Papers of (Joan) Pernel Strachey

The archive consists of: literary papers and lecture notes on French literature (including work on Lamartine, Madame de Sevigne, Chateaubriand, Montaigne, Racine and an article on the Women's movement in France which originated as the Fawcett Lecture of 1942) and Newnham College-related papers and correspondence (1944-1951).

Joan Pernel Strachey (1876-1951) was born in 1876 to Lady Jane Maria Strachey and Major Richard Strachey. She was educated at Allenswood School and Newnham College, Cambridge. After graduating, she lectured on French at Royal Holloway College between 1900-1905, moving to Newnham in 1905. In 1910 she was appointed as a tutor. In 1917 she became Director of Studies in Modern Languages, then in 1923, she was appointed principal of Newnham College. Pernel Strachey remained at Newnham College until her retirement in 1941. After this, she worked as a volunteer in the offices of the London and National Society for Women’s Service, of which her sister Philippa was president. Through her family connections, most specifically through her brother Lytton Strachey, she was considered part of the Bloomsbury set. She died in 1951.

This collection is available for research. Readers are advised to contact The Women's Library in advance of their first visit.

Unknown. Deposited c.1930. [Fawcett Library Accession Registers to be checked]

Fawcett Library Catalogue.

The Women's library also holds the papers of Lady Jane Strachey (7JMS) and Philippa Strachey (7PHS). Letters of the Strachey family also can be found in the Library's Autograph Letter Collection (9/20).