Research papers of Thomas William Brogden (1845-1925) concerning the Battle of Waterloo, 1833-1910

The collection includes:

• Research notebooks of T.W. Brogden, c.1898-c.1908 (MS 59/1/1).
• Correspondence to T.W. Brogden with accompanying manuscript notes and envelopes, August 1894-February 1925 (MS 59/1/2).
• Loose manuscript notes of T W Brogden, 1895 (MS 59/1/3).
• Photographs and printed images from secondary sources (MS 59/1/4).
• Newspaper cuttings, January 1894-June 1909 (MS 59/1/5).
• Correspondence from Captain William Siborne to Sir John Philippart, April 1833-July 1848 (MS 59/2).

The papers in the collection are primarily concerned with the events, personalities and historiography of the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. None are contemporaneous with the battle but they contain a vast amount of information spanning almost 80 years of research. Correspondents with Brogden include Major General Herbert Taylor Siborne (MS 59/1/2/23,25), the Third Earl Cathcart (MS 59/1/2/2-5,7-19), and Major R R Ward (MS 59/1/2/33-34).

Thomas William Brogden was born in Lincoln in 1844 where his father was a printer and newspaper proprietor. After leaving Shrewsbury School, Thomas was admitted to St John's College, Cambridge in 1863 from where he obtained a BA in 1867 and an MA in 1870. He was admitted to the Middle Temple in 1864 and called to the Bar in 1868. He worked on the Midland Circuit. His chambers were at 1, New Court, Temple, London. He became a Bencher in 1903. Brogden died in London on 6 April 1925.

The collection of books relating to the Battle of Waterloo and associated research papers reveal that he had a specialist knowledge and interest in the subject. No record has been discovered of Brogden publishing a book on the subject although it seems likely that he wrote articles and contributed to other people's books. Of the latter, we can be sure. Brogden provided the background notes to A Week at Waterloo in June 1815 by Lady De Lancey, an account of the last days on the battlefield of her husband Sir William De Lancey. It was edited by Major R.R. Ward and was first published in 1906.

Captain William Siborne (1797-1849) was also a historian of the battle. His son, Major General Herbert Taylor Siborne (1826-1902), was in the Royal Engineer Corps and edited Waterloo Letters (Cassell and Co, 1891).

The collection has been divided into two groups, separating the papers of T W Brogden from those written by Captain William Siborne to Sir John Philippart. The Siborne letters constitute one series, but Brogden's papers are divided by document type into seven series, within which, items have been arranged chronologically.

ACCESS: Accessible to all registered readers.

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

This description is the only finding aid available for the collection. Copyright in 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.

LANGUAGE: English

The papers were accumulated by Thomas Brogden in the course of his research. He purchased the letters from Captain William Siborne to Sir John Philippart in March 1912. The collection was acquired by the library of University College Nottingham (now The University of Nottingham) probably before 1939.

The University of Nottingham; Printed books relating to the Battle of Waterloo, once in the possession of T W Brogden. Some contain manuscript notes by Brogden and have newspaper cuttings pasted inside. Store: at classmarks DC241 and DC242