BUTLER, George (1815-1884)

Scope and Content

Handwitten notebook, entitled 'Manuscript of various pieces of poetry and prose by A Wise Man of the East' containing religious and other poetry composed by George Butler, with notes on the inspirations and subjects for many of the poems, with photocopy of notebook (c200pp) (May 1850 - September 1883).

Administrative / Biographical History

Born in Winchester in 1815; when Butler was four years old, the family moved to London in search of employment and in later years, he learned the family trade of boot and shoemaking; ran a shop in Ben Jonson Road, Stepney (formerly Rhodeswell Road); married, lived in Baker Street, Stepney, and had nine children, of which two boys and three girls reached adulthood; around 1850, Butler found religion and became an active member of the Open Air Mission, working together with City missionaries to offer material and spiritual support to the disadvantaged in the East End; died in March 1884 while living in Stepney Green and was buried in Tower Hamlets Cemetery as a non conformist in unconsecrated ground and in a public, unmarked grave.

Arrangement

No further arrangement required.

Access Information

OPEN

Acquisition Information

Deposited at the Bishopsgate Institute by Joy S and David Buchanan, 15 June 2005.

Other Finding Aids

No further finding aid required.

Archivist's Note

Entry compiled by Stefan Dickers.

Conditions Governing Use

Documents cannot be photocopied at present. Digital photography (without flash) is permitted for research purposes on completion of the Library's Copyright Declaration form and with respect to current UK copyright law.

Bibliography

Poems published in: Buchanan, Joy S., By a Wise Man of the East: otherwise Goerge Butler (Feather Books, Shrewsbury, 1997).

Subjects