http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8m32x3d No online items Finding Aid to the Hannah More Collection MS.1997.009 Finding aid prepared by Daniella Aquino William Andrews Clark Memorial Library 2520 Cimarron Street Los Angeles, CA, 90018 (323) 731-8529 [email protected] ©2013 Finding Aid to the Hannah More MS.1997.009 1 Collection MS.1997.009 Title: Hannah More Collection Identifier/Call Number: MS.1997.009 Contributing Institution: William Andrews Clark Memorial Library Language of Material: English Physical Description: 3.0 Linear feet(5 boxes) Date (bulk): Bulk, 1748-1830 Date (inclusive): 1748-1933 Repository: University of California, Los Angeles. Library. William Andrews Clark Memorial Library Los Angeles, California 90095-1490 Physical Location: Clark Library Language of Material: English Abstract: Letters written to and from writer and social reformer Hannah More, as well as other manuscript and visual materials relating to the lives of More and her contemporaries. creator: More, Hannah, 1745-1833 Biographical Note Hannah More was born near Bristol, England, on February 2, 1745, the daughter of Jacob and Mary More. Jacob More was a school master who educated his five daughters, Mary, Elizabeth, Sarah (Sally), Hannah and Martha (Patty). Hannah proved to be a bright and able pupil. Hannah’s elder sisters made an independent living by establishing a successful boarding school for young ladies, and Hannah joined them around the age of 16. At the school, Hannah, who had shown her literary ability from a young age, wrote poems and plays, in addition to translations of classical works. Hannah gave up her share in the school at the age of 22, when she became engaged to John Turner, a wealthy landowner twenty years her senior. The wedding was set on three different occasions, all of which were cancelled by Mr. Turner. After six years, the engagement was broken off, and Mr. Turner settled an annuity on Hannah, against her will and knowledge. However, Hannah finally accepted the offer, which provided her an independent living, and allowed her to devote her time to her literary pursuits. Around 1774, Hannah left for London, where she was introduced to some of the most influential and prominent literary and political figures of the time. Hannah became close friends with the actor David Garrick and his wife Eva, and attended social assemblies with such figures as Dr. Samuel Johnson and Sir Joshua Reynolds. Hannah also moved among members of the Bluestocking Circle. While in London, Hannah’s literary career flourished, but after the death of her friend Garrick, she vowed never to write for the stage again, and instead devoted herself to moral and spiritual works. She moved to Cowslip Green, Wrington, Bristol in 1785. Hannah became involved in social reform, including the anti-slavery movement. At the urging of her friend William Wilberforce, Hannah founded several Sunday schools for the poor, though she was initially met with opposition. In 1802, Hannah moved to Barley Wood, a home she had built not far from Cowslip Green. There she and her sisters lived quietly, and Hannah entertained prominent friends and continued her writing. Her most popular work, “Coeleb’s in Search of a Wife,” was published in 1809. Hannah continued pushing for social reform by publishing the Cheap Repository Tracts. These tracts sold for a halfpenny, and were aimed at providing the poor with strong tales of morality. The tracts were extremely popular and widely dispersed. Hannah outlived her sisters and retired to Clifton in 1828. She continued entertaining guests and was always surrounded by friends and visitors. Hannah left her fortune to charity, and was buried in Wrington. Her prolific literary career, her good sense and strong morals, and her dedication to social reform earned her a place among the most notable and influential figures of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Processing Information This collection was physically arranged by Clark staff and microfilmed by a private company in the early 2000s. The collection was reorganized and this finding aid written by Daniella Aquino, 2012-2013. Acquisition Most of the items in this collection were acquired through two major purchases. In 1996, the Clark purchased the Hannah More collection assembled by collector Roger DuBroff (MS.1996.004). In 1997, the Library purchased an additional collection originally from the collection of Hannah More's literary executor Margaret Roberts (MS.1997.009). Other individual items originated in the following accessions: MS.1999.004, MS.2002.005, MS.2003.005, MS.2005.005, MS.2007.021, MS.2012.017. In the container list below, items acquired as a part of the DuBroff collection (MS.1996.004) and the 6 other small accessions have a note indicating their purchase dates. Items that have no such information included were purchased as a part of the 1997 acquisition of items originally owned by Margaret Roberts (MS.1997.009). Finding Aid to the Hannah More MS.1997.009 2 Collection MS.1997.009 The material acquired in accession MS.1997.009 was used by Margaret Roberts' brother William in his Memoirs of Hannah More (1834). The letters passed to C. Becher Pigot, the great-grandson of William Roberts, and were in turn purchased from him by scholar Mary Gladys Jones in 1953. Publication Rights Copyright has not been assigned to the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, UCLA. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Clark Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, UCLA as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained. Access Collection is open for research. Scope and Content This collection contains letters written between Hannah More and a variety of correspondents, in addition to other manuscripts (including notebooks and poems) and visual materials. The collection also contains letters that are not addressed to Hannah More, including three letters from members of the Bluestocking Circle. Among the visual materials are engraved portraits of Hannah More and drawings of her home at Barley Wood. Much of the descriptive information for this collection came from: Women, Morality and Advice Literature: Manuscripts and Rare Printed Works of Hannah More (1745-1833) and Her Circle from the Clark Library, Los Angeles , edited by Patricia Demers, Anne Mellor, and Janice Devereux. Marlborough: Adam Matthew Publications, 2005. Arrangement The collection is organized into 3 series: Series 1. Correspondence, 1770-1830 Series 2. Other Manuscript Materials and Documentation, 1748-1933 Series 3. Visual Materials, 1809-1828 Related Materials Hannah More, Book of Fame, f MS.1996.005, William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, UCLA. This scrapbook once contained autographs and writing samples of famous intellectuals. The individual sheets were removed and sold separately at an early date. Some of the items in this collection, including the poems by David Garrick, were originally arranged in this book, which was acquired as a part of the Roger DuBroff Collection on Hannah More (MS.1996.004). Hannah More, Annotated Bible, William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, UCLA. This is Hannah More's personal bible, and is heavily annotated in her hand. She gave the bible to Sir William Weller Pepys, who made his own annotations as well. Brampton Park Miscellany, MS.1998.002, William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, UCLA. The commonplace book of Lady Olivia Sparrow includes contributions by Hannah More and others in her circle. Printed pamphlets and broadsides of Hannah More's work can be found by searching the Clark's holdings in the UCLA Online Library Catalog. Preferred Citation [Identification of item], Hannah More Collection, [Box/Folder number], MS.1997.009, William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, University of California, Los Angeles. Subjects and Indexing Terms Kennicott, Ann, d. 1831 Letters--England--18th century Letters--England--19th century Correspondence Series 1. 1770-1830 Outgoing Correspondence: Acland, Thomas Dyke, Sir, 1787-1871 1815-1828 Box 4, Folder 1 HM to Sir Thomas D. Acland, 1815 March 27 Physical Description: 3 pages, signed H. More. Severe tear across first page. Refers to Bonaparte. Purchase, 1996 (MS.1996.004). Dated as March 29 in Women, Morality & Advice Literature, page 65. Finding Aid to the Hannah More MS.1997.009 3 Collection MS.1997.009 Correspondence Series 1.1770-1830 Outgoing Correspondence: Acland, Thomas Dyke, Sir, 1787-1871 1815-1828 Box 4, Folder 2 HM to Sir Thomas D. Acland, 1826 January 9 Physical Description: 3 pages, signed H. More. Mentions the deaths of a few friends, and includes complaints about work. Purchase, 1996 (MS.1996.004). Box 4, Folder 3 HM to Sir Thomas D. Acland, probably 1828 Physical Description: 1 page, incomplete fragment. Undated but postmarked 1828 September 3. Mentions HM's diminished need for servants, departure from Barley Wood to a townhouse in Bristol. Purchase, 1996 (MS.1996.004). Outgoing Correspondence: A-C Box 2, Folder 87 HM to Bowdler, John, 1746-1823 1802 June 17 Physical Description: Copy by HM of a 20 page letter regarding the Blagdon Controversy. Signed H.M. Letter stitched together. Tipped in: Cutting from a bookseller's catalog, regarding the Blagdon Controversy. 4 undated pages by HM, titled "Extracts from another Letter of Mine," are inserted at the end of the 20 page letter. Box 4, Folder 11 HM to Bulgin, Mr. probably 1818 Physical Description: 1 page, signed H. More. Letter to her business representative. Purchase, 1996 (MS.1996.004). Box 4, Folder 68 HM to Coleman, Rev. probably 1810 October 20 Physical Description: 2 pages, signed H. More. Purchase, 2007(MS.2007.021). Box 4, Folder 12 HM to Cottle, Joseph, 1770-1853 1812 or 1823 Physical Description: 3 pages, signed H.