Copy of 67 page typescript written by Marion Delf 1969-70, together with 12 pages of notes and afterthoughts. Content as follows:
Introduction (pages 1-3): mentions positive stimulus from Dr Clement Reid; the contrast between intellectual freedom at Girton and the smaller, discrete community of Westfield; difficulties of the early years of Westfield and the influence of Constance Maynard.
Arrival and First Impressions (pages 4-9): general impression of Westfield’s ‘limited religious atmosphere’ and Miss Richardson’s take on the need to have some science at Westfield; description of the Westfield laboratory; process by which she was appointed to Westfield; the possibility of a post at Royal Holloway (rejected) and comparisons between it and Westfield; her ambition to contribute towards Miss Richardson’s aim of introducing scientific thought into the Westfield atmosphere.
Life in Residence a) Social Life - Administration (pages 10-20): describes college activities, including Miss Maynard’s Bible class (which Marion Delf did not attend) and being asked to read aloud to Miss Maynard; the Social Club, with some outside speakers; social work including care of the destitute in Hoxton. Mentions Miss Maynard’s philanthropy, including efforts to help a woman with a young child and no husband, and her continued correspondence with Westfield students after her retirement.
Life in Residence b) Economics and Finance (pages 21-24): touches on heating and coal supplies; remuneration and the associated sense of responsibility; and college songs.
Life in Residence c) How I entered the Church of England (pages 25-26): Marion notes her decision around 1910 or 1911 to become a member of the church and her confirmation at Westminster Abbey (preceded by being baptised at St Luke’s Church near Westfield College, as suggested by Constance Maynard).
(2) (d) Nothing but the Truth (pages 27-33): discusses the peculiarities of domestic, catering and gardening matters at Westfield, including Miss Eraut’s rule over domestic and catering affairs; also an incident revolving round a memorandum about catering sent by Marion Delf to the House Committee and the stir which it created, resulting in the resignation of Miss Eraut, which she relates as ‘illustrating Miss Maynard’s reaction to it, and her characteristic acceptance of the prevailing regime’.
Postscript (pages 34-35): discusses domestic changes which took place following the above; resignation of many of the maids who had taken an ‘unholy interest in the correspondence concerning the appointment of a new Principal’ [Agnes de Selincourt, Girton 1891]; reorganisation of the domestic staff under Miss Black; departure of the gardener following disagreement with Miss de Selincourt;
Brief impressions of Miss de Selincourt, Principal 1913-1917 (pages 36-38): including being asked by her to arrange tea for a Missionary Conference.
Impressions of Miss A W Richardson (pages 39-47 - this section is dated April 1970) [Newnham College, Cambridge, 1881-84, Classics Lecturer at Westfield 1887-1918 and Vice-Principal 1918-26]: including description of Miss Richardson’s outside interests, including the founding of a Christian College in Madras; her interest in the gardens of Westfield; her support of Constance Maynard and of Miss de Selincourt; and an address by Miss Richardson to the British Women’s Temperance Society.
Miss Phillpotts [Bertha Phillpotts, Principal of Westfield 1920-21 and then Mistress of Girton College, 1922-25], (pages 48-55): including anecdotes about BP’s Icelandic travel; her suffering from writer’s cramp while working in the War Office; and her representation of London women’s colleges in London University committees. This section also touches on Marion Delf’s work in the University of Cape Town and changes at Westfield which took place in her absence, including the departure of Miss Phillpotts.
The Laboratory: from Attic to Hut 1921 (pages 56-67): this lengthy section discusses the following: plans for the establishment of an improved laboratory at Westfield; EMD’s resignation from Westfield in 1914; her return to Girton from 1914-1917; her successive replacements at Westfield (Dr Ethel de Fraine and Dr Helen Bancroft); the call to join a team of biological workers at the Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine in December 1916; her departure for South Africa in 1920 and work on the dietary importance of vitamins and dietary improvements for mineworkers there, including a detailed description of the daily regime of the mineworkers; her reasons for returning to Westfield; the setting up of the new laboratory there with Miss V M Grubb; and the appointment of Mrs Richardson to help with the running of the laboratory.
Eight unnumbered pages of Notes and four pages of Afterthoughts at the end of the document give additional details on the following: Miss Dudin Brown, Miss Maynard, Miss Pao Swen Tang (a Westfield student who was taught by Marion Delf), the Westfield gardens, and Miss Kate Warren (a Westfield lecturer). The Afterthoughts include a Postscript dated May 4th 1970.
The file also contains a photocopy of a four page letter from Marion Delf to Percy Smith, dated 5 March 1928 [6 months before their marriage], on Westfield College headed paper. In it she describes mixed reactions at Westfield to the news of their engagement and discussion of when they should marry, where they should live and whether or she not she should resign from Westfield. Miss Lodge in particular says ‘I hope you will be happy but you’re not going to resign: you must go on, I couldn’t bear you not to be head of the Botany Department’.