Aguilar Papers

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 0103 MS ADD 378
Held at	: University College London   Click here to find out how to view this collection at http://www.ucl.ac.uk/Library/special-coll ›
Full title	: Aguilar Papers
Date(s)	: 1831-1853
Level of description	: Collection (fonds)
Extent	: 2 boxes
Name of creator(s)	: Aguilar | Grace | 1816-1847 | writer
Detailed catalogue	: Click here to view repository detailed catalogue

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

Born in Hackney to Jewish parents of Spanish descent, Grace Aguilar was a novelist and writer on Jewish history and religion. She had delicate health from infancy and was chiefly educated at home, developing a great interest in the history of the Jewish race, and an aptitude for music. She began writing at an early age; in her twelfth year she wrote a drama entitled 'Gustavus Vasa' and at fifteen began a series of poems that was published in the collection Magic Wreath in 1835. In the same year she was attacked by a severe illness from which she never completely recovered. Her health also declined when, as a result of her father's death, she was forced to depend on her writings for a portion of her livelihood until her death twelve years later. Her chief work on the Jewish religion was Spirit of Judaism, first published in America in 1842. Other works include: The Jewish Faith, The Women of Israel and Sabbath Thoughts and Sacred Communings. Grace Aguilar is, however, better known for her novels which, with the exception of Home Influence, a tale for mothers and daughters, were published after her death. Her novels, A Mother's Recompense, Vale of Cedars, Woman's Friendship, Days of Bruce, a story from Scottish history, and Home Scenes and Heart Studies, are highly sentimental, intensely religious, and mainly deal with the ordinary incidents of domestic life.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Papers, 1831-1853, of Grace Aguilar. The first part of the collection consists of her manuscript notebooks. The second part is manuscript material in other hands, consisting of a book of tributes to Aguilar, a description of her last illness, and an account for the administration of her estate. The collection also contains copies of several of her printed works.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

Conditions governing access:

Open.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Normal copyright restrictions apply.

Finding aids:

Handlist.

Archival Information

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Indefinite loan to University College London Library since December 1990 from The Jewish Museum of London.

Allied Materials

Related material:

National Register of Archives: Click here to view NRA record

Publication note:

Description Notes

Archivist's note:

Rules or conventions:

Date(s) of descriptions:
1999