University Museums and Special Collections Service Marion Rawson Collection MR The collection (formerly referenced MS 1244), contains around 100 letters written to Marion Rawson, chiefly between 1926 and 1930, discussing the political situation in Italy and the work being done to raise money and awareness elsewhere. Thirty-six letters, written in Italian, are from the archaeologist Umberto Zanotti-Bianco. Other correspondents include Don Luigi Sturzo, Marion Cave Rosselli, Carlo Rosselli and Giovanna Berneri (wife of the anti-fascist anarchist Luigi Camillo Berneri). The collection also contains around sixty cuttings from English and American newspapers 1927-1930 on Italian affairs, and forty issues of Italian periodical publications 1925-1968 (chiefly 1937-1942), including La Giovine Italia and Giustizia e Liberta;. Other items include a typescript copy of Marion Rawson's notes on Salvemini's life in England, written for Iris Origo in 1965, and copies of reports, speeches, letters and articles on Italy and Italian-British relations during the Fascist era. The collection (formerly referenced MS 943) consists largely of correspondence addressed to the Committee. Subjects include acceptance or rejection of membership, donations, appeals, Committee meetings and finance. Much of the day to day organisation of the Committee was carried out by Ivy Marion Enthoven (later Rawson), who is the author or recipient of many of the letters. Other correspondents include the committee members Alys Russell, F.R. Muir, W.S. Kennedy, Lady Margaret Slesser, Luigi Sturzo and Helena M. Swanwick. There is also correspondence from the French committee, particularly from Giovanna Berneri (wife of the anarchist anti-Fascist Luigi Camillo Berneri), reporting on visits to refugee families, other activities of the organisation, and finance. The rest of the collection contains copies of appeals and letters sent to the press, pamphlets, reports, accounts and balance sheets, and other miscellaneous items. The Collection covers the year’s 1920-1968. The physical extent of the collection is 3 boxes. Introduction Ivy Marion Enthoven, known after her marriage as Marion Rawson, came from a family with Italian connections. During the 1920s and 1930s she was part of the group of people working in England against Italian fascism, whose members included Gaetano Salvemini, Don Luigi Sturzo, Raffaele Rossetti and members of the Rosselli family. Between 1927 and 1930 she carried out much of the organisational work of the Italian Refugees' Relief Committee, set up in to raise money for the refugee community in Paris, but on the advice of Salvemini and Page 1 of 92 University Museums and Special Collections Service others kept her name from being mentioned in connection with anti-fascist causes in order that she could continue travelling to Italy. She was a participant in the organisation of the escape of Carlo Rosselli, Emilio Lussu and Francesco Nitti from confinement on the island of Lipari in 1929. She translated many anti-fascist and other works into English, including those of Salvemini and Lussu. Ivy Marion Enthoven married the dramatist Graham Stanhope Rawson in 1930. The Italian Refugees' Relief Committee was set up in 1927 as a non-political humanitarian organisation to raise funds to support those who had had to flee Mussolini's Fascist regime. British immigration regulations of the time did not permit the entry of refugees into Britain. However, a large exile community was being established in Paris, where the Comité de Secours aux Réfugiés Politiques Italiens was formed. The British Committee was able to send funds and material aid to their French counterparts. The first Chairman was Alys Russell (formerly the wife of Bertrand Russell), who was later replaced by Lady Margaret Slesser. W.S. Kennedy acted as Honorary Secretary and F.R. Muir as Honorary Treasurer. Publication Note: Stuart J. Woolf, 'Una raccolta di documenti sull'antifascismo in Inghilterra' in Rassegna degli archivi di stato anno XXX n.1 gennaio-aprile 1970, pp181-195 Page 2 of 92 University Museums and Special Collections Service MR/C Correspondence c.1926-1930 Correspondence written to Marion Rawson and letters addressed to the Italian Refugee Relief Committees in England and France. MR/CP Correspondence: Personal c.1920-c.1959 Around 100 letters written to Marion Rawson, chiefly between 1926 and 1930, discussing the political situation in Italy and the work being done to raise money and awareness elsewhere. Thirty-six letters, written in Italian, are from the archaelogist Umberto Zanotti-Bianco. Other correspondents include Don Luigi Sturzo, Marion Cave Rosselli, Carlo Rosselli and Giovanna Berneri (wife of the anti-fascist anarchist Luigi Camillo Berneri). MS 1244/CE Letter from Giuseppe Donati to M.E from Paris 1 n.d. thanks for contribution MS 1244/CE Letter from U.Zanotti-Bianco to M.E. 2 n.d. mentions book on Mezzogiorno by Fortunato MS 1244/CE Letter from U.Zanotti-Bianco to M.E. 4 n.d. mentioning activities of women in Italy Page 3 of 92 University Museums and Special Collections Service MS 1244/CE Letter from A W Rich to M.E from St Albans 5 19.09.1920 on art MS 1244/CE Letter from A W Rich to M.E from St Albans 6 07.11.1920 on art MS 1244/CE Letter from A W Rich to M.E from St Albans 7 16.02.1921 on art MS 1244/CE Letter from Piero Zanetti to M.E from Turin 8 06.06.1926 has sent books as requested MS 1244/CE Letter from U.Zanotti-Bianco to M.E. from Rome 9 22.09.1926 MS 1244/CE Letter from U.Zanotti-Bianco to M.E. from Rome 10 26.10.1926 MS 1244/CE Letter from U.Zanotti-Bianco to M.E. from Sassari 11 29.10.1926 Page 4 of 92 University Museums and Special Collections Service MS 1244/CE Letter from U.Zanotti-Bianco to M.E. from Rome 12 05.12.1926 has sent book on Basilicata to Mr Frost. Does not know if she has received it from him. MS 1244/CE Letter from U.Zanotti-Bianco to M.E. from Jerusalem 13 08.12.1926 greetings MS 1244/CE Letter from U.Zanotti-Bianco to M.E. from Jerusalem 14 late 1926 Recommends Sicily for convalesence. Thanks for a book which advises " teach the people not to need a tyrant". Must prepare second volume on Sardinia. MS 1244/CE Letter from Janet Trevelyan (wife of G.M. Trevelyan) to M.E 15 26.01.1927 Contribution to I.R.R.C. Advises against publication of a manifesto which could annoy the Facists MS 1244/CE Letter from R E Enthoven to M.E from Algeria 16 15.03.1927 MS 1244/CE Letter from U.Zanotti-Bianco to M.E. from Marseille 17 April 1927 Hopes to meet Mrs. Herring on 8th. Gasperi and wife arrested on way to Florence and accused of trying to leave the country. Public opinion is concerned about the "confinati" on Lampedusa Page 5 of 92 University Museums and Special Collections Service and Pantelleria. Carlo Roselli is still in prison for arranging Turati's escape and that of Ansaldo and Silvestri. Bauer was arrested in a car 30km from the frontier. MS 1244/CE Letter from U.Zanotti-Bianco to M.E. from Rome 18 30.04.1927 asking if she has received his last letter MS 1244/CE Letter from U.Zanotti-Bianco to M.E. from Rome 19 Apr-27 MS 1244/CE Letter from U.Zanotti-Bianco to M.E. from Rome 20 21.04.1927 Letter will be posted in England by a friend. Would like her to send him newspapers which are of interest. MS 1244/CE Letter from U.Zanotti-Bianco to M.E. from Rome 21 28.04.1927 Has received a letter from Maria Rossetti. Encloses letter from Mrs Edwards. Asks if first parcel of books has arrived. MS 1244/CE Letter from U Morra to M.E from Oxford 22 18.05.1927 Suggests a visit to Oxford. Asks for Maria Rossetti's address in New York. Page 6 of 92 University Museums and Special Collections Service MS 1244/CE Letter from U.Zanotti-Bianco to M.E. from Rome 23 03.06.1927 MS 1244/CE Letter from Decio Pettoello To M.E. from Cambridge 24 01.07.1927 Hopes to meet Salvemini when visiting London. Maria Rossetti has written from New York . She hopes to form a committee similar to I.R.R.C in New York. MS 1244/CE Letter from Decio Pettoello To M.E. from Cambridge 25 05.07.1927 MS 1244/CE Letter from Decio Pettoello To M.E. from Cambridge 26 10.07.1927 MS 1244/CE Letter from Maria Rossetti to M.E. from New York 27 18.08.1927 Thanks for looking after Salvemini and for Committee work. MS 1244/CE Letter from Cousin Donatello to M.E from Lusanne 28 26.08.1927 Sends donation for Committee MS 1244/CE Letter from D.P Larwill to M.E from Munich 29 11.09 1927 Mentions Ceccotti and the political views of the anarchists in Paris. Page 7 of 92 University Museums and Special Collections Service MS 1244/CE Letter from Tratella(?) to M.E. from London 30 21.09.1927 has been warned not to go to Paris. Must return to Italy in spite of his fears. MS 1244/CE Letter from Tratella(?) to M.E. from London 31A 27.09.1927 Is about to return to Naples MS 1244/CE Letter from Alice Seward to M.E. from London 32 29.01.1928 Thanks for organising debate on League of Nations MS 1244/CE Letter from Cousin Donatello to M.E from Lusanne 33 17.02.1928 Sends donation to committee.