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Papers relating to Joseph Booth and family

 Fonds
Identifier: Coll-210

Scope and Contents

The papers include: correspondence of members of the Booth family (1879-1933) mainly letters from Joseph Booth to his daughters Emily and Mary; bible verses, and other personal items belonging to the Booths (c 1871-1924); agreements, circulars and other material relating to Booth's life as a missionary, supporter of the Sabbath and campaigner for African rights (c 1891-1923); correspondence between Shepperson and the Booth family and other potential sources of information about Booth (1950-1982); copies of papers relating to Booth held in various locations; and photographs of Booth and family (c 1873-1926).

Dates

  • Creation: c 1871-1986

Creator

Language of Materials

English

Conditions Governing Access

Open. Please contact the repository in advance.

Extent

4 boxes

Physical Location

MS 2501 - MS 2504

Custodial History

Professor George Shepperson first became interested in Joseph Booth while researching the role of John Chilembwe in the uprising in Nyasaland in 1915. His research led him to contact the remaining members of Booth's family. Booth himself did not leave any papers when he died: the Booths' itinerant life did not allow them to keep many personal possessions. The few items kept by his last wife, Lillian Booth, were destroyed on her instruction when she died. The bulk of original material in the collection came from Emily Booth Langworthy, Booth's daughter, both before and after her death. Other material was collected or copied by Shepperson from other sources.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated to the Library by Professor George Shepperson in 1990. Accession no. E1990.26.

Processing Information

Catalogued by Aline Brodin in June 2024, using an older description and handlist (H210).

Title
Papers of Joseph Booth, [c 1871]-1986
Author
Aline Brodin
Date
June 2024
Description rules
Isad(G)2
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository

Contact:
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379