Papers of Sibyl, Lady Colefax (1874-1950), with some related family letters, 1851-1988

This material is held atBodleian Library, University of Oxford

  • Reference
    • GB 161 MSS. Eng. a. 2011, c. 3159-89, c. 3272, d. 2388-2404, d. 2419, e. 2751-8; Photogr. a. 4, b. 10-11, c. 25-30, d. 4-5
  • Dates of Creation
    • 1851-1988
  • Language of Material
    • English.
  • Physical Description
    • 70 shelfmarks

Scope and Content

Correspondence and papers, with some related family letters, 19th-20th cent., of Sibyl, Lady Colefax. The collection includes letters from many of the literary and society figures of her day, some personal and family papers, a few diaries of Lady Colefax, her visitors' books, and a number of photograph albums.

Administrative / Biographical History

Sibyl, Lady Colefax (1874-1950), wife of Sir Arthur Colefax (d 1936), was a society hostess, and co-founder of the firm of Colefax & Fowler.

Access Information

Entry to read in the Library is permitted only on presentation of a valid reader's card (for admissions procedures see http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/specialcollections)

Acquisition Information

Given by Mrs. M. Colefax, 1991-3.

Note

Collection level description created by Emily Tarrant, Department of Special Collections and Western Manuscripts.

Other Finding Aids

A catalogue of the collection is available online at http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/specialcollectionswmss/online/online.htm.

Bibliography

Kirsty McLeod, A Passion for Friendship, Sibyl Colefax and her Circle (London, 1991) is based partly on these papers.