Sir Sydney Cockerell., 09/04/1945-11/04/1950

File — Box: 3, Folder: 35

Identifier: 49297

Collection-level Scope and Content Note

From the Collection:

This collection essentially comprises the life and letters of Sir Shane Leslie whose boundless energy and wide-ranging interests took him all over Britain, the United States and Canada, bringing him in touch with people in many fields including the arts, economics, education, literature, politics and religion. Sir Shane's personal papers also reflect his deep concern and interest in Irish culture and politics, particularly the question of Irish independence through Home Rule.

The correspondence series of the collection reads like a who's who particularly from 1900 through 1971. Famous names include Angela Antrim, Margot Asquith, Nancy Astor, William Maxwell Aitken, Lord Beaverbrook, Hilaire Belloc, Wilfrid Scawen Blunt, J.E.C. Bodley, Brendan Bracken, G.K. Chesterton, Winston Churchill (cousin), Sydney Cockerell, Bourke Cockran, George Curzon, Charles Dilke, Alfred Douglas, Mrs. Fitzherbert, Francois Aidan Gasquet, Rupert Hart-Davis, Vyvyan Holland, John Maynard Keynes, William Somerset Maugham, Alice, Francis and Viola Meynell, Horace Plunkett, George Bernard Shaw, Clare Sheridan (wife of Wilfrid Sheridan, great-great grandson of Richard Brinsley Sheridan), Cecil Arthur Spring-Rice, Mark Sykes, Evelyn Waugh, William Butler Yeats.

The collection includes a signed black and white photograph inscribed by Leo Tolstoy to Shane Leslie, during the latter's visit to the great Russian author in Moscow in 1907. Sir Shane's manuscripts are also included in great abundance in the collection, including those for his autobiography, “Long Shadows.” The typescripts and drafts of a biography planned by Iris Leslie are also included in this series. Other notable series include Sir Shane's journals and appointment books; scrapbooks, particularly those concerning his visit to the U.S. 1957-1958; and editions of Sir Shane's own works that include tipped-in items such as correspondence relating to the work, notes by Sir Shane, and press cuttings.

Dates

09/04/1945-11/04/1950

Collection-level Access Restrictions

Most manuscripts collections at the Georgetown University Booth Family Center for Special Collections are open to researchers; however, restrictions may apply to some collections. Collections stored off site require a minimum of three days for retrieval. For use of all manuscripts collections, researchers are advised to contact the Booth Family Center for Special Collections in advance of any visit.

Extent

From the Collection: 40.25 Linear Feet (80 boxes and 1 oversized folder )

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

Container Summary

Contains 8 ALS from Sir Sydney Cockerell to Shane Leslie, as follows - 1. ALS 9/4/1945, in which Sir Sydney presents his views on the public image of the Royal family and the exposure of Queen Victoria's diary: "I believe that Queen Victoria's diary, surrendered unwillingly to Princess Beatrice, revealed tiffs with Prince Albert, which might or might not prove of some little importance to future historians...But I find gossip about the Royal family for the most part very small beer. They are admirable people. They do their duty as monarchs in a manner that is beyond all praise. But their private lives, so far as they have any, concern me far less than those of men and women of character that are not under perpetual observation..." 2. ALS 9/7/1945 with more on the diaries of Queen Victoria: "...I made Lady Cynthia Colville's acquaintance at a tea party yesterday and had a long talk with her. She said that as Queen Victoria had left the diaries and correspondence to Princess Beatrice, nothing could be done - but that it might be just as well that the old Queen's good qualities would not be further hidden by the publication of her sillinesses..." 3. ALS 10/21/1948 in which Cockerell seems to be referring to Wilfrid Scawen Blunt, "W.S.B.": "Your letter is a most useful and stimulating counterblast. If I had seen it before it was posted I should have pressed you to alter the final word - as I do not know which of his descendants you allude to as possessing fearless courage and gay talents - the only son I know about was a dull creature and had a worthless actor-son...Also I should have queried the likeness to Byron, of whom, as a man. WSB had a poor opinion..." Other references include both Cockerell's and Shane Leslie's interest in collecting handwriting: "How much in earnest are you in your collecting of handwriting? Do you arrange them in a book or just chuck them in a drawer, like another collector who wrote to me last week? He is going to amend his ways. Why not come here and look at those I have got. Perhaps I could find you some duplicates. I send some..." (See next folder for writing samples sent to Shane Leslie by Sir Sydney Cockerell.) Also reference to death of Wilfrid Meynell: "I have just heard with immense relief that good old Wilfrid Meynell's weary life had ended. I said goodbye to him on 8 Se[t. I have been afraid that nursing him might kill our dear Viola." 4. ALS 10/23/1948: "A little bronchial trouble is keeping me indoors or I should have been with you at Storrington this afternoon..." 5. ALS 11/4/1948: "Your tribute to Meynell is a masterpiece - as good as the very best in this kind that I can remember..." 6. ALS 11/6/1948: "...In what language does the Recording Angel write? I knew Adrian Fortescue about 45 years ago and remember that he had a beautiful script..." 7. ALS 11/4/1950, re the disposition of the ashes of George Bernard Shaw: "Shaw's executor is the Public Trustee...He is aware of St. Patrick's as a possible destination for the ashes...but negotiations with Westminster Abbey have been in progress for some days with powerful backing..." 8. ALS 11/15/1950 with references to various writers such as "G.B.S." (probably George Bernard Shaw), particularly the problem of locating a site for the burial of his ashes; "R.L.S." (probably Robert Louis Stevenson); and "W.S.B." (probably Wilfrid Scawen Blunt).

Subjects and Associated Physical Materials

COCKERELL, SYDNEY - CORRES. TO SHANE LESLIE 1945-50: Autographed Letter

VICTORIA (QUEEN OF ENGLAND) - DIARIES - REF. BY SYDNEY COCKERELL 1945: Autographed Letter

BLUNT, WILFRID SCAWEN - REFERENCE BY SYDNEY COCKERELL 1948: Autographed Letter

MEYNELL, WILFRID - DEATH - REFERENCE BY SYDNEY COCKERELL 1948: Autographed Letter

FORTESCUE, ADRIAN - HANDWRITING - REFERENCE BY SYDNEY COCKERELL 1948: Autographed Letter

SHAW, GEORGE BERNARD - DEATH - REFERENCE BY SYDNEY COCKERELL 1950: Autographed Letter

STEVENSON, ROBERT LOUIS - REFERENCE BY SYDNEY COCKERELL 1950: Autographed Letter