Mary Allen and William Willett, 1860 - 1888
Scope and Contents
A collection of correspondence documenting the 1887-8 legal negotiation between Mary Elizabeth Best Allen and noted British builder William Willett regarding her purchase of a house in Sloane Square, an upscale London neighborhood. The bulk of the collection consists of 32 handwritten letters, most which are between Allen’s solicitors, the law firm of Miller, Smith & Bell, and Willett or his solicitor, J.E. Robson. Also included are a number of letters between Allen and Willett themselves, as well as other miscellaneous correspondence, most of which pertains to the negotiation. There is also a heavily annotated copy of the agreement itself, in which three other women identified as Louisa Barbara Margaret Mackay, Eleanor Sybella Allen, and Anna Elizabeth Best Allen are also recorded as purchasers. Referred to as “widow” or “spinster”, these women are most likely Allen’s daughters.
Dates
- 1860 - 1888
Conditions Governing Access
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.
Biographical / Historical
William Willett (1856-1915) was a British builder most well known as an advocate for British Summer Time (Daylight Saving Time). Miller, Smith & Bell was a law firm based in Epsom, Surrey, though they apparently held London offices at Salter Hall Court. The firm itself still exists today under the name Gumersalls.
Extent
From the Collection: 30 Cubic Feet (68 boxes)
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
From the Collection: Latin
From the Collection: French
From the Collection: Italian
From the Collection: Welsh
From the Collection: Danish
From the Collection: Swedish
From the Collection: Spanish
From the Collection: German
From the Collection: Norwegian
From the Collection: Persian
From the Collection: Japanese
From the Collection: Russian
From the Collection: Greek, Ancient (to 1453)
Creator
- From the Collection: Scheetz, Nicholas B., 1952-2016 (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