Graphical version

Queen Mary, University of London

MAYNARD, Constance Louisa (1849-1935)

IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 0370 PP7

Held at: Queen Mary, University of London

Title: MAYNARD, Constance Louisa (1849-1935)

Date(s): 1866-1935

Level of description: Collection (fonds)

Extent: 102 volumes

Name of creator(s): Maynard | Constance Louisa | 1849-1935 | Mistress of Westfield College

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

Born, Kent, 1849; educated, Girton College, Cambridge, took the Moral Science Tripos, 1875, MA; helped start St Leonard's School, St Andrews, 1877-1880; Mistress of Westfield College, University of London, 1882-1913; retired to the Sundial, Gerrard's Cross, Buckinghamshire, 1913-1935; died, 1935.
Publications: include: An Alpine Meadow (Butler & Tanner, Frome & London, [1903]); Take with you Words [Analysed texts] (Morgan & Scott, London, 1918); Between College Terms (James Nisbet & Co, London, 1910); We Women. A golden hope (Morgan & Scott, London, [1924]); The Kingdom of Heaven is like ... (RTS, London, [1924]); The Perfect Law of Liberty (RTS, London, [1925]); Dora Greenwell: a prophet for our own times on the battleground of our Faith (H R Allenson, London, [1926]); Progressive Creation (SPCK, London, 1927); Then shall we Know (SPCK, London, 1927); The Prophet Daniel, and other essays (Morgan & Scott, London, [1927]); The Birth of Conscience (RTS, London, 1928); An Extract for each Week of the Year from the writings of Constance L Maynard (Marshall, Morgan & Scott, London, [1936]).

Stephanė Anton (1882-1915) was a French girl whom Constance Maynard met in Paris at the Salvation Army's nursery in 1888. She brought her back to England with the intention of adopting her, but the scheme failed and Stephanė was returned to Paris. Constance Maynard continued to take an interest in Stephanė until her death in 1915 from tuberculosis. Their relationship was not a happy one, proving unsatisfactory on both sides.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Papers of Constance Maynard, 1866-1935, comprising diaries and notebooks, namely personal diaries, 1866-1886, 1901-1935, with those for 1866-1870 containing Biblical texts [diaries for the period 1887-1900 appear not to have survived] (series GB); diaries of weekly entries recording events, including her work at Westfield College with details of teachers and students, 1871-1913 (series D); travel diaries, 1868-1922, recording details of holidays including bicycle tours in England, journeys to Europe, including Italy, Switzerland, Austria, France, the Middle East and South Africa (series TD); diaries recording her search for a cottage, 1906-1911, and subsequent life at 'Sundial', 1911-1935, including copy letters, notes relating to a conference on modern churchmen, 1918 (series SD); diaries relating to Stephanė Anton ('Effi'), 1888-1915, recording details of their relationship, including their first meeting and death of Stephanė (series EN); notebooks, [1906-1913], containing lectures and essays on various subjects, including the play Eumindes of Aeschylus, [1906], 'Electricity. A Parable', various religious topics, reminiscences and poems by Constance Maynard, 1913 and undated, anthologies of poems by various poets, anecdotes and reminiscences of [friends and colleagues], notes on Canada, 1910 (series N);

diary of Dora L Maynard [sister of Constance Maynard], 1871-1872; notebook of Mabel Prideaux, 1881-1884, [possibly a student at Westfield College] containing texts, notes, diary entries, copy letters, including from Constance Maynard; notes by CB Firth on Constance Maynard's Tuesday evening addresses, 1905.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English; some German in the diaries relating to Stephanė Anton.

System of arrangement:

The diaries are arranged chronologically according to series.

Conditions governing access:

Users are asked to book an appointment in advance of their visit. For more information about the Archives see the website www.library.qmul.ac.uk/archive or contact the College Archivist to book an appointment: College Archivist, Main Library QMUL, Archives, Mile End Rd, London E1 4NS, telephone: 020 7882 7556, email: archives@qmul.ac.uk

Conditions governing reproduction:

Photocopying at the discretion of the Archivist.

Physical characteristics:

Finding aids:

The papers are unlisted.

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Acquired by Westfield College.

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

Related material:

Correspondence with Miss AW Richardson, 1883-1910, held by the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (reference: D1006).

Publication note:

Constance Louisa Maynard, Mistress of Westfield College. A family portrait Catherine Beatrice Firth (George Allen & Unwin, London, 1949)

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Archivist's note: Sources: Who's Who 1897-1996, CD-ROM (A & C Black); British Library Public Catalogue On-line; Historical Manuscripts Commission On-line National Register of Archives. Compiled by Julie Tancell as part of the RSLP AIM25 project.