Grants awarded in 2023

Tim Procter, Collections & Access Manager, writes:  Unknown and thought to be unpublished, this

Dr William Frame, Head of Modern Archives and Manuscripts, writes:  Considered one of the most important English poets of the 19th century, Elizabeth Barrett Browni

Katie Birkwood, Rare Books and Special Collections Librarian, writes:   This book,

Ally McConnell, Principal Archivist, writes: Swindon Town Football Club was founded in 1879 as Swindon AFC.

Jen Turner, Administrator, writes: On 25 March 2023 the Griffith Institute acquired at auction

Dr Cindy Sughrue, Director, writes: Georgina Hogarth (1827-1917) is one of the most intriguing, yet little known, women of the Victorian age both in relation to her brot

Susan Thomas, Head of Archives & Modern Manuscripts, writes:   With the generous support of the Friends of the Nations' Libraries, the Bodleian Libraries i

Sarah Griffin, Rare Books Librarian, writes: John Cole (1792-1848) was a 19th-century bookseller, writer, publisher and antiquarian and an under-researched cha

Louise Weller, Head of Collections and Exhibitions, writes: This limited-edition book is a valued addition to

David Govier, Archivist, writes: Greater Manchester’s oldest surviving archive collection, the

Dr Colin McIlroy, Curator of Modern Literary Manuscripts, writes: This letter is an oft-quoted missive, revealing Stevenson’s justification for his take on Robert B

Dr Colin McIlroy, Curator of Modern Literary Manuscripts, writes: It is rare that Robert Louis Stevenson diary fragments, or manuscripts of more than a single page,

Professor Kathryn Sutherland, Jane Austen’s House Patron and Acquisitions Advisor, writes:  In June 2023, Jane Austen’s House acquired a manuscript book containing

This grant was awarded in 2022 and accounted for in that year, but the purchase was not completed in time for inclusion in the 2022 Annual Report.

Caroline Hall, Curatorial and Collections Manager, writes: Showtown is a new museum in Black

Dr Louisiane Ferlier, Digital Resources Manager, writes:  Thanks to the generous support of the Friends of the National Libraries, the Royal Society acquired this

Kelly Strickland, Archivist, writes:   These 12 letters were part of a larger collection of correspondence to Peter Winckworth, Governor of St Paul’s School an

Wendy Walker, County Archivist, writes: This diary, compiled by the author and journalist Hugh de Sélincourt for his lover, the German translator and writer Eva Schumann

Sarah Davis, Archives Team Leader, writes: Although this is a small collection of deeds, it is noteworthy. The deeds relate to th

Dr Janet Tall, Head of Archives, Learning & Development, writes: We are grateful to the Friends of the Nations' Libraries for enabling us to acquire a set of vo

Ralph McLean, Manuscripts Curator for the Long 18th Century, writes:  All four of Hume’s letters refer to his quarrel with the Genevan philosopher Jean-Jacques Rous

Dr Helen Kemp, Plume Librarian, writes: Thomas Plume’s Library would like to thank FNL for their generous support in helping to fund the purchase of four books.

Mark Pomeroy, Archivist, writes: Rowlandson's satire on the experience of visiting the Royal Academy's exhibition at Somerset House is very well known and has been reproduced in all major

Mr Mark Stevens, County Archivist, writes: This plan is a unique, contemporary representation of a property then known as Upper House Farm (

Dr Louisiane Ferlier, Digital Resources Manager, writes:  Thanks to the generous support of the Friends of the National Libraries, the Royal Society acquired this important coll

Ralph McLean, Manuscripts Curator for the Long 18th Century, writes: The document is an

Emily Dourish, Deputy Keeper of Rare Books and Early Manuscripts, writes: Cambridge University Library is very grateful to the Friends of the Nations' Libraries for its

Karen Brayshaw, University of Kent Special Collections and Archives Manager, writes:  The larg

Kimberley Biddle, Museums and Heritage Officer, writes:  With the generous support of the Friends of the National Libraries and others, The

Sam Johnston, Service Manager for Archives and Records, writes:  This single letter (accession 11995) ties Thomas Hardy’s career as a budding architect to one of th

David Thomas and Kate Rose, Archivists, write: In early October 2023 it came to the attention of Kresen Kernow&nbsp

Helen Rawson, Head of Collections and Interpretation, writes: York Minster Library

Laura Cotton, Glamorgan Archivist, writes: This book of reference relates to surveys undertaken in 1776 by Edward Thomas of Margam, Land Surveyor.  Thomas is w

Richard Kornicki, Chair, writes: As a young man in 1746, James  Cook was apprenticed to master mariner and shipowner John Walker.

Tudor Allen, Local Studies and Archives Manager, writes:    The collections of

Tim Pye, National Curator, Libraries, writes:  The National Trust is exceedingly grateful to FNL for a grant that enabled the acquisition of this hugely significant

Phil Astley, City Archivist, writes: With an audience capacity of 1,400 people, the category-A listed His Majesty’s Theatre is the largest theatre in the North-East of S

Wendy Walker, County Archivist, writes: West Sussex Record Office (WSRO) is extremely grateful to the Fr

Jeremy Mitchell, Chair of the Edward Thomas Fellowship and Keeper of the Collections in the Edward Thomas Study Centre, writes: 

Sarah Chubb, Archives and Local Studies Manager, writes: The records of the Manor of Duffield Fee consist of 55 volumes of court rolls (1597-1935), two volumes of m

 Sal Mager, Senior Archivist, writes: Estate maps can often be very large and imposing.

Ally McConnell, Principal Archivist, writes: Several lots relating to the Eyre-Matcham family of Newhouse, Whiteparish and Downton were brought to the attention of

Graham Hogg, Curator for 19th-Century Printed Collections and Photographs, writes: This four-volume set is an important first edition by an influential author who is usu

Alison Duke, Collections Manager, writes: Hannah Brown (1866-1973) entered the care of the London Foundling Hospital in 1866 as her mother, Emma Johnson, as a single mot

Elizabeth Adams, College Librarian, writes: These volumes are a valuable addition to the Robert Ross Memorial Collection and the

Dr Janet Tall, Head of Archives, Learning & Development, writes: We are grateful to the Friends of the Nations' Libraries for enabling the purchase of the photo

Jane Schon, Collections Officer, Library and Archive, writes: Eric Walrond was an unassuming Caribbean man who lived in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, in the 1940s.

David Thomas, Archivist, writes: In August 2023 a very public-spirited local historian alerted Kresen Kernow