GB 2108 KUAS99 - Murdoch, Iris (1919-1999): Letters from Iris Murdoch to Mary McIntosh

Identity area

Reference code

GB 2108 KUAS99

Title

Murdoch, Iris (1919-1999): Letters from Iris Murdoch to Mary McIntosh

Date(s)

  • 1955-1958 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

1 file

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Iris Murdoch was born in Dublin, Ireland on 15 Jul 1919. When she was very young Iris and her parents moved to London, England, and Iris studied at Frobel and Badminton Schools. She followed this with studies in classics, ancient history and philosophy at Oxford, and further study at Cambridge. During the war years Iris worked for the Treasury in London, and then joined the UNRRA providing relief in formerly occupied countries in Europe. In 1948 she became a fellow of St Anne's College, Oxford, where she taught and researched philosophy.
Iris Murdoch wrote a number of tracts on philosophy, however it is for her novels that she is best known. She wrote 26 novels in total, her first being 'Under the Net' published in 1954. Other notable works include 'The Bell' and 'The Sea, the Sea', for which she won the Booker Prize. Her last novel, 'Jackson's Dilemma', was published in 1995.

In her youth Iris Murdoch had relationships with a number of individuals, including Elias Canetti. She met author and scholar John Bayley while at Oxford, and they married in 1956. She wrote to a great number of people and maintained friendships in this way.
Later in life Iris Murdoch was diagnosed with Alzheimers disease, the first effects of which she had attributed to writer's block. She died in 1999.

Mary McIntosh was a renowned sociologist, particularly for her work on gender and sexuality.

Archival history

GB 2108 KUAS99 1955-1958 Collection (fonds) 1 file Murdoch , Dame , Jean Iris , 1919-1999 , author

McIntosh , 1936-2013 , sociologist

Iris Murdoch was born in Dublin, Ireland on 15 Jul 1919. When she was very young Iris and her parents moved to London, England, and Iris studied at Frobel and Badminton Schools. She followed this with studies in classics, ancient history and philosophy at Oxford, and further study at Cambridge. During the war years Iris worked for the Treasury in London, and then joined the UNRRA providing relief in formerly occupied countries in Europe. In 1948 she became a fellow of St Anne's College, Oxford, where she taught and researched philosophy.
Iris Murdoch wrote a number of tracts on philosophy, however it is for her novels that she is best known. She wrote 26 novels in total, her first being 'Under the Net' published in 1954. Other notable works include 'The Bell' and 'The Sea, the Sea', for which she won the Booker Prize. Her last novel, 'Jackson's Dilemma', was published in 1995.

In her youth Iris Murdoch had relationships with a number of individuals, including Elias Canetti. She met author and scholar John Bayley while at Oxford, and they married in 1956. She wrote to a great number of people and maintained friendships in this way.
Later in life Iris Murdoch was diagnosed with Alzheimers disease, the first effects of which she had attributed to writer's block. She died in 1999.

Mary McIntosh was a renowned sociologist, particularly for her work on gender and sexuality.

Letters were presented to the Archive by Mary McIntosh.

Letters from Iris Murdoch to Mary McIntosh, who was a student of Murdoch's at St Anne's College, Oxford. McIntosh went on to be a renowned sociologist. These letters are from the period 1955-1958, when McIntosh was a student and represent her student/ teacher relationship with Iris Murdoch.

Original order

Letter are available to be viewed by appointment in our Archives and Special Collections. Please make an appointment at least 24 hours in advance by emailing archives@kingston.ac.uk

Letters are not able to be copied at this time.

English

Full cataloguing has yet to take place, when it does catalogue records will be available on our online catalogue at http://adlib.kingston.ac.uk

29 Jun 2015 Communication process Communication skills Writing Letter writing Educational environment Student teacher relationship Information sources Records and correspondence Letters (documents) Women students Students Undergraduates Graduates Teaching McIntosh , Mary , b 1936 , sociologist Murdoch , Dame , Jean Iris , 1919-1999 , author x Murdoch , Iris

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Letters were presented to the Archive by Mary McIntosh.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Letters from Iris Murdoch to Mary McIntosh, who was a student of Murdoch's at St Anne's College, Oxford. McIntosh went on to be a renowned sociologist. These letters are from the period 1955-1958, when McIntosh was a student and represent her student/ teacher relationship with Iris Murdoch.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Original order

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Letter are available to be viewed by appointment in our Archives and Special Collections. Please make an appointment at least 24 hours in advance by emailing archives@kingston.ac.uk

Conditions governing reproduction

Letters are not able to be copied at this time.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Full cataloguing has yet to take place, when it does catalogue records will be available on our online catalogue at http://adlib.kingston.ac.uk

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Existence and location of copies

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Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Kingston University

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Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area