Manuscript diaries

Elgar was first Peyton Professor of Music in the University of Birmingham. The collection of 59 diaries comprises 10 by Elgar, 33 by his wife Alice and 16 by their daughter Carice. Alices diaries provide a picture of the day to day life of the Elgars as well as the immense labour of Elgars writing. Elgars diaries are spread over a 35 year period, comparatively terse, but recording his wifes death in touching detail. There are also 29 letters from Elgar to Fred Gaisberg of The Gramophone Company, in one of which he records his great pleasure at Yehudi Menuhins performance of the Violin Concerto