Finding Aid for the Jane Porter Papers, 1820-1859

Processed by Esther Vécsey; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé

UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections

Manuscripts Division

Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library

Box 951575

Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575

Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu

URL: http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/special/scweb/

Finding Aid for the Jane Porter Papers, 1820-1859

Collection number: 715

UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections

Manuscripts Division

Los Angeles, CA

Contact Information

Manuscripts Division
UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Telephone: 310/825-4988 (10:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., Pacific Time)
Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
URL: http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/special/scweb/

Processed by:: Esther Vécsey, 4 May 1961
Encoded by:: Caroline Cubé
Text converted and initial container list EAD tagging by:: Apex Data Services
Online finding aid edited by:: Josh Fiala, April 2002

Descriptive Summary

Title: Jane Porter Papers,

Date (inclusive): 1820-1859

Collection number: 715

Creator: Porter, Jane, 1776-1850

Extent: 1 box (0.5 linear ft.)

Repository: University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections.

Los Angeles, California 90095-1575

Abstract: Jane Porter (1776-1850) wrote two historical romances, Thaddeus of Warsaw (1803) and The Scottish Chiefs (1810) as well as plays and novels. The collection consists of diaries, correspondence, receipts, account books, personal notes, memos, ephemera, a landscape painting by Sir Robert Ker Porter, and a copy by Jane Porter of a manuscript by General Sir Richard Church.

Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.

Language: English.

Administrative Information

Restrictions on Use and Reproduction

Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections. Literary rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.

Restrictions on Access

COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Advance notice required for access.

Additional Physical Form Available

A copy of the original version of this online finding aid is available at the UCLA Department of Special Collections for in-house consultation and may be obtained for a fee. Please contact:

Public Services Division
UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Telephone: 310/825-4988 (10:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., Pacific Time)
Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu

Provenance/Source of Acquisition

Winifred A. Myers purchase, 1961.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Jane Porter Papers (Collection 715). Department of Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

UCLA Catalog Record ID

UCLA Catalog Record ID: 4233604

Biography

Porter was born in 1776; travelled with her widowed mother from Durham, England to Edinburgh, and was educated there; Sir Walter Scott became a friend of the family, and Jane wrote two historical romances, Thaddeus of Warsaw (1803) and The Scottish Chiefs (1810); wrote plays which were less successful; other novels include Duke Christian of Luneburg (1824) and The Pastor's Fire-Side (1832); she died in 1850.

Scope and Content

Collection consists of diaries, correspondence, receipts, account books, personal notes, memos, ephemera, a landscape painting by Sir Robert Ker Porter, and a copy by Jane Porter of a manuscript by General Sir Richard Church. Correspondents include Edward Turner Bennett, Anna Maria Hall, Sir Robert Ker Porter, and Sir Robert Peel. Diaries cover portions of 1832, 1840, and 1842 and record her meetings with prominent people, and her stays in Caracas, Venezuela and St. Petersburg, Russia with her brother, Sir Robert Ker Porter.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Porter, Jane,--1776-1850--Archives.

Women authors, English--19th century--Archival resources.

Diaries.

Box 1, Folder 1

Church, Sir Richard, 1784-1873. n.p. n.d.

Physical Description: 32pp.

Scope and Content Note

Written in the Castello dell'Ovo, Naples in 1820/1821. Extracts from, and paraphrase of, the original manuscript of General Sir Richard Church by Miss Jane Porter.

Narrative of the adventures of General Church, British attaché with the Austrian Army, Neopolitan major-general; suppressed brigandage in Apulia; defeated by Sicilian insurgents and imprisoned in the Castello dell'Ovo. Subsequently decorated by King George IV.

Note

Last entry reads copied from the original Manuscript.

Box 1, Folder 2

Porter, Jane, 1776-1850. Diary. London. 1832.

Physical Description: 40pp. The entries are in a small red leather bound book with title reading Carnan's Ladies Complete Pocketbook for the Year 1832. Continued Annually. London. Suttaby & Company.

Scope and Content Note

Holograph entries recording meetings with prominent figures, letters, her contributions to a magazine, submission of the preface to Pastor's Fireside to Colborne, death and burial of her sister Maria.

The book contains small etched plates depicting notable landsapes, fashions of the day and various charts, tables, of weights and coinage, fares, songs, dances, verses, exhibitions for the year 1832.

Box 1, Folder 3

Porter, Jane, 1776-1850. Expenditure Account Book and Digest. n.p. 1830-1839.

Physical Description: 50pp., ca. 30 bearing entries, in brown leather covers.

Scope and Content Note

Holograph entries and enclosed notes recording her and her brother Sir Robert Ker Porter's financial affairs, debts: from Longman & Rees to Maria, from ditto for our works, bill from Colborne, for my Editorship of Leaward's Narrative, etc.

Box 1, Folder 4

Porter, Jane, 1776-1850. Diary and Account Book. Caracas. 1840.

Physical Description: The entries are in a brown leather bound book with title page reading: Marshall's Commercial Pocket Book for 1840. To be continued annually. London. Printed by C. Whittingham...by assignement of W. Marshall, for Suttaby and Company... Frontispiece.

Scope and Content Note

Holograph entries dealing with daily events, financial accounts and expenditures made during her stay in Caracas, Venezuela with her brother, Sir Robert Ker Porter, British Consul in Venezuela.

Also many and various lists of pertinent information.

Box 1, Folder 4

Porter, Jane, 1776-1850. Diary and Account Book (continued). for the year 1840.

Physical Description: 208pp., ca. 60pp. bearing entries.

Scope and Content Note

Including: members of Privy Council, Parliament, the Ministry, civil servants, ships in commission, holidays, taxes, bankers, mail coaches, gardener's calendar, etc.

Box 1, Folder 5

Porter, Jane, 1776-1850. Diary and Account Book. St. Petersburg. 1842.

Physical Description: In red leather bound book, description same as above. Signatures in bad condition.

Scope and Content Note

Entries date to October 10, 1842.

Holograph relating daily events while in Russia with her brother Sir Robert Ker Porter. Meetings with members of the Court, drives, entertainments, calls on Mrs. Tolstoy. Some rather pathetic entries for May 3 concerning the death of her brother; his financial affairs, pension, funeral. Returns June 1 to England; begins her memoirs of her brother.

Porter, Jane, 1776-1850. Letters to Various Persons

Physical Description: (38 items)

Box 1, Folder 6

Adamson, J. n.p. n.d. ( ca. 1810).

Physical Description: 1 letter.

Box 1, Folder 6

Bennett, Edward Turner, 1797-1836. n.p. May 22, 1834.

Physical Description: 1 letter.

Box 1, Folder 6

Bowring, Sir John, 1792-1872. n.p. August 15, 1828.

Physical Description: 1 letter.

Box 1, Folder 6

Chalmers, Miss Long Ditton, Surrey. July 17, 1817.

Physical Description: 1 letter.

Box 1, Folder 6

Churchill, Mr. (Bookseller) London. n.d. ( ca. 1825).

Physical Description: 1 letter.

Box 1, Folder 6

Clarke, Seymour. London. May 6, 1844.

Physical Description: 1 letter.

Box 1, Folder 6

Corry, Miss. n.p. n.d. ( ca. 1821).

Physical Description: 1 letter.

Box 1, Folder 6

Daly, Mrs. Anne. n.p. n.d.

Physical Description: 1 letter.

Box 1, Folder 6

Deacon, William Frederick, 1799-1845. Long Ditton, Surrey. August 23, 1819.

Physical Description: 1 letter.

Box 1, Folder 6

Denham, Charles. Esher. January 30, 1829.

Physical Description: 1 letter.

Box 1, Folder 6

Fox & Company, Caracas. September 25, 1835.

Physical Description: 1 letter.

Box 1, Folder 6

Fraser, James, d. 1841. Alcester. April 9, 1834.

Physical Description: 1 letter.

Box 1, Folder 6

Haliday, Lady. n.p. n.d.

Physical Description: 1 letter (incomplete).

Box 1, Folder 6

Hall, Anna Maria (Fielding) 1800-1881. Regent's Park [London]. ca.May 20, 1827.

Physical Description: 1 letter.

Box 1, Folder 6

Hall, Samuel Carter, 1800-1889. Esher. June 28, 1831.

Physical Description: 1 letter.

Box 1, Folder 6

Harrol, Mr. 15 Montague Square [London] n.d.

Physical Description: 1 letter.

Box 1, Folder 6

Laurence, Miss. The Rocks. May 19, 1832.

Physical Description: 1 letter.

Box 1, Folder 6

Longman, Thomas, 1804-1879. August 18, 1839.

Physical Description: 1 letter.

Box 1, Folder 6

Mocatta, David. St. Leonards. August 31, 1833.

Physical Description: 1 letter.

Box 1, Folder 6

Morier, James Justinian, 1780(?)-1849. Bristol. April 21, 1845.

Physical Description: 1 letter.

Box 1, Folder 6

Murchison, Charlotte (Hugonin) lady, d.1869. 13 Matland Gate [London(?)] June 18, 1842; and n.p. n.d.

Physical Description: 2 letters.

Box 1, Folder 6

Peel, Sir Robert, bart., 1788-1850. n.p. n.d.

Physical Description: 1 letter.

Scope and Content Note

re J. Porter.

Box 1, Folder 6

Peel, Sir Robert, bart., 1788-1850. Bristol. April 30, 1845.

Physical Description: 1 letter.

Box 1, Folder 6

Porter, William Ogilvie, 1774-1850. n.p. n.d.

Physical Description: 1 letter.

Box 1, Folder 6

Powles, Messrs. Esher. November 19, 1827.

Physical Description: 1 letter.

Box 1, Folder 6

Powles, Messrs. n.p., ca.1827.

Physical Description: 1 letter.

Box 1, Folder 6

Rolfe, Lupton. London. April 5, 1825; and July 30, 1825.

Physical Description: 2 letters.

Box 1, Folder 6

Scott, Mrs. Norwood Grove. [London(?)] n.d.

Physical Description: 1 letter.

Box 1, Folder 6

Skinner, Mrs. July 22 [1828(?)]. n.d.

Physical Description: 2 letters.

Box 1, Folder 6

Spence, Elizabeth Isabella, 1768-1832. [London(?)] ca.1825.

Physical Description: 1 letter.

Box 1, Folder 6

Taylor, Mrs. n.p. September 15, 1838.

Physical Description: 1 letter (incomplete).

Box 1, Folder 6

Turner, Alfred. 23 Portland Place [London] January 15, 1835.

Physical Description: 1 letter.

Box 1, Folder 6

Valpy, Harriet (Wylde) d. 1864. Long Ditton. October 22, 1813.

Physical Description: 1 letter.

Box 1, Folder 6

Wesley, Miss. Comberwell. September 7, 1804.

Physical Description: 1 letter.

Box 1, Folder 6

Whitelocke, Mrs. Long Ditton, Surrey. August 28, 1821.

Physical Description: 1 letter.

Box 1, Folder 6

Wilson, John, 1785-1854. Croyden. December 15, 1835.

Physical Description: 1 letter.

Box 1, Folder 6

Wodehouse, Mrs. n.p. n.d.

Physical Description: 1 letter.

Box 1, Folder 6

Ward, C.W. Upper Berkeley Street [London]. January 31, 1818.

Physical Description: 1 letter.

Box 1, Folder 7

Porter, Jane, 1776-1850. Letter to Sir Robert Ker Porter, 1777-1842. Bristol. June 5, 1826.

Box 1, Folder 7

Porter, Sir Robert Ker, 1777-1842. Caracas. December 22, 1825.

Scope and Content Note

Letter to Mrs. Hort. Postscript by Jane Porter.

Box 1, Folder 8

Porter, Jane, 1776-1850. v.p. v.d.

Physical Description: 6 items. Fragments, signatures.

Scope and Content Note

Letters to various persons, unidentified.

Porter, Jane, 1776-1850. Manuscripts...Individual Leaves

Physical Description: (29 items)

Box 1, Folder 9

From Lady Stepney's Courtier's Daughter, n.p. June 22, 1838.

Physical Description: 11 lines on a small gray lace-edged sheet of paper, mounted, Signed and dated by Jane Porter.

Box 1, Folder 9

Possibly copied from the works of Lady Catherine (Pollok) Manners Stepney, d. 1845.

Scope and Content Note

Manuscript fragments...personal notes, account etc. 13 13. XII.61: 15.

Note

Added: October 12, 1961.

Porter, Jane, 1776-1850. Personal Notes, Memos, Some Pages Torn Loose from a Diary

Physical Description: (16 items):

Box 1, Folder 10

Notes of certain matters...

Physical Description: 2 leaves.

Scope and Content Note

Regarding death of her brother.

Box 1, Folder 10

Mr. Irving on Judgement to Come... n.p. 1825.

Physical Description: 3pp.

Box 1, Folder 10

Copy of the Manifesto of the --(?), on the death of the Empress Mother. [Signed, Nicholas] n.p. n.d.

Physical Description: 1 leaf.

Box 1, Folder 10

List of contents of Sir Robert Ker Porter's & Miss Porter's and 2 servants' Boxes from St. Petersburg. The Jupiter Steamer. May 1842.

Physical Description: 3pp.

Box 1, Folder 10

Notes: extracts from Encyclopedia article on Egypt.

Porter, Jane, 1776-1850. Personal Notes,....

Physical Description: (5 items)

Note

(Additions, December 13, 1961. Esther Vécsey)

Box 1, Folder 10

Crazy Paul. n.p., ca.1799.

Physical Description: 4pp.

Scope and Content Note

Poem of 9 stanzas.

Box 1, Folder 10

Some Account of the 1st. Anniversary Meeting of the Philo-Judean Society. n.p., ca.1822.

Physical Description: 3pp.

Box 1, Folder 10

Dialogues on Prophecy. III/. Part. n.p. n.d.

Physical Description: 3pp.

Porter, Jane, 1776-1850. Letters from Various Persons

Physical Description: (11 items):

Box 1, Folder 11

Philippart, John. n.p. n.d.

Scope and Content Note

re contributions to the New London Literary Gazette, others matters.

Box 1, Folder 11

Pollard, D.D. London. April 3, 1834. About the Legacy.

Box 1, Folder 11

Fisher, H. London. February 15, 1834. as to painting of `Battle of Agincourt' in Guildhall.

Box 1, Folder 11

R.K.P. [Sir Robert Ker Porter] n.p. n.d.

Scope and Content Note

Brief note.

Box 1, Folder 11

Mocalta, E. Liverpool. June 13, 1842.

Scope and Content Note

re money matters.

Box 1, Folder 11

Churchill, John. n.p. n.d.

Scope and Content Note

re some books.

Box 1, Folder 11

[Niece] Madame de (?) St. Petersburg. May 3, 1842.

Physical Description: 3pp.

Scope and Content Note

Letter of apologies.

Box 1, Folder 11

Frazer, James. London. April 7, 1834.

Scope and Content Note

re the portrait, contributions to Frazer's Magazine.

Box 1, Folder 11

King, to Dear Porter [Sir Robert Ker Porter]. London. n.d.

Box 1, Folder 11

Shee, Martin Andrew. London Cavendish Square. March 6, 1824.

Scope and Content Note

re the proper choice of reading material for Mrs. Porter's children.

Box 1, Folder 12

Receipts. London. 1833-1842.

Physical Description: 5 items.

Box 1, Folder 13

Ephemera: news cuttings, etc.

Physical Description: 5 items.

Scope and Content Note

Also: Painting by Sir Robert Ker Porter-Landscape.

Porter, Anna Maria, 1780-1832. Letters to Various Persons

Physical Description: (2 items)

Box 1, Folder 14

Fitzroy, Lady William. The Cottage [Esher] December 22, 1816.

Physical Description: 1 letter.

Box 1, Folder 14

Whitelocke, Miss Long Ditton, Surrey. May 26, 1819.

Physical Description: 1 letter.

Porter, Jane, 1776-1850. Letters to Various Persons

Physical Description: (3 items)

Box 1, Folder 15

Morgan, Mrs. Belinda. n.p. June 20, 1839.

Physical Description: 1 letter.

Box 1, Folder 15

Willoughby, Sir Nesbit. London. May 25, 1830.

Physical Description: 1 letter.

Box 1, Folder 15

Dearest Agnes n.p. August 20, n.d.

Physical Description: 1 letter.