GB 1924 RTP - Ragged Trousered Philanthopists

3 boxes (c 1700 pp)

Robert Tressell gave the manuscript of The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists to his daughter, Kathleen before his move to Liverpool in 1910. After her father's death, Kathleen Tressell sold the manuscript to the publisher Grant Richards, who published it in drastically attered and cut down form in April 1914. Richards presented the manuscript to his secretary, Pauline Hemmerde, on her retirement. In 1946 Miss Hemmerde sold the manuscript to a syndicate of six people, mainly ex-servicemen, including Tressell's biographer, Fred Ball. A full text of the book was published by Lawrence and Wishart in 1955. In 1958 the manuscript was purchased by the National Federation of Building Trade Operatives, and presented to the Trades Union Congress the following year.
GB 1924 RTP 1901-1910 Collection (Fonds) 3 boxes (c 1700 pp) Tressell , Robert , 1870-1911 , author
Ball , Fred C , fl 1946-1973 , author
Robert Tressell: born 18 Apr 1870, Dublin; son of Mary Noonan and Samuel Croker; emigrated to South Africa, 1890; married Elizabeth Hartel, Cape Town, South Africa, 1891; daughter Kathleen, born 1892; his wife died c 1895, and he and his daughter moved to Johannesbug, where he worked as a signwriter, and was also involved in pro-Irish groups; moved to Hastings, Sussex, 1901, where he worked as a house painter and interior decorator; he wrote The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, a novel about the destitute and poor of 'Mugsborough', in his spare time.

After completing the manuscript, in about 1910, he gave it to his daughter, Kathleen, and left Hastings for Liverpool, possibly in an attempt to emigrate to Canada. Tressell died of tuberculosis in Liverpool on 3 February 1911, aged 40.

Robert Tressell gave the manuscript of The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists to his daughter, Kathleen before his move to Liverpool in 1910. After her father's death, Kathleen Tressell sold the manuscript to the publisher Grant Richards, who published it in drastically attered and cut down form in April 1914. Richards presented the manuscript to his secretary, Pauline Hemmerde, on her retirement. In 1946 Miss Hemmerde sold the manuscript to a syndicate of six people, mainly ex-servicemen, including Tressell's biographer, Fred Ball. A full text of the book was published by Lawrence and Wishart in 1955. In 1958 the manuscript was purchased by the National Federation of Building Trade Operatives, and presented to the Trades Union Congress the following year.

The manuscript was transferred to the TUC Library Collections in the University of North London by the TUC in January 1998.

Manuscript of The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists by Robert Tressell [Robert Noonan], c 1910, with a short history of the original manuscript, and its publication history by Fred Ball

As described in scope and content above.

Open to bona fide researchers at the discretion of the TUC Librarian.

At the discretion of the TUC Librarian and subject to copyright conditions.
English

Box list

F C Ball: Tressell of Mugsborough London: Lawrence and Wishart, (1951); One of the Damned: The Life and Times of Robert Tressell London: Lawrence and Wishart, (1973)

Compiled by Alan Kucia as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project. 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 May 2002 Ball , Fred C , fl 1946-1973 , author Disadvantaged groups Economic conditions England Europe Hastings Literary forms and genres Literature Living conditions Novels Poor Poverty Prose Social problems Sussex Tressell , Robert , 1870-1911 , author UK Western Europe East Sussex London

The manuscript was transferred to the TUC Library Collections in the University of North London by the TUC in January 1998.

Manuscript of The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists by Robert Tressell [Robert Noonan], c 1910, with a short history of the original manuscript, and its publication history by Fred Ball

As described in scope and content above.

Open to bona fide researchers at the discretion of the TUC Librarian.

At the discretion of the TUC Librarian and subject to copyright conditions.

• English

• Latin

English

Box list

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

• English