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Finding Aid to the Hannah More Collection
MS.1997.009
MS.1997.009
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Title: Hannah More Collection
Identifier/Call Number: MS.1997.009
Contributing Institution:
William Andrews Clark Memorial Library
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
3.0 Linear feet
(5 boxes)
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1748-1830
Date (inclusive): 1748-1933
Repository: University of California, Los Angeles. Library. William Andrews Clark Memorial Library Los Angeles, California 90095-1490
Abstract: Letters written to and from writer and social reformer Hannah More, as well as other manuscript and visual materials relating
to the lives of More and her contemporaries.
creator:
More, Hannah, 1745-1833
Hannah More was born near Bristol, England, on February 2, 1745, the daughter of Jacob and Mary More. Jacob More was a school
master who educated his five daughters, Mary, Elizabeth, Sarah (Sally), Hannah and Martha (Patty). Hannah proved to be a bright
and able pupil. Hannah’s elder sisters made an independent living by establishing a successful boarding school for young ladies,
and Hannah joined them around the age of 16. At the school, Hannah, who had shown her literary ability from a young age, wrote
poems and plays, in addition to translations of classical works. Hannah gave up her share in the school at the age of 22,
when she became engaged to John Turner, a wealthy landowner twenty years her senior. The wedding was set on three different
occasions, all of which were cancelled by Mr. Turner. After six years, the engagement was broken off, and Mr. Turner settled
an annuity on Hannah, against her will and knowledge. However, Hannah finally accepted the offer, which provided her an independent
living, and allowed her to devote her time to her literary pursuits. Around 1774, Hannah left for London, where she was introduced
to some of the most influential and prominent literary and political figures of the time. Hannah became close friends with
the actor David Garrick and his wife Eva, and attended social assemblies with such figures as Dr. Samuel Johnson and Sir Joshua
Reynolds. Hannah also moved among members of the Bluestocking Circle. While in London, Hannah’s literary career flourished,
but after the death of her friend Garrick, she vowed never to write for the stage again, and instead devoted herself to moral
and spiritual works. She moved to Cowslip Green, Wrington, Bristol in 1785. Hannah became involved in social reform, including
the anti-slavery movement. At the urging of her friend William Wilberforce, Hannah founded several Sunday schools for the
poor, though she was initially met with opposition. In 1802, Hannah moved to Barley Wood, a home she had built not far from
Cowslip Green. There she and her sisters lived quietly, and Hannah entertained prominent friends and continued her writing.
Her most popular work, “Coeleb’s in Search of a Wife,” was published in 1809. Hannah continued pushing for social reform by
publishing the Cheap Repository Tracts. These tracts sold for a halfpenny, and were aimed at providing the poor with strong
tales of morality. The tracts were extremely popular and widely dispersed. Hannah outlived her sisters and retired to Clifton
in 1828. She continued entertaining guests and was always surrounded by friends and visitors. Hannah left her fortune to charity,
and was buried in Wrington. Her prolific literary career, her good sense and strong morals, and her dedication to social reform
earned her a place among the most notable and influential figures of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
This collection was physically arranged by Clark staff and microfilmed by a private company in the early 2000s. The collection
was reorganized and this finding aid written by Daniella Aquino, 2012-2013.
Most of the items in this collection were acquired through two major purchases. In 1996, the Clark purchased the Hannah More
collection assembled by collector Roger DuBroff (MS.1996.004). In 1997, the Library purchased an additional collection originally
from the collection of Hannah More's literary executor Margaret Roberts (MS.1997.009). Other individual items originated in
the following accessions: MS.1999.004, MS.2002.005, MS.2003.005, MS.2005.005, MS.2007.021, MS.2012.017.
In the container list below, items acquired as a part of the DuBroff collection (MS.1996.004) and the 6 other small accessions
have a note indicating their purchase dates. Items that have no such information included were purchased as a part of the
1997 acquisition of items originally owned by Margaret Roberts (MS.1997.009).
The material acquired in accession MS.1997.009 was used by Margaret Roberts' brother William in his
Memoirs of Hannah More (1834). The letters passed to C. Becher Pigot, the great-grandson of William Roberts, and were in turn purchased
from him by scholar Mary Gladys Jones in 1953.
Copyright has not been assigned to the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, UCLA. All requests for permission to publish
or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Clark Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf
of the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, UCLA as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply
permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Collection is open for research.
This collection contains letters written between Hannah More and a variety of correspondents, in addition to other manuscripts
(including notebooks and poems) and visual materials. The collection also contains letters that are not addressed to Hannah
More, including three letters from members of the Bluestocking Circle. Among the visual materials are engraved portraits of
Hannah More and drawings of her home at Barley Wood.
Much of the descriptive information for this collection came from:
Women, Morality and Advice Literature: Manuscripts and Rare Printed Works of Hannah More (1745-1833) and Her Circle from the
Clark Library, Los Angeles
, edited by Patricia Demers, Anne Mellor, and Janice Devereux. Marlborough: Adam Matthew Publications, 2005.
The collection is organized into 3 series:
- Series 1. Correspondence, 1770-1830
- Series 2. Other Manuscript Materials and Documentation, 1748-1933
- Series 3. Visual Materials, 1809-1828
Hannah More, Book of Fame, f MS.1996.005, William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, UCLA. This scrapbook once contained autographs
and writing samples of famous intellectuals. The individual sheets were removed and sold separately at an early date. Some
of the items in this collection, including the poems by David Garrick, were originally arranged in this book, which was acquired
as a part of the Roger DuBroff Collection on Hannah More (MS.1996.004).
Hannah More, Annotated Bible, William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, UCLA. This is Hannah More's personal bible, and is heavily
annotated in her hand. She gave the bible to Sir William Weller Pepys, who made his own annotations as well.
Brampton Park Miscellany, MS.1998.002, William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, UCLA. The commonplace book of Lady Olivia Sparrow
includes contributions by Hannah More and others in her circle.
Printed pamphlets and broadsides of Hannah More's work can be found by searching the Clark's holdings in the UCLA Online Library
Catalog.
[Identification of item], Hannah More Collection, [Box/Folder number], MS.1997.009, William Andrews Clark Memorial Library,
University of California, Los Angeles.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Kennicott, Ann, d. 1831
Letters--England--18th century
Letters--England--19th century