MS 1001

Reference code

MS 1001

Title

Speller family papers

Level

Sub-fonds

Date

c.1880-2019

Extent & medium

6 boxes

Content description

The collection comprises papers of three generations of the Speller family of London and Frome, Somerset: Herbert Elsmere Speller (1886-1917), his wife Maude Victoria Speller (1887-1970) née Gibson), their son Horace Jack Speller (1915-1997), his wife Eileen Lena Cecelia Speller (1918-2009) née Leach, and their daughter Jane Lesley Speller (born 1944); also included are a few items relating to Ernest James Speller (1895–1987), younger brother of Herbert Speller.

Herbert Speller’s papers comprise family letters, employment papers and relating to his military service during the World War I and his death in Egypt in 1917. Maude Speller’s papers document the difficulties she faced as a war widow and subsequent family life after Herbert’s death. Also included are some papers relating to her Gibson and Tripp relatives.

Herbert and Maude’s son Jack Speller’s papers relate to his employment and studies in advertising and publicity management, his World War II military papers documenting aspects of his service in Special Operations Executive (SOE), and papers relating to his business activities and management of Tudor Stores at Eton, with his wife Eileen and daughter Jane.

The papers include files of papers and documents letters, diaries, photographs, military documents and objects, and date predominantly from 1900 to 1985.

Provenance

Papers created by generations of the Speller family: Herbert Speller and his wife Maude, passed to their son Jack Speller and his wife Eileen and passed on to their daughter, Jane Speller.

Arrangement

Artificial arrangement imposed by the archivist. The papers have been divided into 4 series:

01 Papers of Herbert Elsmere Speller

02 Papers of Maude Victoria Speller

03 Papers of Horace Jack Speller and his family

04 Papers of Ernest James Speller