Nancy Astor Collection

MS 1416

1900-1964

Nancy Astor (n ;e Langhorne) was born in Danville, Virginia on 19 May 1879. She died on 2 May 1964. Her first marriage to American Robert Shaw in 1896 was not successful and they divorced in 1903. In 1906 she married Waldorf Astor and they settled at Cliveden, Bucks. When her husband succeeded his father as Viscount Astor in 1919 Nancy took his place as the Conservative MP for Plymouth (Sutton Division), becoming the first woman to sit in the House of Commons. She campaigned in particular for women's causes and for temperance and was known for her sharp wit.

CONTENT INDICATOR: We recognise that this collection and catalogue contain some offensive terminology and content. Most record titles appear exactly as on the original folder (or else in abbreviated form - see ‘system of arrangement’). Terms and concepts referenced in double quotation marks in the ‘scope and content’ fields also indicate a direct quotation from the record. These titles and terminology/content have been retained for their evidential value, being indicative of viewpoints at that time and the context in which the record was created. They in no way reflect the attitudes of the cataloguer or the University of Reading. The collection consists of two main groups of Nancy Astor's papers. Political correspondence 1919-1945 contains letters in and out, as well as parliamentary papers, prospective legislation and other publications. Subjects covered include elections and local affairs in Plymouth; children's education and welfare and the creation of nursery schools; Christian Science; health; pensions; protection and support of the family; temperance; tours to Canada and the United States; unemployment; women's suffrage and work during the two world wars. General/Personal correspondence 1900-1964 contains letters from family, friends and eminent people in the UK, Europe, Canada and the United States. Sundry papers include unclassified files relating to Plymouth, non-parliamentary and parliamentary speeches, articles and messages, invitations and royal visits, political diaries and other diaries. There is also a large collection of bound newspaper cuttings: American 1919-1940; British 1908-1964.

374 boxes, 91 volumes of press cuttings

English

fonds

Great Britain (Politics and government) (20th century), Plymouth, Women politicians

The collection is arranged in the order in which it was received. The political correspondence consists of a series of chronological blocks of files, each series arranged in a separate alphabetical sequence by subject and date. The general/personal correspondence is also divided into blocks by type, then chronologically, and then alphabetically by correspondent. At some point in the collection’s history, most of the catalogue's file titles were simplified to a shortened version of the title that had been written on each original physical folder. During the cataloguing project 1 June to 31 August 2026: (1) simplified file titles have been retained unless they are incorrect or use offensive terminology, in which case an alternative title has been supplied in square brackets; (2) the exact title from the original physical folder has been reproduced in quotations in the ‘scope and content’ field. Note: MS 1416 1/1/766 to 776 are now arranged according to the file numbering on the original folders. An earlier version of this catalogue had re-ordered these files but they are now arranged in their original order (with the previous catalogue reference number given in the 'Numbers' field).

Selected material available on microfilm from Adam Matthew Publications, 8 Oxford Street, Marlborough Wilts SN18 1AP, UK. Tel: (01672) 511 921, fax: (01672) 511 663, email: Adam_Matthew@msn.com

MS 1066, MS 2421