MAGRAW

[ Beatrice Magraw, author. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('(Mrs.) Beatrice I. Magraw') to the first British woman cabinet minister Margaret Bondfield, Minister of Labour, putting forward her views on bettering rural housing.

Author: 
Beatrice Irene Magraw (c.1888-1970), author, wife of Charles Magraw (1884-1973), Anglican clergyman [ Margaret Bondfield (1873-1953), Labour politician]
Publication details: 
Slindon Rectory, Arundel, Sussex. 29 March 1930.
£45.00

7pp., 12mo. On two bifoliums. In good condition, lightly aged. She feels she has 'two reasons for approaching' Bondfield, at the time Minister of Labour: 'I believe you are a Somerset woman, & know that you are interested in the question of housing.' She hopes that 'in any plans for bettering housing conditions that this government may make, the state of rural workers' homes may not be overlooked. You are probably as familiar as I am with the horrors of the “Country Slum”.

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[ Sarah Gertrude Millin, South African author. ] Autograph Letter Signed to 'Mrs. Magraw' [ children's author B. I. Magraw ], regarding her biography of Cecil Rhodes, the film version, and the recipient's 'play' of it.

Author: 
Sarah Gertrude Millin (1889-1968), South African author, born in Lithuania [ Beatrice Irene Magraw [ B. I. Magraw, born Beatrice Irene May ] (c.1888-1970), author ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of 34 Pallinghurst Road, Westcliff, Johannesburg. 22 March 1940.
£80.00

1p., 4to. She is 'very happy that RHODES gave you pleasure when you so badly needed it'. She hopes she will 'use your play in any way you wish. I hope it will go very well. It should.' She points out that there is 'a film made from the book - not much to my liking'. The letter ends: 'I hope your eyes are well again.'

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[ Hamilton Fyfe, newspaper editor and author. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Hamilton Fyfe') to 'Mrs. Magraw' [ children's author B. I. Magraw ], responding to the news that she was 'en- and not dis-couraged' by his editing of the Daily Herald.

Author: 
Hamilton Fyfe [ Henry Hamilton Fyfe ] (1869-1951), editor the Daily Mirror and the Daily Herald, and writer [ Beatrice Irene Magraw [ B. I. Magraw, born Beatrice Irene May ] (c.1888-1970), author ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Savage Club, 1 Carlton House Terrace, London, S.W.1. 9 February 1940.
£45.00

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. He begins by granting her permission to quote from his 'little Keir Hardie book'. He is glad she is 'going to make him better known'. He continues: 'What you tell me about the encouragement I gave you when I was editing the Daily Herald has made me feel happy. Looking back, I find that what gives me most satisfaction is to have been able now & then to give a helping hand. I am so glad you were en- and not dis-couraged.'

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[ Geoffrey Drage, author and Conservative politician. ] Autograph Letter Signed to 'Miss May' [ children's author Beatrice Irene Magraw ], acknowledging her 'kind and graceful hospitality.

Author: 
Geoffrey Drage (1860-1955), author and Conservative politician [ Beatrice Irene Magraw [ B. I. Magraw, born Beatrice Irene May ] (c.1888-1970), children's author ]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of the Royal Commission on Labour, 44 Parliament Street, London. 10 November 1892.
£35.00

2pp., 12mo. In good condition. He thanks her for 'the very pleasant glimpse of yourself and your family which I got last Saturday to Monday'. He hopes she will excuse the delay in acknowledging her 'kind and graceful hospitality'.

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[ Naomi Mitchison, Scottish author. ] Typed Letter Signed to 'Mrs. Magraw' [ children's author Beatrice Irene Magraw ], giving advice on how to approach the BBC with 'school broadcasts'.

Author: 
Naomi Mitchison [ Naomi Mary Margaret Mitchison, Baroness Mitchison; née Haldane ] (1897-1999), Scottish author [ Beatrice Irene Magraw [ B. I. Magraw, born Beatrice Irene May ] (c.1888-1970), author]
Publication details: 
On letterhead of River Court, Hammersmith Mall, London W.6. 24 October 1938.
£180.00

2pp., 4to. Forty-four lines of text. She thanks her 'for returning the plays, and thte nice things you say about them'. Mitchison's entry in the Oxford DNB has no reference to her working for the BBC, but from the context of the letter it is clear that she wrote scripts for radio broadcasts for children. Regarding the BBC she suggests that Magraw writes to 'Miss Edith MacQueen, and if I were you I think I should write out one or two synopses of broadcasts which you propose to do'.

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[ Beatrice Irene Magraw, children's author as "B.I. Magraw". ] Collection of personal papers, including autobiographical account, an article, newspaper cuttings, portrait photograph, publicity material, letters from Richard Church and Norman Fulton.

Author: 
Beatrice Irene Magraw [ B. I. Magraw, born Beatrice Irene May ] (c.1888-1970), author, wife of Charles Magraw (d.1973), deputy headmaster, Bishop Cotton School, Simla [ Richard Church; Norman Fulton ]
Publication details: 
London and Bristol. Between the 1930s and 1960.
£350.00

Eleven items, in good overall condition. ONE: Autograph biographical account, on form headed 'National Service'. 4pp., folio. Bifolium. Includes personal and academic details, details of publications and political views. As her 'Literary Pseudonym she gives '(occasionally) "MARY PADESON". She has, she states, no academic qualifications, 'But read economics in youth (Society of Oxford Home Students) Ill-health prevented continuance of studies & examination'.

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