Personal Papers of Agatha Graham

Aelfrida Catharine Agatha Graham was born on 12 July 1910 in Cambridge, the second daughter of Aelfrida Tillyard, writer [see GCPP Tillyard], and Constantine Graham, diplomat. When Aelfrida ceased to accompany Constantine regularly on his travels in 1910 (they eventually divorced in 1921) she returned to Fordfield, her family home on Brooklands Avenue in Cambridge, with both her daughters (Agatha's older sister, Alethea, was born in 1908 in the USA - see GCPP Graham A1) where they lived with Aelfrida's parents until the 1930s.

Agatha attended the Perse High School for Girls in Cambridge, then studied Geography and English at Girton from 1929 to 1932.

After leaving Girton, Agatha had numerous occupations, including a short spell of teaching in Sussex, a period in the Cambridge Steam Laundry Ltd [of which her mother was a director, taking over the role from her father, Alfred Tillyard], research and writing, including poetry, but she appears to have suffered from depression and she eventually took her own life: she died on 24 February 1935.

The papers include personal diaries; photographs; and some of Agatha's writing, including poetry and short stories.

Donated by Angela Yaffey [nee Tillyard, Girton 1945, cousin of Agatha and Alethea Graham], 17 April 2009.

Please cite as Girton College Archive, Cambridge, Personal Papers of Agatha Graham, GCPP Graham, A2

See also GCPP Tillyard for papers of Agatha's mother, Aelfrida Tillyard - in particular, there are letters from Agatha to her mother, 1929, at GCPP Tillyard 3/2. Also, Aelfrida's personal diaries and 'Children's record books', at GCPP Tillyard 1/1 and 1/1a respectively, record much information on the activities of both daughters. See also GCPP Graham A1 5/1 and GCPP Graham A1 2/3/3 for stories and photograph albums compiled jointly by Agatha and her sister.