Janus: Personal Papers of Barbara Leigh Smith Bodichon

Girton/GCPP Bodichon contains:
1	Letters 1
2	Letters 2
3	Letters 3
4	Miscellaneous letters
5	Photographs and portraits
6	Personal artefacts
7	Album containing BB's autograph letter collection
8	Drawings, sketches, and written work
9	Biographical articles etc re Barbara Bodichon
10	Papers concerning the acquisition by Girton College of Bodichon papers and memorabilia
11	Moore Family papers

More information

Please feel free to contact the repository.

Personal Papers of Barbara Leigh Smith Bodichon

Title	Letters 3
Reference	GCPP Bodichon 3 (former reference: B401-459)
Creator	Various
Covering Dates	1869–1885
Extent and Medium	61 items in 1 file; Paper

Content and context

These letters are written by various correspondents, chiefly to Barbara Bodichon and chiefly concerning the foundation and organisation of Girton College. They contain much debate on matters such as teaching (in particular teaching of the natural sciences and the vivisection issue), dress code, appointment of the Mistress and the Mistress's duties, committee membership, finance, the College buildings, and student unrest. Major correspondents include Sedley Taylor, Fanny Metcalfe, E A Manning, Lady Stanley of Alderley and Marianne F Bernard.

Girton/GCPP Bodichon 3 contains:

List of various people who wrote letters about Girton to Madame Bodichon.
Creator: Unknown.
1 item; Paper.

Letter from Sedley Taylor to Barbara Bodichon. Can't make lunch at Blandford Square on Saturday. Suggests that the best locale for the College is in or near Cambridge. The expense of railway journeys to Hitchin and the larger salaries which would have to be paid to teachers and other difficulties mean that a site in Cambridge must be selected. On the other hand, while 'all here' will offer teaching, the moral safety of the students must be the responsibility of the ladies of the executive committee. Recommends a trial in Cambridge, rather than Hitchin, followed by building in Cambridge.
Creator: Taylor, Sedley.
1 item; Paper.

2 Dec. 1869

Letter from Sedley Taylor to Barbara Bodichon. On BB's proposal to exclude from the committee any member who fails to attend 4 consecutive meetings. Suggests that people who can't make the meetings might have valuable opinions; nothing to gain by excluding irregular attendants; people might be affronted and withdraw support for the College. System of lectures for women to be started next term; some most distinguished lecturers.
Creator: Taylor, Sedley.
1 item; Paper.

11 Dec. 1869

Letter from Fanny Metcalfe to Barbara Bodichon. Discusses two possible sites for temporary College buildings. Strenuously in favour of Hitchin; doesn't think locality of vital importance, but that agreeable surroundings and pleasant grounds will have great effect upon the scheme.
Creator: Metcalfe, Fanny.
1 item; Paper.

15 May 1869

Letter from Sedley Taylor to Barbara Bodichon. The serious evil of a change in teacher within the first few months due to the mathematics teacher resigning because of amount of time going to and fro from Cambridge to the College. Lectures more comprehensive and cheaper in Cambridge than can be offered at Hitchin.
Creator: Taylor, Sedley.
1 item; Paper.

4 Jan. 1870

Letter from Emily Shirreff to Barbara Bodichon. Anxious to know if anything was said about Mrs Austin being placed as head of the College at Committee meeting; Committee seem to have decided before she [ES] had formally announced she wouldn't return. Annoyed with Emily Davies for being silent on the subject; means to have a full explanation from her.
Creator: Shirreff, Emily.
1 item; Paper.

7 May 1870

Letter from Emily Gibson to Barbara Bodichon. Asking for support on an issue which she believes is going to be referred to the Committee; explains that she and some other students had recently performed some scenes from Shakespeare; when there was an objection to them wearing male costume, they promised not to wear it in the public room again. Concerned that wearing male costume in their private space will also be banned and suggests that 'every restriction which curtails the individual responsibility of the student lessens the educational advantage of the life here'.
Creator: Gibson, Emily C.
1 item; Paper.

14 Mar. 1871

Letter from William Shaen (?) to Barbara Bodichon. Urgency of building. Financial issues; of the promised contributions of £7200, £2000 has already been spent on and at the Hitchin site. Proposals for raising more money. Guarantee of £5000 necessary. 2 copies.
Creator: Shaen, William.
2 items; Paper.

10 Jan. 1872

Letter from M E Gaskell to Barbara Bodichon. Glad to be holding a Committee meeting. Advises not to write to Mr Potter, as his advocacy might do more harm than good on account of his political views. Failure of the women's education movement in Manchester to do with people confusing it with the issue of 'Women's Rights and kindred agitations'.
Creator: Gaskell, M E.
1 item; Paper.

13 Jan. 1872

Letter from John Westlake to Barbara Bodichon. Legal letter; advice on contracts and financing of building. Copy.
Creator: Westlake, John.
1 item; Paper.

27 Mar. 1872

Letter from Sedley Taylor to Barbara Bodichon. Thank you for returning the students' memorial. Will talk when next in town on position of Girton.
Creator: Taylor, Sedley.
1 item; Paper.

18 Feb. 1873

Letter from Hannah Pipe to Barbara Bodichon. Petition by the students [see B413]; Miss Bulley being allowed to defer examination until 1874 depending on it. Committee resolution against the petition. Support for the girls, although suggests that 'their distress and vexation lead them into some transcient injustice towards Miss Davies'. Students' complaints about Miss Davies regarding Cambridge as 'the ideal of ideals, defects included'.
Creator: Pipe, Hannah.
1 item; Paper.

28 Feb. 1873

Petition re Tripos examinations. Petition written by Sarah Woodhead, Rachel Cook, Louisa Lumsden, Amy Bulley, Isabella Gamble, Rose Aitken, Jane Frances Dove, Mary G Hoskins, Mary A Kingsland, Elizabeth Welsh, Eliza Baker, Constance Maynard, and Mary Constance [or Constance Mary] Shorrock. The petition suggests that, as an alternative to the College 'certificate of proficiency' in a single subject, students should be allowed to become candidates for any Cambridge Tripos Examination without passing the preliminary examination.
Creator: Various.
1 item; Paper.

1873

Letter from Sedley Taylor to the Committee of Girton College. Contains copy of a printed statement from lecturers suggesting that the certificate of proficiency is more appropriate for the Hitchin students than attempting to gain the degree. Copy of the student memorial [see B413].
Creator: Taylor, Sedley.
1 item; Paper.

Mar. 1873

Letter from Fanny Metcalfe to Barbara Bodichon. Sorry to hear of death of BB's sister. Request to see BB before the next Committee meeting to 'talk over this new difficulty'. Miss Davies' wish that she should propose to meet BB before the meeting. FM not averse to students views, but finds their manner obnoxious.
Creator: Metcalfe, Fanny.
1 item; Paper.

17 Mar. 1873

Letter from John Cross to Barbara Bodichon. An immense deal of unnecessary misery is caused in the world by the astounding ignorance of ordinary young ladies regarding basic money matters. If I could do anything to help in this direction, I would be only too happy.
Creator: Cross, John N.
1 item; Paper.

10 Apr. 1873

Letter from Louisa Lumsden to Barbara Bodichon. Thanks for lending the article; shocked that such a subject should be discussed in popular magazine (Spectator) but of same opinion as the article; competitive examinations as injurious to health of men as well as women. Present system of examination fit for schools, not university. That horrid word "ladylike"; people are afraid of real womanliness and try hard to produce a stunted artificial imitation. Necessity of physical exercise. All fields open to men should be open to women; nothing too hard, unsuitable, unfeminine. Apologies for writing at such length.
Creator: Lumsden, Louisa.
1 item; Paper.

Apr. 1874

Letter from Fanny Metcalfe to Barbara Bodichon. Sorry couldn't stay to the end and hear BB's opinion on attitudes of Miss Davies, students and the committee. Gymnasium dress; can state where it shall be worn, but not what shall not be worn until we find something objectionable. Gymnasium dress to be put on and taken off in the Gymnasium. Miss Lumsden valuable to college in a way that we can't expect of Miss Davies. The college is not my ideal of what it might and ought to be, but nothing to be gained by unyielding attitudes. Worried that matters of housekeeping are distasteful to Miss Davies; too much trust in someone like Mrs Hammond will lead to fiasco. I write this in confidence.
Creator: Metcalfe, Fanny.
1 item; Paper.

12 July 1874

Letter from Constance Maynard to Barbara Bodichon. Misunderstanding about Miss [Louisa] Lumsden's intention to resign from tutorship; her general influence and interest in the college cannot be replaced. Miss Lumsden's distress at feeling that the committee is displeased with her; students wish that Miss Lumsden might be induced to stay.
Creator: Maynard, Constance Louisa.
1 item; Paper.

20 Feb. 1875

Letter from Emily Shirreff to Barbara Bodichon. You will see that Miss Davies' statements are highly coloured (in the matter of Miss [Louisa] Lumsden's conditional resignation). I have requested Miss Lumsden to send a statement of her clear intention as regards staying or going. Proposes two changes to the way the committee works. Very sorry about what Miss Davies says of Lady Stanley.
Creator: Shirreff, Emily.
1 item; Paper.

2 Mar. 1875

Letter from Sedley Taylor to Barbara Bodichon. Having read Miss [Louisa] Lumsden's communication, no longer thinks it desirable that she should become a member of the committee. Kindly pass this letter to Miss Metcalfe, Miss Shirreff and Miss Manning.
Creator: Taylor, Sedley.
1 item; Paper.

25 Mar. 1875

Letter from Fanny Metcalfe to Barbara Bodichon. Sorry Mr Taylor has fallen away; hasn't given adequate reasons for his view [on Louisa Lumsden]. Miss Davies is the sole representative of the feelings/views/wants of the students; they would say she does not represent us. Miss Lumsden will not come back unless she is on the committee; shall not find anyone who desires the success of the College more or who will more effectively help the students. I can only count on you and Miss Shirreff; nothing in Miss Lumsden's statement could disqualify her. The "girls" are "young women" whose views must be represented fairly. Worried that the existence of Girton is at stake. 2 copies.
Creator: Metcalfe, Fanny.
2 items; Paper.

28 Mar. 1875

Letter from E A Manning to Barbara Bodichon. It does not seem desirable that those who are officers at Girton should be on the committee. Miss Davies an exception. After some time wishes for much freer communication between the students and the committee, and mistresses and the committee.
Creator: Manning, E Adelaide.
1 item; Paper.

6 Apr. 1875

Letter from Fanny Metcalfe to Barbara Bodichon. Fully expect the College to govern itself. If Miss L[umsden's] resignation is a feint, I would not answer for the consequences. Do not think any of the present number [of students] would stay, and if they did, would spread a [sense] of unpopularity disastrous to the College.
Creator: Metcalfe, Fanny.
1 item; Paper.

7 Apr. 1875

Letter from Mary Ponsonby to Fanny Metcalfe. Feels ignorant of internal politics; inclined to accept Miss Metcalfe's and Miss Shirreff's proposal to support Miss Lumsden. Accepts main reason for having Miss Lumsden on committee is to represent views of the students; but allowing one tutor onto committee opens the way to overwhelming number of teachers on the governing body. Proper for the mistress (Miss Davies) to represent student views. Waiting for discussion before making decision.
Creator: Ponsonby, Mary A.
1 item; Paper.

5 Apr. 1875

Letter from Fanny Metcalfe to Mary Ponsonby. Support for Miss [Louisa] Lumsden's election to the Committee.
Creator: Metcalfe, Fanny.
1 item; Paper.

1875

Memorandum of information as to the duties to be performed by the Mistress in respect of Studies, Discipline, Domestic administration. Memorandum prepared by the request of the Executive Committee of Girton College.
Creator: Girton College.
1 item; Paper.

1874

Letter from J Bryce to Barbara Bodichon. The piece which Mr Tom[kinson] sent around discourteous to Miss Lumsden. No objection to Miss Shirreff's and Miss Manning's proposal.
Creator: Bryce, James.
1 item; Paper.

1875

Letter from Henry Tomkinson to Barbara Bodichon. Private. Incident in discipline: Miss [Louisa] Lumsden came in late with students and didn't apologise. Code and system needs to be established. Miss Davies' difficulty in dealing with incident.
Creator: Tomkinson, H R.
1 item; Paper.

1874–1875

Letter from Anne Jemima Clough to Barbara Bodichon. On Miss Davies; responsibility of mistress to stay full time at the College. Miss Hutchin is very popular in Cambridge and it is a shame she doesn't have a wider sphere; many schemes about the way we might work together. Possibility of Miss Hutchin being elected as Mistress?.
Creator: Clough, Anne J.
1 item; Paper.

18 May 1875

Letter from M Fawcett to Barbara Bodichon. Suggests that Mrs Cairnes would make an ideal mistress of Girton; her husband about to die; hasn't suggested the position to Mrs Cairnes yet. What does BB think?.
Creator: Fawcett, M.
1 item; Paper.

8 Jan. 1875

Letter from Fanny Metcalfe to Barbara Bodichon. No reason that the appointment can't be postponed but hopes that [the committee] will be more unanimous than to need Miss Shirreff's vote. Discusses candidates.
Creator: Metcalfe, Fanny.
1 item; Paper.

22 June 1875

Letter from Fanny Metcalfe to Barbara Bodichon. Miss Kingsland will remain next term; Miss Davies arranged this without any consultation; FM making a "fling" at Miss Davies, not to go any further than BB.
Creator: Metcalfe, Fanny.
1 item; Paper.

3 July 1875–4 July 1875

Letter from Lady Stanley of Alderley to Barbara Bodichon. Private. Card from Miss Davies proposing a committee [meeting]; asks if she has thought of a secretary; suggests Mrs Burbury. Not in favour of Miss Metcalfe's unknown romance (?).
Creator: Stanley, Lady, of Alderley.
1 item; Paper.

18 Apr. 1875

Letter from Lady Stanley of Alderley to Barbara Bodichon. What about the Board of Studies? Mr Wright says he will guarantee another scholarship.
Creator: Stanley, Lady, of Alderley.
1 item; Paper.

2 July 1875

Letter from Lady Stanley of Alderley to Barbara Bodichon. Miss Davies has written; I have answered that we had better try her plan. 1. Will the people who have subscribed to the testimonial give the money to the building? 2. Would it not be better not to pay off the mortgage? 3. Would it not be better to have a staircase; this involving the skill of an architect to make the changes?.
Creator: Stanley, Lady, of Alderley.
1 item; Paper.

26 Oct. 1875

Letter from Lady Stanley of Alderley to Barbara Bodichon. Election; 12 for Miss Welsh, 9 for Miss Lumsden; very sorry because Miss Welsh is very inferior.
Creator: Stanley, Lady, of Alderley.
1 item; Paper.

4 Mar. 1885

Letter from Lady Stanley of Alderley to Barbara Bodichon. Nephew to whom I give the letter thought we ought not to encourage double honours. Ought we not to reconsider our decision.
Creator: Stanley, Lady, of Alderley.
1 item; Paper.

5 Feb. 1870

Letter from Lady Stanley of Alderley to Barbara Bodichon. We are just under the £2000 [in subscriptions]. Wish I could see you next week.
Creator: Stanley, Lady, of Alderley.
1 item; Paper.

22 Dec. 1870

Letter from Lady Stanley of Alderley to Barbara Bodichon. I shall be at home tomorrow; we will talk about the printing. Would be well for her[?] to propose Miss Metcalfe at the next committee.
Creator: Stanley, Lady, of Alderley.
1 item; Paper.

1876

Letter from Fanny Metcalfe to Barbara Bodichon. Thank you for your card of information and introduction. Have sent Kate [niece] to Dusseldorf for the summer months. Wish you could see the point at which she has arrived in teaching; she is developing talent above average. Question of petitioning parliament to introduce a provision in the Oxford University Bill devoted to the Higher Education of Women in a general way and when the Cambridge Bill is introduced for Girton especially. Supporting nomination of Miss Welsh as assistant lecturer [?]. Miss Bernard not pleased with Miss [Louisa] Lumsden; she thought her repulsive; "I felt thankful she did not live here" (Miss B.). Emily Davies is friendly with me; am I suspicious to say "What does it mean?".
Creator: Metcalfe, Fanny.
1 item; Paper.

9 Apr. 1876

Letter from Mary Ewart to Frances Power Cobbe. The second provision on page two [of the act] does not allow illustrations of lectures without anaesthetics; plans to ask Miss Clough to tell her Natural Science students that they will, if they wish it, see illustrations under anaesthetics.
Creator: Ewart, Mary A.
1 item; Paper.

8 Apr. 1877

Notes about anaesthetics. Notes about Mr Michael Foster's authority to perform experiments illustrating lectures using anaesthetics.
Creator: Ewart, Mary A.
1 item; Paper.

1877

Letter from Norman Moore to Barbara Bodichon. Foster and Langley Practical Physiology as syllabus to Foster's lectures; experiments after, not during, lectures; experiments are part of the course of instruction.
Creator: Moore, Norman.
1 item; Paper.

6 Apr. 1877

Letter from Norman Moore to Barbara Bodichon. Why not write and ask the Girtonians to state what they have seen after lectures since the Act? I can arrange to go to Cambride for a few hours on Thursday if necessary.
Creator: Moore, Norman.
1 item; Paper.

24 Apr. 1877

Letter from E A Manning to Barbara Bodichon. Whether to vote against the re-appointment of Mr Foster as lecturer; whether students will withdraw when he performs vivisections under anaesthetics or not attend his course.
Creator: Manning, E A.
1 item; Paper.

10 Apr. 1877

Letter from E A Manning to Barbara Bodichon. Called to see Miss Cobbe; Miss Lloyd and Lady Camperdown were there. I told Miss Cobbe about your fear of exaggeration and she promises to be careful; Miss Cobbe's own extreme views. Foster's experiments.
Creator: Manning, E A.
1 item; Paper.

23 Apr. 1877

Letter from Beatrice L[ushington] to Barbara Bodichon. The girls should not be prevented from attending Foster's lectures; this is a crude way of putting it!.
Creator: Lushington, Beatrice.
1 item; Paper.

24 Apr. 1877

Letter from Sedley Taylor to Barbara Bodichon. Miss Davies tells me that Foster's vivisections are all performed under anaesthetic; no cruelty is involved and therefore no need for Committee involvement. I assume that students are free to withdraw if they find the experiments distasteful.
Creator: Taylor, Sedley.
1 item; Paper.

26 Apr. 1877

Letter from A F Bernard to Barbara Bodichon. Glad BB enjoyed her visit to Girton. Can organise to send BB Dr Foster's book "Text book of Physiology".
Creator: Bernard, A F.
1 item; Paper.

1877

Girton College Memorandum. No vivisection whatever practised at the College. Printed memorandum.
Creator: Davies, Emily.
1 item; Paper.

30 Apr. 1877

Letter from Emily Davies to Barbara Bodichon. Sickness. I agree with you about using the £1000 for some specific object, but I do not know what. A library building? Had Miss Bernard not sent a long letter of internal affairs at Girton, I should be utterly ignorant.
Creator: Davies, Emily.
1 item; Paper.

15 Nov. 1877

Letter from A F Bernard to Barbara Bodichon. Could you not sleep here instead of at the University? I own my view of a library is the books not the room. I think as little as possible about Miss Lord; lecturer described her as the most disagreeable girl he had met at Girton.
Creator: Bernard, A F.
1 item; Paper.

15 Nov. 1877

Letter from [Emily Davies] to Barbara Bodichon. Leaving money to Girton entirely at disposal of the College; believes, however, that the best application of the funds would be towards extending the number of students who study at the College rather than in adding to the comforts and enjoyment of existing students. [Note not acted upon.].
Creator: Davies, Emily.
1 item; Paper.

1880

Letter from Fanny Metcalfe to Barbara Bodichon. Gardening; the weeds taller than FM herself. Detail of areas she would like cleared; a good walkable path made. Miss Bernard away so much, no one to direct the men in their work. The Committee is very short sighted in leaving the garden as the last thing and doling out such scanty supplies.
Creator: Metcalfe, Fanny.
1 item; Paper.

16 July 1880

Letter from Marianne F Bernard to Barbara Bodichon. Antiquarian discoveries; a stone head in the rubbish pit; a piece of stone with foliage in high relief; a lion without a nose. Remains of 3 adults and 5 children; we are sure they are Anglo Saxon. We believe we have now dug up all the cemetery. An aberrant piece in D Mollerton's [?] collection; anxious to get hold of it. Has tables for some of the pieces, but not sure how best to show off the lion's head.
Creator: Bernard, M F.
1 item; Paper.

16 Oct. 1881

Letter from Marianne F Bernard to Barbara Bodichon. News that the pieces from the Anglo Saxon find that went to Dr Rolleston [?] are packed and ready to be transported. Has had photographs taken of the pieces at the College.
Creator: Bernard, M F.
1 item; Paper.

13 Nov. 1881

Letter from Marianne F Bernard to Barbara Bodichon. Some of the pieces being repaired at Trinity; some of the pots broken when emptied of earth. When we get a large library room built that will be a wise place to put them. Having cupboards made as they must be kept under lock and key.
Creator: Bernard, M F.
1 item; Paper.

3 June 1882

Letter from Marianne F Bernard to Barbara Bodichon. Anxious that people from a distance come to luncheon on the 29th; welcome anyone who represents BB, shame that she can't come herself. Sending a daffodil bulb that is apparently different from any BB has.
Creator: Bernard, M F.
1 item; Paper.

16 May 1882

Letter from Fanny Metcalfe to Barbara Bodichon. Difficulty in seeing Lady Murray; Miss Davies doesn't approve. I like and value Miss Welsh, but I think there are some qualities she lacks. Send a telegraph if you think I ought to see Lady Murray.
Creator: Metcalfe, Fanny.
1 item; Paper.

26 July 1884

Letter from Fanny Metcalfe to Barbara Bodichon. Cannot agree that Miss Lumsden would be suitable; describes Miss Lumsden as having an unforgiving spirit. If it is to be a Girtonian, then Miss Welsh is FM's choice; lists her qualities.
Creator: Metcalfe, Fanny.
1 item; Paper.

30 July 1884