Edwards H. Metcalf Library Collection on T.E. Lawrence: Scrapbooks, approximately 1889-1988, bulk 1960s

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Summary

Creators:
Baxter, Frank C. (Frank Condie), 1896-1982 ; Herbring, Margaret M., 1927-1985 ; Jéhanne (Duncan, Theodora); Metcalf, Edwards H. (Edwards Huntington).
Abstract:
This collection consists of 36 scrapbooks containing photographs, newspaper clippings, periodical articles, and ephemera concerning British soldier and author T.E. Lawrence (1888-1935). Most of the albums were compiled in the 1960s, and many of the items discuss Lawrence retrospectively, concern individuals and places associated with Lawrence both in England and the Arab world, or relate to works about Lawrence (such as the 1962 film Lawrence of Arabia). The scrapbooks forms part of the Edwards H. Metcalf Library Collection of T.E. Lawrence and were compiled chiefly by California Lawrence collectors Theodora Duncan, Frank C. Baxter, and Margaret M. Herbring, and later incorporated into Metcalf's collection. The albums do not contain manuscript material by Lawrence, and while most of the items date from the 1950s onward, there are some original photographs by men who served with Lawrence during the Arab Revolt, 1916-1918.
Extent:
36 volumes
Language:
English.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of 36 scrapbooks containing photographs, newspaper clippings, periodical articles, and ephemera concerning British soldier and author T.E. Lawrence. Most of the albums were compiled in the 1960s, and many of the items discuss Lawrence retrospectively, concern individuals or places associated with Lawrence, or relate to works about Lawrence (such as the 1962 film Lawrence of Arabia). The scrapbooks form part of the Edwards H. Metcalf Library Collection of T.E. Lawrence and were compiled chiefly by California Lawrence collectors Theodora Duncan, Frank C. Baxter, and Margaret M. Herbring, and later incorporated into Metcalf's collection.

Among the subjects represented in the albums are Lawrence's involvement in the Arab Revolt from 1916 to 1918; Lawrence's life (primarily documented in photographs and postcards of locales in England where Lawrence lived); the 1962 film Lawrence of Arabia; Lawrence's fatal motorcycle accident in 1935; art depicting or memorializing Lawrence; and works by and about Lawrence published after his death. Materials consist chiefly of newspaper and periodical clippings, photographs (both originals and reproductions from museum collections), postcards, advertisements, leaflets, ephemera, research notes, and some brief correspondence primarily related to the research efforts of the scrapbook compilers.

The albums do not contain manuscript material by Lawrence and most of the items date from the 1950s onward. Notably, though, there are some original photographs by men who served with Lawrence during the Arab Revolt. The collection includes 100 photographs taken by Thomas W. Beaumont, a gunner in the Hejaz Armoured Car Company, and friends from 1915 to 1918 during the Arab Revolt (Scrapbook 1); a 1923 snapshot of Lawrence as a private in the Royal Tank Corps (Album 2.12); and some original photographs of Imperial Camel Corps members including George Sewell, Laurence Moore, and C. H. N. Ashlin, and their activities in the Arab world, 1917-1918 (Scrapbook 7). There is also a 1967 letter from British historian Arnold Toynbee to Duncan discussing Vietnam and communism (Scrapbook 2.4).

In addition to the scrapbooks focused on Lawrence, there is a volume with clippings about Winston Churchill (Scrapbook 8) and an album with photographs from the T.E. Lawrence Symposium held at Pepperdine University on May 20-21, 1988 (Scrapbook 15).

Most of the scrapbooks retain volume numbers presumably applied by Huntington Library catalogers working for Metcalf (though Scrapbooks 9, 13, 14, 15 were unlabeled and numbers were supplied by the cataloger), and many album pages have the labels "Anal." with analytical numbers that corresponded to the index-card filing system.

The volumes are physically comprised of a miscellaneous assortment of photograph albums, three-ring binders, and scrapbook volumes. Based on bookplates, correspondence within the albums, and appearance, the provenance can be identified as:

  • Scrapbooks from the Theodora Duncan collection: 1, 2.1-15, 4.1-4.3, 7-10
  • Scrapbooks from the Margaret M. Herbring collection (with notes compiled by San Francisco teacher and Lawrence collector Ken Ball): 5.1-5.3, 13, 14
  • Scrapbooks from the Frank C. Baxter collection: 6.1-6.5
  • Scrapbooks of unknown origins: 11-12 (appear to be part of the same set)
  • Scrapbook from Edwards H. Metcalf: 15

Scrapbook 3 is missing. A photocopy of an index card located in the Papers of T.E. Lawrence collection (mssTEL) indicates there was a Scrapbook 3 compiled by Thomas Hatton with "clippings relating to T.E. Lawrence's accident and death," but the location of this volume is unknown as of 2014.

Biographical / historical:

Thomas Edward Lawrence (1888-1935) was born August 16, 1888, at Tremadoc, North Wales. His parents, Sir John Chapman and Sarah Junner never married, though they lived as "Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence" for the remainder of their lives. T.E. Lawrence attended City of Oxford High School and Jesus College, where, in 1910, he took first-class honors in history.

Lawrence was an archaeologist, scholar, soldier, and writer. He is probably best known, because of David Lean's 1962 film, Lawrence of Arabia for his exploits during the Arab Revolt, 1916-1918. He published several works, the most important being Seven Pillars of Wisdom (1922 and onwards), and an abridged version entitled, Revolt in the Desert (1927); also, published after his death, The Mint (1936, in a limited edition) and his thesis, Crusader Castles (1936-1937).

Lawrence never married and he found life difficult being known as Lawrence of Arabia; in 1922 he enlisted in the R.A.F. as John Hume Ross, but the press discovered his identity in 1923. He then changed his name to T.E. Shaw and spent the next 12 years in different armed services at various postings until his retirement in 1935. After suffering a motorcycle accident near his home, Lawrence died of his injuries on May 21, 1935.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Edwards H. Metcalf, October 1992.
Arrangement:

The scrapbooks are arranged numerically according to scrapbook number.

Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Note:

Finding aid last updated on December 8, 2014.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

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