The 'New Year Number 1900' (GBR/0012/MS Add.10335/10) contains an unsigned article titled 'A History of the Acorn', probably by John Maynard Keynes:

'The Acorn has come of age; the current number is its Twenty First.

'This includes the numbers published under its former name of the Gem, an illustrated journalwhich first saw the light on Jan 7 1898. It was under the editorship of Margaret Keynes but, as is implied by its name which stood for the initials of Geoffrey, Ethel, and Margaret, it was under the auspices of the Glazebrook and Keynes families. On the removal of the Glazebrooks to Liverpool, a joint production of the two families became well nigh impossible and after a great flare up at Christmas 1898 which produced what was up to that time far the greatest number in size, general excellence and get-up, it expired and the Acorn which draws its origin from the name Keynes an oak, sprang from its ashes.

'The Gem published eleven numbers: - 3 in January 1898, 1 in March, 1 in May, 1 in August, 1 in September (the first to be illustrated by photographs), 1 in October, 1 in November, a Christmas number, and an undated production entitled the 'Clucking Hen'.

'The first number of the Acorn appeared in April 1899 under the editorship of J. M. Keynes and in the same month came a publication entited 'A Blue Fantasy'. In August there were four numbers with a special Railway Number, all published at Tintagel; and a War number was produced at Eton in November. The Christmas number produced for 1899 was conspicuous for its superior paper and binding.

'Thus the present one, the first of the year 1900, is the twenty first number of the publications Gem and Acorn.

'The Acorn owes an immense debt to its parents, the Lealholm and Langstone Gazettes which appeared under the editorship of E. K. Brown during the summer holidays of 1893, 4, and 5. It is proud to have been able to keep up this connection by publishing contributions from the pen of so gifted an author.

'It is interesting to note that during the existences of the Gem and the Acorn there have been twenty one contributors, many of them only occasional but nevertheless contributors, and some of them ignorant of the use that was being put to their work.

'A list of contributors to the Gem and the Acorn during the years 1898 and 1899: J. N. Keynes / F. A. Keynes / J. M. Keynes / M. N. Keynes; G. L. Keynes; E. K. Brown / E. Glazebrook / M. Glazebrook / A. Glazebrook / J. Glazebrook / F. H. Smith / D. Smith / M. Smith / J. Mavrogordato / G. W. Herningham / G. Hamilton / G. M. Young / H. Rotmann / B. Wherry / M. Gunston / M. P[?]'

(Unpublished writings of John Maynard Keynes, copyright The Provost and Scholars of King’s College Cambridge 2024.)