Letters from Ellen Terry to various correspondents [manuscript].
1880
Items
Details
Title
Letters from Ellen Terry to various correspondents [manuscript].
Created/published
1880-1918.
Description
16 items (chiefly letters)
Associated name
Terry, Ellen, Dame, 1847-1928, sender.
Draper, Warwick H., Mrs., addressee.
Padgett, Helen, addressee.
Padgett, Katharine, addressee.
Draper, Warwick H., Mrs., addressee.
Padgett, Helen, addressee.
Padgett, Katharine, addressee.
Note
This is a PRELIMINARY RECORD. It may contain incorrect information. Please email catalog@folger.edu for assistance.
From dealer's description: 1. Mrs W H Draper, married to Warwick H Draper, owner of Kelmscott House, described in his obituary has having 'imbibed the social spirit' of the place. (a) [now Y.c.7366 (1)] 18 May [1910] 1p, accepting invitation to Hammersmith, signed Ellen Carew. (b) [now Y.c.7366 (2)] 24 June 1910 2pp with envelope addressed to 'Mrs W H Draper Kelmscott House...' complaining of being 'so ill the day of the Fair - scarcely able to answer when spoken to by Mr Draper. Pray ask him to excuse my 'queerness'. Lady Alix was the only one who knew how queer I was that day' Signed Ellen Carew. -- 2. Helen Padgett (neighbour in Winchelsea where ET had a cottage). (a) [now Y.c.7366 (3)] 6 August 1908, Cliff Hotel, Gorleston headed paper with envelope. 4pp, humorous letter concerning repairs to a party wall taking a mock high handed attitude: 'My own belief is that the wall is not in such immediate danger as you seem to think and may I say ma'am that if I have the Ivy roots on my side our "party wall", you have many feet of earth above the level of mine!' Explains her wish to 'abolish' ivy or 'put it all over new modern houses'. Laments not seeing 'Dear Old Nell' but assures her of her friendship and reassures about 'dear Kate', presumably a daughter in marital problems: 'sometimes we make mistakes - in marrying - and in not marrying. With love E.C.' (b) [now Y.c.7366 (4)] Sandhills, Witley, Surrey, pp 4, with gardening instructions 'at once to the bit of ground which lies just outside the Kitchen at Tower Cottage... I want it planted full of some different kinds of old-fashioned flowers... I'm ordering a new Earth Closet for outside' in preparation for a new tenant. Offers to put her up 'if you ever want to see the Pictures or an Opera or a play in London... and no fuss you know - a blouse in yr handbag and a tooth-brush - and there you are! as they say in the Classics'. -- 3. Katherine Padgett (Winchelsea neighbour) (a) [now Y.c.7366 (5)] 22 May 1901, 4pp, envelope, concern about Brakefield's misdoings at the cottage, 'Heavens! an intelligent man like that with all your brothers' instructions all these years - can't he go for one moment alone without erecting a monstrosity! I suppose not.' Complains that she is 'In the theatre all day rehearsing I get no air - and am gasping for it' and the rehearsals will only get more intense [Volumnia in Coriolanus]. (a)(i) [now Y.c.7366 (6)] ALS to 'Dear Sir' requesting tickets for Coriolanus for 'my maid and her friend.' (b) [now Y.c.7366 (7)] 6 Dec'r 1903, 1p ALS to KP. (c) [now Y.c.7366 (8)] 6 pp to KP from 'The Farm', undated, 'Dearest Kate', long chatty letter with directions for finding a birthday present at the cottage, observes her need to 'be quiet too - and rest - or I don't know where I'll be' discusses the pleasure of selling her possessions 'one has no great need for them unless one has "positions" to keep up - !! (which none of us have in reality).' (d) [now Y.c.7366 (9)] 4pp to KP, 29th Mar [1905] Asks for a 'handsome old fireplace' for her drawing room and draws an ink sketch of 'This kind of thing - mine is a beauty Iron back Steel base and Brass front but it is so enormous. I paid only £6 for it 2 years ago. It came from Ham House.' Looking forward, the 'Play comes out on the 5th and I'm feeling awful' [J M Barrie's Alice Sitting by the Fire]. -- 4. [now Y.c.7366 (10)] 'Bessy', 1p [1914] Signed Granny, presumably to one of Edward Craig's children: 'Excuse the writing for "Wartime economy" (!)' thanks for help with 'Candle shades - It turned out I did very "good business"' Joking about a gift that she 'as good as asked for'. -- 5. [now Y.c.7366 (11)] Sir Edwin [Arnold], 21st Feb, 1889 Barkston Gardens, Earls Court, 2pp concerning 'Miss Edith Warren... How splendid to have your last book [With Sa'adi in the Garden]- from you!! Will you thank yourself for me! I can't "word it" - not never!' -- 6. [now Y.c.7366 (12)] 'Dear Girls', 2pp, Bruges discusses visit to Winchelsea. -- 7. [now Y.c.7366 (13)] Mrs Vidler, Sept 9 1915, secretarial letter, signed Ellen Terry. -- EPHEMERA: (a) [now Y.c.7366 (14)] Invitation from ET to 'Mrs Charles Skirrow' to the 'Ladies Farewell Kettledrum to Mr J L Toole' at the Whitehall Rooms, February 7th, 1890. -- (b) [now Y.c.7366 (15)] 1918 Press photo of Ellen Terry playing Portia at the age of 71. (c) [now Y.c.7366 (16)] 'Yours truly Ellen Terry - Lyceum Theatre June 1880: Merchant of Venice & Iolanthe' with postcard showing her playing Ophelia laid in.
Removed from 21st-century Staples brand "A4 presentation display book with 40 copysafe pockets" and rehoused in individual manuscript folders 2018-08-10.
From dealer's description: 1. Mrs W H Draper, married to Warwick H Draper, owner of Kelmscott House, described in his obituary has having 'imbibed the social spirit' of the place. (a) [now Y.c.7366 (1)] 18 May [1910] 1p, accepting invitation to Hammersmith, signed Ellen Carew. (b) [now Y.c.7366 (2)] 24 June 1910 2pp with envelope addressed to 'Mrs W H Draper Kelmscott House...' complaining of being 'so ill the day of the Fair - scarcely able to answer when spoken to by Mr Draper. Pray ask him to excuse my 'queerness'. Lady Alix was the only one who knew how queer I was that day' Signed Ellen Carew. -- 2. Helen Padgett (neighbour in Winchelsea where ET had a cottage). (a) [now Y.c.7366 (3)] 6 August 1908, Cliff Hotel, Gorleston headed paper with envelope. 4pp, humorous letter concerning repairs to a party wall taking a mock high handed attitude: 'My own belief is that the wall is not in such immediate danger as you seem to think and may I say ma'am that if I have the Ivy roots on my side our "party wall", you have many feet of earth above the level of mine!' Explains her wish to 'abolish' ivy or 'put it all over new modern houses'. Laments not seeing 'Dear Old Nell' but assures her of her friendship and reassures about 'dear Kate', presumably a daughter in marital problems: 'sometimes we make mistakes - in marrying - and in not marrying. With love E.C.' (b) [now Y.c.7366 (4)] Sandhills, Witley, Surrey, pp 4, with gardening instructions 'at once to the bit of ground which lies just outside the Kitchen at Tower Cottage... I want it planted full of some different kinds of old-fashioned flowers... I'm ordering a new Earth Closet for outside' in preparation for a new tenant. Offers to put her up 'if you ever want to see the Pictures or an Opera or a play in London... and no fuss you know - a blouse in yr handbag and a tooth-brush - and there you are! as they say in the Classics'. -- 3. Katherine Padgett (Winchelsea neighbour) (a) [now Y.c.7366 (5)] 22 May 1901, 4pp, envelope, concern about Brakefield's misdoings at the cottage, 'Heavens! an intelligent man like that with all your brothers' instructions all these years - can't he go for one moment alone without erecting a monstrosity! I suppose not.' Complains that she is 'In the theatre all day rehearsing I get no air - and am gasping for it' and the rehearsals will only get more intense [Volumnia in Coriolanus]. (a)(i) [now Y.c.7366 (6)] ALS to 'Dear Sir' requesting tickets for Coriolanus for 'my maid and her friend.' (b) [now Y.c.7366 (7)] 6 Dec'r 1903, 1p ALS to KP. (c) [now Y.c.7366 (8)] 6 pp to KP from 'The Farm', undated, 'Dearest Kate', long chatty letter with directions for finding a birthday present at the cottage, observes her need to 'be quiet too - and rest - or I don't know where I'll be' discusses the pleasure of selling her possessions 'one has no great need for them unless one has "positions" to keep up - !! (which none of us have in reality).' (d) [now Y.c.7366 (9)] 4pp to KP, 29th Mar [1905] Asks for a 'handsome old fireplace' for her drawing room and draws an ink sketch of 'This kind of thing - mine is a beauty Iron back Steel base and Brass front but it is so enormous. I paid only £6 for it 2 years ago. It came from Ham House.' Looking forward, the 'Play comes out on the 5th and I'm feeling awful' [J M Barrie's Alice Sitting by the Fire]. -- 4. [now Y.c.7366 (10)] 'Bessy', 1p [1914] Signed Granny, presumably to one of Edward Craig's children: 'Excuse the writing for "Wartime economy" (!)' thanks for help with 'Candle shades - It turned out I did very "good business"' Joking about a gift that she 'as good as asked for'. -- 5. [now Y.c.7366 (11)] Sir Edwin [Arnold], 21st Feb, 1889 Barkston Gardens, Earls Court, 2pp concerning 'Miss Edith Warren... How splendid to have your last book [With Sa'adi in the Garden]- from you!! Will you thank yourself for me! I can't "word it" - not never!' -- 6. [now Y.c.7366 (12)] 'Dear Girls', 2pp, Bruges discusses visit to Winchelsea. -- 7. [now Y.c.7366 (13)] Mrs Vidler, Sept 9 1915, secretarial letter, signed Ellen Terry. -- EPHEMERA: (a) [now Y.c.7366 (14)] Invitation from ET to 'Mrs Charles Skirrow' to the 'Ladies Farewell Kettledrum to Mr J L Toole' at the Whitehall Rooms, February 7th, 1890. -- (b) [now Y.c.7366 (15)] 1918 Press photo of Ellen Terry playing Portia at the age of 71. (c) [now Y.c.7366 (16)] 'Yours truly Ellen Terry - Lyceum Theatre June 1880: Merchant of Venice & Iolanthe' with postcard showing her playing Ophelia laid in.
Removed from 21st-century Staples brand "A4 presentation display book with 40 copysafe pockets" and rehoused in individual manuscript folders 2018-08-10.
Place of creation/publication
Great Britain -- England.
Item Details
Call number
Y.c.7366 (1-16)
Folger accession
269677