| Description | /1 Manuscript postcard to Oliver Lodge, postmarked from London, 15 October 1904. [Woodward] thanks Lodge for sending her his papers and the 'Hibbert' [probably his article entitled 'The Survival of Man' published in The Hibbert Journal in 1909], and writes that she enjoyed his recent speech. Woodward discusses several other academic texts she has enjoyed or would like to read, including one by H. Goodwin Smith on 'Erasmus' and one which she would have to visit the British Museum to view.
/2 Manuscript postcard from 'M. N. W.' [Mabel Nightingale Woodward, 1876-1911] to Oliver Lodge, postmarked from Birmingham, 26 October 1904. Woodward requests that Lodge send a printed copy of his 'Haeckel address'.
/3 Undated manuscript letter from 'Mabel' to 'My darling Lady' [Mary Fanny Alexander Lodge nee Marshall], written on 'Tuesday', 1904 [no date]. Woodward appears to be ill, and writes to thank the recipient for sending her a book and a collar. She describes the good care she has received from 'the Gnome (Taylor)' who appears to be a member of the clergy and reads her love poetry, and adds that she has requested to loan a book from 'the Great Man' [Oliver Lodge].
/4 Undated manuscript letter from 'MNW' written on the reverse of paper headed with the address 28 Denning Road, Hampstead, N. W., written on Tuesday, 1904 [no date]. Woodward is ill, and hopes to sit up in bed for an hour at the end of the week. She writes to ask [Oliver Lodge] not to send the book 'The Eastern Stories' as she has already acquired it from the library. She adds that instead, she would like to read Robert Louis Stevenson's 'Weir of Hermiston' or George Meredith's 'Beauchamp's Career'.
/5 Undated manuscript letter from 'MNW' to Oliver Lodge. Woodward writes to ask Lodge if he would like her taxi cab to stop and collect him this evening, or if he would rather walk.
/6 Undated manuscript letter from 'MNW'. Woodward writes of her susprise and delight when Lodge attended an event she appears to have been speaking at, alongside an 'infant schoolmistress' whose speech Woodward thought had misunderstood the points of the 'receptive side' and 'self expression'.
/7 Manuscript postcard from 'MNW' to Oliver Lodge, postmarked from Pontarlier [France], date not visible. Woodward writes to inform Lodge that she will be staying in Pontarlier for two days because of the wet weather. She adds that she has telegraphed back to Lausanne [Switzerland] for Lodge's alpenstock which has become separated from their luggage, and of which she appears very fond.
/8 Undated manuscript letter from 'M.N.W.' to [Oliver Lodge]. Woodward conveys her sympathy to her recipient, who is ill, possibly with influenza. Woodward writes that Helen Woodhouse visited her, bringing a poem to set to music, and a paper for the philosophy meeting which Woodward will hear after tea. Woodward also recounts that the students of 'the hostel' at 215 Hagley Road had made a life-size statue of [Oliver Lodge] in his gown and cap out of snow. Miss [Margery] Fry was responsible for some of the modelling. Woodward also writes that she is at present reading 'Consuelo' by George Sand and comments on the style of the novel.
/9 Undated manuscript letter from 'M.N.W' to 'My dearest of all', written from 18 Harborne Road on 'Sunday', 1905 [no date]. Woodward thanks Lodge for 'the proofs' which she thinks are beautiful and sincere. Woodward also discusses her faith in God.
/10 Undated manuscript letter from 'MNW'. Woodward writes that she would love to see 'Mrs P in T' but only if convenient, and also writes that Browning's 'La Saisiaz' fits well with 'this week's thoughts'.
/11 Undated manuscript letter from 'MNW'. Woodward criticises the words of Carnegie concerning God and the universal church. She adds that the rest of the term will be desparately dull without her 'dearest Great Man' [Lodge].
/12 Manuscript letter from 'MNW', Friday 6 January [1905]. Woodward writes that she has almost finished reading 'The House of the Wolfings' and she wishes [Lodge] will recuparate well whilst in Felixstowe. She also sends [Lodge] a book of Irish poems. Woodward then writes about Miss Taylor, a mysterious pious visitor, and her brother the doctor, who spoke to Woodward about the connection between God and the evolution of humans from apes. Woodward wishes after attending a funeral that she 'were a spirit able to listen to the music of your [Lodge's] thoughts', and updates him on her own health, which is poor but improving. She finally ends by writing about cremation and burial, hoping that [Lodge] will be buried near to her.
/13 Manuscipt letter from 'M.N.W.', Monday 3 April [1905]. Woodward writes that 'Evelyn' is staying with her and is in bed ill. She comments on the vegetarianism of Theo [Theodora] and Evelyn. Woodward also recounts that she recently attended an evening service at a local church where she listened to the 'Evening Prayer' and was reduced to tears thinking about humans striving for goodness. Woodward also adds that the landlord and landlady were staying in her room, as a family of Germans were coming to stay next week. Also includes a pen drawing at the top of the first page.
/14 Undated manuscript letter from 'MNW', written from Beach House, Freshwater [Isle of Wight], Good Friday Evening. Woodward describes in detail the picturesque landscape of the Isle of Wight, and a long walk she undertook over the downs and cliffs to Brook, where she speculated that this environment must have been the inspiration for Tennyson's poem, 'Maud'. She remembers the phrase 'low tide under the moon', and asks Lodge to remind her of its scientific explanation. She is also saddened to hear of Lodge's illness, and hopes that he will be well cared for at 'Clouds' [Clouds House - designed by Philip Webb for Percy Wyndham, became a hub for the intellectual group, The Souls]. Woodward also tells Lodge about the books she is currently reading including a biography of [John Everett] Millais and [Theodore] Watts-Dunton's 'Aylwin', and informs him of her upcoming visit to London. She is eager to visit the Tate and National Galleries, but not for a meeting with a 'music buyer', which has been arranged for her.
/15 Manuscript letter from 'M.N.W.', written from 1 Bedford Place, Sidmouth [Devon], Good Friday 22 April, no year. Woodward asks whether Lodge will be attending the Easter service at Salisbury Cathedral, and discusses the beauty of the building and its surroundings. She also writes about 'Agnes Thompson' and her ability to perform Bach's music, which Woodward loves, believing it to hide supressed passion. She recommends other classical music to Lodge, including Scarlatti, and writes of her wish to play piano for Lodge 'in the next world'.
/16 Undated manuscript letter from 'MNW', written from Rawlinson Road, Oxford, c/o [care of] Dr Drummond, Whit Sunday. Woodward wishes that Lodge were well enough to enjoy the beautiful weather and the city of Oxford, which she is visiting for the first time, and describes with affection in great detail. She is particularly enthused about Magdalen and Merton college towers, and the college gardens, and wishes Lodge could tell her more about the city.
/17 Undated manuscript letter from 'M.N.W.' written from 16 Harborne Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, 18 October, no year. Woodward writes that she is glad to have tickets to 'the Priestley lecture', and to tell Lodge that at his recent speech which she attended, she was pleased that a man sitting near her took down Lodge's speech in short-hand, and commended it aloud. Woodward was also moved by the section in Lodge's speech about 'Self Help'.
/18 Undated manuscript letter from 'Mabel', written from 18 Harborne Road, on 'Tuesday night', no date. Woodward writes to Lodge to thank him for the 'Peace of God' which she believes he has given her. She is particularly insistent upon thanking him, as she writes that she may never write to him again [it appears she is ill and believes she may die soon]. Woodward also writes that in the past she has torn up many letters that she had written to Lodge, but is determined that this letter should be sent.
/19 Undated manuscript letter from 'MNW', written from 16 Harborne Road, on 'Saturday', no date. Woodward thanks Lodge for sending her 'The Catechism', and contemplates in her letter what people in the future will think of the time of change she is living in. She adds that she will be singing at a 'musical meeting' in Sutton Coldfield this afternoon.
/20 Undated manuscript letter from 'M.N.W.' to 'My dearest Great Man'. Woodward writes her thoughts about natural science and its uncertain relationship with religious and spiritual beliefs. Her writing style seems distressed. She writes in capital letters at the top of the letter 'Not to be answered'.
/21 Undated manuscript card from 'MNW'. Woodward writes that 'Professor Muirhead would go with you [Lodge] to the other end of the world - if that would please you [him]...' Woodward asks that [Lodge] does not reply.
/22 Undated manuscript letter from 'M.N.W.', written from 18 Harborne Road, on 'Tuesday', no date. Woodward tells Lodge that she has read [Henry] Jones's article in the Hibbert Journal, and summarises his arguments against [Arthur] Balfour on the topics of science, nature, philosophy and theology. Woodward writes that she has not read fully around the topic, and does not wish Lodge to reply to her.
/23 Undated manuscript letter from 'M.N.W.', written from 1 York Road, on 'Monday', no date. Woodward thanks Lodge for visiting the day before, and writes that she has been experiencing 'terrors' in her sleep, which his visit 'blue [sic] away'. Woodward also tells Lodge that she has written more songs - including one written particularly for him, and that she sang well yesterday evening.
/24 Undated manuscript letter from 'M.N.W.', 'Monday', no date. Woodward praises Lodge's recent address, which she writes 'opened the heavens' and led her to the conclusion that 'our [humans'] minds are of God'. Woodward cries [visible tear marks on the page] as she contemplates the power of prayer and her position as 'an atom - yet an atom of The Whole'.
/25 Undated manuscript letter [incomplete]. Woodward writes that two of her songs have been selected to be used in a publication of music to 'Beauty and the Beast', but she is disappointed that two more were left out in favour of music by 'B. Martineau', 'Miss Buckton' and 'the Gratton person'.
Also includes a folded piece of lined paper reading 'Letters M. N. W. 1904-1906, in which the whole of OJL/1/450 was previously enclosed. |