , Anne Isabella , 1837-1919 , née Thackeray , novelist and biographer x Thackeray , Anne IsabellaPapers of Joyce Weiner, 1933-1934, comprising copies of correspondence from Arnold Zweig to Weiner on the subject of his literary problems, 6 Sep 1933-30 Dec 1934; copy of a letter from Lola Sernau to Weiner, 3 Aug 1933 and a short biographical account of Weiner, 8 Apr 1934.
Weiner , Joyce , fl 1933-1980