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Carmichael Stopes Family Archive

 Fonds
Identifier: Coll-2907

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of around 30 drawings and paintings created by members of the Carmichael Stopes family, compiled by birth control pioneer and sexologist Marie Stopes (1880-1958). The collection is housed in a large portfolio on which she has written "M C Stopes – art", and she has added explanatory annotations to many of the works. The archive includes family portraits, a few prints, landscapes, and architectural and botanical drawings.

Below is a list of some of the most significant items.

By Ann Durward, Marie Stopes’s great-grandmother

  1. “1st Drawings & Paintings from Nature 1786.” A single sheet with coloured nature studies on both sides.

By James Ferrier Carmichael (1810-1854), Marie Stopes's grandfather.

  1. “Oil picture by grandfather of mother, later Mrs Charlotte Carmichael Stopes” (note by Marie Stopes to verso) Small oil on canvas, unframed, showing the infant Charlotte Carmichael sitting in a miniature armchair. Contained within a large envelope addressed to Marie Stopes at Norbury Park. (29 × 39 cm)
  2. “Drawing of Charlotte Carmichael by her father the artist James Ferrier Carmichael; she later became the wife of Henry Stopes and mother of Dr Marie Stopes” (MS label by Marie Stopes to verso) Large pencil portrait on board of Charlotte Carmichael standing and gesturing forward as a child, perhaps two years old. The image is rubbed with some loss. (48 × 33 cm)
  3. “By Carmichael – of mother etc – done in 1850? The stool is the one I still have.” (Marie Stopes note to verso) A single sheet bearing three pencil drawings (27 × 22 cm) depicting Charlotte Carmichael as an infant and a man tilling crops.
  4. “Charlotte Carmichael aged 7. By her father.” (MS note) Charcoal and colour on paper, mounted. (25 × 32 cm)
  5. Two further bucolic watercolours and a large pencil drawing of a young horseman talking to a little girl, also apparently the work of James Ferrier Carmichael.

By Charlotte Carmichael-Stopes (1840-1929), Marie Stopes's mother.

  1. Study for design of a fountain, pencil on paper with tissue guard (27 × 41 cm), signed "Charlotte Carmichael".
  2. Acanthus scrolls, architectural detail, pencil on paper (40 × 24 cm).
  3. Stylised iris, pencil on paper (45 × 30 cm).
  4. Foliate design, perhaps for carving, with tissue guard (40 × 20 cm).
  5. Foliate design, perhaps architectural, with tissue guard (40 × 27 cm).
  6. Four watercolours of conventional pastoral scenes with ruined buildings—one annotated to verso by Marie Stopes as her mother’s work.

By Henry Stopes (1852-1902), Marie Stopes's father.

  1. Architectural engraving of “New Malthouse East Moors Cardiff… Plans Revised H. Stopes. London. May 1886.” (35 × 23 cm).

By Marie Stopes (1880-1958).

  1. “Marie Stopes Line sketch 1 1/4 hrs.” Pencil on paper study of a jug and three-dimensional figure (24 × 17 cm).

Further Carmichael Family drawings.

  1. Works by Ellen S. Carmichael, c. 1865.
  2. H. S. Carmichael, “A view near Balquidder” — presumably an aunt or uncle of Marie Stopes.
  3. H.S.C. landscape drawing, pencil on paper, perhaps Italy, signed “HSC 1865” (43 × 29 cm).
  4. “Christine” — river-crossing pencil drawings.
  5. Several late-Victorian watercolours of plush domestic interiors, possibly Marie Stopes’s childhood home.

Dates

  • Creation: 1786-1886

Creator

Language of Materials

Annotations and captions in English

Conditions Governing Access

Open. Please contact the repository in advance.

Full Extent

0.1 linear metre (1 outsize folder)

Additional Description

Custodial History

Originally from the estate of Marie Stopes’s son, the philosopher Henry Stopes-Roe.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchased in January 2025. Accession no. SC-Acc-2025-0036.

Processing Information

Catalogued by Aline Brodin, using information provided by the seller.

Subjects

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Carmichael Stopes Family Archive, 1786-1886
Author
Aline Brodin
Date
December 2025
Description rules
Isad(g)2
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository

https://library.ed.ac.uk/heritage-collections
Contact:
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379