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Letter from Dorothea Watson of Middleton Tyas, Yorkshire to an unknown female recipient, 24 Sep 1688. Has heard from Mrs Watson of Danby Wiske, [North Riding of Yorkshire], that a servant (a niece of Mrs Watson) was leaving the recipient's service at Martinmas (11 November); asks her 'to answer the queries on the [o]ther side ... and were Master and Mistresses to [be] upon honor, in their character of servants, there woud [so] on be an end of all complaints of bad ones'. Autograph, with signature. Some traces of the questions from the dorse are visible in reverse on the face of the letter.

Scrapbook of press cuttings on women in domestic service, restaurant work, catering, household management, and related fields, 1915-1935.

This scrapbook consists of press cuttings, the provenance is unknown. The volume contains the bookplate of Lucy Adela Jenner and it is possible that this is an indication of the provenance of the suffrage cuttings. The suffrage press-cuttings, including from the local press in London and Hampshire are about the suffrage campaigns, 1908-1909.

Additional press-cuttings from a press agency from 1918-1919 and those relating to domestic service, appear to have been added at a later date [possibly from the same added by the Library source as those in 10/06].

The archive consists of Domestic Science notes consisting of: housewifery notes (1912), including cut-out and pasted-in examples of household equipment with prices; and examination paper for diploma candidates on the theory of housewifery in Jul 1912; cookery theory notes (1910); and a notebook of laundry demonstration notes (1911); and biographical notes (1993) prepared by the depositor. Detailed descriptions for selected items within the notebooks are also given.

The archive consists of an illustrated typescript autobiography of Mollie Prendergast spanning the greater part of the twentieth century. Includes accounts of her family history and background; her rural childhood and her time in service; the education and working lives of herself and of other family members; her life in London, including during the Blitz; her work as a civil servant; holidays and trips abroad; and her involvement with left wing political and social action.

Letter from A Offley, c 1790. No address. To Mrs Walker. Supplies a character reference for a servant, Mrs Stent, who had among her recommendations that she 'stayd with ye dificall lady Manchester [Elizabeth Montagu, Duchess of Manchester] longer than most of her sarvents do but as to her [Mrs Stent's] temper it is warm and pashonat and she cant allways commande it ...'.

Autograph, with signature.

Financial records of the National Union of Domestic Workers, 1938-1953, comprising: Ledger and cash books (including branch accounts), 1938-1953; St John's Wood Branch, London, account book, 1938-1941.

'The National Institute of Houseworkers was set up in 1946 with the primary aim of raising the status of domestic employment. thus attracting more workers into this essential occupation, and establishing, by means of training and by examination of those already possessing the necessary qualifications, a recognised standard of skill for employment under agreed working conditions.' Introduction to The Houseworker - The Journal of The Institute of Houseworkers, March 1951. Address of headquarters 53, Mount Street, London. Collection includes: copies of the journal The Houseworker 1948-1956; Annual Reports 1949-1965 and Conference Reports 1954-1955. Copy of 'A Training Scheme for Houseworkers' not dated.

This collection covers both the public and the private aspects of Violet Markham. The documents relating to her public works cover her involvement in the National Relief Fund, the Central Committee on Women's Employment, the Women's Section of the National Service Department, the Unemployment and Assistance Board, the Trade Board for the Cutlery Industry, and the Voluntary Social Services Enquiry, along with material on the issue of domestic service. The documents relating to Markham's private life consist of biographical and personal material, including diaries, correspondence, photographs, writings, speeches and broadcasts, and material documenting her education, domestic and household matters, and her work on Joseph Paxton, her grandfather, who designed the Crystal Palace.

Extract from records of proceedings before the Commissioners 'for hearing and determining appeals against the duties on male servants' at the Golden Lion Inn at Cheriton Bishop, Devon, on 3 Feb 1807, giving reasons for allowing an appeal against a surcharge on a domestic servant made by the Rev. Bryan Roberts, Rector of Drewsteignton. The appeal had been challenged by James Searle, surveyor, and the commissioners were Richard Holland, John Cann and Baldwin Huldford. The return made by Roberts in 1806 had included 1 four wheel carriage, 2 riding horses, 2 labour horses, 4 sporting dogs, 1 male servant, and 'one other occasionally employed in his garden'.

Letter from William Ward Jackson of Normanby, [North Riding of Yorkshire] to George Brigham, near Hutton, Rudby, [North Riding of Yorkshire], 20 Mar 1822. Describing how a servant of Jackson's had been killed 'by an accident from a horse' that day and an early inquest is desired. Asks Brigham to tell the bearer of the letter what time he will arrive.

Autograph, with signature.

(i) Letters to Sir Graham Eden Hamond and Lady Hamond, 1850-1865. Mainly concerning references and testimonials for domestic servants, either formerly employed in or potentially to be engaged by the Hamond household. Including 1 receipt for £6 wages and a letter mentioning the 1852 general election.

(ii) Letter from Charles Scovell of Bembridge, Isle of Wight, to Mr Escount, 16 Feb 1865. Relating to the business affairs of Sir Andrew Hamond [Sir Graham Hamond's son and successor as baronet].

Letter from Thomas Dares to Mr Darmer, 7 May [1670]. Discussing employing a servant: 'Syr being destitute at this time of a servant your man made meanes yt I would intertaine him, wch (if it shall neither unfurnishe you and that upon your commendation I may have him [?...], I shall be willing therunto ... therfore unlesse it be yt he were to goe from you and you not to be unprovided youre slefe, and likewise yt by your paritcular letter ... I may asssure my slefe of an orderly servant free from excesse of drinking and disorder, I shall be unwilling to intertaine him, besides I am in want of one presently by reason yt I knew not of ye so soudaine departure of my owne man ...'.

Autograph, with signature. The hand suggests that a date of c1670 is plausible.

Working papers of the Survey of 'Labour and Life of the People' and 'Life and Labour of the People in London' by Charles Booth 1886 - 1903 comprising the original survey notebooks and papers: interviews, questionnaires, statistics, reports and colour coded maps describing poverty.
The papers and the original survey notebooks reflect the three areas of investigation undertaken in the survey: poverty, industry and religious influences.
The poverty series interviewed School Board visitors about levels of poverty in households and streets. The survey also investigated trades of East London connected with poverty: tailoring; furniture and women's work.
The industry series comprises interviews of employers, trade union leaders and workers for each trade and industry and questionnaires concerning rates of wages, numbers employed, details of trade unions and domestic details (food, dress and circumstances etc) which were completed by employees and trade union officials. The following trades and industries are covered by the survey: building trade; wood workers; metal workers; precious metals, watches and instruments; sundry manufacturers printing and paper trades; textile trades; clothing trades; food and drink trades; dealers and clerks; transport and gardeners; labourers; public service and professional classes; domestic service. Case histories of the inmates of Bromley and Stepney workhouses during 1889 and people who received outdoor relief from the union were also transcribed.
The religious survey includes reports of visits to churches and over 1450 interviews with ministers of all denominations including Church of England, Methodist, Presbyterian, Jewish, Roman Catholic. Salvation Army officers and missionaries were also interviewed. The reports of the interviews contain printed material relating to the churches. Questionnaires were also completed as part of the survey. The investigation went beyond documenting religious influences and incorporates a description of the social and moral influences on Londoners' lives.
The Maps Descriptive of London Poverty 1898-1899 are probably the most well known documents which survive from the survey. The Maps Descriptive of London Poverty 1898-1899 are twelve sheets colour coded by social class and poverty from black [semi-vicious] to yellow [middle and upper class, well-to-do]. The maps cover an area of London from Hammersmith in the west, to Greenwich in the east, and from Hampstead in the north to Clapham in the south. The working and printed copies of the maps are contained within the archive.
The social investigators accompanied police around their beats in London in order to update the existing street-level information for the Maps Descriptive of London Poverty 1898-1899. The reports of the walks are known as the 'police notebooks' and contain descriptions of London streets. All the notebooks have been digitised.
Other papers include an inventory undertaken in 1925 by Thomas Macaulay Booth, son of Charles Booth; additional manuscripts concerning the survey: circulars, statistics etc and booklets collected during the survey.