| Description | Correspondence between Maria Sharpe Pearson and Karl Pearson.
Comprises four boxes of letters, found divided into folders, which were further sub-divided into bundles covering date periods. The letters have been described below in these groups.
The correspondence dated 1884 to 1888 relates almost entirely to the proceedings of the Men and Women's Club founded by Karl Pearson, and of which Maria Sharpe was Secretary, and the subjects of their debates. A further separate file was found containing a list of club members and research subjects, and a list of names aligned to dates (possibly for preparing meeting discussion notes). It is undated but probably from the period 1884-1888.
Letters covering the period February 1884 - December 1885, on a collection of German prints at Maria Sharpe's address in Highbury Terrace; meetings of the Men and Women's Club and potential female members; debating issues; Maria's reading of "Die Frau und der Sozialismus" by August Bebel; Maria acting as Club Secretary; and views on first meeting and future proceedings.
Letters from the year 1886, on departing members of the Men and Women's Club, recruiting new members, and debating topics.
Letters from the year 1887, on topics of discussion at the Men and Women's Club; papers to be read; committee business; a vote for new committee members and getting new papers in; on state intervention in moral matters in medieval Europe with particular reference to prostitution and Maria's paper on the subject; about Mrs Cobb's newborn; Karl on George Bernard Shaw; premises for Club meetings; and on preparing debate of the Contagious Diseases Act (1864).
Letters from the year 1888, on Ellen Parker's engagement to Hume Chancellor Pinsent and Karl's disapproval of women marrying before finding an occupation; classifying questions for discussion at Club meetings; Karl's view on untapped research potential of women; on Miss Müller's criticism of the Club's work and resignation; assessing suitability of papers; Karl on the Club's failure to retain female members; Karl's holiday in Saig; on Florence Balgarnie's resignation and later retraction; discussion of how Maria should direct her learning and study; enclosing Dr Perry's resignation letter (owing to work pressure); and discussion of Ibsen's view of women.</p>
Letters from the year 1889, on papers for the Club meeting enclosing Ryle's letter of apology at not having time to write; subjects for discussion at the Club including heredity, marriage and religion; calling an end to the Club's existence; purchase of University Hall by the Dr. Williams Library; and on Ralph Thicknesse's broken engagement. The remaining letters from 30 July to 22 October comprise Karl's letters in the period after he asked Maria for her hand in marriage, five letters in October from Maria regarding her breaking the engagement due to loss of confidence in herself, and a final letter from Karl in ultimate response to the October letters. Maria's letters to Karl at Saig in August and September have not been found, and were likely contemporaneously destroyed. Includes a cover note by Helga Hacker about the marriage correspondence.
Letters covering the period March - April 1890, reflecting on events of the previous autumn and present feelings; on Karl showing Maria his diary; about reconciliation meeting; letter from Maria enclosing poem "The Buried Life" by Matthew Arnold and pressed Wood Sorrel; and on Maria's visit to see Karl's father.
Letters from the month of May 1890, on Maria's trip to Eastbourne with her mother; Maria comparing George Bernard Shaw and Olive Schreiner's work; on the runic ring; Karl on worries for his mother's care; enclosing letter to Maria from F Balgarnie congratulating them on their engagement; and on meeting friends and relatives.
Letters from the month of June 1890, recounting Karl's trip to the Registrar's; arrangements for the wedding day; arrival of wedding gifts; about bringing "the wedding group" together prior to the 30 June; and on ordering furnishings for Christ Church Cottage, Hampstead.
Letters covering the period January - August 1891, from Karl and Maria's early married life at Christ Church Cottage. The correspondence covers Karl's preparation for the first Gresham Lecture; Maria's stay with Mrs Ashford, Lina Eckenstein and sister Loetitia (known as "Letty") Sharpe reminiscing on the past year; on Karl finishing term before joining Maria at Amersham; on Karl writing his book <i>The Grammar of Science</i> whilst with R J Parker at Haslemere; and the last stages of Maria's pregnancy with Sigrid (born 25 August 1891), where she remained at home with Julia Sharpe.</p>
Letters from the month of October 1891, on the good health of the newborn; completion of the ms of <i>The Grammar of Science</i>; Maria on recovering energy and improving health; on Karl's university work and making a "Sigrid album"; domestic help matters; and trips to Eastbourne.
Letters from the year 1892, on Karl's letter in the "Pall Mall Gazette" and "counterblast" from Ramsay in "The Times" on Albert University; Karl's trip to see his father and measles outbreak; the move to 7 Well Road in Hampstead; Christmas at Highbury Terrace together and engravings there; and letter to the <i>Daily Chronicle</i> on "Scholarships for the Poor".
Letters from the year 1893, on search for holiday lodgings in Yorkshire, Maria's recovery from illness in Hampstead (after miscarriage); and Karl's visit to Pinner after Christmas.
Letters covering the period January 1894 to January 1895, on Karl's stay in Eastbourne with Arthur after recovery from 'flu; further Gresham lectures; Karl's return to Hampstead and Maria leaves for Eastbourne with Sigrid; the "dance of death" drawing; Olive Schreiner's marriage to Gonwright; Herford's translation of "Brand" by Ibsen and their own translation; on mortality curves; Karl giving up the Gresham lectures; Maria's concern about her "economic dependance"; Maria feeling ill and in pain (being pregnant with their second child); Karl reluctantly leaving to see his brother and sister-in-law in Limpsfield; and on his relationship with his brother and the social environment of their neighbourhood.
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<p>Letters from the month of March 1895, on Karl's trip to Easbourne to see his parents; his failing health; doctor's diagnoses as "neurotic"; staying with parents "intolerable"; Karl to have five weeks rest and G Udny Yule to visit; Maria on Lina Eckenstein's proofs (probably of <i>Woman under Monasticism</i>); on brother-sister relationships and Karl's preference for a girl; reading George Meredith novels; on Karl being unimpressed by all doctors; Maria on women's education; Karl's opinion on <i>Wuthering Heights</i> and "degrading" Thomas Hardy; Maria on F Cobbe making Darwin read Kant and his response; about ties of marriage; Henry Cobb retiring from Parliament; Ellen Pinsent's book <i>Children of this World</i>; reference to Karl's story for Sigrid; on the "sex novels" <i>South African Farm</i> and <i>Gallia</i> after Karl's review of Mason; and Maria joining Karl for holiday at Crockham Hill.</p>
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<p>Letters covering the period May to November 1895, on visit to the Parker family and discussions on children's education; Maria's dislike of Ellen Pinsent's book; on women and labour and H Asquith's Bill; Karl reading Balfour (probably <i>The Foundations of Belief</i>) and finding it "very unfair"; Karl counting ox-eye daisy petals with Yule; death of T H Huxley; Maria asked to send a family measurements circular to F G Allan for publication in the <i>Medical Times</i>; reference to Men and Women's Club and dialectic; Taussiq's visit; plan to respond to Balfour with constructive critique and counting heather bells, grass seeds and buttercup petals; letters after the birth of Egon in August; Maria in Worthing with children; and Karl returns to King's College, Cambridge, meeting old acquaintances, but prefers the atmosphere at University College.</p>
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<p>Letters from the year 1896, on Karl being at Sidmouth with Maria's siblings Arthur and Letty in January; death of Maria's mother Lucy Sharpe; Conrad Thies' recollections of their recently deceased friend Stepniak; Karl's brother Arthur's last illness; Karl re-acquaintance with Henrietta Müller (former Men and Women's Club member) and talk of India; Maria on reading <i>Normanstowe</i> by her sister Sarah Courtauld; Maria with children and sisters in Dorking whilst Karl returns to UCL in April; redecoration at 7 Well Road; Mrs H Sidgwick to set up anthropometric laboratory at Newnham; plan for Stepniak's ashes enclosing letter from Kropotkin; Karl's trip to Norway in July with G Udny Yule and David Mair during which he describes travels and reading Norwegian books; Maria left behind with children in Hampstead and describes their behaviour and visits to friends and family and reflection on her and Karl's mutual relationship as parents; letters in December where Karl takes Sigrid to W Arthur Sharpe's house to see Sharpe family post-Christmas, whilst Maria at home with Egon; papers submitted by Karl and Yule for the Royal Society; and completion of another section of "The Passion Play".</p>
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<p>Letters covering the period 1897-1898, on Maria's stay at Liphook with children in April 1897; illness of their maid Dorothy Hatton enclosing letter from Dr Ryle; Karl in Danby with Egon in August; Maria taken Sigrid to see May Haslam in Bolton, describes the children; Karl reading George Fox and Rosedale pedigree; Karl visit to the Yules for the New Year 1898, talking Galton with G U Yule and reading Nansen; enclosing Egon's painting of Karl; Maria's views on Karl's work; Egon and Sigrid's collective behaviour; Sydney Courtauld's cancer; Karl working on lectures and writing paper on stature in April; and Karl receives the portraits and diaries of his brother Arthur from his widow May.</p>
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<p>Letters covering the period 11 February - 18 April 1899, comprising a letter from Karl dated 13 Febuary about the children's illnesses; the rest of the letters from Maria on baby daughter Helga (born 31 December 1888); Sigrid and Egon diagnosed with whooping cough; Helga has diarrhoea and various diets tried by doctors; concern for baby's health, and her unhappiness at their separation to prevent further infection. Karl's letters during this period appear to have been destroyed to prevent contagion. Also refers to W F R Weldon's departure from UCL and Yule's marriage. Includes a typescript page describing contents of the letters.</p>
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<p>Letters covering the period 25 April - 12 July 1899, comprising letters from Karl on pleasure at seeing Maria and Helga; Sigrid and Egon staying with their aunt and the nurse Susan Wheeler at Woodside Cottage whilst still contagious; Karl and Maria still anxious; Karl pressed by work, and invited to stay with W H Macauley during Stokes' Jubilee celebrations at Cambridge; on appointing Filon as Yule's replacement; Constance Parker's illness; Helga to be vaccinated by Dr Charles Parker, and consultation between Mrs Scharleib and Dr Parker about Maria's urine sample; and looking for summer holiday home to let, finally deciding on a farm at Great Hampden. Includes two copies of a typescript page describing contents of the letters.</p>
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<p>Letters covering the period 1900 - 1901, and comprises letters between Karl and Maria whilst Maria was living in Gatwick covering domestic matters and behaviour, activites and character of the children; also letters to Maria whilst she was in Newcastle in November 1900 and Durham in December 1900. In the first half of 1901 Karl was living in Gatwick with the children, whilst Maria had returned to Hampstead. In July 1901 Egon and Helga were with Karl at Througham, whilst Maria was with Sigrid at Lady Barn House, Manchester.</p>
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<p>Letters covering the period October 1902 - August 1904, and comprises letters from Maria to Karl on a visit to Mrs Arthur Wilson, the effect of the Boer War on Olive Schreiner, and news of the children.</p>
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<p>Letters covering the period 1902 - 1904, and comprises letters from Karl to Maria on the inadequacy of his income and difficulty of increasing it without giving up research; the children's colds and Maria's stress and worry; letters to Maria whilst she stayed with May in St. Margaret's-at-Cliffe in January 1904; on attending a meeting of the British Association in Cambridge; prevalence of "Mendelians" at the meeting; and gives advice to Egon on "playing the game according to the rules" in life.</p>
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<p>Letters covering the period February 1905 to February 1908, on Karl's mother's illness which deteriorated and fluctuated during early August; on Karl's sister Amy's attitude towards their Aunt Lizzie; his mother's death on 8 August 1905; Amy's forceful character and concerns about management of his parents' household; about meeting of the Weldon Memorial Committee, enclosing George Parker Bidder's poem on Weldon; on Karl reading proofs for <i>Biometrika</i> and talking to Galton about future benefaction to UCL; on Karl's lecture on "The Inheritance of the Physical, Moral and Intellectual Characters of Man" at Manchester University enclosing press cuttings; on W F Petrie's Huxley Memorial Lecture in which he attacked socialism and a cutting from <i>The Clarion</i> addressing the lecture; on departure of Susan Wheeler from household; about schools for Egon and positive testimonies of Mr Lynam's Dragon Preparatory School in Oxford; Karl on the national imperative for study in eugenics; and about Egon starting school in Oxford and Maria to see him and Mrs Weldon.</p>
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<p>Letters coverng the period 30 March 1908 - 27 April 1908, on Helga's whooping cough; Egon's school work; Karl asking for the copy of <i>Biometrika</i> featuring his paper on shorthorns after a letter from the Mendelians in <i>Nature</i>; on reading Thomas Carlyle's <i>On Heroes, Hero-worship, and the Heroic in History</i> to the children; on Egon's school report; enclosing Maria's drawings of Helga's toys whilst she recovered from her whooping cough; Karl on being "hard worked" and Egon and Sigrid's educational development; and Lady Parker's illness. To avoid infection, Helga stayed with Maria in Hampstead, whilst Egon and Sigrid were with Karl in Haslemere during this period. </p>
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<p>Letters covering the period May 1908 - November 1910, and comprises letters during May 1908 whilst Maria was in St. Margaret's-at-Cliffe with Helga, on Karl's regret at their separation but continued worry for Helga; on Maria's adapting to using a typewriter (most of her letters are now typed), Helga's continuing illness, and returning to London due to an outbreak of scarlet fever. Letters from November 1908 to November 1910 primarily about news of the children.</p>
<p>Includes a letter to Karl from F J Weldon about omitting cards when creating "double parental table".</p>
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<p>Letters covering the period November 1911 - June 1913, on Maria's trip to Girton College, Cambridge, to see Sigrid; Karl on reading others' lectures and thoughts on the German Empire's possible annexation of part of Turkey; Karl's discussion with the Chairman of the Crown Mines on the Rand about keeping pneumonia rates of workers down; letters from Maria in Brighton whilst Helga was in her first term at Rodean School; on Helga's eyesight; Maria's desire for Helga to matriculate and possible coaching required; on Helga's measles; news of the dogs including a litter of six puppies; and on current method of training dental students (with reference to an acquaintance's son).</p>
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<p>Letters covering the period April - May 1914, on Karl's work on lectures and proofs; reference to possible family connections between Florence Nightingale and the Galtons; Maria staying with Caroline Herford and Julia Sharpe at Sibhaven whilst Helga convalesces; Maria and Helga then move to Stockport; Karl on Saleeby's book, articles and addresses rejecting Galton's eugenics; on Karl taking Egon to Cambridge to look at rooms; publication of the <i>Life, Letters and Labours of Sir Francis Galton</i> and delivery of proofs of the Darwin pedigree; and discussion of Florence Nightingale's qualities and likelihood of a female furthering Karl's work with original work of her own.</p>
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<p>Letters covering the period August 1914 - May 1915, on Karl's work with volunteers for the Board of Trade; troubles of Amy and Ernest Hatton; about Russian officers commandeering buses and lorries in London; enclosing press cuttings from Sigrid on "Women and the study of medicine" during war-time and the death of Walter Holbrook Gaskell; Karl on the requisition of the King's College cloisters for use by the Territorial and New Army; on Cambridge's policy on whether students expected to join the Officers Training Club; Karl's criticism of uncertain conscription requirements at Cambridge; on removing Egon from Cambridge and into war work; Karl on the papers' precipitous expectations of victory, and losing staff to other hospitals and schools and losing the laboratory building to wounded soldiers; and death of Dick Killick at the front (son of Tom Killick).</p>
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<p>Letters covering the year 1916, on household changes at Coldharbour in Dorking; on the death of W R Macdonnell; regarding work on bomb trajectories; enclosing a letter from George Sharpe about imminent return to fighting; on Sigrid's illness; and about their dogs.</p>
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<p>Letters covering the year 1917, on E A Milne's assistance with gunnery work; Maria on domestic business at Coldharbour; Maria reading Rudyard Kipling; Karl's ongoing work at UCL and war work particularly on range tables; Karl reports on German planes over London; about life insurance; enclosing letters on Egon's increased salary at UCL; Karl's thoughts on the laboratory's occupation in war work; on Karl rescuing copies of <i>Chances of Death</i> from E V Arnold; Karl on a night air raid in London on 5 September 1917; discussion of compromise in marriage and the division of their responsibilites as their time is split between Coldharbour and Hampstead; and Karl on the impact of the war on work and domestic arrangements.</p>
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<p>Letters covering the year 1918, on household management (particularly at Coldharbour); enclosing a letter from Helga about her experiences at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Plymouth; Maria's thoughts upon finding Karl's old letters sent to her in the spring before their marriage; on probability of Hope Pinker being engaged to produce memorial portrait of R J Parker; George Sharpe's news from the front and Sigrid's news from the medical ward; and on Julia Bell's medical course and her want of experience making her unsuitable for the post of the laboratory's medical officer.</p>
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<p>Letters covering the year 1919, on the dogs; the death and funeral of Sir James Mackenzie Davidson; on Karl's income and whether he could spare £10 a year for the Goring fund; Margaret Victoria Child to be appointed his secretary; building work at the laboratory; the illness and death of their dog "Megan"; and their respective Christmases apart.</p>
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<p>Letters covering the year 1920, on Karl's appreciation of Maria, on the dogs; household concerns; a speech by the American ambassador about the future of democracy; Donald Goring's illness; and Karl's worries about his character and losing members of staff.</p>
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<p>Letters covering the year 1921, on Karl's thoughts on Olive Schreiner and a poem he wrote about her after her death; enclosing press cuttings with obituaries of Schreiner; Karl on his disappointment at the First World War memorial ceremony in Sibhaven; on Egon's return to Cambridge; Helga's "freshness" and future; and Sigrid's handling of many crises at the hospital.</p>
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<p>Letters covering the year 1922, regarding domestic news in Hampstead and at Coldharbour; on puppies, poems and the Vaughan-Williams family; thoughts on assassination of Sir Henry Wilson in Ireland; remittance for Helga's expenses during her stay in America; identifying and interpreting lines of Shakespeare's (from XII Sonnet); and loss of Galton letters and re-purchase of Galton-Darwin correspondence after their sale by UCL Athletics Club.</p>
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<p>Letters covering the year 1923, regarding progress and character of domestics at Coldharbour; enclosing letter from Karl's niece Marjory M Hatton apologising for declining dinner invitation; and Karl on Weldon's death being the "end of youth" and increased effort of work.</p>
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<p>Letters covering the year 1924, Karl lamenting failing eyesight and affect on lecturing; Maria on stay with Julia Sharpe in Lyme Regis; Egon's positive report of Karl's lecture; Miss Footner's "amateur" photographs of Karl; response to requests from May Winifred Yule; Karl on preserving dead dogs in formalin to preserve coat colour; and Maria on attending lectures by G M Trevelyan on the political situation in Italy and by Walter Raleigh on Shakespeare.</p>
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<p>Letters covering the year 1925, Maria considers sadness of <i>Letters of Mary, Queen of Scots</i>, her description of Lina Eckenstein's home in Great Missenden, and Karl on Lina's great capacity for work but "scholarly" deficiency.</p>
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<p>Letters covering the year 1926, regarding Karl's William Ramsay Henderson Trust Lecture "The Skull and Portraits of George Buchanan" in Edinburgh; on notice of marriage of Sydney Elizabeth Courtauld to Richard Austen Butler; death of Hugh Pearson; Karl's cataract operation; and letters exchanged following Maria's illness (November and December). Includes letter dated 9 September from Maria to Julia Sharpe.</li>
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<p>Letters covering the year 1927, bearing Maria's feelings about her illness and presribed bed rest; Karl on pneumonia deaths in Dorking, Seton's funeral, and belief there is more "socialism and freethought" at King's College, Cambridge, than contemporary UCL, also commenting on the Gladstone-Peter Wright libel case; Karl compares his actions in 1926-27 to 1889-90 [the period in which their engagement was broken, and subsequent reconciliation]; Maria encloses poem "Silence" by Humbert Wolfe; on Karl's sentimentality; Karl's favourable impression of Crabb-Robinson's Diary; and Professor Ruger's visit to Karl. Also includes a small ribbon-bound folder containing poetic verse and a photograph of a young Maria, endorsed "K.P. from M.S.P., March 27th 1927".</p>
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<p>Letters from 1928, on reading d'Alembert on inoculation and Greenwood's article on "The Right of the Unborn Child"; and a long letter from Maria on visits from friends and family.</p> |