Guide to the Edward John Trelawny Collection, 1821-2008

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Summary

Creators:
Prell, Donald B.
Abstract:
This collection was compiled by Donald Prell as a result of his research on Edward John Trelawny. The collection, therefore, contains primary and secondary source information about Edward John Trelawny and his relationships with Percy B. Shelley, Mary Shelley, Lord Byron, Claire Clairmont, Edward Ellerker Williams, and others of his time. The materials include copies of letters, diaries, images, and articles ranging from 1821 to 2008.
Extent:
3 feet (2 boxes) (1 oversized box)
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English

Background

Scope and content:

This collection was compiled by Donald B. Prell as a result of his research on Edward John Trelawny. The collection, therefore, contains information about Edward John Trelawny and his relationships with Percy B. Shelley, Mary Shelley, Lord Byron, Claire Clairmont, Edward Ellerker Williams, and others of his time. Although the collection does not contain many "original" documents, it does offer many copies of original documents and is a fairly comprehensive source of information and documents pertaining to Trelawny located in one place. The collection is divided into two series: Primary Sources and Secondary Sources. The series, Primary Sources, contains material dating from 1821 to 1909. It consists mainly of copies (although there are two original documents) of handwritten and transcribed letters (to/from Trelawny or referencing Trelawny), journals, manuscripts, and images. This series is strong in correspondence, especially between Trelawny and Claire Clairmont. The series, Secondary Sources, contains material dating from 1810 to the present. It includes essays, articles, and documents written by the collection's creator, Donald Prell, and by others regarding Trelawny, Lord Byron, Shelley, Edward Ellerker Williams, and others in this circle. The material in this series provides a useful source of "outsider" viewpoints about Trelawny and his works during his life and up to the present.

Biographical / historical:

Edward John Trelawny was an English author whose works include Adventures of a Younger Son (1831) and Records of Shelley, Byron, and the Author (1878). He was born on November 13, 1792 probably in London. He had one older brother and four younger sisters. In 1805, Trelawny joined the Royal Navy and served on various ships, including the HMS Superb. After being honorably discharged from the Royal Navy in 1812, Trelawny embarked on the first of his three marriages in May 1813 at which time he married Caroline Addison. He later divorced her in 1819. Through Edward Ellerker Williams, Trelawny met Shelley and Byron in 1822 when he visited Pisa, Italy. Trelawny accompanied Byron in 1822 on his trip to Greece for the cause of Greek independence. Trelawny married his second wife, Tersitza Androutses, during his time in Greece. Tersitza later divorced Trelawny sometime between 1826 and 1828. Between 1832 and 1835, Trelawny travelled in America meeting notables such as James Fenimore Cooper. In 1841, Trelawny married for the last time to Augusta Goring.

Trelawny's Adventures was originally published anonymously and is generally considered to be an autobiographically-based novel about his time in the Royal Navy. The work was very popular during the time as evidenced by the numerous translations and editions of the book. Trelawny lived in England, Switzerland, and Wales during his lifetime. In addition to Trelawny's notoriety as an author, his friendships with Percy B. Shelley, Mary Shelley, Lord Byron, and Claire Clairmont also make him a notable personality in the 19th century. Trelawny arranged the funerals of both Shelley and Byron and was eventually buried near Shelley in the Protestant Cemetery in Rome.

Donald Prell was born in Los Angeles in 1924. He earned a B.A. in 1948 from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and a C.Phil. in 1950 from the University of London. Mr. Prell was a 2nd Lieutenant in the American Armed Forces during World War II taking part in the Battle of the Bulge. He was captured and became a German prisoner of war twice (the second time after escaping). Mr. Prell founded one of the first magazines about computers and software in 1958 called Datamation. "In the 1960s, 70s and 80s he was associated with several venture capital firms, with the Union Bank of California, and was President of Imperial International Bank. He has served on the Boards of Directors of over fifteen foreign and domestic corporations. Currently he is the managing Director of Prell and Associates, a consulting firm in the field of Futurology, Program Director of the World Affairs Council of the Desert and a Councilor of the UCLA Foundation." (Source: the appraisal of Donald Prell's collection by Charles A. Goldsmid - located in the collection's vertical file).

Acquisition information:
Gift of Donald B. Prell.
Arrangement:

Series 1: Primary Sources

Subseries 1.1: Correspondence

Subseries 1.11: To/From Trelawny (alphabetical by author)

Subseries 1.12: Referencing Trelawny (chronological)

Subseries 1.2: Journals and Manuscripts (chronological)

Subseries 1.3: Images (chronological)

Series 2: Secondary Sources

Subseries 2.1: Authored by Donald B. Prell (chronological)

Subseries 2.2: Authored by others (chronological)

Physical location:
Special Collections, Honnold/Mudd Library. Claremont University Consortium.

Access and use

Location of this collection:
800 N. Dartmouth Ave.
Claremont, CA 91711, US
Contact:
(909) 607‑3977
specialcollections@claremont.edu
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