Edwin and Sara John papers

Papers of Edwin John and his daughter Sara John, 1911-[?2005], including family and other correspondence, 1911-2004; press cuttings, 1931-1985; and theses and other papers relating to Gwen John, [?mid 20 cent.]-2002.

Gwendolen Mary John (Gwen John) (1876-1939), artist, was born on 22 June 1876 in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, to Edwin and Augusta John, and was raised in Tenby. She attended the Slade School of Fine Art, London, from 1895 to 1898. In 1904 she settled in Paris, moving to the suburb of Meudon in 1911. She died in Dieppe, France, on 18 September 1939. Gwen John's younger brother, Augustus Edwin John (1878-1961), artist, was born in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, and became a leading British portrait painter. He married Ida Nettleship (1877-1907) in 1901 and they had five children: David (b. 1902), Caspar (1903-1984), Robin (b. 1904), Edwin (1905-1978) and Henry (1907-1935). Dorelia McNeill (1881-1969), his mistress and, following Ida's death, his common-law wife, gave him a further four children: Pyramus (1905-1912), Romilly (1906-1986), Elizabeth Ann (Poppet) (1912-1997) and Vivien (1915-1994). The family settled at Alderney Manor, Dorset, and from 1927 at Fryern Court, Fordingbridge, Hampshire. Augustus died there on 31 October 1961. Edwin John, after a brief career as a boxer, became a watercolour artist. He lived in Paris for some years in the mid-1930s and, possibly as a result, was made executor and chief legatee to his aunt, Gwen John, on her death in 1939. He married Beatrice D. Barry in 1932; their son Ben was born in 1935 and their daughter Sara in 1946.

Arranged at NLW as follows: correspondence; papers.

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NLW MSS 23919-22, NLW ex 2293-7: Miss Sara John; Oswestry; Purchase (with NLW Facs 975); January 2004; 0200401714, 0200401716-7, 0200401721-2, 0200401726-8.
NLW ex 2975-7: Miss Sara John; Oswestry; Donation; April 2016; 99138932502419.

Gwendolen Mary John (Gwen John) (1876-1939), artist, was born on 22 June 1876 in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, to Edwin and Augusta John, and was raised in Tenby. She attended the Slade School of Fine Art, London, from 1895 to 1898. In 1904 she settled in Paris, moving to the suburb of Meudon in 1911. She died in Dieppe, France, on 18 September 1939. Gwen John's younger brother, Augustus Edwin John (1878-1961), artist, was born in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, and became a leading British portrait painter. He married Ida Nettleship (1877-1907) in 1901 and they had five children: David (b. 1902), Caspar (1903-1984), Robin (b. 1904), Edwin (1905-1978) and Henry (1907-1935). Dorelia McNeill (1881-1969), his mistress and, following Ida's death, his common-law wife, gave him a further four children: Pyramus (1905-1912), Romilly (1906-1986), Elizabeth Ann (Poppet) (1912-1997) and Vivien (1915-1994). The family settled at Alderney Manor, Dorset, and from 1927 at Fryern Court, Fordingbridge, Hampshire. Augustus died there on 31 October 1961. Edwin John, after a brief career as a boxer, became a watercolour artist. He lived in Paris for some years in the mid-1930s and, possibly as a result, was made executor and chief legatee to his aunt, Gwen John, on her death in 1939. He married Beatrice D. Barry in 1932; their son Ben was born in 1935 and their daughter Sara in 1946.

The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: Michael Holroyd, Augustus John: The New Biography (London, 1996); Sue Roe, Gwen John: A Life (London, 2001); Mary Taubman, Gwen John: The Artist and Her Work (London, 1985).

Title based on contents of fonds.

April 2012 and May 2017.

Description compiled by Rhys Morgan Jones.

Usual copyright laws apply. Information regarding the ownership of Augustus John and Gwen John copyright can be found at http://tyler.hrc.utexas.edu/ (viewed April 2012).

Among the manuscripts and archives at NLW relating to Augustus and Gwen John are NLW, Augustus John Papers; NLW, Gwen John Manuscripts; NLW, Michael Holroyd (Augustus and Gwen John) Manuscripts; NLW, Michael Holroyd (Augustus John) Research Papers; and NLW, Mary Taubman (Gwen John) Research Papers.

Published

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales