| RCS/RCMS 36 contains: |
|---|
| 1 |
Scrap Book |
| 2 |
Diaries |
| 3 |
Notebooks |
| 4 |
Letters |
| 5 |
Files |
| 6 |
Publications |
|
Sir Henry Hesketh Bell Collection
| Title |
Files |
| Reference |
RCMS 36/5 |
| Covering Dates |
1899–1969 |
| Extent and Medium |
3 boxes; paper; mixed scripts |
|
| Content and context |
These files represent a diverse body of material related to Bell's literary endeavours, subjects of particular interest, projects or inventions. |
| RCS/RCMS 36/5 contains: |
|
1
|
The Caribs. This is a large file of research notes on the Caribs, organised partly by chronology and partly by subject, with the plan for a book. It also includes a few pencil sketches of Carib artefacts, one photograph, and copies of the following publications: . Bell, Hesketh, 'Colonial Reports Miscellaneous, No. 21: Report on the Caribs of Dominica' (London, 1902). 'The Carib Inquiry in Dominica', 'The West India Committee Circular', 17 Mar., 1932. 'Conditions in the Carib Reserve, and the disturbance of 19th Sept. 1930, Dominica: Report of a Commission appointed by His Excellency the Governor of the Leeward Islands, July, 1931'.
2 files; paper; some leaves are damaged; mixed scripts. |
1901–1931 |
|
2
|
Obeah and fetishism. Notes and news clippings collected by Bell during his research into Obeah and folk religion, including the following reports, publications and photographs:. 'Copy of a letter written by Our Lord Jesus Christ'. Copy of the Leeward Islands Obeah Act, 1904. 'Folk-lore', 26: 3 (1915). Hinde, Hildegarde, 'Magic among certain East African tribes', taken from an unidentified number of 'The Empire review'. Houblon, Grahame, 'Two Indian ghost stories', taken from an unidentified number of the 'Occult review'. Kingsley, Mary, 'African religion and law', taken from an unidentified journal. 'The Monchy murder: the strangling and mutilation of a boy for purposes of Obeah with an explanatory introduction', (St. Lucia, n.d.). 'Occult review', 38: 5 (1923). Photographs of fourteen men and women convicted under of the Leeward Islands Obeah Act of 1904. Report of Obeah cases tried in Montserrat from 1900, dated 1 Feb. 1905, with list of persons convicted from 1900 to 1903. Report on the working of the Obeah Act in St. Christopher and Nevis, dated 31 March 1905. Report on the working of the Obeah Act in the Virgin Islands, with a list of those convicted under it, dated 9 May 1905 (two copies). Return of the number of persons brought before the Magistrate's Courts in Antigua charged with practicing Obeah from 1900 to 1905, dated 1 Mar. 1911. Seton, R. Sydney, 'Notes on the Igala tree', article taken from an unidentified number of the 'Journal of the African Society'. 'Some foreign influences in Nigeria', article by unidentified author from unidentified journal. Talbot, Amaury, 'Some Ibibio customs and beliefs', taken from an unidentified number of the 'Journal of the African Society'.
1 file; paper; mixed scripts. |
1899–1948 |
|
3
|
General Charles Gordon in Mauritius. This file contains notes, correspondence, newspaper clippings and journal articles collected by Bell during his research into Charles George Gordon's service in Mauritius. It includes copies of two letters by Gordon dated 1883 and copies of two reports that Gordon submitted in 1881 on the suppression of the East African slave trade and colonial defence. Some material was later added by RCS Librarian Donald Simpson (circa 150 sheets).
1 file; paper; mixed scripts. |
1924–1969 |
|
4
|
Mauritius. Notes on Mauritius's people, culture, economy, history and natural history written or collected by Bell, some extracted from his diary. The file also includes Bell's speech on his re-appointment as Governor in 1922, a minute on working class dwellings in Port Louis, 27 Apr. 1922, a speech on the opening of the Council of Government, 10 June 1924, a few newspaper clippings and items of correspondence, a map showing the location of mosquitoes in 1922, and a postcard of a dodo (circa 120 sheets).
1 file; mixed scripts. |
1915–1933 |
|
5
|
Colonial governors. This file contains the draft of a magazine article on noteworthy or notorious early colonial governors with notes, newspaper clippings and periodical articles that Bell collected during his research (50 sheets).
1 file; paper; mixed scripts. |
1912–1937 |
|
6
|
The practice of kissing. This file contains notes for a projected magazine article on the comparative history of kissing from ancient to modern times. Bell sent out questionnaires soliciting information on the subject, and the file contains answers from the Gold Coast Acting Secretary of Native Affairs; the Japanese Counsellor of the British Embassy; the British Legation, Nepal; the British Consulate, Iceland; the British Consulate, Seoul; a missionary to China; the British Legation, Abyssinia; the Governor, British North Borneo; the Education Office, Kuala Lumpur; and the British Consulate-General, Siam.
1 file; paper; mixed scripts. |
1922–1924 |
|
7
|
Spectacles. Notes, newspaper cuttings and illustrations on the history of spectacles. Bell collected spectacles, including Joseph Chamberlain's eyeglass, which was presented to him by Chamberlain's widow after his death.
1 file; mixed scripts. |
1894–1948 |
|
8
|
Notes for reminiscences. This file contains source material that Bell collected for the composition of his memoirs, drawn from his official career or travels during his retirement. It includes notes on memorable people, places and experiences, or subjects of particular interest. The file also preserves two poems by Bell, the text of a speech that he gave at a West Indian Club dinner in 1909, correspondence regarding his tour of the Far East during 1925-26, the text of a lecture 'Some aspects of colonial administration' and notes on the 'colour question' in the American Philippines (circa 70 sheets).
1 file; paper; mixed scripts. |
1922–1946 |
|
9
|
Magazine articles. This file contains the texts of articles written by Bell, many derived from his diaries. They are listed below:. 'The adventures of Futki the white elephant' (three copies). 'The doom of Saint Pierre'. 'Housekeeping in West Africa'. 'The improvement of physique in negroes'. 'In a Japanese railway carriage'. 'A motor cottage'. 'My fishy friends in Nassau' (three copies). 'My friends the cannibals' (three copies). 'My friends the cannibals of Elgon'. 'My Semliki elephant'. 'Nancy stories'. 'The poisoning of ants' (two copies). 'Some early days in Uganda' (three copies). 'Strange oaths in West Africa'. 'Traces of Egypt in West Africa'. 'Witches and vampires in Nassau' (five copies). 'With Mr. Winston Churchill in Uganda' (two copies). 'With Sir Roger Casement in West Africa' (two copies). 'A world constabulary', 'The Spectator', 29 Dec. 1933, with associated press discussion.
1 file; paper; typewritten. |
1885–1946 |
|
10
|
Notes for magazine articles. This file contains source material that Bell collected for writing articles. The notes include material on superstition and folklore, tropical sanitation, the encouragement of native arts and crafts, fish, insects and animal behaviour. Among the notes are the published minutes of a joint meeting of the Royal Empire Society and the Royal African Society, held to discuss an address by Elspeth Huxley on the future of East Africa, a brief article on divination from 'Notes Africaines', July 1947, and a photo cut out of a German publication dealing with sleeping sickness in Uganda. The file also contains several letters from Bell to periodical editors requesting permission to reprint published articles in his memoirs.
1 file; paper; mixed scripts. |
1885–1948 |
|
11
|
Autograph letters. A collection of autograph letters with a list compiled by Bell. Those of particular interest include eight letters from Neville Chamberlain, whom Bell met in the Bahamas in 1895, and nine letters from Robert Dolbey, the army medical officer and Professor of Surgery at the University of Cairo, whom Bell appointed as his literary executor (circa 150 sheets).
1 file; paper; mixed scripts. |
1890–1937 |
|
12
|
Projects and ideas. A file containing notes, sketches, newspaper cuttings, correspondence and photographs related to non-literary projects Bell envisaged (circa 40 sheets).
1 file; paper; mixed scripts. |
1901–1935 |
|
13
|
Inventions. Notes, newspaper clippings, sketches and photograph illustrations of inventions envisaged by Bell, along with correspondence concerning patents (circa 100 sheets).
1 file; paper; mixed scripts. |
1914–1933 |
|
14
|
Art work. A pencil sketch of Bella Pais, Cyprus, and four offprints of Bell's sketch of Scala Della Ragione, Verona, which appeared in 'The Architectural Review', Dec. 1933. |
1925–1933 |
|
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