Add MS 89231/18/16

Various photographs and documents relating to Arthur Heygate Mackmurdo and to his wife Eliza D'Oyly Carte (sister of Richard D'Oyly Carte). Includes notes in the hand of Bridget D'Oyly Carte.

(1). 7 Oct 1883. Autograph letter, with envelope, from Blanche Williams in New York to Miss [Eliza] Carte at 2 Dartmouth Park Road, Highgate Road, London (3 black-edged biofolia, with signature cut from final sheet). Author of letter written on envelope verso.

(2) Twenty-two watercolour pen and ink drawings of different 'charcters', each with a stanza of autograph verse beneath. Unsigned. 22 sheets (each 185 x 115 mm). Original brass pin left in situ at upper left corner (pin stamped: 'Registered Feb 10 186[?]').

(3). Empty envelope addressed to 'Mrs Macmurdo' [sic]. Some pencil annotations.

(4). Photographs of Eliza Mackmurdo (née Carte). Two Victorian studio portraits, and two copies of a mid-twentieth century photograph (black and white) of Eliza Mackmurdo in her garden, together with a photograph of large plant.

(5). Various small black and white photographs of the Mackmurdos, many of which taken at their house in Wickham Bishops, Essex.

(6). Newspaper cutting, annotated 'April 7th 1942', published shortly after Mackmurdo's death (15 Mar 1942). Biographical information.

(7). Exhibition catalogue: 'The Eccentric A. H. Mackmurdo (1851-1942)'. Introductory essay by John Doubleday, some photographs and list of exhibits. Exhibition held at The Minories, 74 High Street, Colchester (24 Feb - 25 Mar 1979).

(8). Two letters: Douglas Euart Mackmurdo to Bridget D'Oyly Carte (autograph, 9 Oct 1979); Bridget D'Oyly Carte in reply (typed carbon copy, 18 Oct 1979). Letters refer to family tree.

(9). Photocopy article: Nikolaus Pevsner, 'A Pioneer Designer: Arthur H. Mackmurdo', Architectural Review (March 1938). And a cutting from The Illustrated London News (1952) showing two drawings by Frank Brangwyn, one of which is a portrait of Mackmurdo (the same drawing is reproduced in the catalogue above, item 7).

(10). Notes in the hand of Bridget D'Oyly Carte regarding 'pictures brought to London' by a member of the Mackmurdo family (1 sheet, Sep 1966).