Papers of Audrey Beecham (died 1989), lecturer and warden of The University of Nottingham's Nightingale Hall, 1950-1980

The collection contains personal correspondence of Audrey Beecham received during her period as warden of The University of Nottingham's Nightingale Hall. The letters relate primarily to Hall business but there is some correspondence between Beecham, her friends and former residents of the Hall. The correspondence covers the period 1950-1980.

(Helen) Audrey Beecham was warden of The University of Nottingham's Florence Nightingale Hall (now Nightingale Hall) and a lecturer in Social and Economic History from 1950 until her retirement in 1980. She came to Nottingham from Oxford University where she had been conducting research in Agricultural Economics.

Florence Nightingale Hall was the first hall of residence to be built for The University of Nottingham. Beecham's financial management and her integration of house tutors into hall life became a model for later wardens. Her interest in poetry and avant-garde art was reflected in her running of the Hall where she encouraged interest in modern culture and supported related activities.

Beecham continued her research, and published articles in learned journals, particularly on the history of the plough. She died in Oxford in January 1989.

Items in the collection have been arranged chronologically where possible.

ACCESS: Restricted pending full cataloguing. Contact the Department for advice.

• This description is the only finding aid available for the collection. Copyright on the description belongs to The University of Nottingham.

COPYRIGHT: Permission to make published use of any material from this collection must be sought in advance in writing from the Keeper of the Department of Manuscripts and Special Collections (email mss-library@nottingham.ac.uk). The Department will try to assist in identifying copyright owners but this can be difficult and the responsibility for copyright clearance before publication ultimately rests with the person wishing to publish.

REPROGRAPHIC: Reprographic copies can be supplied for educational use and private study purposes only, depending on access status and the condition of the documents.

The collection was acquired by The University of Nottingham's Department of Manuscripts and Special Collections in two parts, in 1989 and 1995.

• The University of Nottingham; Department of Manuscripts and Special Collections: Papers relating to Florence Nightingale Hall. References: ACC 483 & ACC 1204 & ACC 1236 & ACC 1409 (part)
• University of Oxford; Bodleian Library; Papers of Audrey Beecham including poetic works.