Von Arnim (Elizabeth and Alexander Stuart Frere) Papers, 1912-1986

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Summary

Title:
Elizabeth von Arnim and Alexander Stuart Frere papers
Dates:
1912-1986
Creators:
Frere, Alexander Stuart, 1892-1984
Abstract:
A collection of correspondence, manuscripts, and photographs related to Elizabeth von Arnim and Alexander Stuart Frere.
Extent:
0.83 Linear Feet (2 boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Elizabeth von Arnim and Alexander Stuart Frere papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains approximately 225 letters between Elizabeth von Arnim and Alexander Stuart Frere discussing their relationship, daily life, her writing process, and the rise of Hitler. There are also letters from Patricia Wallace Frere to her husband concerning the last illness and death of Elizabeth and a series of letters from Karen Usborne, who wrote the first biography of Elizabeth published in 1986. Also included are two novel drafts, a novel in letters, poems, a book review, and personal notebooks. The collection also includes a large number of photographs in which Alexander Stuart Frere was either the photographer or the subject; some of the photographs were identified by Frere, but the majority are unidentified. The ephemera in the collection includes printed material, a book given to Frere by Elizabeth von Arnim, book reviews, a bank cheque for five pounds from von Arnim made out to Frere, and newspaper clippings.

Biographical / historical:

Elizabeth von Arnim (1866-1941) was born Mary Annette Beauchamp in Kirribilli Point, Sydney, Australia. After leaving Australia she settled first in England then lived many decades in her chalet in Switzerland, then an estate on the French Riviera and finally, with the start of the Second World War, the Southern United States where she died in 1941. Von Arnim became an English novelist known as "Elizabeth" after the publication of her first novel, "Elizabeth and Her German Garden," in 1898; she was also the cousin of writer Katherine Mansfield and the sister-in-law of Bertrand Russell. She was a very popular writer during her lifetime and wrote some twenty works, mainly semi-autobiographical novels between 1897 and 1940; two of her novels have been made into films, "Mr. Skeffington" and "The Enchanted April." She married Count Henning August von Arnim-Schlagenthin in 1891 and lived for 20 years on his estate, Nassenheide, near the German/Polish border; together they had five children (four girls and one boy). After Count von Arnim-Schlagenthin's death in 1910, Elizabeth married John Francis Russell, 2nd Earl Russell, in 1916, but the marriage was not a success, and they permanently separated but never divorced; Elizabeth remained Countess Russell until her death.

Alexander Stuart Frere (1892-1984) was born Alexander Stuart Frere-Reeves in Dulwich, England; in 1939, he officially dropped "Reeves" from his last name. After serving in the First World War, Frere read economics at Christ's College, Cambridge, where he was the editor of the literary magazine Granta. After Cambridge, he worked as a journalist before joining the publisher William Heinemann Ltd in 1923. Frere rose to managing editor in 1929, where he oversaw the work of major 20th century authors such as Graham Greene, Thomas Wolfe, Sinclair Lewis, Somerset Maugham, D. H. Lawrence, John Steinbeck, Georgette Heyer, and Anthony Powell until his retirement from the company in 1962. In 1920, Frere began an affair with Elizabeth von Arnim after he worked for her at Chalet Soleil in Switzerland. After a brief first marriage in 1927, Frere married Patricia Caldecott Wallace in 1933; they had two sons and one daughter. Frere died in Kent, England, from complications of a fall in 1984.

Acquisition information:
Purchased via Christopher Edwards from Bonhams Sale 29882, lot 91, November 2024.
Appraisal information:

During processing in 2026, a reel of microfilm and two CDs were weeded from the collection by Lori Dedeyan and Gayle M. Richardson because it was ascertained the microfilm and CDs, which were acquired by the Frere family, contained facsimile copies of original material from the Huntington Library's Countess Russell papers (mssER).

Custodial history:

This material was collected and retained by Alexander Stuart Frere over many decades. It has remained in the Frere family until it was sold by Frere's descendants in 2024.

Processing information:

Processed by Gayle M. Richardson in March 2026.

Arrangement:

Organized in four series: Series 1. Manuscripts, 1918-1926; Series 2. Correspondence, 1914-1986; Series 3. Photographs, 1912-1935; Series 4. Ephemera, 1921-1958.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Gayle M. Richardson
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-04-02 08:44:30 -0700 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

Terms of access:

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Elizabeth von Arnim and Alexander Stuart Frere papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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