Collection of Correspondence relating to the Shakespeare Commemorative Service, Southwark Cathedral, 23 April 1909

The collection consists of letters relating to the Shakespeare Commemorative Service in Southwark Cathedral, 1909, and includes too aShakespeare commemorative hymnby Canon H. D. Rawnsley. The correspondence is mostly in the form of replies to Leftwich for his invitations to attend the service.

A Shakespeare commemorative service was held in Southwark Cathedral on 23 April 1909. This appeared to occur on (or rather the day before) the 345th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth, and had been organised by Dr. Ralph Winnington Leftwich.

In 1912 the polymath and homeopath Ralph Winnington Leftwich M.D. (1849-1919) had written a pamphlet entitledBacon is not Shakespearerefuting claims years made by Sir Edward Durning-Lawrence inBacon is Shakespeare. Leftwich had also publishedAn index of symptoms as an aid to diagnosis(1888 in India),The international alphabet(1898),An index of symptoms as a clew to diagnosis(1904),Aids to rational therapeutics: with US pharmacopoeia(1918), andThe evidence of disease in Shakespeare's handwriting(1918).

Generally open for consultation to bona fide researchers, but please contact repository for details in advance.

Important finding aids generally are: the alphabetical Index to Manuscripts held at Edinburgh University Library, Special Collections and Archives, consisting of typed slips in sheaf binders and to which additions were made until 1987; and the Index to Accessions Since 1987.

Check the local Indexes for details of any additions.