Papers of Marion Rawson

The collection contains around 100 letters written to Marion Rawson, chiefly between 1926 and 1930, discussing the political situation in Italy and the work being done to raise money and awareness elsewhere. Thirty-six letters, written in Italian, are from the archaelogist Umberto Zanotti-Bianco. Other correspondents include Don Luigi Sturzo, Marion Cave Rosselli, Carlo Rosselli and Giovanna Berneri (wife of the anti-fascist anarchist Luigi Camillo Berneri). The collection also contains around sixty cuttings from English and American newspapers 1927-1930 on Italian affairs, and forty issues of Italian periodical publications 1925-1968 (chiefly 1937-1942), including La Giovine Italia and Giustizia e Libert. Other items include a typescript copy of Marion Rawson's notes on Salvemini's life in England, written for Iris Origo in 1965, and copies of reports, speeches, letters and articles on Italy and Italian-British relations during the Fascist era.

Ivy Marion Enthoven, known after her marriage as Marion Rawson, came from a family with Italian connections. During the 1920s and 1930s she was part of the group of people working in England against Italian fascism, whose members included Gaetano Salvemini, Don Luigi Sturzo, Raffaele Rossetti and members of the Rosselli family. Between 1927 and 1930 she carried out much of the organisational work of the Italian Refugees' Relief Committee, set up in to raise money for the refugee community in Paris, but on the advice of Salvemini and others kept her name from being mentioned in connection with anti-fascist causes in order that she could continue travelling to Italy. She was a participant in the organisation of the escape of Carlo Rosselli, Emilio Lussu and Francesco Nitti from confinement on the island of Lipari in 1929. She translated many anti-fascist and other works into English, including those of Salvemini and Lussu.

Ivy Marion Enthoven married the dramatist Graham Stanhope Rawson in 1930.

The collection is divided into correspondence, English/U.S. periodical extracts, Italian periodicals, and miscellanea.

Open to all researchers. No reader's ticket is required but an appointment is necessary. Check www.reading.ac.uk/library/special-collections/using/lib-special-using.asp for contact details and opening hours.

Presented to the Library by Marion Rawson.

Description prepared by Bridget Andrews.

List available.

The Library also holds papers from the Italian Refugees' Relief Committee (MS 943), including many letters written by Marion Rawson.