British and American Ada Leigh Homes and Hostels in Paris

Papers relating to the activities of the British and American Ada Leigh Homes and Hostels in Paris, 1880-1952, including Directors' minute books, 1880-1953, which also contain some correspondence, receipts, lists of Directors and Council members, photographs of properties in Paris and Neuilly-sur-Seine, and a portrait of Ada Leigh; minute books of the Council in Paris, 1899-1931; notice and agenda of the 77th Annual General Meeting, 5 Dec 1950; legal documents, 1924-1958, notably copies of the Memorandum and Articles of Association, with revisions and annotations up to 1933, a copy of a special resolution to change the name of the Association, 1924, agreements between the Land Law Company Ltd and Ada Leigh Homes concerning the tenancy of a room in 32 Mowbray House, London, 1936 and 1945, typescript lawyers' notes relating to the will of Ada Leigh, 1951, and a document concerning advice from the Charity Commissioners relating to Ada Leigh Homes, 1958; correspondence, 1940-1946, with the Rev W H F Couldridge, Chaplain of Christchurch, Neuilly-sur-Seine, concerning his expenses and pay following his evacuation from France following the German invasion of Paris; correspondence, 1945, concerning insurance policies and taxes on properties in Paris; correspondence relating to the sale of Christchurch, 1949, including copy legal documents in French, a statement on the history and purpose of the Ada Leigh Homes, and press cuttings; bound account books, 1923-1957, including a journal of daily expenses, 1923-1953, a ledger showing income and expenditure, 1933-1939, a cash book, 1939-1945, and a petty cash book, 1940-1957; insurance papers, 1931-1950, relating to the London Office and the Paris hostels, with details of damage to buildings during the German occupation of Paris; endowment papers, 1937-1947, namely deed of covenant forms for donations to the Ada Leigh Homes, and lists of contributors and contributions to the Endowment Fund, 1939; receipt books and bank books, 1927-1957, notably 7 books of receipt book stubs showing donations, 1948-1956, and several volumes containing returned cheques, 1947-1957; a note from the Charity Commissioners concerning the purchase of shares by Ada Leigh Homes, 1929; financial vouchers and receipts, 1945-1956; financial material relating to the Paris hostels, 1949-1950, including statements of accounts for the household at Wagram Hostel, and correspondence with banks and solicitors; general financial file relating to property held by Ada Leigh Homes, 1947-1950, notably typescript notes relating to the Christchurch Endowment Fund (taken from the 1932 Directors minute book), bank statements, bills and receipts from solicitors, and correspondence and estimates concerning the refurbishment of Christchurch Presbytery in 1947.

The Association of the Mission Homes for English and American Women in Paris, later known (from 1924) as the British and American Ada Leigh Homes and Hostels in Paris, were set up by Miss Ada Leigh (Mrs Travers Lewis) in 1876. The aims of the Association were to provide homes, free of charge, for women and children of, and connected with, the United Kingdom and its colonies, and the United States of America. The first hostel was at 77 Avenue Wagram, Paris, with others later being provided at Bineau Avenue and Washington House, Rue de Milan. The Association also built an Anglican church called Christchurch at Neuilly-sur-Seine, and actively promoted Anglicanism. During the German occupation of Paris during World War Two, Ada Leigh Homes was forced to cease operations, the Chaplain fled to Britain and the hostels were closed. After the war, activities were resumed, though on a smaller scale.

The collection is broadly arranged in the following sections: minute books, AGM materials, legal documents, correspondence and financial papers.

Open.

Printed handlist and on-line catalogue available.

Sources: British Library On-Line Public Access Catalogue 97. Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the RSLP AIM25 project.

Apply to Archivist for copyright details. Most documents may be photocopied.

Deposited by Thomson Quarrell, solicitors via the British Records Association, in 1993.

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Further details of the history of the homes may be found in Ada Lewis, Homeless in Paris: the founding of the 'Ada Leigh' Homes , (S.P.C.K., London, 1920).