Shane Leslie - Corres. to Leonie Blanche Leslie., 01/01/1918-03/30/1918
Collection-level Scope and Content Note
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
- 01/01/1918-03/30/1918
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
Container Summary
Contains 12 ALS from Shane Leslie to Leonie Leslie, written while visiting Washington, D.C. References to World War One and the imminent Peace Conference. Reference to the departure from the diplomatic scene of Cecil Spring-Rice (ALS 1/10/1918 & 1/13/1918), and late his death (ALS 2/19/1918): "I must say we were all upset at Spring Rice's death and I have an apprehension that there is nobody left now who really understands the delicacies and possibilities of the American situation..." Also reference to the death of John Redmond (ALS 3/11/1918): "Yesterday I felt my heart being lowered into Redmond's grave...Having won the (Irish) Convention and steered it into comparative success, he died like Moses on the border of the Promised Land..."
Subjects and Associated Physical Materials
REDMOND, JOHN EDWARD - DEATH: REFERENCE BY SHANE LESLIE 1918: Autographed Letter
SPRING-RICE, CECIL ARTHUR - DEATH: REFERENCE BY SHANE LESLIE 1918: Autographed Letter
IRELAND - POLITICS - REFERENCE BY SHANE LESLIE 1918: Autographed Letter
WORLD WAR ONE - PEACE CONFERENCE - REFERENCE BY SHANE LESLIE 1918: Autographed Letter
LESLIE, LEONIE BLANCHE - CORRES. FROM LESLIE, SHANE 1918: Autographed Letter
LESLIE, SHANE - CORRES. TO LESLIE, LEONIE 1918: Autographed Letter
Creator
- From the Collection: Leslie, Shane, 1885-1971 (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Georgetown University Manuscripts Repository
Lauinger Library, 5th Floor
37th and O Streets, N.W.
Washington DC 20057
speccoll@georgetown.edu