| StorageSite | UCL Institute of Education |
| Description | The diary starts in Brussels. Much of the diary covers Fry's observations on the effects of the First World War on rural dwelling Belgians. Fry recounts many tales told to her by Belgians.
Brussels aug 13 1920 lunch with Mme Mulle, Inspectress of schools; visited Mr Rousseau's - Belgian sculptor
Aug 15 visited Grottes de Han; tea with Mme Vandevelde; dinner in a restaurant in a wood with Rachel [Sedeyn] and Emile Brill, discussion on German machinery and manufacture
Aug 16 Ruysselde, Auberge Ecole de Bienfaisance, Fry is staying at an inn; talks about the Ruysellde reformatory school for boys which was painted black by the Germans to stop the English aviators from seeing it
17 Aug visited the convent at Beernem; Fry describes the village she is staying in
18th Aug visited the big school farm and describes in detail her discussions regarding caring for farm animals, and the activities she sees going on there
Aug 23 visited Bruges
Aug 23 Peggy Stephen and her mother staying
27 Mme Sedeyn came down from Brussels
Aug 29 visited Ghent, saw cathedral, talks a lot about architecture, drawing diagrams of structures etc.; discusses the costume worn for service in the church
Aug 30 visit from Mlle Moresau the "ardent theosophist philanthrope"; visited neighbours who talked about life during German occupation
Aug 31 last day at Beernham; talks about conversation with a plumber she gave a lift to, he tells her of his experiences during the War, including Ypres
Sep 3 On boat from Ostend to Dover; since last entry saw Mlle Mulle; Fry reviews what she has seen in Belgium, and the stories she has heard, mainly regarding situations during the war
Sep 7 Boar's Hill. Fry motored to Stratford on Avon and met with an American, Mrs Leggett Hallscroft, who would like to send her grand daughter (Betty Sturgis) to Fry's school; she talks about the church at Stratford on Avon; and visiting places with relation to Shakespeare
Sep 10 Failand. Concerned for a child in her care; saw Ethel Stevenson who talked about giving up her house in County Monaghan due to the situation regarding the Mayor of Cork; Fry discusses political crimes
Sep 11 Fry talks about Cork hunger strikers; mentions request by Father B Vaughn; teacher's meeting at Portbury
Sep 12 Fry saw Molly Benest; Fry talks about her role as an educator
Sep 14 to the Lennands with Agnes
Dec 28 met a man named Mr Williams, talked about tomatoes, Quakers, the evils of priest craft, Roman history
Dec 30 letter from Avice Trench discussing what was taught at Mayortorne
Jan 1 Letter from Gege who is in Paris, very distressed
Jan 6 health problems; depression due to death of Mabs
Jan 7 Norah Laycock and Spencer Curtis Brown to stay; talks about receiving letters
Jan 11 visit from Gege
Jan 15 talked to Alen Gardiner; saw Tory with sister and brother in law;
Jan 16 lunched with the Arnold's talked to Tom about grammar; saw Alan Gardiner and discussed philosophy of grammar Jan 17 to Oxford University Press and saw Humphrey Milford regarding publication of Fry's book on grammar
Jan 22 "JMF" spent 24 hours at Mayortorne, Mrs Peyton Jones fraternised over Germany; Miss Buckmaster speaking on Ireland, Fry in the chair for a "wretched audience", Fry states "nothing can be called a government which produces such results"
Jan 23 heard from Rachel Sedeyn regarding use of Fry's report on Beernem and Belgian reformatory schools for girls. Vandervelde designing farm school under "RS" [Sedeyn]
Jan 26 "A cure for leprosy discovered by Sir Leonard Rogers is apparently almost now a certain fact. What a blessing to humanity"
Jan 27 arrival of Austrian boy, Hans Fabrituis
Feb 7 Fry talks about her "emotional crisis"
Feb 8 poem about love
Feb 11 Fry is happy at having spent the day outdoors; mentions Gege and her "sweet Avice"
Feb 12 Fry describes spending a intimate time in the woods with a woman. It seems her friend or lover was very happy, but Fry felt anxious that their relationship could cause problems in the school. Part of this entry is in German
Feb 26 letter from Halide Edib who is lecturing at a university, Fry is surprised by this due to the position of women in Turkey; letter from Isabel Dodd
Mar 3 day in London with Avice; saw Mr Nevison who had seen the German Ambassador and discussed politics and conflict; the Crozier incident was mentioned; Lloyd George and his policies; went to see Djami Bey and discussed the situation in Turkey; Fry mentions her firends viewo n Lloyd George and his thoughts that Labour and liberalism must unite
Mar 12 part of entry is in German; Fry talks about going through a lot emotionally; Russia in revolution; Fry talks about feeling a deep sense of love and gratitude
Mar 28 Fry seems very content with life; discusses her relationships with staff and fondness for pupils; has been looking after her mother who appears to be a very active 88 year old; Fry talks a bout recognising her own failings in her mother; mentions the "triple strike"
Ap 15 talks about news of the Triple Strike
The back of the volume contains lists of money spent, and accounts of discussions on Belgian education as observed by Fry in the earlier part of this diary |