| Description | Correspondence with William Ashley [1860-1927, economic historian].
/1 Letter from William J. Ashley to Oliver Lodge, written from the Post Office, Pershore, undated. Ashley asks Lodge to draw up statements for the Times and local papers as he is unwell. He praises Lodge's address and comments: 'it is an immense deal to have a Principal of whom one can be proud'.
/2 Letter from William Ashley to Oliver Lodge, written from 3 Yateley Road, Edgbaston, dated 9 June 1903. Ashley writes that he is sending Lodge a copy of his 'Wages' book: 'it may remind you that it is always to me a great pleasure to think that I serve under your leadership'.
/3 Letter from William Ashley to Oliver Lodge, written from 3 Yateley Road, Edgbaston, dated 4 June 1904. Ashley praises Lodge's attempt 'to translate Xtian doctrine into Cosmic terms'. He recommends that Lodge read Nicene philosophy, an essay on the Logos doctrine, and Robertson's sermon 'Caiaphas' view of vicarious sacrifice'.
/4 Letter from William Ashley to Oliver Lodge, written from 3 Yateley Road, Edgbaston, dated 7 July 1905. Ashley writes that the first students to graduate from the Faculty of Commerce will be awarded their degrees tomorrow and suggests that Oliver Lodge make a short statement to mark the occasion.
/5 Letter from William Ashley to Oliver Lodge, written from 3 Yateley Road, Edgbaston, dated 13 July 1905. Ashley asks Lodge to write him a reference for the Oxford chair. He comments on the other candidates, A. L. Smith and Egerton. He adds that there is much to be happy about at Birmingham.
/6 Letter from William Ashley to Oliver Lodge, written from 3 Yateley Road, Edgbaston, dated 29 October 1905. Ashley writes about the excellent work Kirkaldy is doing as the University representative on the Smethwick Education Committee. Ashley hopes to conduct an industrial census of Birmingham as part of his work with the Statutory Unemployment Committee.
/7 Letter from William Ashley to Oliver Lodge, written from 3 Yateley Road, Edgbaston, dated 18 November 1905. Ashley is sorry that Lodge has been troubled by Khalifa's requests for money but he believes Khalifa is a good student and asks Lodge to trust him. Ashley expects more Egyptian students will come to England and wishes to discuss the matter with Lodge.
/8 Letter from William Ashley to Oliver Lodge, written from The University, Edmund Street, Birmingham, dated 23 April 1906. Ashley informs Lodge that a delegation from the German Society for Social Reform is visiting England to look at the operation of wages boards and asks Lodge to attend a meal he has arranged for the visitors.
/9 Letter from William Ashley to Oliver Lodge, written from 3 Yateley Road, Edgbaston, dated 5 March 1916. Ashley cannot come to dinner as he is serving on a confidential committee and asks whether he can meet the Bryces the following day. He hopes to speak to Bryce about the letter he has received urging him to propose certain measures to improve Anglo-American relations. It is unthinkable that Wichmann [Karl Wichmann, Professor of German at the University of Birmingham from 1907-1917] would use knowledge of the scientific work done at the University to aid Germany and hopes there will be no action taken against him.
/10 Letter from William Ashley to Oliver Lodge, written from 3 Yateley Road, Edgbaston, dated 24 May 1916. In response to a draft speech sent by Lodge, Ashley discusses Hughes' democratic imperialism and sends a copy of one of his speeches.
/11 Letter from William Ashley to Oliver Lodge, written from 67 Hagley Road, undated. Ashley quotes a paradox about Turner's pictures and sends news of his children's health.
/12 Pamphlet and school leaving certificate produced by the Borough of Smethwick Education Committee, possibly enclosed with OJL/1/10/6 |