Catalogue of the papers of the Benson family, 18th-20th cent.

Bodleian Library, University of Oxford

2008

This catalogue was funded by a generous donation from the TILLING SOCIETY.

Department of Special Collections and Western Manuscripts
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Table of Contents

Introduction
A    The works of A.C. Benson and other members of the Benson family, excluding E. F. Benson
    A.1  A.C. Benson
        A.1.1  Novels (manuscript)
        A.1.2  Other works, 1893-1916
    A.2  R.H. Benson
    A.3  M.W. Benson (1860-78); Eleanor Benson and E.W. Benson Snr. (1800-43)
    A.4  E.W. Benson
    A.5  Mary Benson
        A.5.1  Diaries, 1859-1901, with typescript selections from the 1891 diary of E.W. Benson
        A.5.2  Poems, essays, sketches, music and prayers, 1841-1937
    A.6  Mary Croft, Henry Sidgwick, H.H. MacDowall and K.S.P. MacDowall
    A.7  Benson Family Miscellaneous
B    Novels and other works by E.F. Benson, with some papers
    B.1  Novels and short stories
    B.2  Plays and Essays
    B.3  Miscellaneous papers
C    Benson family correspondence
    C.1  Correspondence of William and Mary Sidgwick, 1829-73
    C.2  Correspondence of E.W. Benson
    C.3  Correspondence of Mary 'Minnie' Benson (E.W. Benson's wife), née Sidgwick (1841-1918), 1846-1918, n.d.
        C.3.1  Letters from her mother, Mary Sidgwick, 1846-88, n.d., and other family members, 1853-98, n.d.
        C.3.2  Letters from her husband, E.W. Benson, 1852-96
        C.3.3  Miscellaneous correspondence, 1845-1918, n.d.
    C.4  Letters to Henry Sidgwick, 1857-1900, and Ada MacDowall, née Benson, 1841-82, n.d.
    C.5  Correspondence of E.W. and Mary Benson's children
        C.5.1  M.W. Benson
        C.5.2  A.C. Benson
        C.5.3  Mary Eleanor 'Nellie' Benson (1863-1890)
        C.5.4  Margaret Benson (1865-1916)
        C.5.5  E.F. Benson
        C.5.6  R.H. Benson
    C.6  Miscellaneous
D    Additional papers (further works and correspondence)
Index of Correspondents

Papers of the Benson Family, 18th-20th cent.

Abstract:
Papers of Arthur Christopher Benson, writer (1862-1925), Edward Frederic Benson, writer (1867-1940), Edward White Benson, Archbishop of Canterbury (1829-1896), Robert Hugh Benson, Roman Catholic Writer and Apologist (1871-1914), Margaret Benson, Egyptologist and religious philosopher (1865-1916).

Shelfmarks: MSS. Benson 1/1-3/78; Benson adds. 1-22

Extent: 309 shelfmarks

Biographical History

Arthur Christopher Benson, writer (1862-1925), Edward Frederic Benson, writer (1867-1940), Edward White Benson, Archbishop of Canterbury (1829-1896), Robert Hugh Benson, Roman Catholic Writer and Apologist (1871-1914) - see Dictionary of National Biography for further details of all four of them; Margaret Benson, Egyptologist and religious philosopher (1865-1916) see Who Was Who for further details; and other members of the Benson family.

Scope and Content

The collection comprises principally the literary papers of A.C. and E.F. Benson, with correspondence and papers of members of the family.

Arrangement

In two sections: MSS. Benson and MSS. Benson adds. Papers within each section are arranged by name, A.C. Benson, R.H. Benson, and so on.

Custodial History

MSS. Benson, formerly Dep. Benson, were deposited by K.S.P. McDowall in 1949; MSS. Benson adds., were formerly owned by Mrs. Alice Russell.

Acquisition

Bought, 1991.

Restrictions on Access

Requests to see any of the Benson papers should be made in advance, in writing, to Western Manuscripts.

Preferred Form of Citation

Oxford, Bodleian Library [followed by shelfmark and folio or page reference, e.g. MS. Benson 1/1, or MS. Benson 3/6/5, or MS. Benson adds. 5, fols. 1-2 (if foliated)].

Family names (NCA Rules)

Benson family

Personal names (NCA Rules)

Benson | Arthur Christopher | 1862-1925 | Writer
Benson | Edward Frederic | 1867-1940 | Author
Benson | Edward White | 1829-1896 | Archbishop of Canterbury
Benson | Margaret | 1865-1916 | Egyptologist and religious philosopher
Benson | Robert Hugh | 1871-1914 | Roman Catholic Writer and Apologist

Subjects (LCSH)

English literature -- 19th century
English literature -- 20th century

A   The works of A.C. Benson and other members of the Benson family, excluding E. F. Benson

A.1   A.C. Benson

A.1.1   Novels (manuscript)

Shelfmarks: MSS. Benson 1/1-10


At Large (1908)
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 1/1
Extent: 541 leaves

From a College Widow (1906)
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 1/2
Extent: 463 leaves

Scope and Content:

Essays.

Leaves of the Tree (1911)
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 1/3
Extent: 726 leaves

Scope and Content:

Biographical essays.

The Altar Fire (1907)
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 1/4
629 leaves
Scope and Content:

Novel.

The Hill of Trouble and Other Stories (1903)
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 1/5
Extent: 589 leaves

Scope and Content:

Ghost stories written when a housemaster at Eton.

The Isles of Sunset (1904)
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 1/6
Extent: 447 leaves

Scope and Content:

Short stories.

The Leighton paper
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 1/7
Extent: 179 leaves

Scope and Content:

Incomplete novel.

The Thread of Gold (1906)
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 1/8
Extent: 416 leaves and 92pp

Scope and Content:

Manuscript autobiographical essays described by A.C. Benson as 'pages torn from the book of my life', with corrected slip proofs dated July- August 1905


The Upton Letters (1905)
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 1/9
Extent: 574 leaves

Scope and Content:

Personal observations couched in letter form.

Thy Rod and Thy Staff (1912)
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 1/10
Extent: 302 leaves

A.1.2   Other works, 1893-1916

Shelfmarks: MSS. Benson 1/11-42

Note: Manuscript unless otherwise stated

Biography and Essays, c.1893-1910s
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 1/11-18
Extent: 256 leaves

Scope and Content:

Biography

  • (1/11, fols. 1-47) Edmund Gosse
  • (1/12, fols. 48-73) Dr. Samuel Parr, offprint, 1893
  • (1/13, fols. 74-145) Dr. Edmond Warre, bound typescript with some additions and corrections

Essays

  • (1/14, fols. 146-73) Aftermath. In Edward White Benson's hand.
  • (1/15, fols. 174-94) Art and Life (typescript)
  • (1/16, fols. 195-242) De Profundis (typescript)
  • (1/17, fols. 243-7) 'Introduction to essays' (untitled typescript)
  • (1/18, fols. 248-56) The Search (typescript)

Poetry, 1891-1900
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 1/19-33
Extent: 384 leaves

Scope and Content:
  • (1/19, fols. 1-8) Ode. In Memoriam William Ewart Gladstone,privately printed, 4 June 1898
  • (1/20-1, fols. 9-20) Ode. In Memoriam William Ewart Gladstone, 2 copies, printed, 4 June 1898
  • (1/22-3, fols. 21-44) Thomas Gray, Eton (2 copies, printed), 1895
  • (1/24-6, fols.45-191) Lord Vyet and Other Poems, (3 copies, printed), 1897
  • (1/27-8, fols.192-207) Mac. An Ode, Eton (2 copies, printed), 1898
  • (1/29-30, fols. 208-19) Monnow, Eton (2 copies, printed), 1896
  • (1/31, fols. 220-314) Poems by Christopher Carr. Typescript with manuscript annotations and index with a preface by A.C. Benson, 1891- 2.
  • (1/32, fols. 315-42) The Professor, and other poems, Eton, 1895
  • (1/33, fols. 343-84) Virgil, An Idyll. Slip proof inscribed by A.C. Benson, 10 May 1916.

Miscellaneous Literary Works, Music, Notes, etc.
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 1/34-42
Extent: 346 leaves

Scope and Content:
  • (1/34, fols. 1-12) Babylonica, Eton (printed), 1895
  • (1/35, fols. 13-16) Kyrie Eleison, music composed by A.C. Benson, ( 4 copies, printed)
  • (1/36, fols. 17-37) Plans for a work called 'Loopholes.' including a Memorandum of Agreement between A.C. Benson and Hodder and Stoughton, and table of contents
  • (1/37, fols. 38-137) Notebook containing drafts, 1910s
  • (1/38, fols. 138-69) Sketchbook, Eton, St. Albans, Falmouth, c. 1878-9
  • (1/39, fols. 170-223) Copy of a Robert Browning poem 'To Edward Fitzgerald', 1889, and some prose by A.C. Benson with part of a play by R.H. Benson
  • (1/40, fols. 224-79) Cathedral Psalter Chants, (printed) with annotations by A.C. Benson, 1877
  • (1/41, fols. 280-344) The Form and Order of the Service that is to be performed.....in the Coronation of....King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra... , ed. Sir Frederick Bridge, Novello,1902. Alto copy given to A.C. Benson by Bridge.
  • (1/42, fols. 345-6) Printed photograph of A.C. Benson from an original by Elliott and Fry, from 'The Bookman', Nov. 1911

A.2   R.H. Benson

Shelfmarks: MSS. Benson 1/43-61

Note: Manuscript unless otherwise stated

Novels and Plays
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 1/43-44
Extent: 445 leaves
1905-9
Scope and Content:
  • (1/43, fols. 1-136) Richard Raynal (1906) with a dedication, 1905
  • (1/44) The Conventionalists (1908)

Play, The Necromancers (1909)
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 1/45a-b
Extent: 272 leaves

Religious Books, unpublished writings and notes, 1900-17
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 1/46-51
Extent: 320 leaves

Scope and Content:
  • (1/46, fols. 1-54) Confessions of a Convert (1913)
  • (1/47, fols. 55-91) 'Imaginary Conversations', with related letter from Longman, 1916
  • (1/48, pp[i-iv] 1-138) Sermon notes. Second Series: Catholic (London, 1917), printed book
  • (1/49, fols. 92-190) 'Symposium'
  • (1/50-1, fols. 191-215, 216-320) 2 notebooks containing prayers and notes on courses, and sermons from quiet days and Holy Week, c.1900-01

Plays and Miscellaneous papers, 1880s-1914
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 1/52-61
Extent: 170 leaves, 401pp

Scope and Content:

Plays

  • (1/52-3, fols. 1-24, 25-43) 2 untitled works comprising one early and incomplete piece by R.H. Benson, c.1900, and notes on a play in another hand, 1910s

Miscellaneous

  • (1/54, fols. 44-123) 'The Chronicle of Hare Street House'. Bound notebook, 1914
  • (1/55, fols. 124-132) Notes on Tudor history, c.1880s
  • (1/56, fols. 133-39) 3 untitled poems, 2 in Mary Benson's hand, 1903 and n.d.
  • (1/57, fols. 140-49) 'Father Damien', Hewey Prize Poem, Eton, 1889
  • (1/58, fols. 150-70) Diary, 1896-7
  • (1/59, pp.118) Addresses given by R.H. Benson in Retreat, Nov. 1902
  • (1/60) A Daily Thought. From the Writings of the Rev. FR. Dignam, S.J., 3rd Edition (London, 1903), printed book
  • (1/61) Manual of Devotion. Edition with the Epistles and Gospels, printed book

A.3   M.W. Benson (1860-78); Eleanor Benson and E.W. Benson Snr. (1800-43)

Shelfmarks: MSS. Benson 1/62-6


Miscellaneous papers of M.W. Benson
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 1/62
Extent: 223 leaves, and [i-ix] pp 1-103 [x-xi] printed

Scope and Content:
  • ( fols. 1-18) Printed item Unser tagliches Brod in Bildern von Ludwig Richter ( Dresden), with a dedication to Martin White Benson from John Wordsworth, 2 February 1867
  • (fols. 19-26) Printed pamphlet The Bishops of Cornwall AD 909-1877 ( Truro 1877), with 1 leaf showing the Arms of the first Bishop of Truro
  • (fols. 27-44) Sketchbook inscribed M.W. Benson Ap. 6 1874 and containing pen and ink drawings
  • (fols. 45-76) Almanack/notebook with accounts and a few sketches and drawings, 1876
  • (fols. 77-116) Autograph book including an entry by Charles Kingsley, n.d.
  • (fols. 117-216) Notebook containing Roman history notes, ' From Tiberius Gracchus to Octavius Caesar.' n.d.
  • (fols. 217-23) Leather folder containing blotting paper
  • [i-ix] pp 1-103 [x-xi] Thoma Hobbio (Malmesburiensi) Historia Ecclesiastica Carmine Elegiaco Concinnata. Opus posthumum, 1688, inscribed by Martin White Benson, 1875

Eleanor S. Benson (E.W. Benson's grandmother), Extracts from the Poetry of Modern Times selected by E.S.Benson 1805
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 1/63
Extent: [i-v] pp 1-81

Diaries of E.W. Benson Snr. (E.W. Benson's father), 1831-41
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 1/64-6

Scope and Content:
  • (1/64) Dec. 1830-Oct. 1832
  • (1/65) 10 Oct. 1832-10 Mar. 1836
  • (1/66) April 1836-Oct. 1841

A.4   E.W. Benson

Shelfmarks: MSS. Benson 1/67-70


'Horace 1' notebook 1850s
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 1/67
Extent: 48 leaves

Poems, translations, travel notes, prayers, sermons, and hymns 1840s-1887, n.d.
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 1/68
Extent: 190 leaves

The Treasury of Sacred Song (Oxford, 1889), with letter of presentation from the Delegates of OUP to E.W. Benson, 1889
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 1/69
Extent: 374pp

Scope and Content:

Limited print number 16 of 585 signed by W.G. Palgrave

W.E. Gladstone, An Introduction to the Peoples' Bible History (Chicago, 1895), inscribed 'E.W. Cantuar from W. Gladstone'
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 1/70
22pp

A.5   Mary Benson

A.5.1   Diaries, 1859-1901, with typescript selections from the 1891 diary of E.W. Benson

Shelfmarks: MSS. Benson 1/71-80


Travel Diary, inscribed 'Rheims July 2 1859.', with later entries relating to spiritualism, August-September 1874, and loose pages, 16 Mar.-16 July 1876
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 1/71
Extent: 85 leaves

Loose Diary entries, 25 Feb.-10 Mar. 1860
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 1/72
Extent: 19 leaves
Note: Removed from the front of MS. Benson 1/73, c.1986.

Diary, 13 Oct. 1862-3 March 1864, with some entries from 1865 and 1868
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 1/73
Extent: 97 leaves

Scope and Content:

Includes notes on the 'Ideal Polity', 1865.

Diary, 17 Mar.-20 June 1876
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 1/79
Extent: 67 leaves

Diary, 1882
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 1/74
Extent: 137 leaves

Travel Diary: Port Said, Jaffa, Jerusalem, Jenin, Banias, Druse village, Damascus, Baalbeck, Smyrna and Cyprus, 3 March- 3 April 1888
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 1/80
Extent: 114 leaves

Travel Diary: Algiers, Jan. 1892
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 1/76
Extent: v + 59 leaves

23 July 1896-18 April 1898, 17-20 July 1901
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 1/77
Extent: 78 leaves

Diary, 4 May 1898-8 Aug. 1900
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 1/78
Extent: 92 leaves

Typescript selections from E.W. Benson's 1891 diary
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 1/75
Extent: 101 leaves
Note: Typescript selections from E.W. Benson's diaries, 1893-5, are MS. Benson adds. 15 below.

A.5.2   Poems, essays, sketches, music and prayers, 1841-1937

Shelfmarks: MSS. Benson 1/81-6


Poems, sketches and prayers, 1841-1937
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 1/81-5
Extent: 525, 91, 63, 56, c.138 leaves

Scope and Content:
  • (1/81, fols. 1-525) Poems, sketches, drawings and other artwork, with a play, music, essays, notes and prayers; executed or composed by various members of the Benson and Sidgwick families, 1866-1937, n.d.
  • (1/82, fols. 1-94) Notebookbooks containing poetry and history notes, 1841-69
  • (1/83, fols. 1-63) Notebook containing natural history notes, 1849
  • (1/84, fols. 1-56) Notebook labelled, 'Intensely Private', containing poetry and some prose, c.1890s
  • (1/85, fols. 1- 140) Sketchbook from which individual items had been removed and placed within the front covers. The individual items include satirical drawings by Mary Benson, 12 pen and ink sketches of Lincolnshire by Thomas Mozley and a series of small watercolour portraits made at Addington by A.C. Benson, late 1850s-1892

Large guardbook of music and sketches, 1858-1890s
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 1/86
Extent: 113 leaves

Scope and Content:
  • (fols. 4-5) Keemo Kimo. A banjo song for piano, inscribed M.Sidgwick.
  • (fols. 6-12) E. Hamilton, A Set of Singing Quadrilles
  • (fols.15-16) Manuscript inscribed C.E. Donne, John Wilson, Wae's me For Prince Charlie
  • (fols. 17-27) Bugle song, carols and other songs
  • (fols. 28-105) 7 printed works including school songs from Eton, Harrow and Uppingham, 1877, n.d.
  • (fol.106) Drawing of a thatched cottage by Mary Sidgwick inscribed ' Mine be a cot. beside the rill. MS. Oct. 18 1858'
  • (fol. 107) Drawing of beech trees by Mary Sidgwick inscribed ' ''...tu patula recubans sub tegmine fagi'' MS. Oct. 2(3rd?) 1858'
  • (fol. 108) Drawing of a ruined religious building inscribed ' ''A pleasant place he saw in days of old. But something ails it now, the spot is curst.'' MS Nov. 1st 1858'
  • (fol. 109) Drawing of a ruined castle on a hill with a cottage, lake and trees in the foreground, inscribed 'MS. Nov. 8th 1858', with 2 lines of poetry in German
  • (fol. 110) Drawing of a bridge inscribed, ' MS. Nov. 16th 1858. Bridge of Badia. Italy.'
  • (fol. 111) Drawing of a wide valley with trees in the foreground, inscribed ' MS. Nov.28.1858.'
  • (fol. 112) Drawing of a ruined castle beyond a weir with fishermen in the foreground, inscribed 'MS. Dec.8th 1858.'
  • (fol. 113) Drawing of a cottage initialled (? E.B.)

A.6   Mary Croft, Henry Sidgwick, H.H. MacDowall and K.S.P. MacDowall

Shelfmarks: MSS. Benson 1/87-94


Mary Croft, Henry Sidgwick and H. H. MacDowall, 1824-1924
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 1/87-9
Extent: 127pp and 27 leaves

Scope and Content:
  • (1/87, pp[i-ii] 1-97+ fols.40a, 86a-c) Mary Croft (Mrs. Benson's mother): notebook with diary entries, reading list, notes, copies of poems and letters etc. 1824-5
  • (1/88, fols.1-23) Henry Sidgwick (Mrs Benson's brother): poems given to his sister Mary with her notes from his diaries
  • (1/89) H.H. MacDowall: Jezabel, a play (printed), 1924

K.S.P. MacDowall, c.1880s-1927
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 1/90-4
Extent: 90 leaves and 7 photographs

Scope and Content:
  • (1/90-3, fols.1-90) 4 exercise books containing notes and essays, 1922-3, 1924, 1927, n.d.
  • (1/94, fols. 1-7) 7 cartes de visite portraits of young men by Scott & Wilkinson of Cambridge, W.Vick of Ipswich (serial nos. 29344, 32430= H.M. Barnes), W.W. Gregory of Marlborough (serial nos. 6947, 7539, 7..4), and Birtles of Warrington and Northwich, c.1880s/1890s

A.7   Benson Family Miscellaneous

Shelfmarks: MSS. Benson 1/95-128


Printed books, plays and music, c.1880s-1929
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 1/95-107
Extent: c.1020pp

Scope and Content:
  • (1/95, pp1-653) Greek Testament (printed), with a note by A.C. Benson '...this is one of the Greek Testaments that....E.W. Benson used to give as Archbishop of Canterbury to those whom he ordained deacons...'
  • (1/96, 17 quires) Greek Testament : New (printed)
  • (1/97, pp1-32) The Shout by Robert Graves (printed), 1929
  • (1/98, pp1-31) A Ghost in the Isle of White by Leslie Shane (printed), 1929
  • (1/99, pp1-40) Fame by May Sinclair (printed), 1929
  • (1/100, pp1-63) New Idyllia by Morton Luce (printed), 1923
  • (1/101, pp1-95) Wisdom While You Wait (printed), 1903
  • (1/102, pp1-85) The Eumenides, music by C. Villiers Stanford, 1883
  • (1/103a-7) 6 pieces of vocal music (printed), including pieces by H.Walford Davies and A.M.Goodhart, c.1910-11

Volume containing 3 series of works for the piano (printed), 1770s or 1780s
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 1/108
Extent: 67 leaves

Scope and Content:
  • Six sonatas for the piano by Ernesto Eichner
  • Six lessons for the piano by Jacob Kirkman
  • Six sonatas for the piano by C. Evans

Press cuttings, booklets and school exercise books, c. 1857-1940
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 1/109-26
Extent: 560 leaves

Scope and Content:
  • (1/109, pp.16, 38, 28, fols.1-25) Press cuttings, booklets and printed ephemera including Martin White Benson's Temple Grove exam paper, 1873, and Mary Benson's address given at the dedication of the nave at Truro Cathedral. 1903
  • (1/110, fols.1-30, 1/111, fols.1-12, 1/112, fols. 1-14, 1/113, fols. 1-22, 1/114, fols. 1-14, 1/115, fols. 1-18) School exercise and copybooks of Mary Sidgwick, Martin White Benson, and A.C. Benson, 1857-68
  • (1/116, fols.1-105, 1/117, fols.1-58) 2 notebooks of A.C. Benson containing, ' The Pythagoreans.' Kings College, 1884, and 'An Unconscious Humorist.' relating to the life and work of George Dyer, c. late 1880s
  • (1/118, fols.1-14, 1/119, fols.1-22, 1/120, fols.1-235, 1/121, fols.1-14) School exercise, copy and notebooks of Mary Eleanor and Margaret Benson, 1869-71
  • (1/122, fols. 1-14, 1/123, fols.1-22, 1/124, fols.1-22, 1/125, fols. 1-18) School exercise and copybooks of E.F.Benson and R.H. Benson, 1874-7
  • (1/126) Mock charter setting up a Society of Friendship and Goodwill between the 4 eldest Benson children, 1879

Genealogical papers, 1730-1920s
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 1/127-8

Scope and Content:

(1/127) Deeds, documents and related papers, comprising

  • (1/127/9) Certificate of marriage. Robert Hodgson / Elinor Taylor, 1730
  • (1/127/15) Will and probate of Benjamin Taylor of Wath, 1737
  • (1/127/9) Military passport of Robert Hodgson, 1745
  • (1/127/6) Will and proof of Robert Hodgson, 1759
  • (1/127/13) Inventory and account of goods, chattels, rights etc. of Robert Hodgson, 1759
  • (1/127/) Lease and release of land etc. at Pateley Bridge: Joseph and William Calvert to Christopher Benson, 1759
  • (1/127/11) Exemption from dues for Eleanor Hodgson of Cayton Grange, Liberty of the late dissolved monastery of Fountains, 1768
  • (1/127/9) Notice of livestock auction. Eleanor Hodgson, Cayton Hall, Ripley, 1771
  • (1/127/14) Will of Eleanor Hodgson, 1777
  • (1/127/) Surrender of copyhold of land at Pateley Bridge: Joseph Benson to Christopher Benson of York,1782
  • (1/127/10) Copy will of Morfit Hodgson of Ripon, 1783
  • (1/127/) 4 schedules of deeds and documents covering 1758-1802 and concerning Christopher, Joseph, Edward and Anne Benson, c.1800-03
  • (1/127/) Demise of Michael House and land at Hinxton; William Lort Bishop of Bristol to Solomon Benson, 1818
  • (1/127/1) List of Benson wills at York, 1396-1745, compiled by Alfred Scott Gatty, 1886
  • (1/127/16) Letters of Administration for the estate of Charles Benson of Portmadoc ro Edward White Benson and his brother Charles, 1893
  • (1/127/12) List of the Buck papers, c.1920s
  • (1/127/2-6) Notes, including family trees, made by E.W. Benson and R.H.Sidgwick, with a letter from A.C. Benson to his father about family history, c.1860s-90s

(1/128) E.W. Benson's notes on family pedigrees

  • (1/128/1) Joseph Lucas 'Principal Geneological Trees of the family of Bayne of Nidderdale.' Printed item, 1896

B   Novels and other works by E.F. Benson, with some papers

Note: Manuscript unless otherwise stated

B.1   Novels and short stories

Shelfmarks: MSS. Benson 2/1-42

Arrangement: Alphabetical by title.

A Rogue's Redemption, 1899
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 2/1
Extent: 374 leaves

Scope and Content:

Comprises three bound notebooks foliated by E.F.Benson

A Pair of Chelsea Figures - Alcibiades, 1922-8
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 2/2-4
Extent: 821 leaves

Scope and Content:
  • (2/2, fols.1-10) A Pair of Chelsea Figures, incomplete.
  • (2/3, fols. 1-493) Alan, 27 July 1922, (1928)
  • (2/4, pp[i-xxiii] 17-311) The Life of Alcibiades, printed and corrected proofs, (1928)

Illustrations for The Life of Alcibiades (1928)
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 2/5
Extent: 3 leaves

Arundel - Complete Rest, 1913-19, n.d.
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 2/6-9
Extent: 608 leaves

Scope and Content:

The existing foliation by E.F.Benson has been retained.

  • (2/6, fols.1-545) Arundel, 28.8.1913-10.12.1919, (1914)
  • (2/7, fols.1-20) Aunt Georgie
  • (2/8, fols.[i]1-22) By the North Sea (revised carbon typescript)
  • (2/9, fols. [i]1-13) Complete Rest (revised carbon typescripts)

David Blaize - David Blaize at Cambridge, 1915-23
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 2/10-12
Extent: 1076 leaves

Scope and Content:

The existing foliation by E.F.Benson has been retained.

  • (2/10, fols. 216-9, 250-570) David Blaize. Incomplete work, missing chapters i-iv and part of vii, 25.9.1915
  • (2/11, fols.1-185,) David Blaize and the Blue Door,1918
  • (2/12, pp1-305) David Blaize at Cambridge, 3 notebooks, 7.7.1923

Dodo the Second, 18 March 1912, published 1914
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 2/13
Extent: 538 leaves

Scope and Content:

The original foliation by E.F.Benson has been retained.

Margery - Michael
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 2/14-15
Extent: 661 leaves

Scope and Content:

The existing foliation by E.F.Benson has been retained.

  • (2/14, fols. 1-439) Margery (typescript)
  • (2/15, fols. 1-210) Michael (incomplete typescript)

Mike, 12 April 1915, published 1916
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 2/16
Extent: 617 leaves

Scope and Content:

The existing foliation by E.F.Benson has been retained.

Mr. Teddy, 29 April 1914, published 1917
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 2/17
Extent: 616 leaves

Scope and Content:

The existing foliation by E.F.Benson has been retained.

Mrs. Ames (1912)
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 2/18
Extent: 547 leaves

Scope and Content:

The existing foliation, by E.F.Benson's typist, has been retained.


Quack-Quack - The China Bowl
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 2/19-23
Extent: 489 leaves

Scope and Content:

The existing foliation, mainly by E.F.Benson or his typist, has been retained.

  • (2/19, fols. 1-26) Quack-Quack
  • (2/20, fols.1-500) Robin Linnett Incomplete, (1919)
  • (2/21, fols.1-24) Sea Mist
  • (2/22, fols.1-19) Sing For Your Dinner
  • (2/23a, fols.1-22) The China Bowl
  • (2/23b, 23pp) The Chippendale Mirror

The Circle, 14 August 1918
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 2/24a
Extent: 481 leaves

Scope and Content:

E.F. Benson's own foliation has been retained.

The Dog in the Cult of Asclepius (some typescript)
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 2/24b
Extent: 236 leaves

The Economies of Mrs. Hancock - The Oakleyites
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 2/25-9
Extent: 669 leaves

Scope and Content:
  • (2/25) The Economies of Mrs. Hancock (typescript)
  • (2/26) The Eternally Uncompromised
  • (2/27) The Flint Knife
  • (2/28) The Grisly Kittens
  • (2/29) The Oakleyites 13 February 1914, published 1915

The Patriarch Jacob - Thursday Evenings
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 2/30-8
Extent: 217 leaves

Scope and Content:
  • (2/30) The Patriarch Jacob (typescript)
  • (2/31) The Pea Green Incorruptible
  • (2/32) The Peerage Cure
  • (2/33) The Poison of Asps
  • (2/34) The Shuttered Room
  • (2/35a) The Spiritual Partner
  • (2/35b) The Compleat Snobs
  • (2/36) The Two Sisters
  • (2/37) The Witch Ball
  • (2/38) Thursday Evenings

Up and Down (1918)
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 2/39
Extent: 560 leaves

Scope and Content:

E.F. Benson's own foliation has been retained.

Victorians - [Untitled], 1930, n.d.
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 2/40-2
Extent: 252 leaves

Scope and Content:

E.F. Benson's own foliation has been retained for 2/40 and 2/42.

  • (2/40, fols. 124-245) Victorians
  • (2/41, fols. 1-26) [Untitled]
  • (2/42, fols. 1-105) [Untitled], October 30th 1930

B.2   Plays and Essays

Shelfmarks: MSS. Benson 2/43-65

Arrangement: Alphabetical by title.

Plays, Clapp - Kit
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 2/43-6
Extent: 368 leaves

Scope and Content:
  • (2/43, fols.1-8) Clapp (typescript)
  • (2/44, fols.1-40) His Mother's Game (typescript)
  • (2/45, fols. 41-78) His Mother's Game (typescript)
  • (2/46, 282 leaves) Kit (2 versions)

Plays, Lucia - The Brother
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 2/43-50
Extent: 322 leaves

Scope and Content:

The foliation, mainly by E.F. Benson's typist, has been retained.

  • (2/47, fols.[i]1-49, [i]1-38, [i]1-37) Lucia, typescript with existing foliation, (1920)
  • (2/48, fols. 1-38, 1-36, 61-90) Untitled play concerning Lucia
  • (2/49, fols.1-20) Mammon & Co. Act 3, (1900)
  • (2/50, fols.[i-ii] 1-66 The Brother typescript

Plays, The Gimlet - Untitled, c.1888-1913, n.d.
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 2/51-8
Extent: 699 leaves

Scope and Content:

The foliation, mainly by E.F. Benson's typist, has been retained.

  • (2/51, fols.[i-ii]1-30, 1-29, [i-iii]1-37, [i]1-33) The Gimlet, typescript & MS. of Acts I & III
  • (2/52, fols.[i-iii]1-19, [i]1-38, [i]1-33) The Luck of the Vails, typescript with annotations and (1901)
  • (2/53, fols.1-33) The Mesmerist. A childhood collaboration by the Benson brothers with 5 printed programmes, c.1888.
  • (2/54, fols.[i]1-5, [i]1-26, [i]1-22+11a, [i]1-17) The Mother, typescript by James Percival Head with existing foliation, 1913, published 1925
  • (2/55, fols. [i]1-29) Willis Process Act II, typescript
  • (2/56, fols.[i]1-41, 1-45, 1-26) Willis Process Acts I-III
  • (2/57,fols.[i-iii]1-28, [i]1-26, [i]1-27) Within Limits, typescript
  • (2/58, fols.[i-ii]1-35) Untitled play

Essays, 1908-c.1920s-1930s
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 2/59-65
Extent: 347 leaves

Scope and Content:

E.F. Benson's own foliation has been retained.

  • (2/59, fols. [i]1-26) A Criticism on Critics Notebook, c.1930
  • (2/60, fols. 1-19) Archaeology in Literature, c.1920s/30s
  • (2/61, fols.[i]1-52) Ascelpios (annotated typescript)
  • (2/62, fols. 1-22, 1-25) Climbers (1908)
  • (2/63, fols.[i]1-7) Food (typescript)
  • (2/64, fols. 1-79) The Myth of R L Stevenson, c.1924
  • (2/65, fols. 1-24) The Praises of Past Time, c.1920

B.3   Miscellaneous papers

Shelfmarks: MSS. Benson 2/66-82


Miscellaneous papers, 1893-1932
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 2/66-72
Extent: 513 leaves

Scope and Content:
  • (2/66, fols. [i]1-4) 'Windsor', 2 February, 1901, (incomplete)
  • (2/67, fols. 1-92) Notes on A.C. Benson's will, (after 1925)
  • (2/68, fols. 1-18) Articles on the war, with a letter from George Villiers, 1917.(2 items, typescript)
  • (2/69, fols. 1-45) Miscellaneous offprints, proofs and typescripts of E.F. Benson short stories and articles including, ' The Asclepieon at Athens', 'James Sutherland Ltd.', 'An Economical Catastrophe.', ' The Secret Garden.', and 'The Passenger.' 1893-1919, n.d.
  • (2/70, fols. 1-155) Miscellaneous poems
  • (2/71, fols.1-9, fols.1-6) Helen (2 copies, 1 typescript)
  • (2/72, fols. 1-183) Stories, miscellaneous fragments and parts, with royalties accounts for 1927-32

Miscellaneous papers, 1884-1936
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 2/73-9
Extent: 486 leaves and 22pp

Scope and Content:
  • (2/73, fols. 1-116, 2/74, fols. 1-114) 2 notebooks entitled 'Notes for Life of Archb. Benson' containing extracts from E.W. Benson's diaries, letters etc.
  • (2/75, fols. 1-68) Bound notebook containing autobiographical notes
  • (2/76, fols. [i-iii] 1-88) De Profundis by Oscar Wilde (copy by E.F. Benson)
  • (2/77, pp[i]1-22) Mark Twain Quarterly; A.E. Housman Memorial Number1936
  • (2/78, fols. 1-45) Original Chants by English Composers...for use in Kings' College Chapel. Arranged by W.H.D. Boyle, 1884. Inscribed ' E.F. Benson KC'.
  • (2/79, pp[i-iv]1-46) Praeteria volume III, chapter I, 'The Grande Chatreuse' by John Ruskin. 1888 offprint inscribed 'E F Benson from Margaret Benson, July 24, 1912.

Photographs, engravings, draft family tree and press cuttings, c. 1870s-1941
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 2/80-1
Extent: c.37 leaves, 312 leaves

Scope and Content:
  • (2/80, fols. 1-3) 3 engravings from original paintings by Claude Lorraine, n.d.
  • (2/80, fol. 4) Engraving showing the entrance to Simmenthal, Switzerland, n.d.
  • (2/80, fol. 5) Pen and ink portrait of a young man, n.d.
  • (2/80, fol. 6) Draft family tree of the Benson family, c. 1880s
  • (2/80, unfoliated) 31 photographs of members of the Benson family, (Mary, A.C., E.F., R.H.) and some of their homes, ( Tremans, Lamb House), with 4 photographs of paintings of Akbar, Shah Jehan qnd their wives, c.1870s-1920s
  • (2/81, fols. 1-312) Press reviews of E.F. Benson works, 1906-41

Scrapbook entitled ' The Book of Fearful Joy', c. 1887-1924
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 2/82
Extent: 478 leaves, 127pp

Scope and Content:

The scrapbook itself = fols. 1-247, the remaining folios being enclosures including letters, sketches, cartoons, and press cuttings; notable items include:

  • (fols. 167, 205, 268, 358-9, 453) Press cuttings re. Mrs Asquith and her son Anthony.
  • (fols. 6-8, 65, 67, 87, 88-90, 92, 97, 112, 137, 210, 213-16, 222, 256, 257, 260, 270, 288-9, 319, 356-7, 362-3, 387-9, 402-3, 419, 424-5, 427, 433-6, 443-7) Sketches, pen and ink cartoons etc. by Philip Burne-Jones
  • (fols. 4, 5, 28, 318) Press cuttings re. G.K. Chesterton
  • (fols. 20-21, 41, 410-11) Letters from Marie Corelli
  • (fols. 345-55, 375-86, 405) Papers re. the resturanteur Hallie Eustace Miles
  • (fols. 308-10) Letter from Queen Mary re. the Queen's Dolls' House at the British Empire Exhibition
  • (fols. 173-94, 291-4, 311-15, 329 etc.) Press cuttings re. the Royal Family
  • (fols. 462-78) Typescript copy of Edith Sitwell Facade
  • (fols. 164, 450) Press cuttings re. Ethel Smyth
  • (fols. 72, 208, 220, 323, 454) Press cuttings re. the Suffragettes

C   Benson family correspondence

C.1   Correspondence of William and Mary Sidgwick, 1829-73

Shelfmarks: MS. Benson 3/1-2


Correspondence of William and Mary Sidgwick, 1829-73
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 3/1-2
Extent: 117 leaves

Scope and Content:

Comprises

  • (3/1, fols. 1-48) letters from William Sidgwick (Mrs. E.W. Benson's father) to his mother, Mary, and Mary Crofts (later his wife), 1829-38, with (fols 11-12) a letter from his cousin James, 1830. Subjects include:
    • (fols. 3-14) his travels with James to Paris, Torino, Genoa, Rome, Naples, Venice, Berne, the Black Forest and Rotterdam
    • (fols. 5-48) his early career as curate of Rampside and master of Skipton School, his courtship of Mary Crofts, and his illness
  • (3/2, fols. 49-117) correspondence of Mary Sidgwick (Mrs. E.W. Benson's mother), including:
    • (fols. 83-5, 102-4, 107-8) correspondence with her children Henry and Mary
    • (fols. 58-82, 88-92) a series of detailed travel letters from Edward White Benson, describing his visits to Paris, Rome, Metz, Luxembourg, Trier and Cologne

C.2   Correspondence of E.W. Benson

Shelfmarks: M|SS. Benson 3/3-6


Letters from his wife, Mary Benson, [1855]-1892, n.d.
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 3/3
Extent: 144 leaves

Scope and Content:

Includes

  • (fols.1-8) letters sent before her marriage to Edward
  • (fols. 13-33) letters sending family news and copies of letters received during her husband's absence from Wellington College
  • (fols. 34-136) letters sent from Lincoln, Brussels and Wiesbaden whilst recovering from illness

Letters from Mary Sidgwick, Henrietta Crofts and F.M. Green; and letters received on Wedding Tour, 1852-9
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 3/4-5
Extent: 273 leaves

Scope and Content:

Includes

  • (3/4, fols.1-236) Letters from Mary Sidgwick (aunt), Henrietta Crofts and F.M. Green, covering Edward's Cambridge education, his travels, his career as a schoolmaster at Skipton and Rugby, and his developing relationship with Mary (Minnie) Sidgwick
  • (3/5, fols. 248-73) Letters received on Wedding Tour in Chamonix mostly from William and Mary Sidgwick, 1859, with one undated draft from E.W. Benson

Letters to E.W. Benson, with some letters from him, 1843-96
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 3/6
Extent: 138 leaves

Scope and Content:

These letters are largely from notable figures, but are mostly of an ephemeral nature

  • (3/6/1, fols. 1-2) Letter from Samuel Wilberforce, 28 May 1843
  • (3/6/2, fol. 3) Letter from E.W. Benson, unknown recipient, 29 Sept. 1851
  • (3/6/3-5, fols. 4-8) Letters to Mary Sidgwick (aunt), from Dresden, Gothe and Berlin 20 July-Aug. 1858
  • (3/6/6, fols. 9-10) Letter from Christopher Benson (his brother), Wiesbaden 21 April 1859
  • (3/6/7, fols. 11-14) 3 draft letters to the organist at Rheims Cathedral, 8 Sept. 1859
  • (3/6/8, fols.15-17) Letter from John S. Pakington, 12 Mar. 1860
  • (3/6/9, fols. 18-19) Letter from Lord Derby, 20 July 1860
  • (3/6/10, fol. 20) Letter to an uncle, 5 Jan. 1862
  • (3/6/11, fols. 21-3) Note from S.S. Wesley, 7 Sept. 1863
  • (3/6/12, fol. 24) Letter from Lord Chief Baron, 5 June 1867
  • (3/6/13, fols. 25-6) Letter from George Ponsonby, 6 Dec. 1869
  • (3/6/14-6, fols. 27-34) Letters from his brother, Christopher Benson, WiesbadenApril-May 1870
  • (3/6/17, fol. 35) Wrapper from parcel of books, 1 Oct. 1870
  • (3/6/18, fol. 36) Postcard, 5 Oct. 1870
  • (3/6/19, fol. 37) Letter from Matthew Arnold, 17 Feb. 1871
  • (3/6/20, fols. 38-9) Letter from E. Purbrick, 7 Oct. 1872
  • (3/6/21, fols. 40-1) Letter from S. Wordsworth, 12 Oct. 1872
  • (3/6/22, fols. 44-5) Letter from A. Verrall, 3 Dec. 1872
  • (3/6/23, fols. 46-7) Letter from G. Martin, 22 Dec. 1872
  • (3/6/24, fols. 42-3) Note enclosed with a gift from Lincoln, 1877
  • (3/6/25, fols. 48-9) Letter from the Duke of Devonshire, 4 Aug. 1879
  • (3/6/26, fols. 50-1) Letter from Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, 18 Feb. 1882
  • (3/6/27, fols. 54-5) Letter from Mary Adelaide, Princess of Teck, 30 May 1883
  • (3/6/28, fols. 52-3) Letter from W.E. Gladstone, 19 Mar. 1883
  • (3/6/29, fols. 56-7) Letter from Shaftsbury, 15 Feb. 1884
  • (3/6/30, fol. 124) Covering letter for a bundle of 8 letters, from J Johnston, 24 Sept. 1904
  • (3/6/31, fols. 58-60) Letter to Mr Hamilton from R.W. Church (copy), 8 Jan. 1885
  • (3/6/32, fols. 61-2) Letter from W.E. Gladstone, 12 Jan. 1885
  • (3/6/33, fols. 63-4) Letter from Randall Davidson, 12 Jan. 1885
  • (3/6/34-6, fols. 65-9) Letter from W.E. Gladstone, 12-15 Jan. 1885
  • (3/6/37, fols. 70-1) Letter from E.W. Hamilton, 15 Jan. 1885
  • (3/6/38, fols. 72-5) Letter to W.E. Gladstone, 11 Jan. 1885
  • (3/6/39, fols. 76-8) Note from Robert Browning, 20 April 1885
  • (3/6/40-1, fols. 79-83) 2 letters from Lord Salisbury
  • (3/6/42, fols. 84-6) Letter from the Duke of Northumberland, 24 Sept. 1886
  • (3/6/43, fols. 87-8) Letter from E.J. Phelps, 22 June 1887
  • (3/6/44, fols. 89-90) Note from Robert Browning, 20 July 1887
  • (3/6/45, fol. 91) Letter from Lord Salisbury, 14 Dec. 1887
  • (3/6/46, fols. 92-3) Letter from Sir Frederick Leighton, 22 July 1888
  • (3/6/47-8, fols. 94-8) 2 notes from Sir John Lubbock, Lord Avebury, 1888
  • (3/6/49, fols. 99-100) Note from Sir Hubert von Herkomer, 18 July 1889
  • (3/6/50, fols. 101-2) Note from a member of the royal household, 23 July 1889
  • (3/6/51, fols. 103-5) Letter from 'George', 18 Mar. 1890
  • (3/6/52, fols. 106-7) Letter from Lord Salisbury, 13 Jan. 1891
  • (3/6/53, fols. 108-9) Anonymous letter, 10 Nov. 1892
  • (3/6/54, fols. 110-11) Letter from Alfred Austin, 20 Dec. 1892
  • (3/6/55, fols. 112-13) Letter from W.E. Gladstone, 2 May 1893
  • (3/6/56, fols. 114-6) Letter from Lord Leighton, 22 Aug. 1893
  • (3/6/57, fols. 117-8) Letter from Margaret, Lady Crawford, 6 Jan. 1895
  • (3/6/58, fols. 119-20) Note from Lord Salisbury,2 June 1896
  • (3/6/59, fols. 121-3) Letter from Mary Adelaide, Princess of Teck, 4 Mar. 1896
  • (3/6/60, fol. 125) Note from Samuel Wilberforce
  • (3/6/61, fols. 126-7) Letter from Isabella Bishop
  • (3/6/62, fols. 128) Note from E. Landseer
  • (3/6/63, fols. 129-30) Letter from A.G. Butler
  • (3/6/64-5, fols.131-2) 2 letters (fragments only)
  • (3/6/a, fol. 133) Fragment of a letter
  • (3/6/b-f, fols. 134-8) 5 empty envelopes

C.3   Correspondence of Mary 'Minnie' Benson (E.W. Benson's wife), née Sidgwick (1841-1918), 1846-1918, n.d.

C.3.1   Letters from her mother, Mary Sidgwick, 1846-88, n.d., and other family members, 1853-98, n.d.

Shelfmarks: MSS. Benson 3/7-13


Letters from her mother, Mary Sidgwick, with 1 letter to Edward, 1846-88, n.d.
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 3/7-8
Extent: 269 leaves

Scope and Content:

Many of the earlier letters were written while Mary was away visiting family and friends in Brighton, Bristol and Yorkshire, there are also decriptions of visits to Wales and the Lake District, (fols.78-82, 124-5), and many letters giving advice to her daughter on marriage and motherhood


Letters from her brothers, Arthur, Henry and William Carr Sidgwick, 1853-1912, n.d., and from Eleanor, Ada and Charles Benson, 1858-99, n.d.
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 3/9-13
Extent: 136 leaves

Scope and Content:
  • (3/9, fols.1-32) Letters telegram and postcards from Arthur Sidgwick (her brother), 1866-1912, n.d
  • (3/10, fols. 33-69) Letters from Henry Sidgwick (her brother), 1859-97
  • (3/11, fols.70-102) Letters from William Carr Sidgwick (her brother), with 1 letter to Edward, 1853-97,n.d.
  • (3/12, fols.103-32) Letters from sisters-in-law Eleanor and Ada Benson (later McDowall), 1858-66, n.d.
  • (3/13, fols. 133-6) Letters from her brother-in-law Charles Benson, 1893, 1899

C.3.2   Letters from her husband, E.W. Benson, 1852-96

Shelfmarks: MSS. Benson 3/14-15


1852- April 1859
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 3/14
Extent: 133 leaves

Scope and Content:

Includes letters written from Trinity College Cambridge, from Rugby School and from various places visited during his Grand Tour


May 1859-1896, n.d.
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 3/15
Extent: 164 leaves

Scope and Content:

Includes love letters written prior to marriage (fols. 1-67), and from his travels in France and Italy (fols.80-91)

C.3.3   Miscellaneous correspondence, 1845-1918, n.d.

Shelfmarks: MSS. Benson 3/16-40


Congratulatory letters on engagement and marriage, Jan. - June 1859, and letters from Henrietta Crofts (her aunt), with 1 letter from Clarissa Singleton, 1855-66, n.d.
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 3/16-17
Extent: 135 leaves

Letters to Susan Wordsworth, 1868-83, n.d., and her children on the death of her son, Martin White Benson, 1878
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 3/18-19
Extent: 171 leaves

Scope and Content:
  • (3/18, fols. 1-155) Letters to Susan Wordsworth, 1868-83, n.d.
  • (3/19, fols.156-71) Letters to her children on the death of her son, Martin, 1878

Letters from Mary Moultrie and correspondence with Meta Moultrie, 1858-65
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 3/20-1
Extent: 149 leaves

Scope and Content:
  • (3/20, fols.1-42) Letters from Mary Moultrie, 1859-64, n.d.
  • (3/21, fols.43-149) Correspondence with Meta Moultrie, 1858-64

Letters from Christobel Coleridge, Francis Martin, Frances Green and Miss MacKenzie, 1852-64
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 3/22-3

Scope and Content:
  • (3/22, fols.1-16) Letters from Christobel Coleridge, March 1859, n.d.
  • (3/23, fols. 17-66) Letters from Francis Martin from Trinity College, Cambridge, with a note to E.W. Benson about travel arrangements,1852-64
  • (3/24, fols.67-97) Letters from F.M.Green, 1854-9, n.d.
  • (3/25, fols.98-138) Letters from Miss Macakenzie, 1862, n.d.

Letters from Elizabeth Hedley, 1856-65, n.d.
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 3/26
Extent: 117 leaves

Scope and Content:

Letters sent from London, Malvern, Masham and Beckley with poems and notes


Letters from Mrs Nellie Donne, 1863-6, n.d.
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 3/27
Extent: 133 leaves

Letters to Mrs Bassett, 1879-88, and letters from Mrs. F. Kingsley, and Lucy Tait, 1872-98, n.d.
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 3/28-9
Extent: 200 leaves

Scope and Content:
  • (3/28, fols. 1-93) Letters to Mrs Bassett 1879-88
  • (3/29, fols. 94-200) Letters from Mrs. F. Kingsley (including a letter to E.W. Benson), and Lucy Tait 1872-98, n.d.

Letters from friends, 1873-8, and letters concerning Christian Science, 1897-8, n.d.
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 3/30
Extent: 196 leaves

Scope and Content:
  • (3/30a, fols.1-101) Letters from friends, including letters of sympathy on the death of Archbishop Benson and W.E.Gladstone1873-98
  • (3/30b, fols. 102-96) Letters concerning Christian Science, 1897-8, n.d.

Letters to Janet Gourlay, with a few from Lucy Tait, 1907-8
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 3/31
Extent: 175 leaves

Scope and Content:

Many of the letters relate to Margaret Benson's mental illness, and some to A.C. Benson's depression


Letters to Janet Gourlay from Mary Benson and Lucy Tait, 1909
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 3/32
Extent: 158 leaves

Scope and Content:

Includes further letters re. Margaret Benson's mental illness

Letters to Janet Gourlay, 1910-11
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 3/33
Extent: 189 leaves

Scope and Content:

Includes further letters re. Margaret Benson's mental illness

Miscellaneous letters from family and friends, 1851-96, n.d.
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 3/34-5
Extent: 113 leaves

Scope and Content:
  • (3/34, fols. 1-62) Miscellaneous letters; correspondents include Mary Sidgwick, Princess Beatrice, William Boyd, Robert Browning (fols. 14-15), Catherine and W.E.Gladstone (fols. 17-18), 1851-96, n.d.
  • (3/35, fols. 63-113) Miscellaneous letters and papers, c. 1850s-90s

Miscellaneous letters from family and friends, 1845-68, n.d.
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 3/36
Extent: 217 leaves

Miscellanous letters, 1886-1918, n.d., and autographs
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 3/37-9
Extent: 142 leaves

Scope and Content:
  • (3/37, fols. 1-23) Letters concerning the lease of Tremans, Horstead Keynes, Sussex, 1914
  • (3/38, fols. 24-134) Miscellaneous typewritten extracts from letters from Mary Benson, 1886-1918, n.d.
  • (3/39, fols. 135-42) Autographs and a letter

Miscellaneous letters to and from Mary Benson, 1841-1917, n.d.
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 3/40
Extent: 226 leaves

Scope and Content:

Includes letters from Mrs Bassett, A.M. Fox, Charles Gore, Louisa Herbert, Agnes Johnson, Fanny Langsdon, A.P. Moors and Charlotte Wilson

  • (3/40, fols. 94-5, 100-4) 3 letters from Henry James, 1891-5
  • (3/40 fols. 43-60, 71-5, 219-20) 4 letters from Ethel Smyth, 1891

C.4   Letters to Henry Sidgwick, 1857-1900, and Ada MacDowall, née Benson, 1841-82, n.d.

Shelfmarks: MSS. Benson 3/41-2


Letters to Henry Sidgwick (Mary Benson's brother) from E.W. and Mary Benson, 1857-1900, n.d.
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 3/41
Extent: 136 leaves

Letters to Ada MacDowall (E.W. Benson's sister) from various family members, c.1841-82, n.d.
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 3/42
Extent: 276 leaves

Scope and Content:
  • (3/42, fols. 25-8, 40-41) Mary Sidgwick
  • (3/42, fols. 1-24, 29-30, 34-5, 62-3, 72-3, 76-7, 88-9, 96, 124-5, 239) E.W. Benson (brother)
  • (3/42, fols. 50-51) Christopher Benson (brother)
  • (3/42, all other fols.) Mary Benson (her sister-in-law)
  • (3/42, fols. 118-9, 122-3) Mary Eleanor Benson (her niece)

C.5   Correspondence of E.W. and Mary Benson's children

C.5.1   M.W. Benson

Shelfmarks: MSS. Benson 3/43-7


Letters from and to his father and mother, 1868-78, n.d.
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 3/43-4
Extent: 280 leaves

Scope and Content:
  • (3/43, fols. 1-270) Letters from his father, mother, and sister Mary Eleanor 1868-78, n.d
  • (3/44, fols. 271-80) Letter to his father and mother with 1 from E.F. Benson to Martinc.1865-9

Letters from his grandmother, Mary Sidgwick, 1862-77, and his brothers and sisters, c.1874-7
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 3/45-7
Extent: 189 leaves

Scope and Content:
  • (3/45, fols.1-31) Letters from Mary Sidgwick (grandmother), Annie Sidgwick (cousin), John Wordsworth and other friends1862-77, n.d.
  • (3/46, fols. 32-104) Letters from his brothers, 'Arthur' (A.C. Benson), 'Freddie' (E.F. Benson), and 'Hugh' (R.H. Benson), and his sister, 'Maggie' (Margaret Benson), c.1874-7, n.d.
  • (3/47, fols.105-89) Letters from his sister 'Nellie' (Mary Eleanor Benson), 1870-8

C.5.2   A.C. Benson

Shelfmarks: MSS. Benson 3/48-56


Letters to and from his parents, E.W. and Mary Benson, and from his brothers and sisters
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 3/48-9
Extent: 361 leaves

Scope and Content:
  • (3/48, fols. 1-107) Letters to and from his parents, E.W. and Mary Benson, 1860s-1917
  • (3/49, fols.108-361) Letters from his brothers and sisters, 'Freddy' (E.F. Benson), 'Hugh' (R.H. Benson), 'Nellie' (Mary Eleanor Benson) and 'Maggie' (Margaret Benson), 1870s

Letters many from Robert Bridges, 1892-1923
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 3/50-2
Extent: 93 leaves

Scope and Content:
  • (3/50, fols. 1-2) Note from Samuel Wilberforce, n.d.
  • (3/51, fols. 2-53) Letters about wood engravings for a book of A.C. Benson's poems, Feb.-Aug. 1923
  • (3/52, fols. 54-93) Letters from Robert Bridges, 1892-1915

Letters and a telegram from Henry James, 1892-1915
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 3/53
Extent: 165 leaves

Letters and telegrams from G.W. Deeping, Edmund Gosse, Edward Lyttelton, Richard and William Watson, 1892-4, n.d.
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 3/54
Extent: 89 leaves

Letters to Edward Horner, 19 Nov. 1904-13 Aug. 1908
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 3/55
Extent: 78 leaves

Scope and Content:

Subjects covered include careers, poetry and mutual friends

Correspondence with Malcolm Hepburn, 1911-14
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 3/56
Extent: 173 leaves

Scope and Content:

With two letters about them from Edgar Bryce Palmer, 1915

C.5.3   Mary Eleanor 'Nellie' Benson (1863-1890)

Shelfmarks: MSS. Benson 3/57-9


Letters to her mother, father, and Arthur with letters from her brothers, 1870s-80s, n.d.
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 3/57-8
Extent: 88 leaves

Scope and Content:
  • (3/57, fols. 1-62) Letters to her mother and Arthur, 1870s-80s, n.d.
  • (3/58 fols.63-88) Letters from her mother, father and brothers, 1880-81, n.d.

Letters from Ethel Matthews, 1880-8, n.d.
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 3/59/1-2
Extent: 400 leaves

Scope and Content:

Some of the letters are written from Ahmedabad, India, where Ethel went after her marriage to Edward Moscardi (a judge). A few of the letters are incomplete.

C.5.4   Margaret Benson (1865-1916)

Shelfmarks: MSS. Benson 3/60-4


Letters from her mother, 1883-Feb. 1899
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 3/60
Extent: 339 leaves

Scope and Content:

Includes (3/60, fols. 290-1, 297) review of Margaret Benson and Janet Gourlay The Temple of Mut in Asher(John Murray, 1899)


Letters from her mother, Mar. 1899-1904, n.d.
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 3/61
Extent: 366 leaves

Letters from her mother, n.d.
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 3/62
Extent: 461 leaves

Letters from her mother, n.d., with letters to from various correspondents and letters to her mother and sister, c.1870s-1913
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 3/63-4
Extent: 206 leaves

Scope and Content:
  • (3/63, fols. 1-87) Letters from her mother, n.d.
  • (3/64, fols. 88-128) Letters from various correspondents including John Ruskin, (fols. 88-9), C.M. Yonge, (fols.96-9), and E.F. Benson, (fols. 119-24, 127-8), 1886-1913
  • (3/64, fols. 129-206) Letters to her mother and sister, c.1870s-1900

C.5.5   E.F. Benson

Shelfmarks: MSS. Benson 3/65-70


Letters from his mother and father, brother 'Hugh' and friends, with letters to his mother and Minnie, c.1871-1919, n.d.
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 3/65-6
Extent: 162 leaves

Scope and Content:
  • (3/65, fols. 1-40) Letters to his mother and Minnie from school, Cambridge, Athens, Winchester etc., c.1871-1898
  • (3/66, fols. 41-162) Letters from his mother and father, brother 'Hugh' and friends, 1872-1919, n.d.

Letters from Miriam Harvey (aka Madeleine), with three draft replies 1919-20, n.d.
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson 3/67-8
Extent: 140 leaves

Scope and Content:
  • (3/67, fols.1-136) Letters from Miriam Harvey, clairvoyante, re. his novels, spirituality, the Tarot and making predictions, 1919-20
  • (3/68, fols. 137-40) Letters to Madeleine from souls in torment, n.d.

Correspondence, 1893- mid. July 1925
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 3/69/1
Extent: 169 leaves

Scope and Content:

Correspondents include Andrew Bonar Law, Philip Burne-Jones, Arthur Quiller-Couch, Edmund Gosse, Ethel Smyth, and his publishers.


Correspondence, 16 July 1925-1939, n.d.
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 3/69/2
Extent: 189 leaves

Scope and Content:

Correspondents include Princess Alice and A.B. Ramsay.

Passports and two banknotes, 1898, 1917
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 3/70
Extent: 6 leaves

C.5.6   R.H. Benson

Shelfmarks: MSS. Benson 3/71-3


Letters to his mother and father, 1882-1913, n.d.
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 3/71
Extent: 257 leaves

Letters from his mother, 1889-99
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 3/72
Extent: 146 leaves

Letters from his mother, 1900-14
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 3/73
Extent: 159 leaves

C.6   Miscellaneous

Shelfmarks: MSS. Benson 3/74-7


Miscellaneous letters
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 3/74
Extent: 52 leaves

Papers mainly relating to Royal ceremonies and other events, 1883-1937
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 3/75
Extent: 109 leaves

Scope and Content:

Includes

  • (fols. 4-5) Buckingham Palace concert programme, 1889
  • (fols. 6-17) 2 copies of E.W. Benson's address on the marriage of the Duke of York and Princess Victoria Mary of Teck, 1893
  • (fols. 26-32) Order of Service and instructions for the funeral of W.E. Gladstone, 1898
  • (fols. 33-40) Earl Marshal's instructions and programme for the funeral of Queen Victoria, 1901
  • (fols. 41-91) Invitations, tickets, regulations and programme from Mary and A.C. Benson's attendance at the coronation of King Edward VI and Queen Alexandra, 1902
  • (fols. 99-100) Account of a meeting of the Courts of Brotherhood and Guestling of the Cinque Ports, 1937

Benson family; legal and financial documents and related papers
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 3/76
Extent: 125 leaves

Scope and Content:

Includes

  • (fols. 34-7) Particulars of Margaret Benson's estate as delivered for probate, 1916
  • (fols. 68-71) Trustees Account for Edward White Benson, 1919
  • (fols. 83-125) Will and codicils of A.C. Benson, with related correspondence and papers, 1922-5

Miscellaneous papers
Shelfmark: MS. Benson 3/77

Scope and Content:
  • (3/77/1) Copy of The Times, 28 Jan. 1936
  • (3/77/2) Small Italian coin, 1922

D   Additional papers (further works and correspondence)

Shelfmarks: MSS. Benson. adds. 1-22


Letters mainly to A.C. Benson and E.F. Benson, with some family papers
Shelfmark: MS. Benson. adds. 1/1-4

Scope and Content:

(1/1) Letters mainly to A.C. Benson

  • 2 letters from Henry James, 2 Sept. 1896, n.d., 6 fols and 2 envelopes
  • Letter from Sir Henry A Wiggin, 3 June 1901, 4 fols
  • Letter (from Aunt Ernestine?), 18 May , 1 fol
  • Letter from Margaret Cooper, 2 fols
  • Letter from Edna Rightmire, 5 June 1933, 2 fols
  • Letter from M Ponsonby, 1 fol
  • P.S. to a letter, 1 fol
  • Letter from Alice, 5 June 1937, 1 fol
  • Letter to Eustace Miles, 9 Oct. 1916, 3 fols
  • Letter from W. Ball Wright, 20 May 1905, 2 fols
  • Letter from Arthur?, 21 Feb. 1903, 2 fols
  • Letter to E.W. Benson from J. Spielman, 14 Nov. 1892, 1 fol
  • Certificate from the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1 fol
  • List of Prizemen of Trinity College, 1851, 1 fol
  • Photocopies from Burkes Landed Gentry, pp. 744-8

(1/2) Letters to E.F. Benson

  • 4 letters from Mary Benson (with envelopes)
  • 3 letters from A.C. Benson, 14 May 1916, 2 fols; 4 Feb. 1917, 2 fols; 12 Jan. 1916, 6 fols
  • 2 letters from Philip Burne-Jones, 4 fols
  • 7 letters concerning David Blaize (1916)
    • Isabel M. King Scott, 6 Nov. 1916, 2 fols
    • G. E. Gathorne Hardy, 8 March 1916, 2 fols
    • May Drew, 11 April 1916, 2 fols
    • Madeleine Nightingale, 2 fols
    • H. M. Ferguson, 2 fols
    • Edith Henrietta Hamilton, 2 fols
    • Arthur Eckersley, 2 fols
    • Postcard featuring John Ellingham Brooks
  • 2 letters from Robert Morley, 6 fols
  • Letter from Robert Morley, 1 fol + envelope with 2 pages from The New Witness
  • Letter from the London Coliseum, 1 fol + envelope
  • Letter from E.W. Wallington, 2 fols
  • Letter from George Plank, 2 fols
  • Letter sent from 11 Albion Street, 1 fol
  • Letter sent from 8 Neville Street, 6 fols
  • 2 letters from Eva K. Anderson, 3 fols + envelope
  • Letter from Robert A. Ussler, 3 fols
  • Letter sent from 33 Kensington, 2 fols
  • Incomplete letter sent from Harnham Cliff, 2 fols
  • Letter sent from 3 Hanover Terrace, 1 fol + envelope
  • Letter sent from 11 King's Bench Walk, 4 fols + envelope
  • Letter (n.d.) starts "My dear Dodo...", 1 fol
  • Letter from Mlojskole? 18 Jan. 1936, 1 fol

(1/3) Letters to publishers

  • c. 50 letters to E.F. Benson from publishers (Longman, Heinemann, Peter Davies)
  • Agent (A. P. Watt)
  • Clippings
  • Royalty statement
  • Concentration, Meditation, Contemplation by Elizabeth Bell

(1/4) Family Papers

  • Administrators cash act and statement of the estate of Margaret Benson
  • Genealogy of the Benson family
  • Thomas Benson's will (plus copy)
  • Dorothy Benson's will
  • Susan Carr's will
  • Letter from Lt. Col. H. Wilberforce to Archbishop Benson attached to a translation of Divan-i-Hafiz
  • Copy of letter from Salonica, 9 fols
  • Printers proof of 'The Book of Kerith', 1 fol

Autograph manuscript of E.F. Benson's The Queen of Tilling [i.e. Mapp and Lucia]
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson adds. 2/1-2
Extent: 510 leaves

Scope and Content:
  • (2/1) pp.1-193
  • (2/2) pp.194-377

Autograph manuscripts of E.F. Benson
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson adds. 2/3-4
Extent: 176 leaves

Scope and Content:
  • (2/3) The Heroic Georgie, 17 pages 4to
  • (2/4) As We Were (1930), pages 1-112, 190-6, 218-40, 142 pages, 4to (see 2/72)

Miscellaneous literary papers of E.F. Benson
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson adds. 3/1-4

Scope and Content:

(3/1) Miscellaneous

  • Manuscript list of butterflies, 1 fol
  • The Terrace printed, 6 fols (2 copies)
  • On Undesirable Information printed, 5 fols
  • Doggies printed, 4 fols
  • A Husband to the Rescue printed, 1 fol
  • The Autumn and the Spring printed, 4 fols
  • In the Waters of Sparta printed, 4 fols
  • Aunts and Pianos printed, 3 fols
  • Some Social Criminals part iv, printed, 2 fols
  • Some Social Criminals part vi, printed, 2 fols
  • Raid Song manuscript poem, 1 fol
  • Autograph manuscript fragment, pages 100-34, i.e 35 pages, sm.4to
  • Russia and Poland typescript, 3 fols
  • Is Sentiment a Backnumber? manuscript, 6 fols
  • The Box at the Bank manuscript, 23 fols
  • Dicky's Pain manuscript, 17 fols
  • The Call manuscript, 12 fols
  • The Hanging of Alfred Wadham manuscript, 24 fols
  • Aunts and Pianos, 17 fols
  • Revised typescript lecture on Browning, 43 pages

(3/2) Autograph manuscript of Pharisees and Publicans (1926), c. 210 pages 4to

(3/3) Autograph manuscripts of

  • Secret Lives (1932), notebook, pages 106-67, 168-266, 267-450, sm.4to. (see MS. Benson 2/42 and MS. Benson Adds. 7/2)
  • The Five Foolish Virgins manuscript, 8 fols
  • The Lovers manuscript, 11 fols
  • Dust cover for Mapp and Lucia (1931)

(3/4) Literary Fragments

  • The Task of Replying manuscript, 7 fols
  • Last Night I Saw You manuscript poem, 1 fol
  • Shortly After This manuscript poem, 1 fol
  • For My Yoke is Easy manuscript, 4 fols
  • 'Following the announcement' manuscript letter, 1 fol
  • Literary fragments by E.F. Benson, 1 envelope

Miscellaneous literary papers of E.F. Benson
Shelfmark: MS. Benson adds. 4

Scope and Content:
  • Air typescript poems with revisions, 7 fols
  • Brother Francis manuscript poem, 6 fols
  • The Friend in the Garden lightly revised typescript play, 74 pages 4to (see 2/55 and 2/56)
  • Mr Doubleday's Double lightly revised typescript play, 81 pages, 4to
  • The Willis Process lightly revised typescript play (see 2/55 and 2/56)
    • Act I - 47 pages
    • Act II, 29 pages
    • Act III, 39 pages
  • Agatha and Algernon, lightly revised typescript play
    • Act I, 34 pages
    • Act II, 32 pages
  • The Luck of the Vails (1901), lightly revised typescript play (see 2/52)

Revised typescript of E.F. Benson's Final Edition autobiography (1940)
Shelfmark: MS. Benson adds. 5
Extent: 343 leaves, 4to
Extent:

Autograph manuscript notebooks of E.F. Benson's Colin (1923)
Shelfmark: MS. Benson adds. 6
Extent: 398 leaves

Scope and Content:
  • Notebook 1, pages 1-62
  • Notebook 2, pages 63-135
  • Notebook 3, pages 136-217
  • Notebook 4, pages 218-91
  • Notebook 5, pages 292-397, 4to and sm.4to

Autograph manuscript notebooks of E.F. Benson
Shelfmark: MS. Benson adds. 7/1

Scope and Content:

  • Rex (1925), 285 pages, sm.4to (see MS. Benson adds. 9/1)
  • Mezzanine (1926), 250 pages, sm.4to

Autograph manuscript notebooks of E.F. Benson's Secret Lives (published 1932)
Shelfmark: MS. Benson adds. 7/2

Scope and Content:

Vol. II - pages 190-371, 182 pages, f'cap

Autograph manuscript notebooks of E.F. Benson
Shelfmark: MS. Benson adds. 7/3

Scope and Content:
  • Nought to Twenty, Vol II - approx. 110 pages, sm.4to
  • The Head, Vol II - 212 pages, sm.4to

Autograph manuscript notebooks of E.F. Benson
Shelfmark: MS. Benson adds. 8/1
Extent: 184 leaves

Scope and Content:
  • Indiscreet Stories 14 pages 1a.8vo
  • The Luck of the Vails (1901), Vol. V, pages 341-460, 120 pages, sm. 4to

Autograph manuscript notebooks of E.F. Benson's Charlotte Brontë (1932), 2nd draft
Shelfmark: MS. Benson Adds 8/2
Extent: 457 leaves sm. 4to

Scope and Content:
  • Vol. I, pages 1-113
  • Vol. III, pages 237-334
  • Vol. V, pages 460-576
  • Vol. VI, pages 577-646

Autograph manuscript notebooks of E.F. Benson's Colin II (published 1925)
Shelfmark: MS Benson Adds 8/3
Extent: 289 leaves

Scope and Content:
  • Vol. I, pages 1-99
  • Vol. II, pages 324-509, 285 pages sm.4to

Autograph manuscript notebooks of E.F. Benson
Shelfmark: MS. Benson adds. 9/1
Extent: 371 leaves

Scope and Content:
  • Rex, Vol. II, pages 286-527, 242 pages sm. 4to (see MS. Benson adds. 7/1)
  • Unidentified novel, pages 272-370, 99 pages sm. 4to
  • Unidentified novel, c.1920, pages 507-47, 41 pages sm. 4to

Autograph manuscript notebooks of E.F. Benson's [Queen] Victoria (1935), 2nd draft (see 2/40)
Shelfmark: MS. Benson adds. 9/2
Extent: 496 leaves, 8vo

Scope and Content:
  • Vol. I - pages 1-124
  • Vol. IV - pages 368-492
  • Vol. V - pages 493-614
  • Vol. VI - pages 615-738

Autograph manuscript notebooks of E.F. Benson
Shelfmark: MS. Benson adds. 10
Extent: 233 leaves

Scope and Content:
  • By the Way [?unfinished], 2 8vo notebooks
    • Vol. I - 46 fols
    • Vol. II - 8 fols
  • Untitled essay, starting "There are ways...", 58 pages 4to
  • Untitled essay, starting "The social value of temperance...", 26 pages 4to

Miscellaneous literary typescripts of A.C. Benson
Shelfmark: MS. Benson adds. 11/1

Scope and Content:
  • Carlyle's Conservation, manuscript, 2 fols
  • Untitled manuscript, starting "There are one or two...", 2 fols, attached to 13 typescript fols
  • Valediction, typescript, 6 fols
  • Literature and Life, carbon typescript, 21 fols
  • School Days, typescript, 27 fols
  • Walt Whitman, typescript, 29 fols
  • Dreams, carbon typescript, 23 fols
  • Introduction, carbon typescript, 12 fols
  • Sunset, typescript, 12 fols
  • A Whig Prelate, typescript, 14 fols
  • Authorship, typescript, 26 fols
  • When my father..., carbon typescript, 28 fols
  • Herries, 1 fol manuscript notes & 7 typescript fols
  • A Royal Garden Party, typescript, 5 fols
  • Wordsworth and His Circle, typescript, 20 fols
  • Charm, carbon typescript, 26 fols
  • Behold, This Dreamer Cometh, carbon typescript, 26 fols

Miscellaneous literary typescripts of A.C. Benson
Shelfmark: MS. Benson adds. 11/2

Scope and Content:
  • Untitled typescript, starting "What is needful..." , 13 fols
  • Reading typescript, 12 fols
  • Untitled carbon typescript, starting "The gospel according to St Mark...", 25 fols
  • Woods of Westermain, carbon typescript, 8 fols
  • Knapwell, carbon typescript, 8 fols
  • Memories, carbon typescript, 14 fols
  • Mystery, carbon typescript, 14 fols
  • Public Speaking, carbon typescript, 12 fols
  • The Grange, carbon typescript, 9 fols
  • On Sitting for One's Portrait, carbon typescript, 8 fols
  • Forgiveness, carbon typescript, 9 fols
  • A Rest Cure, carbon typescript, 12 fols
  • The Church of England, carbon typescript, 7 fols
  • Creeks and Estuaries, carbon typescript, 7 fols
  • Unititled manuscript, starting "The attitude of the world...", 8 fols
  • Unititled manuscript, starting "I have lately...", 9 fols
  • The Beauty of Age manuscript, 8 fols
  • 'B' manuscript, 13 fols
  • 'A' manuscript, 8 fols
  • Unititled manuscript, starting "It was the pavilion...", 8 fols
  • Unititled manuscript, starting "They had a delicious month...", 20 fols
  • Unititled manuscript, starting "The three had many talks...", 20 fols
  • Unititled manuscript, starting "Yes, said Norman...", 15 fols
  • 'S' manuscript, 4 fols
  • 'G' manuscript, 3 fols

Miscellaneous literary typescripts of A.C. Benson
Shelfmark: MS. Benson adds. 12/1

Scope and Content:
  • Theodore Watts-Dunton, a memoir (1916), bound typescript, 24 pages 4to
  • Dust of Gold (1917), bound mixed typescript and carbon typescript on good paper with some working, especially at the beginning, 121 pages 4to

Miscellaneous literary typescripts of A.C. Benson
Shelfmark: MS. Benson adds. 12/2

Scope and Content:
  • Arthur Fortescue, Vol.I, bound typescript, c.100 pages 4to
  • Memoirs of Mary Benson (1891), Vol.I bound typescript with some additional material in A.C. Benson's hand c.150 pages 4to

Lightly worked incomplete typescript of A.C. Benson's R. P. (1916)
Shelfmark: MS. Benson adds. 13

Scope and Content:

Handsomely bound

  • Vol.I, 129 pages
  • Vol.II, 136 pages
  • Vol.IV, 140 pages, 4to

Typescripts of letters from Mary Benson to her children
Shelfmark: MS. Benson adds. 14

Scope and Content:
  • 19 letters to Maggie, 48 fols
  • Letter to Fred, 2 fols
  • 61 letters to Arthur, 110 fols
  • 33 letters to Hugh. 65 fols
  • 58 miscellaneous letters to children, 117 fols
  • 14 miscellaneous letters to various people, 23 fols

Typescript selections from diaries of Archbishop Benson, 1893-5
Shelfmark: MS. Benson adds. 15
Extent: 295 pages, 4to

Scope and Content:
  • 1893, 94 fols
  • 1894, 77 fols
  • 1895, 40 fols
  • n.d., 85 fols

Literary manuscripts of A.C. Benson
Shelfmark: MS. Benson adds. 16

Scope and Content:
  • Act III, manuscript, 3 fols
  • Stewart, carbon typescript, 20 fols
  • Carbon typescript and one letter by Emil Aldar, 56 pages
  • James Malone: The Unencumbered Man by Eric Arbuthnot Shropshire (1884), autograph manuscript pages 1-137; 140-2; 152-208, 197 pages f'cap (Eric Arbuthnot Shropshire is a near perfect anagram of Arthur Christopher Benson)
  • Helena, fragmentary autograph manuscript, 61 pages f'cap

Printed Material
Shelfmark: MS. Benson adds. 17

Scope and Content:
  • The Eleventh Meeting of the Saintsbury Club, 4 fols
  • Army Orders, 3 fols
  • Grand Trunk Pacific, 10 fols
  • The Happy Warrior by A.C. Benson (1917), 6 fols and cover
  • 2 offprints by E.F. Benson from the Journal of Hellenic Studies, 1895
    • Aegosthena, 8 fols + cover
    • A Fourth Century Head in Central Museum, Athens, 5 fols + cover
  • 2 fols of blank notepaper
  • 2 greetings cards
  • 2 menus
  • Envelope containing programmes and papers connected with various royal ceremonials, 1882-96, addressed by E.W. Benson, as Archbishop of Canterbury.delivered at the marriage of
    • Marriage of Princess Louise of Schleswig-Holstein with Prince Aribert of Anhalt, 6 June 1891 (2 copies)
    • Marriage of The Duke of York and The Princess Victoria Mary of Teck, 6 July 1893 (3 copies)
    • Marriage of The Princess Maud with The Prince Christian of Denmark, 22 July 1896
    • Marriage of The Princess Louise with Alexander William George, Earl of Fife, 27 July 1889
    • Marriage of The Princess Beatrice with The Prince Henry of Battenberg
    • List of people attending Princess Beatrice's wedding (2 copies)
    • Seating plan of the church at Princess Beatrice's wedding
    • George, The Duke of York with Princess Victoria, 6 July 1893
    • List of people who attended Princess Louise's wedding
  • Copy of The Spectator, 7 July 1931, with 9 fols of caricatures inserted

Press cuttings
Shelfmark: MS. Benson adds. 18/1

Photographs
Shelfmark: MS. Benson adds. 18/2

Scope and Content:
  • 34 photographs of the Old Lodge, Magdalene College, Cambridge
  • 5 photographs of the Lamb House

Photograph album of Benson family
Shelfmark: MS. Benson adds. 19

Commonplace book compiled 'In Memoriam of Ada McDowall, October 1882'
Shelfmark: MS. Benson adds. 20

Added 21 Jan. 1991

Manuscript notebooks of E.F. Benson
Shelfmark: MSS. Benson adds. 21-2

Scope and Content:
  • (21) The Osbornes (1910), draft Chapters VII-XII, c.1908
  • (22) Charles, draft Chapters VI-X, c.1912

Index of Correspondents

    Anderson, Eva K.             MS. Benson Adds 1/2

    Arnold, Matthew             MS. Benson 3/6/19

    Austin, Alfred             MS. Benson 3/6/54

    Avebury, Lord              see Lubbock, Sir John

    Ball Wright, W.             MS. Benson Adds 1/1

    Baron, Lord Chief             MS. Benson 3/6/12

    Bassett, Mrs             MS. Benson 3/28

    Benson, Ada             MS. Benson 3/12

    Benson, Arthur Christopher             MS. Benson 3/46
            MSS. Benson 3/48-56
            MS. Benson 3/58
            MS. Benson 3/6/6
            MSS. Benson 3/6/16-18
            MS. Benson 3/41
            MS. Benson adds. 1/2
            MS. Benson adds. 14

    Benson, Edward White             MSS. Benson 3/3-3/6/65
            MSS. Benson 3/14-5
            MSS. Benson 3/41-4
             MS. Benson 3/48
            MS. Benson 3/58
            MS. Benson 3/66
            MS. Benson 3/71

    Benson, Edward Frederick             MS. Benson 3/46
            MS. Benson 3/49
            MS. Benson 3/58
            MS. Benson 3/64
            MSS. Benson 3/65-70
            MS. Benson adds. 1/3
            MS. Benson adds. 14

    Benson, Eleanor             MS. Benson 3/12

    Benson, Margaret             MS. Benson 3/46
            MS. Benson 3/49
            MS. Benson 3/58
            MSS. Benson 3/60-4
            MS. Benson adds. 14

    Benson, Martin White             MS. Benson 3/19
            MSS. Benson 3/43-47

    Benson, Mary             MS. Benson 3/6/3
            MSS. Benson 3/7-40
            MSS. Benson 3/41-4
            MS. Benson 3/48
            MS. Benson 3/57
            MSS. Benson 3/60-3
            MSS. Benson 3/65-6
            MS. Benson 3/73
            MS. Benson adds. 1/2
            MS. Benson adds. 14

    Benson, Mary Eleanor             MS. Benson 3/42
            MS. Benson 3/46
            MS. Benson 3/49
            MSS. Benson 3/57-9

    Benson, Robert Hugh             MS. Benson 3/46
            MS. Benson 3/49
            MS. Benson 3/58
            MS. Benson 3/66
            MSS. Benson 3/71-3
            MS. Benson adds. 14

    Bishop, Isabella             MS. Benson 3/6/61

    Bridges, Robert             MS. Benson 3/52

     Browning, Robert             MS. Benson 3/6/39
            MS. Benson 3/6/44
            MS. Benson 3/40

     Burne-Jones, Philip             MS. Benson 3/69/1
            MS. Benson adds. 1/2

    Butler, A. G.             MS. Benson 3/6/63

    Church, R. W.              MS. Benson 3/6/31

    Coleridge, Christobel              MS. Benson 3/22

    Cooper, Margaret             MS. Benson adds. 1/1

     Crawford, Lady Margaret             MS. Benson 3/6/57

     Crofts, Henrietta             MS. Benson 3/4

    Crofts, Mary             MS. Benson 3/1

     Davidson, Randall             MS. Benson 3/6/33

    Deeping, George W.             MS. Benson 3/54

    Derby, Lord             MS. Benson 3/6/9

    Devonshire, Duke of             MS. Benson 3/6/25

    Downes, Nellie              MS. Benson 3/27

    Drew, Mary             MS. Benson adds. 1/2

     Eckersley, Arthur             MS. Benson adds. 1/2

    Edward, Prince of Wales             MS. Benson 3/6/26

     Ferguson, H. M.             MS. Benson adds. 1/2

     George             MS. Benson 3/6/51

    Gladstone, William Ewart             MS. Benson 3/6/28
            MS. Benson 3/6/32
            MSS. Benson 3/6/34-36
            MS. Benson 3/6/38
            MS. Benson 3/6/55
            MS. Benson 3/40

    Gosse, Edmund             MS. Benson 3/54
            MS. Benson 3/69/1

    Gourlay, Nettie             MSS. Benson 3/31-3

     Green, F. M.             MS. Benson 3/4
            MS. Benson 3/24

     Hamilton, E.W.              MS. Benson 3/6/37

    Hamilton, Edith Henrietta             MS. Benson adds. 1/2

     Hamilton, Mr.             MS. Benson 3/6/31

     Harvey, Miriam (Madelaine?)              MSS. Benson 3/67-8

    Hedley, Elizabeth             MS. Benson 3/26

    Hepburn, Malcolm             MS. Benson 3/56

    Herkomer, Sir Hubert von             MS. Benson 3/6/49

     Horner, Edward             MS. Benson 3/55

     James, Henry             MS. Benson 3/40
            MS. Benson 3/53
            MS. Benson adds. 1/1

    Johnston, J.             MS. Benson 3/6/30

    Kingsley, Mrs F.             MS. Benson 3/29

    Landseer, Sir Edwin Henry             MS. Benson 3/6/62

    Law, Andrew Bonar             MS. Benson 3/69/1

    Leighton, Sir Frederick             MS. Benson 3/6/46
            MS. Benson 3/6/56

    Lubbock, Sir John             MSS. Benson 3/6/47-8

    Lyttelton, Edward             MS. Benson 3/54

     MacDowall, Ada             MS. Benson 3/42

    MacKenzie, Miss              MS. Benson 3/25

    Martin, G.              MS. Benson 3/6/23

    Martin, Mr F.             MS. Benson 3/23

    Mary Adelaide of Teck             MS. Benson 3/6/27
            MS. Benson 3/6/59

     Matthews, Ethel             MS. Benson 3/59

     Miles, Eustace             MS. Benson adds. 1/1

    Mlojskole, (?)             MS. Benson adds. 1/2

    Morley, Robert             MS. Benson adds. 1/2

     Moultrie, Mary             MS. Benson 3/20

    Moultrie, Meta              MS. Benson 3/21

    Nightingale, Madeleine             MS. Benson adds. 1/2

    Northumberland, (Duke of?)             MS. Benson 3/6/42

    Pakington, S.             MS. Benson 3/6/8

     Phelps, E. J.             MS. Benson 3/6/43

    Ponsonby, George              MS. Benson 3/6/13

     Ponsonby, M              MS. Benson adds. 1/1

     Purbrick, (?)             MS. Benson 3/6/20

     Pymar, Edgar Bryce              MS. Benson 3/56

    Quiller-Couch, Arthur             MS. Benson 3/69/1

     Rightmire, Edna             MS. Benson adds. 1/1

    Ruskin, John             MS. Benson 3/64

     Salisbury, Lord             MSS. Benson 3/6/40-1
            MS. Benson 3/6/52
            MS. Benson 3/6/58

    Shaftsbury, Lord             MS. Benson 3/6/29
            MS. Benson 3/6/45

    Sidgwick, Arthur             MS. Benson 3/9

     Sidgwick, Henry             MS. Benson 3/10
            MS. Benson 3/41

     Sidgwick, Mary             MS. Benson 3/1
            MS. Benson 3/2
            MS. Benson 3/4
            MSS. Benson 3/6/3-5
            MS. Benson 3/6/7
            MS. Benson 3/6/45

    Sidgwick, William             MS. Benson 3/1

     Sidgwick, William Carr             MS. Benson 3/11

    Spielman, J (?)             MS. Benson adds. 1/1

     Ussler, Robert A.             MS. Benson adds. 1/2

    Verrall, A.             MS. Benson 3/6/22

    Wallington, E.W.             MS. Benson adds. 1/2

    Watson, Richard             MS. Benson 3/54

    Watson, William             MS. Benson 3/54

     Wesley, S. S.             MS. Benson 3/6/11

    Wilberforce, Samuel             MS. Benson 3/6/1
            MS. Benson 3/6/60
            MS. Benson 3/50

    Wordsworth, E.             MS. Benson 3/6/21

     Wordsworth, Susan             MS. Benson 3/18

Transformation from XML to HTML by Lawrence Mielniczuk
07 January 2011