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Cornford, Frances Crofts, 1886-1960 (née Darwin, poet)

 Person

Biography

Frances Crofts was born in Cambridge on 30 March 1886, the only child of Sir Francis Darwin (1848–1925) and his second wife, Ellen Wordsworth Crofts (1856–1903), daughter of John Crofts, of Leeds. Ellen was a lecturer in English at Newnham College, Cambridge. Francis Darwin, then lecturer in botany at Cambridge, was the third son of Charles Darwin, whom he had helped with his biological researches. Frances was half-sister to the writer and golfing expert Bernard Darwin, the only child of her father's first marriage. Her education was private, and during her childhood her chief associates were her cousins, the children of George Darwin and Horace Darwin. Her mother died when she was seventeen; her father then moved their home for a short time to London, but soon returned to Cambridge where Frances spent most of the rest of her life. In the summer of 1908 members of the Cambridge Marlowe Dramatic Society arranged a performance of Comus as part of a Milton tercentenary celebration at Christ's College, where Frances Darwin met Francis Macdonald Cornford (1874–1943), a fellow of Trinity College and afterwards Laurence professor of ancient philosophy at Cambridge, who had been cast for the part of Comus. They were married in 1909. Their home at Conduit Head off the Madingley Road soon became a meeting-place for artists and men of letters such as Will Rothenstein, Eric Gill, Lowes Dickinson, Bertrand Russell, and occasional visitors such as Rabindranath Tagore. The Cornfords had five children. Their eldest son, (Rupert) John Cornford, was killed in Spain, in December 1936. The second son, Christopher Francis Cornford, became an artist and in 1963 was appointed the first dean of the Royal College of Art in London. Frances Darwin started writing poetry at sixteen and subsequently published enough to entitle her to a distinguished place among the minor poets of the Georgian period and later years. Her first volume, Poems (1910), brought somewhat embarrassing fame for 'To a Fat Lady Seen from a Train', which became a standard anthology piece and was parodied by G. K. Chesterton. One of her early books was a ‘morality’ play, 'Death and the Princess' (1912). With the publication of later volumes of poetry, 'Different Days' (1928), 'Mountains and Molehills' (1934), and 'Travelling Home' (1948), the quiet but distinctive quality of her work began to be recognized. In 1954 her volume 'Collected Poems' was the official ‘choice’ of the Poetry Book Society and in 1959 she was awarded the queen's medal for poetry. Frances Cornford died of heart failure at her home, 10 Millington Road, Cambridge, on 19 August 1960. She was buried at St Giles's cemetery, Cambridge.

Found in 147 Collections and/or Records:

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 Item

from Frances Cornford, c/o Christopher & Lucy, Conduit Head, Cambridge, Mar 1959

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.8905/10/C/130
Scope and Contents From the Fonds:

Hassall died intestate. His working papers were taken to the Royal Society of Literature by his assistant Gillian Paterson, who arranged and (presumably) listed them. They were bought by CUL from Bloomsbury Book Auctions in 1992. They were housed in paper box files 1 25 and cartons A D, as listed. They have now been re boxed, in 28 boxes and one packet, which has involved some reorganisation of the material and hence some rearrangement and re numbering of the original list.

Dates: Mar 1959
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
 Item

from Frances Cornford, c/o Dr J R Henderson, Box 322, Ross, Marin County, California

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.8905/10/C/113
Scope and Contents From the Fonds:

Hassall died intestate. His working papers were taken to the Royal Society of Literature by his assistant Gillian Paterson, who arranged and (presumably) listed them. They were bought by CUL from Bloomsbury Book Auctions in 1992. They were housed in paper box files 1 25 and cartons A D, as listed. They have now been re boxed, in 28 boxes and one packet, which has involved some reorganisation of the material and hence some rearrangement and re numbering of the original list.

Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
 Item

from Frances Cornford, c/o Dr J R Henderson, Box 322, Ross, Marin County, California, 28 Apr 1957

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.8905/10/C/119
Scope and Contents From the Fonds:

Hassall died intestate. His working papers were taken to the Royal Society of Literature by his assistant Gillian Paterson, who arranged and (presumably) listed them. They were bought by CUL from Bloomsbury Book Auctions in 1992. They were housed in paper box files 1 25 and cartons A D, as listed. They have now been re boxed, in 28 boxes and one packet, which has involved some reorganisation of the material and hence some rearrangement and re numbering of the original list.

Dates: 28 Apr 1957
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
 Item

from Frances Cornford, c/o Mrs Baynes, Reed House, Old Avenue, West Byfleet, Surrey

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.8905/10/C/173
Scope and Contents From the Fonds:

Hassall died intestate. His working papers were taken to the Royal Society of Literature by his assistant Gillian Paterson, who arranged and (presumably) listed them. They were bought by CUL from Bloomsbury Book Auctions in 1992. They were housed in paper box files 1 25 and cartons A D, as listed. They have now been re boxed, in 28 boxes and one packet, which has involved some reorganisation of the material and hence some rearrangement and re numbering of the original list.

Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
 Item

from Frances Cornford, Conduit Head [Madingley Road, Cambridge]

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.8905/10/C/208
Scope and Contents

[Christmas card]

Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
 Item

from Frances Cornford, Conduit Head, Madingley Road, Cambridge

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.8905/10/C/209
Scope and Contents From the Fonds:

Hassall died intestate. His working papers were taken to the Royal Society of Literature by his assistant Gillian Paterson, who arranged and (presumably) listed them. They were bought by CUL from Bloomsbury Book Auctions in 1992. They were housed in paper box files 1 25 and cartons A D, as listed. They have now been re boxed, in 28 boxes and one packet, which has involved some reorganisation of the material and hence some rearrangement and re numbering of the original list.

Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
 Item

from Frances Cornford, Conduit Head, Madingley Road, Cambridge

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.8905/10/C/210
Scope and Contents From the Fonds:

Hassall died intestate. His working papers were taken to the Royal Society of Literature by his assistant Gillian Paterson, who arranged and (presumably) listed them. They were bought by CUL from Bloomsbury Book Auctions in 1992. They were housed in paper box files 1 25 and cartons A D, as listed. They have now been re boxed, in 28 boxes and one packet, which has involved some reorganisation of the material and hence some rearrangement and re numbering of the original list.

Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
 Item

from Frances Cornford, Conduit Head, [Madingley Road] Cambridge

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.8905/10/C/211
Scope and Contents From the Fonds:

Hassall died intestate. His working papers were taken to the Royal Society of Literature by his assistant Gillian Paterson, who arranged and (presumably) listed them. They were bought by CUL from Bloomsbury Book Auctions in 1992. They were housed in paper box files 1 25 and cartons A D, as listed. They have now been re boxed, in 28 boxes and one packet, which has involved some reorganisation of the material and hence some rearrangement and re numbering of the original list.

Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
 Item

from Frances Cornford, Conduit Head, Madingley Road, Cambridge

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.8905/10/C/171
Scope and Contents From the Fonds:

Hassall died intestate. His working papers were taken to the Royal Society of Literature by his assistant Gillian Paterson, who arranged and (presumably) listed them. They were bought by CUL from Bloomsbury Book Auctions in 1992. They were housed in paper box files 1 25 and cartons A D, as listed. They have now been re boxed, in 28 boxes and one packet, which has involved some reorganisation of the material and hence some rearrangement and re numbering of the original list.

Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
 Item

from Frances Cornford, Conduit Head, Madingley Road, Cambridge, 9 May 1949

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.8905/10/C/88
Scope and Contents From the Fonds:

Hassall died intestate. His working papers were taken to the Royal Society of Literature by his assistant Gillian Paterson, who arranged and (presumably) listed them. They were bought by CUL from Bloomsbury Book Auctions in 1992. They were housed in paper box files 1 25 and cartons A D, as listed. They have now been re boxed, in 28 boxes and one packet, which has involved some reorganisation of the material and hence some rearrangement and re numbering of the original list.

Dates: 9 May 1949
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
 Item

from Frances Cornford, Conduit Head, Madingley Road, Cambridge, 10 Jan 1951

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.8905/10/C/89
Scope and Contents From the Fonds:

Hassall died intestate. His working papers were taken to the Royal Society of Literature by his assistant Gillian Paterson, who arranged and (presumably) listed them. They were bought by CUL from Bloomsbury Book Auctions in 1992. They were housed in paper box files 1 25 and cartons A D, as listed. They have now been re boxed, in 28 boxes and one packet, which has involved some reorganisation of the material and hence some rearrangement and re numbering of the original list.

Dates: 10 Jan 1951
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
 Item

from Frances Cornford, Dartington, and 10 Millington Road, Cambridge

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.8905/10/C/196
Scope and Contents From the Fonds:

Hassall died intestate. His working papers were taken to the Royal Society of Literature by his assistant Gillian Paterson, who arranged and (presumably) listed them. They were bought by CUL from Bloomsbury Book Auctions in 1992. They were housed in paper box files 1 25 and cartons A D, as listed. They have now been re boxed, in 28 boxes and one packet, which has involved some reorganisation of the material and hence some rearrangement and re numbering of the original list.

Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
 Item

from Frances Cornford, Dartington Hall, Totnes, Devon, 17 Jan 1959

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.8905/10/C/129
Scope and Contents From the Fonds:

Hassall died intestate. His working papers were taken to the Royal Society of Literature by his assistant Gillian Paterson, who arranged and (presumably) listed them. They were bought by CUL from Bloomsbury Book Auctions in 1992. They were housed in paper box files 1 25 and cartons A D, as listed. They have now been re boxed, in 28 boxes and one packet, which has involved some reorganisation of the material and hence some rearrangement and re numbering of the original list.

Dates: 17 Jan 1959
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
 Item

from Frances Cornford, Lammas House, Brinkley, nr Newmarket

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.8905/10/C/154
Scope and Contents From the Fonds:

Hassall died intestate. His working papers were taken to the Royal Society of Literature by his assistant Gillian Paterson, who arranged and (presumably) listed them. They were bought by CUL from Bloomsbury Book Auctions in 1992. They were housed in paper box files 1 25 and cartons A D, as listed. They have now been re boxed, in 28 boxes and one packet, which has involved some reorganisation of the material and hence some rearrangement and re numbering of the original list.

Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
 Item

from Frances Cornford, New Zealand Embassy, 9 Rue Leonard de Vinci, Paris, 16, 2 Aug 1958

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.8905/10/C/125
Scope and Contents From the Fonds:

Hassall died intestate. His working papers were taken to the Royal Society of Literature by his assistant Gillian Paterson, who arranged and (presumably) listed them. They were bought by CUL from Bloomsbury Book Auctions in 1992. They were housed in paper box files 1 25 and cartons A D, as listed. They have now been re boxed, in 28 boxes and one packet, which has involved some reorganisation of the material and hence some rearrangement and re numbering of the original list.

Dates: 2 Aug 1958
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
 Item

from Frances Cornford, Sheffield

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.8905/10/C/241
Scope and Contents

[postcard]

Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
 Item

from Frances Cornford, The Chalet, P[?], Torpoint, Cornwall

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.8905/10/C/167
Scope and Contents From the Fonds:

Hassall died intestate. His working papers were taken to the Royal Society of Literature by his assistant Gillian Paterson, who arranged and (presumably) listed them. They were bought by CUL from Bloomsbury Book Auctions in 1992. They were housed in paper box files 1 25 and cartons A D, as listed. They have now been re boxed, in 28 boxes and one packet, which has involved some reorganisation of the material and hence some rearrangement and re numbering of the original list.

Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
 Item

handwritten copy of letter from Frances Cornford, 10 Millington Road, Cambridge

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.8905/10/C/141a
Scope and Contents

manuscript copy of Add.8905/10/C/141

Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
 Item

Introduction to poetry reading

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.8905/10/C/241a
Scope and Contents

typescript

Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
 File

Nora Barlow Letters: 1918, 1918

 File
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.10286/1/8/19
Scope and Contents Contains 35 letters from Nora to Ida Darwin sent between 5 January and 12 November 1919. Amongst news of family and social engagements, the letters make reference to visits to Great Missenden and Yorkshire, of an unexploded shell falling on Nora's London home in Lansdowne Road on 19 May 1918, and an account of armistice day celebrations in London and of Nora's thoughts and feelings on the end of the war.Includes letters from Frances Cornford, Charles Galton Darwin, Alice Pell and...
Dates: 1918
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
 Item

Poem for Leonard Darwin by Frances Crofts Darwin, circa late-1890s

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS DAR 274/17
Scope and Contents

Manuscript poem written by Frances Darwin for 'Uncle Lenny'. On reverse is inscription "written by Frances (Cornford) when a young girl at Egerton Place , L. Darwin".

Dates: circa late-1890s
Conditions Governing Access: From the Fonds: Some material in the Darwin archive is not available because it is unfit for production and access to some very fragile material may only be possible with support from specialist conservation staff. Please see descriptions for further details.
 Fonds

Sir William Rothenstein: Portrait drawings

 Fonds
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.8848
Scope and Contents

Drawings of Sir Francis Darwin (1848-1925), 1904, in charcoal, 29.5 x 23cm; Francis MacDonald Cornford (1874-1963), 1909, in charcoal and red chalk, 33.5 x 28.5cm; and Frances Crofts Cornford (1886-1960), daughter of Sir Francis Darwin, undated, in charcoal, 25.5. x 35.5cm.

Dates: 1904-1909
Conditions Governing Access: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).
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