Ursula Moray Williams Collection

  • This material is held at
  • Reference
      GB 1840 UMW
  • Dates of Creation
      c 1930-2003
  • Name of Creator
  • Language of Material
      English , Icelandic
  • Physical Description
      23 archive boxes + 2 artwork boxes

Scope and Content

Personal archive created by Ursula Moray Williams during the course of her career as a children's author, from the 1930s to the 1990s. The collection contains manuscripts, typescripts and related draft material for 36 of her published works in addition to several unpublished works; original artwork, most of it by Williams herself, relating to nine of Williams' published books; personal and professional correspondence spanning Williams' career as a children's author, including correspondence from family and friends, fans, schoolchildren, publishing houses, professional organisations, literary agents, other children's authors, illustrators, and others active in the field of children's literature; and a small quantity of personal papers which includes royalty statements, press cuttings and reviews, notes for articles and talks, and book jackets.

The material in the collection spans the whole of Williams' career as a children's author, and provides information on all aspects of the process of writing, editing and publishing books for children in the mid- to late-twentieth century.

Administrative / Biographical History

Created by Ursula Moray Williams during the course of her career as a children's writer, from the 1930s to the 1990s.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into four series - Drafts, Artwork, Correspondence and Personal papers. Further information on the contents of each series can be found at series level in the catalogue.

Access Information

Accessible to all researchers, by appointment only.

Custodial History

Donated to Seven Stories by the creator, Ursula John [n?e Moray Williams], in July 2005.