Trevelyan Family Papers
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| This material is held at | Newcastle University |
| Reference Number(s) | GB 186 T |
| Dates of Creation | 1758-1962 |
| Language of Material | English. |
| Physical Description | 85.5 linear metres |
Scope and Content
The collection consists of the personal, private and political papers of four members of the Trevelyan family and includes correspondence, both official and private, diplomatic papers, personal and family letters and diaries and journals. Fuller details are given under the individual entry for each family member.
Administrative / Biographical History
The Trevelyan family originates from Cornwall, but the papers held by the University Library date from a time when the family owned estates in the south-west, the largest being Nettlecombe in Somerset and Wallington in Northumberland. The majority of material relates to the Trevelyans of Wallington and the University Library holds material relating from the sixth baronet, Walter Calverley Trevelyan and his successors.
One of Walter Calverley Trevelyan's ancestors married Julia Calverley, sister of Sir William Blackett. Sir William's father had bought Wallington and its estate from the Fenwick family in 1688 and had the house and estate re-built. It was re-modelled further in 1738. Sir William, who had no children, left the Wallington estate to his nephew, Julia Calverley's son, Walter Calverley, with the proviso that he change his name to Blackett. As Walter Calverley Blackett again had no children, he in turn left Wallington and its estates to his nephew, Sir John Trevelyan. The Trevelyans already had a seat at Nettlecombe in Somerset and, as they had suffered during the English Civil War had been honoured with a baronetcy at the Restoration. Sir John Trevelyan was the fourth baronet and Walter Calverley Trevelyan's grandfather.
The first Sir John Trevelyan to enjoy both estates preferred to live in Nettlecombe and increased its estates substantially. His son John, the fifth baronet and Walter Calverley Trevelyan's father, also preferred Nettlecombe to live in, whereas Julia Wilson Trevelyan, his wife, was happier at Wallington.
Together they had seven sons and six daughters of which the two eldest sons died, leaving Walter Calverley Trevelyan heir. He was born at Wallington on 31st March 1797.
Walter Calverley and his wife Pauline Jermyn had no children and in 1852 when he made his will, he gave Wallington and its estates to his cousin Charles Edward Trevelyan, one of the sons of his uncle, the Venerable George Trevelyan. Giving the estate to Charles meant that his son George Otto Trevelyan would in turn inherit Wallington, of whom both Pauline and Walter Calverley thought very highly.
Julia, Walter Calverley's mother remained at Wallington for many years and treated the house and estates with disdain. In 1848 after she had uprooted some new plantings, Walter Calverley sent her a solicitor's letter of warning. In protest she leased a house nearby and although it was meant to be a bluff, but she was never allowed back to Wallington.
Wallington was empty for a while, but by 1852, the Trevelyans were living permanently at Wallington and set upon a program to improve the house, garden and estates.
Sir Charles Edward Trevelyan inherited the estates in 1879 and was able to enjoy Wallington in his retirement years. Through him it passed down the direct line of descent to his son, George Otto and then onto his grandson, Charles Philips Trevelyan who bequeathed the property to the National Trust with a life interest for him to remain at Wallington until his death.
Arrangement
The papers have been arranged mainly in chronological order with the correspondence fitted into the chronological scheme.
Conditions Governing Access
Access is open to bona fide researchers; appointment in advance and proof of identity required.
Conditions Governing Use
Reproduction:
The Trevelyan Trustees have agreed to the reproduction of up to 12 items from the papers for educational and private research purposes, provided the condition of the document does not prevent copying. Alternatively, photographic or digital images can be produced for educational and private research purposes. Please contact the Special Collections Librarian for further advice (email: lib-specenq@ncl.ac.uk)
Copyright:
Permission to make published use of any material from Special Collections must be sought in writing from the Special Collections Librarian (email: lib-specenq@ncl.ac.uk) and from the Trustees of the Trevelyan Papers. The library will assist with contacting the Trustees, but the responsibility to obtain copyright clearance rests with the user.
Acquisition Information
The papers of the Trevelyans of Wallington were deposited at the University Library in 1967 with some subsequent additions.
Other Finding Aid
Finding aids to the four collections available in the Enright Reading Room, Robinson Library and at the National Register of Archives.
Related Material
Newcastle University Library : Mary Moorman Papers ref. MM; National Register of Archives ref. : NRA 43047 Moorman
Papers held by other repositories :
Somerset Archive and Record Service : The papers of the Trevelyans of Nettlecombe, including Sir John Trevelyan, W.C. Trevelyan's father ref. DD/WO; National Register of Archives ref. : NRA 40633 Trevelyan
Northumberland Record Office : Papers relating to earlier Trevelyans and the Wallington estate ref. ZWN; National Register of Archives ref. : NRA 18523 Trevelyan
Subjects | |
| Statesmen Great Britain | |
| Politicians Correspondence | |
| Estates (Law) | |
| Women | |
Geographical Names | |
| Great Britain Politics and government | |
| Northumberland (England) | |
| Ireland | |
| India | |
Cataloguing Info
| Title | Trevelyan Family Papers |
| Creation | This document was generated by Javascript from an HTML form which structured the input according to the elements of ISAD(G) Version 2. |
| Revisions |
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Charles Edward Trevelyan Papers
| Reference Number(s) | GB 186 CET |
| Dates of Creation | 1807-1886 |
| Language of Material | English. |
| Physical Description | 7 linear metres |
Scope and Content
The Charles Edward Trevelyan Papers consist to a large extent of correspondence to and from Sir Charles on a huge variety of subjects including India - the Indian mutiny, reform, corruption; Ireland - the Irish famine and relief work; social and army reform; the Civil Service; education and the Treasury and all reflect the areas in which Sir Charles worked and where his interests lay during his lifetime.
Correspondents include Sir Francis Baring, Lord William Bentinck, Sir Edward Colebrooke, W.E. Gladstone, Thomson Hankey, Lord Macaulay, Sir Charles Metcalfe, Sir Stafford Northcote, Sir Charles Wood and various members of the Trevelyan family including Alfred Trevelyan and Sir George O Trevelyan.
The collection also includes letter books (1840-1865) of personal and private letters as well as letters relating to his work whilst in India, in London at the Treasury, particularly during the Irish Famine, and again in India towards the end of his career.
A large amount of the pamphlets written by Sir Charles during the course of his life are located towards the end of the collection.
Administrative / Biographical History
Charles Edward Trevelyan was born in Taunton, Somerset in 1807 and was the son of the Venerable George Trevelyan, Archdeacon of Taunton. His mother was Harriet Neave, daughter of Sir Richard Neave.
Trevelyan was educated at Taunton Grammar School and Charterhouse and then entered the East India Company's Bengal Civil Service as a writer in 1826 and soon became assistant to Sir Charles Metcalfe, the Commissioner to Delhi in 1827.
Whilst in Delhi he became interested in improving the conditions of the Indian population and to this end led inquiries into particular problems and helped push legislation through on taxation. It was during this time whilst at the East India Company that he exposed his superior for corruption and through his increasing interest in the Indian population he was able to promote the desegregation of the native Indians and their white rulers. In 1831 he moved to Calcutta to become the Deputy Political Secretary to the government and in 1836 he became the Secretary to the Board of Revenue, returning to London two years later.
In London he took up a post as Assistant Secretary to the Treasury, a post he held for nearly twenty years, covering the traumatic years of the famine in Ireland. His conduct has been much criticised, but his services were so highly regarded that he was made a K.C.B. in 1848. A few years later he produced the Northcote-Trevelyan report on the reform of the Civil Service which introduced, amongst other things, entry by competitive examination and the abolition of patronage. In 1859 he returned to India as governor of Madras, but an unfortunate lapse of judgement led to his recall to Britain in 1860. His disgrace was only temporary however as by 1862 he was back in India as the Finance Member of the Supreme Council and he remained there until 1865.
Once he had returned to Britain he became involved in a variety of projects, in particular the question of army purchase, charitable work and educational causes. He also became involved in the administration of the Wallington estate in Northumberland, which he had inherited from his cousin, Walter Calverley Trevelyan, in 1879.
In 1874 he was created a baronet. He married Hannah Moore Macaulay, daughter of Zachary Macaulay and sister of Lord Thomas Babbington Macaulay, the historian, in 1834. In October 1875 he married Eleanor Anne Campbell, daughter of Walter Campbell of Islay. Trevelyan died in June 1886.
Trevelyan wrote a large number of pamphlets, articles and newspaper articles and published various books including : On the education of the people of India (1838); Civil service reform : observations upon the report by Sir CE Trevelyan and Sir SH Northcote on the organisation of the permanent civil service ... (1854); The Irish crisis (1848); The British Army in 1868 (1868); The Trevelyan papers co-edited by J.P. Collier and W.C. Trevelyan (1857).
Arrangement
The papers have been arranged by subject of correspondence or papers and in chronological order as follows :
- CET 1-18 Correspondence : Family
- CET 19-43, 87-118; 124 Correspondence, reports, printed material etc. : India
- CET 44-47 Correspondence, reports, printed material etc. : Treasury
- CET 48-55 Correspondence, reports, printed material etc. : Civil Service Reform
- CET 56-57, 82-86 Correspondence, reports, printed material etc. : Army Reform
- CET 58-60, 79 Correspondence, reports, printed material etc. : Ireland
- CET 61-64, 78, 80-81 Correspondence, reports, printed material etc. : Social and Education
- CET 65-70 Correspondence, reports, printed material etc. : Foreign Affairs
- CET 71-76, 119-120 Correspondence, etc. : Material relating to Northumberland
- CET 77, 92, 95, 121-122 Miscellaneous
Conditions Governing Access
Access is open to bona fide researchers; appointment in advance and proof of identity required.
Conditions Governing Use
Reproduction:
The Trevelyan Trustees have agreed to the reproduction of up to 12 items from the papers for educational and private research purposes, provided the condition of the document does not prevent copying. Alternatively, photographic or digital images can be produced for educational and private research purposes. Please contact the Special Collections Librarian for further advice (email: lib-specenq@ncl.ac.uk)
Copyright:
Permission to make published use of any material from Special Collections must be sought in writing from the Special Collections Librarian (email: lib-specenq@ncl.ac.uk) and from the Trustees of the Trevelyan Papers. The library will assist with contacting the Trustees, but the responsibility to obtain copyright clearance rests with the user.
Acquisition Information
Main papers deposited in the University Library in 1967 with further additions made in 1983 and 1992.
Other Finding Aid
Catalogue to the papers, produced in conjunction with the Historical Manuscripts Commission in 1972, available in the Enright Reading Room ref. : CET; National Register of Archives ref.: NRA 12238 Trevelyan.
The catalogue has indexes to subject, person and place names.
Related Material
Papers held by other repositories :
Northumberland Record Office : Estate and official papers ref. NRO 453/724; National Register of Archives ref. : NRA 18523 Trevelyan.
Public Record Office :
Papers relating to Ireland, 1823-59 ref. T64; National Register of Archives ref. : NRA 28808 Treasury: misc.
Letters to Lord Granville, 1853-57 ref. PRO30/29; National Register of Archives ref. : NRA 8654 Leveson-Gower.
Correspondence with Lord John Russell and others, 1847-69 ref. PRO30/22 National Register of Archives ref. : NRA 8659 Russell.
Oxford University : Bodleian Library:
Letters to Lord Clarendon, 1847-50 ref. MSS Clar dep; National Register of Archives ref. : NRA 6302 Villiers.
Bibliography
The India we left : Charles Trevelyan, 1826-65, Humphrey Trevelyan 1929-47 by Humphrey Trevelyan. London : Macmillan, 1972.
George Otto Trevelyan Papers
| Reference Number(s) | GB 186 GOT |
| Dates of Creation | 1816, 1827-1931 |
| Language of Material | English. |
| Physical Description | 3.5 linear meters |
Scope and Content
The collection mainly consists of correspondence together with a few diaries, four scrapbooks of letters, with one containing photographs and letters, some loose photographs, one photograph album and a variety of printed ephemera. The collection is strong in family correspondence and because it slots in chronologically between the papers of Charles Edward Trevelyan and Charles Philips Trevelyan, it spans three generations. It includes letters between George Otto and both his father and his children; letters from George Otto to his wife (1875-1915); and correspondence to and from the Philips family.
There is a variety of material not directly written by or to George Otto, but found amongst the papers and this includes the correspondence between the Philips family and material associated with his eldest son Charles Philips Trevelyan concerning his political career and letters to and from his youngest son, George Macaulay Trevelyan. The subject coverage of the material ranges from botany to politics, to estate matters, literature and history, India, suffrage and education.
The collection also includes some of Lady Caroline's diaries as well as letters from T.B. Macaulay, H.H. Asquith, W.E. Gladstone, Rosalind Howard (Countess of Carlisle) and Thomson Hankey.
Administrative / Biographical History
George Otto Trevelyan was born in 1838 and was the eldest son of Charles Edward Trevelyan and Hannah Moore, sister of T.B. Macaulay. He was educated at Harrow and then at Cambridge where he gained a reputation as a distinguished classicist and also as the author of light satirical verse, but, on failing to obtain a Trinity fellowship in 1862, he decided to go to India as secretary to his father, then Finance Member of the Supreme Council. His experiences there led to the publication of The competition wallah (1864 in book form) which was initially published as a series of letters in Macmillan's magazine and Cawnpore (1865). On his return to England, he turned to politics and became a Liberal M.P.; amongst the several Government posts he held under Gladstone was that of Chief Secretary for Ireland after the murder of Lord Cavendish in Phoenix Park. He was also a historian, one of his most significant works being the Life and letters of Lord Macaulay (1876). He refused a peerage in 1908, but in 1911 accepted the Order of Merit.
His other works include : The early history of Charles James Fox (1880); The American Revolution in 3 vols. (1899-1907) and George the third and Charles Fox : the concluding part of the American Revolution (1912-1914).
His wife, Caroline Philips was the daughter of Manchester merchant and Liberal M.P. Robert Needham Philips. Despite the misgivings of Caroline's uncle, Mark Philips, they were married in 1869 having been denied permission for over four years. They were barely apart for the sixty years of their marriage and died within a few months of each other in 1928. Caroline had a strong disposition which was severely tested whilst she awaited permission to marry. She was known for her quiet and wise diplomacy and shared with her husband a love of literature. They had three sons; the eldest, Charles Philips Trevelyan, the Liberal, and later, Labour M.P., who bequeathed the Northumbrian family home, Wallington, to the National Trust; Robert Calverley Trevelyan, the poet and scholar and George Macaulay Trevelyan, the historian and Master of Trinity.
Arrangement
The papers have been arranged mainly in chronological order with the correspondence fitted into the chronological scheme.
- GOT 1-122, 132-151, 169, 182 Correspondence : Family
- GOT 123-127, 159-165 Correspondence : General
- GOT 128-129, 131, 192 Business papers
- GOT 152-158, 167-168, 171 Political papers
- GOT 130, 170, 172-181, 187-191, 193 Miscellaneous, printed and other material
- GOT 161, 166, 183-186 Scrapbooks and bound volumes of autographs
Conditions Governing Access
Access is open to bona fide researchers; appointment in advance and proof of identity required.
Conditions Governing Use
Reproduction:
The Trevelyan Trustees have agreed to the reproduction of up to 12 items from the papers for educational and private research purposes, provided the condition of the document does not prevent copying. Alternatively, photographic or digital images can be produced for educational and private research purposes. Please contact the Special Collections Librarian for further advice (email: lib-specenq@ncl.ac.uk)
Copyright:
Permission to make published use of any material from Special Collections must be sought in writing from the Special Collections Librarian (email: lib-specenq@ncl.ac.uk) and from the Trustees of the Trevelyan Papers. The library will assist with contacting the Trustees, but the responsibility to obtain copyright clearance rests with the user.
Acquisition Information
Main papers deposited in the University Library in 1967.
Other Finding Aid
Catalogue to the papers, produced in conjunction with the Historical Manuscripts Commission in 1972, available in the Enright Reading Room ref. : GOT; National Register of Archives ref.: NRA 12238 Trevelyan. The catalogue has indexes to subject, person and place names.
A list and index to autographs and photographs in the GOT scrapbooks is available in the Enright Reading Room.
Related Material
Papers held by Newcastle University Library :
Correspondence with Walter Runciman, 1898-1925 ref. WR.; National Register of Archives ref.: NRA 13873 Runciman.
Papers held by other repositories :
Cambridge University : Trinity College Library: Letters to RC Trevelyan, 1883-1928 ref. RCT 12-22 passim.
Oxford University : Bodleian Library:
Correspondence with Lord Bryce, 1876-1921 ref. MSS Bryce; National Register of Archives ref. : NRA 6716 Bryce.
Letters to HAL Fisher ref. MSS Fisher; National Register of Archives ref. : NRA 16446 Fisher.. Correspondence with Lord Kimberley, 1884-1900 ref. MSS Eng; National Register of Archives ref. : NRA 1274 Wodehouse.
British Library : Manuscript Collection :
Correspondence with Sir Charles Dilke, 1871-1910 ref. Add MS 43895.
Correspondence with WE Gladstone, 1867-95 ref. Add MS 44335.
National Library of Scotland : Manuscripts division :
Correspondence with Lord Rosebery, 1865-1927 ref. MS 10063, MS 9827, 10023-10290; National Register of Archives ref. : NRA 22490 Primrose.
Bibliography
Sir George Otto Trevelyan : a memoir by George Macaulay Trevelyan. London : Longmans, Green and Co., 1932.
