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Creator:
Crompton-Stansfield, Elizabeth Alexandra, 1866–1936
Title(s):
Elizabeth Alexandra Crompton-Stansfield diary.
Published/Created:
Yorkshire, England, 1884-1885 and 1896-1897.
Physical Description:
2 v. (280, 176 p.) ; 19 cm.
Holdings:
Rare Books and Manuscripts
DA670.Y6 C76 1884
Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Fund
[Request]
Copyright Status:
Copyright Not Evaluated
Classification:
Archives & Manuscripts
Notes:
Elizabeth Alexandra Crompton-Stansfield (1866-1936) was the second daughter of Major-General William H. Crompton-Stansfield, upon whose death in 1888 she inherited, with her two sisters, the estates of Esholt Hall and Buckden Hall, in Yorkshire. Elizabeth never married and appears to have spent her early adulthood at Esholt and her later years at Buckden.
The first volume has a later inscription misattributing the diary to Mary Alexandra Stanhope.
Bound in limp red (1884-1885) and limp black (1896-1897) morocco.
Manuscript journal, in two volumes, kept by Elizabeth Alexandra Crompton-Stansfield recording her early adult life at Esholt Hall in Yorkshire. The first volume covers dates from 1 January 1884 to 31 August 1885; the second from 9 July 1896 to 31 December 1897. Entries are kept daily, and vary in length from several words to several pages. Almost all entries are in pen and ink.
In addition to the diarist, the persons most frequently mentioned are Elizabeth's sisters Evelyn and Albinia ("Ba"), her cousin Percy Seymour Stanhope, and "Madge" (perhaps cousin Mary Alexandrina Stanhope). The diary reveals a pleasant day-to-day routine for Elizabeth, with many mornings of painting or sketching, French lessons, and gardening. She makes frequent shopping jaunts with a sister or cousin to nearby Leeds and Bradford. Summers offers the pleasures of tennis and garden parties. She attends church and Sunday school regularly and records frank opinions on the ministers and their sermons. She makes at least one trip (in 1884) to London, staying with the Palmer family, with whom she frequents art galleries and theaters. In March of 1897 she travels with cousins Seymour and Gertrude to Paris, where they tour many churches and do some small shopping. In the 1896-7 diary, Elizabeth remains very socially active and devotes even more time to church (going two or three times a week), while making less time (apparently) for her painting and sketching. In the week beginning 19 June, 1897, Elizabeth records a number of local festivities in honor of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, including a party hosted by the diarist and her sisters at Esholt and another at Azerley Chase hosted by her uncle Robert Stansfield Crompton.
Included in the diaries are four small printed items. There are two newspaper clippings, one about Micklegate House (making brief mention of the Misses Crompton-Stansfields) and a second about the new organ for Esholt Church. There is also a blank invitation to the Jubilee party hosted at Esholt and a program for musical entertainment to be given at Esholt Schoolroom on 14 December, 1897, the proceeds of which were to be given to repainting the school.
Subject Terms:
Crompton family.
Crompton-Stansfield, Consuelo Albinia.
Crompton-Stansfield, Elizabeth Alexandra, 1866–1936 -- Diaries.
Crompton-Stansfield, Mary Evelyn Maude, 1862–1946.
Esholt (Bradford, West Yorkshire, England) -- Social life and customs.
Stanhope, Percy Seymour, 1865–1909.
Victoria, Queen of Great Britain, 1819–1901 -- Anniversaries, etc.
Yorkshire (England) -- Social life and customs.
Form/Genre:
Diaries.
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