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Edwards H. Metcalf Library Collection on T.E. Lawrence: Scrapbooks

Description

This collection consists of 36 scrapbooks containing photographs, newspaper clippings, periodical articles, and ephemera concerning British soldier and author T.E. Lawrence. Most of the albums were compiled in the 1960s, and many of the items discuss Lawrence retrospectively, concern individuals or places associated with Lawrence, or relate to works about Lawrence (such as the 1962 film Lawrence of Arabia). The scrapbooks form part of the Edwards H. Metcalf Library Collection of T.E. Lawrence and were compiled chiefly by California Lawrence collectors Theodora Duncan, Frank C. Baxter, and Margaret M. Herbring, and later incorporated into Metcalf's collection.

Among the subjects represented in the albums are Lawrence's involvement in the Arab Revolt from 1916 to 1918; Lawrence's life (primarily documented in photographs and postcards of locales in England where Lawrence lived); the 1962 film Lawrence of Arabia; Lawrence's fatal motorcycle accident in 1935; art depicting or memorializing Lawrence; and works by and about Lawrence published after his death. Materials consist chiefly of newspaper and periodical clippings, photographs (both originals and reproductions from museum collections), postcards, advertisements, leaflets, ephemera, research notes, and some brief correspondence primarily related to the research efforts of the scrapbook compilers.

The albums do not contain manuscript material by Lawrence and most of the items date from the 1950s onward. Notably, though, there are some original photographs by men who served with Lawrence during the Arab Revolt. The collection includes 100 photographs taken by Thomas W. Beaumont, a gunner in the Hejaz Armoured Car Company, and friends from 1915 to 1918 during the Arab Revolt (Scrapbook 1); a 1923 snapshot of Lawrence as a private in the Royal Tank Corps (Album 2.12); and some original photographs of Imperial Camel Corps members including George Sewell, Laurence Moore, and C. H. N. Ashlin, and their activities in the Arab world, 1917-1918 (Scrapbook 7). There is also a 1967 letter from British historian Arnold Toynbee to Duncan discussing Vietnam and communism (Scrapbook 2.4).

In addition to the scrapbooks focused on Lawrence, there is a volume with clippings about Winston Churchill (Scrapbook 8) and an album with photographs from the T.E. Lawrence Symposium held at Pepperdine University on May 20-21, 1988 (Scrapbook 15).

Most of the scrapbooks retain volume numbers presumably applied by Huntington Library catalogers working for Metcalf (though Scrapbooks 9, 13, 14, 15 were unlabeled and numbers were supplied by the cataloger), and many album pages have the labels "Anal." with analytical numbers that corresponded to the index-card filing system.

The volumes are physically comprised of a miscellaneous assortment of photograph albums, three-ring binders, and scrapbook volumes. Based on bookplates, correspondence within the albums, and appearance, the provenance can be identified as:

Scrapbooks from the Theodora Duncan collection: 1, 2.1-15, 4.1-4.3, 7-10 Scrapbooks from the Margaret M. Herbring collection (with notes compiled by San Francisco teacher and Lawrence collector Ken Ball): 5.1-5.3, 13, 14 Scrapbooks from the Frank C. Baxter collection: 6.1-6.5 Scrapbooks of unknown origins: 11-12 (appear to be part of the same set) Scrapbook from Edwards H. Metcalf: 15

Scrapbook 3 is missing. A photocopy of an index card located in the Papers of T.E. Lawrence collection (mssTEL) indicates there was a Scrapbook 3 compiled by Thomas Hatton with "clippings relating to T.E. Lawrence's accident and death," but the location of this volume is unknown as of 2014.

Type
Rare Books(Opens in new tab)
Date
approximately 1889-1988
Call number
626757
Creator
Metcalf, Edwards H(Opens in new tab)
Provenance
Gift of Edwards H. Metcalf, October 1992.
Restrictions
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.
Associated people
Baxter, Frank C. (1896-1982,)
Beaumont, Tom W., (1927-1985,)
Herbring, Margaret M., (1889-1975,)
Jéhanne,
Metcalf, Edwards H.
Toynbee, Arnold,
Find out more
View in the Library catalog(Opens in new tab)
View in the Online Archive of California(Opens in new tab)

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    Scrapbook 6.5

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    Scrapbook 14

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    This album chiefly contains photographs and postcards, primarily from the 1960s, of locales and buildings associated with Lawrence's life in England, copy prints of photographs of Lawrence and surroundings during the Arab Revolt, 1917-1918 (reproduced from originals held by the Imperial War Museum), as well as images of artwork and memorials commemorating Lawrence. Margaret M. Herbring is the presumed compiler of this scrapbook based on the presence of a postcard addressed to her. Album has teal-colored covers; without bookplate.

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    Scrapbook 2.6

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    This scrapbook primarily contains copy prints of Imperial War Museum photographs related to Lawrence's military experiences in the Arab world between 1916-1918, with typed captions by Duncan, as well as a few original prints including a small snapshot of Lawrence on a camel at the Pyramids of Egypt, circa 1916, and two of Major J.A.L. Brown in 1945. There is also some additional ephemera, postcards of locales in the Middle East, and newspaper clippings about Lawrence through the 1960s. Album has reddish-brown covers; with Theodora Duncan bookplate containing handwritten note, "War Years."

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    Scrapbook 2.7

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    Scrapbook 1

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    Scrapbook 2.12

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    This album contains images, clippings, and ephemera chiefly documenting Lawrence's post-war years in Dorset, England, from the early 1920s to his death in 1935. Items primarily consist of 1960s postcards and photographs depicting the local Dorset landscape and individuals and buildings related to Lawrence, though there are some photographs (primarily reproductions) of Lawrence and friends. There are also photographs, ephemera, and correspondence, including some received and collected by Thomas Beaumont, chronicling Lawrence's funeral and subsequent memorials. Notably the album includes a 1923 snapshot of Lawrence as a private in the Royal Tank Corps, given by Eric Kennington to Wing/Commander Sims; a brief May 1935 telegram from Lawrence to Beaumont; a printed thank you note from Lawrence's mother, Sarah Lawrence, to Beaumont, dated July 1935; and a brief letter from Sarah Lawrence to Beaumont, dated July 13, 1935. Album has greenish-blue covers; with Theodora Duncan bookplate containing handwritten note, "Post-War Years."

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