Graphical version

Women's Library

LEES, Gwen


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 106 7GWL

Held at: Women's Library

Title: LEES, Gwen

Date(s): 1926-1989

Level of description: Collection

Extent: 1 A box

Name of creator(s): Lees | Gwen | [1900-1988] | writer

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

Gwen Lees ([1900-1988]) was born into a poor family somewhere at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth century. Her mother was a servant who found herself unable to take her children with her when she was offered a position as a cook. Because of this, Lees and her brother David were placed in a workhouse. In Apr 1982, when Lees was recovering from a stroke, she sent three chapters of an autobiography provisionally entitled 'Jenny', to an agent Rebecca O'Rourke. The autobiography detailed her experiences as a child, feeling that her experiences of the harsh regime might be of some sociological interest. In 1983, the manuscript was rejected by The Women's Press but the first chapter was later accepted by Sheba Feminist Publishers for inclusion in a new anthology entitled 'Everyday Matters II' published Jul 1983.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

The archive consists of letters from Lees to agent (1982-4); letters from agent to Sheba Publishers and The Women's Press (1984); typed draft of chapter one of autobiography with annotations by Sheba (1984).

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English

System of arrangement:

Conditions governing access:

This collection is available for research. Readers are advised to contact The Women's Library in advance of their first visit.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Physical characteristics:

Finding aids:

Collection level description available on-line on the Women's Library website

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Donated by Lees' agent Rebecca O'Rourke in Oct 1988.

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

Related material:

Publication note:

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Archivist's note: Finding aid created by export from CALM v7.2.14 Archives Hub EAD2002. Edited for AIM25 by Sarah Drewery.

Rules or conventions: In compliance with ISAD (G): General International Standard Archival Description - 2nd Edition (1999); UNESCO Thesaurus, December 2001; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions: 26/02/2008


INDEX ENTRIES
Subjects
Autobiographies | Prose | Literary forms and genres | Literature
Residential child care | Child welfare | Social welfare
Social services

Personal names
Lees | Gwen | fl 1984 | writer
West | Dame | Rebecca | 1892-1983 | critic and novelist x Fairfield | Cicily Isabel x Andrews | Cicily Isabel

Corporate names
Sheba Feminist Publishers

Places