Ismay (Haselbech)

Title deeds for the Haselbech estate from 1652. Estate records 1918-1981. Personal papers including engagement books 1920-1949 (not complete series), scrap books 1925-1956 and diaries, papers and photographs of overseas tours 1907-1938 (South America, Africa, 'across the Sahara in a Rolls Royce', India, Australia, New Zealand and Europe). Haselbech Women's Institute records and film 1929-1960. Milton Club records 1925-1970. Research papers of Dr Smee. Very fine and extensive collection of cine film (about 200 reels) of domestic life at Haselbech and of overseas tours 1913, 1930-1955. Servants' wages 1921-1934.

The papers of Charles Bower Ismay, his wife Matilda Constance, their daughter Florence Delaphanie and Dr. Dora K. Smee. Ismay was an owner of the White Star Shipping Line and purchased Haselbech Hall as his country estate in 1908. He died unexpectedly in 1924 leaving his wife, an American heiress, to run the estate. They had an only daughter but Haselbech was left to Mrs Ismay's companion Dora Smee. Dr. Smee was an academic geographer, of Bedford College, London.

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Handlist available. Also a copy of the catalogue is available on Access to Archives http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/

Description by Northamptonshire Record Office. Amended by Genesis Project Officer. Submitted to the Archives Hub as part of Genesis 2009 Project.

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