There is no information relating to the origin of the diary. Of the people mentioned in the diary, the two boys, Cedric Vipont Brown (1896-1972) and his brother Ralph (1898-1919), are known to have studied at Bootham School in York. Cedric became a GP in Manchester and later President of the Manchester Beethoven Orchestra. As a conscientious objector, Ralph served with the Friends War Victims Relief Service during the First World War and died in the influenza epidemic of 1919. The Smithson Family are thought to have been mill owners from Halifax, whilst Editha Jackson is believed to have been from The Mount School, York.
This small collection contains a handwritten diary, with photographs and postcards, of a holiday to a Quaker camp near Coniston Lake in the Lake District.
Access will be granted to any accredited reader
Donated by Lynne Roberts, Sep 2016
Handwritten diary, with photograph and postcards, including:
Page 1 - Black and white postcard of a panoramic view of Coniston Lake
Page 2 - Sepia photograph of the holidaymakers around a camp stove, with a handwritten account of the journey to the camp (7 Aug 1914)
Page 3 - Black and white postcard of Fir Island, Coniston Lake, with a handwritten account of the arrival at camp and first evening (7 Aug 1914)
Page 4 - Black and white postcard of the Coniston Lake Gondola, with a handwritten account of the first day, including details of the weather and activities (8 Aug 1914)
Page 5 - Sepia photograph of a man lying in a bed in a caravan, with a handwritten account of the day, including a walk and a treasure hunt on Peel Island (9 Aug 1914)
Page 6 - Black and white postcard of Coniston Lake with Coniston Old Man in the background, with a handwritten account continuing from page 5 relating to the treasure hunt on Peel Island (9 Aug 1914)
Page 7 - Sepia photograph of a man lying in a hammock beside [Coniston Lake], with the caption 'This is not the hammock out of which I fell' (n.d.)
Page 8 - Sepia photograph of a man in a rowing boat at the edge of [Coniston Lake], with the caption 'A Sunny Afternoon' (n.d.)
Page 9 - Sepia photograph of a man posing for the camera with the caption 'Michael as Simplicitus', and a handwritten account continuing from page 6 relating to the treasure hunt on Peel Island (9 Aug 1914)
Page 10 - Black and white postcard of Coniston Lake taken from High Cross, with a handwritten account of the day, including saying goodbye to various holidaymakers and a bike ride (10 Aug 1914)
Page 11 - Black and white postcard of 'The Torrent. Skelwith Force and Langdale Pikes', with a continued account from page 10 and an account of the following day including a walk to Parkamoor (11 Aug 1914)
Page 12 - Black and white postcard of Elterwater and the Langdale Pikes, with a handwritten account of the day, including a boat ride across Coniston Lake (12 Aug 1914)
Page 13 - Black and white postcard of the Langdale Valley
Page 14 - Black and white postcard of the Langdale Pikes
Page 15 - Black and white postcard of Dungeon Ghyll, Langdale
Access will be granted to any accredited reader