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Nancy Westminster / "Bend Or"., 02/05/1954-02/23/1962

 File — Box: 31, Folder: 7
Identifier: 50416

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

  • 02/05/1954-02/23/1962

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 the following items relating to Hugh Richard Arthur Grosvenor, 2nd. Duke of Westminster (aka. "Bend Or" the "Golden Duke") - 1. ALS 2/5/1954 (1 page) from Nancy Westminster to Shane Leslie, enclosing a printed copy of "Bend Or - A Tribute to the Late Duke of Westminster" by Seton Gordon. Inscribed to Sir Shane by Nancy Westminster. 2. ALS 9/13/19-- ( 2 sheets/3 pages) from Nancy Westminster to Shane Leslie, re newspaper feature articles on the Duke of Westminster by J. Wentworth Day (5 large clippings included in this folder). 3. ALS 2/23/1962 from Iky Bell to Shane Leslie re the Duke of Westminster. Total: 3 sheets/5 pages.

Subjects and Associated Physical Materials

WESTMINSTER, NANCY - CORRES. TO SHANE LESLIE 1954: Autographed Letter

WESTMINSTER, DUKE OF (HUGH RICHARD ARTHUR GROSVENOR) - CLIPPINGS 1957: Printed Item

BEND OR - SEE: DUKE OF WESTMINSTER: Printed Item

GROSVENOR, HUGH RICHARD ARTHUR - SEE ALSO: DUKE OF WESTMINSTER: Printed Item

GORDON, SETON - "BEND OR - A TRIBUTE TO...DUKE OF WESTMINSTER" (1953): Printed Item

WESTMINSTER, DUKE OF - TRIBUTE BY SETON GORDON (1953): Printed Item

WESTMINSTER, DUKE OF - REFERENCES BY NANCY WESTMINSTER & IKY BELL: Printed Item

DAY, JAMES WENTWORTH - ARTICLES RE DUKE OF WESTMINSTER 1957: Printed Item

BELL, IKY - CORRES. TO SHANE LESLIE 1962: Autographed Letter

Creator

Repository Details

Part of the Georgetown University Manuscripts Repository

Contact:
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Washington DC 20057