DONALDSON FAMILY

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 0074 F/DON
Held at	: London Metropolitan Archives   Click here to find out how to view this collection at https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma ›
Full title	: DONALDSON FAMILY
Date(s)	: 1864-1943
Level of description	: Collection
Extent	: 0.76 linear metres.
Name of creator(s)	: Donaldson | Andrew Brown | 1838-1919 | painter

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

Andrew Brown Donaldson was born in 1838, the second son of William Leverton Donaldson. He studied art at both the Royal Academy School and in Rome. Although working mainly in London, he undertook frequent painting trips to Europe. His works were exhibited at the Royal Academy, the Society of Painters, and also in numerous provincial exhibitions.

In June 1872 Donaldson married Agnes Emily Twining, the youngest daughter of the tea merchant, Richard Twining.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Personal papers of painter Andrew Brown Donaldson and his wife Agnes Emily Twining. The main series comprises diaries written jointly by Andrew and Agnes Donaldson. They start on the day of their wedding in June 1872, and end with Andrew's death in 1919, Agnes having died in 1918. The diaries provide a fascinating insight into middle class life in Victorian and Edwardian London, being mainly concerned with domestic matters, with occasional references to external events such as the Boer War, the death of Queen Victoria, and World War One.

The plays and poems appear mainly to have been written by Donaldson for his children. Many of the plays were performed by the family during Christmas and new year festivities.

The collection also contains a small amount of material relating to the Donaldson's third child, Leonard. He pursued a career in the Royal Navy and was ultimately made an admiral.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

F/DON-1: Diaries;
F/DON-2: Plays and Poems;
F/DON-3: Correspondence;
F/DON-4: Autograph book;
F/DON-5: Miscellaneous.

Conditions governing access:

Available for general access.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copyright to this collection rests with the depositor.

Finding aids:

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Archival Information

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Deposited in January 1975.

Allied Materials

Related material:

Publication note:

Description Notes

Archivist's note:

Rules or conventions:
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions:
Records prepared May to September 2011.