Personal Papers of Lyn Newman

Lyn Newman (nee Irivine) was the daughter of a Presbyterian minister and grew up in Aberdeen. She graduated from Aberdeen University with first class honours in English Literature and came to Girton as a research student 1924-27. Her subject of study was 'The literary criticism of the Bible' and she received a research scholarship from the Carnegie Trust in 1926. After Cambridge she went to work as a literary journalist in London, contributing to Nation, Spectator, Listener and Observer. She also wrote four books. In 1934 she married Max Newman, a mathematician and they had two sons. She lived in Comberton, near Cambridge and in 2001 was the subject of an exhibition, 'Lyn Newman: a Cambridgeshire Writer' at Cambridge Central Library.

The papers consist of a copy of Lyn Newman's journal for the period she was at Girton. It begins in the Lent Term 1925 and ends in December of that year (64 pages) although there is a postscript written in June [1926]. The journal is begun in optimism after a somewhat unhappy first term at Girton. She writes of her work, her friends and daily life as it takes place in College and in Cambridge. There are some illustrations.

There is also a copy of an undated letter from her Girton friend Ceceley Colls (sometimes known as Creasy). Written from Africa, probably in about 1930, it is mainly concerned with Colls' anthropological research.

In addition, there is a flyer for the Cambridge exhibition of 2001.

The copy was given by Lyn Newman's son, William in 2001.

Please cite as Girton College Archive, Cambridge, Personal Papers of Lyn Newman, GCPP Newman

The originals (and related material) are in St John's College Library, Cambridge: Personal Papers of Lyn Newman.