Gerald Melbourne Maxwell Literary Papers

Typescripts and manuscripts of plays and novels by Gerald Maxwell, sometimes based on works by other writers.

Gerald Melbourne Maxwell was born on 19th March 1862 to John Maxwell and Mary Elizabeth Braddon. In 1866 the family moved from Upper Dunstable House, Sheen Road, Richmond, to Lichfield House in the same street. Gerald became an actor, and later worked as a theatre critic for the Court Journal and the Daily Mail. He and his mother often went to see plays together at the Lyceum Theatre in London. Gerald wrote several plays and novels, one of which, 'The Miracle-Worker', was published in 1907. He was also an enthusiastic member of the freemasons. After his mother's death in 1915, Gerald moved into Nithsdene, 60 King's Road, Richmond, and then in about 1923 he moved to Oak House on Richmond Green, where he lived with his wife Muriel. He died on 14th January 1930.

The Gerald Melbourne Maxwell Literary Papers collection is arranged in three series:

• DC14/1 Novels, 1907-c1920
• DC14/2 Play manuscripts, 1903-1924
• DC14/3 Play typescripts, c1923

This collection is open for access and can be viewed at Richmond upon Thames Local Studies Library and Archive.
The opening times and address for Richmond upon Thames Local Studies Library and Archive can be found online at: http://www.richmond.gov.uk/localstudies
If you would like further information about accessing this collection or have any other queries, please contact Richmond upon Thames Local Studies Library and Archive through any of the contact methods listed at: http://www.richmond.gov.uk/localstudies

A more detailed catalogue of this collection can be found online at https://richmond.spydus.co.uk/spydus.html

The letters from Gerald Melbourne Maxwell's mother Mary Elizabeth Braddon to her daughter Fanny Selous are also held at Richmond Local Studies Library (DC12).