DIARIES

The series of diaries runs from 1881 to 1945 with the exception of 1884 and 1885. Most volumes contain daily entries by Addis, sometimes by his wife and, occasionally, by one of his children. Addis gives no reason for writing a diary and no indication that 1881 was the first year he kept one. The diaries cover a range of subjects but chiefly reflect personal and family life. Apparently open to his family, both Addis and his wife record in the diaries their emotions as well as opinions of relatives, colleagues and friends.The early volumes, written in London, Scotland and different Eastern postings reflect Addis's active social life and increasing responsibility within the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC), and then an emphasis on domestic life in the first years of marriage. From 1905, when the family settled in London, Addis becomes more preoccupied with banking and related matters, for example his work for the China Consortium, the Bank of England, the State Bank of Morocco, the Reichsbank, the Bank for International Settlements and a number of committees. He also continues to mention his family life, exercise, reading, entertaining, religious matters, holidays and theatre and concert visits. The final years, when Addis was free of some of these commitments and had moved to Sussex, show a continuing interest in Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) and China affairs but there are also many entries concerned with his property and the visits of children and grandchildren, and with his increasing ill health.

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In addition to the series of diaries there is also in the collection a photocopy of a volume of extracts from his diaries compiled by Addis, a photocopy of an original in his possession given by Lt-Cdr C.P. Addis (PP MS 14/674).