Sir John Robert Seeley papers
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- Creator
- Seeley, Sir John Robert (1834-1895) Knight, historian and essayist
TitleSir John Robert Seeley papers
Reference codeMS903
Date1842-c1940
Scope and ContentThe collection consists of the papers of John Seeley along with some material created by his wife and other members of the Seeley family. The majority of the material, whether created by Seeley or his family, relates to his life and work.
The majority of the material consists of correspondence, mostly dating from the period after Seeley had been appointed Professor of Modern History. A significant series dating from before this move to Cambridge is that which relates to the publication of and reaction to Ecce Homo. Files of newspaper reviews and other published responses to the book provide additional information.
Little of Seeley's own writing has been preserved in this collection. There are a small number of letters, some manuscript notes and poems and some printed lectures. However, the papers, especially the letters from friends and colleagues listed in MS903/1B, demonstrate the wide variety of Seeley's interests and his contribution to the fields of history, theology, literature and education.
Much of the correspondence has been annotated in a nineteenth century hand with the name of the letter writer. In addition, in many cases the letters have not been fully dated by the correspondent and a pencil note of the date has been added, again in a nineteenth century hand. In the catalogue, where this is the case, the date information is recorded in square brackets.
The majority of the material consists of correspondence, mostly dating from the period after Seeley had been appointed Professor of Modern History. A significant series dating from before this move to Cambridge is that which relates to the publication of and reaction to Ecce Homo. Files of newspaper reviews and other published responses to the book provide additional information.
Little of Seeley's own writing has been preserved in this collection. There are a small number of letters, some manuscript notes and poems and some printed lectures. However, the papers, especially the letters from friends and colleagues listed in MS903/1B, demonstrate the wide variety of Seeley's interests and his contribution to the fields of history, theology, literature and education.
Much of the correspondence has been annotated in a nineteenth century hand with the name of the letter writer. In addition, in many cases the letters have not been fully dated by the correspondent and a pencil note of the date has been added, again in a nineteenth century hand. In the catalogue, where this is the case, the date information is recorded in square brackets.
Conditions governing accessOpen for research. Access to individual items in Senate House Library archives collections may be restricted under the Data Protection Act or the Freedom of Information Act. See Archivist for details. At least 24 hours notice is necessary for research visits.
Extent4 boxes
System of ArrangementThe material has been divided up into the following series:
(Main sequence) Papers of John Robert Seeley: (1) General correspondence; (2) Correspondence with family members; (3) Papers relating to Ecce Homo; (4) Lecture notes and other writings; (5) Reviews of lectures; (6) Reviews of publications.
(Sub-fonds A) Papers of Mary Agnes Seeley: (1) General correspondence; (2) Letters of condolence; (3) Other papers relating to Seeley's death; (4) Correspondence relating to royal events; (5) Miscellaneous.
(Sub-fonds B) Papers of other Seeley family members: (1) General correspondence; (2) Newspaper cuttings; (3) Memoir.
All correspondence had been separated into outgoing and incoming letters, where relevant. It has then been arranged in alphabetical order by correspondent. In cases where there are a more significant number of letters from an individual, these have been grouped together and are placed at the beginning of the series.
Finding aidsCatalogued online (click on the "contains" icon below). A pdf version of the hard-copy is also attached to this description.
Related files
Cambridge University Library holds transcripts of 18th century government documents (Ref: Add 4252-305), and letters to Robert Herbert Quick, [1868-1891] (Ref: Add 9366); King's College Modern Archives Centre, Cambridge University, has letters from Seeley and his family to Oscar Browning, 1876-1901 (Ref: OB); Girton College Library, Cambridge University, contains letters to Sarah Emily Davies, [1867-1870] (Ref: Box 17); Trinity College Library, Cambridge University, holds letters to Henry Sidgwick (Ref: Add Ms c95/64-73); the British Library, London, contains correspondence with Macmillans Publishers, 1869-1894 (Ref: Add MS 55074); the Robinson Library, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne University, holds letters to Robert Spence Watson.
Level of descriptionfonds
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