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Personal and professional papers of Edith Simon

 Collection
Identifier: Acc.13772/1-325

Scope and Contents

The papers of writer and artist Edith Simon relate to both strands of her artistic life, documenting her prolific output as an author of contemporary novels, historical novels, and histories, as well as a pioneering artist across multiple forms.

The papers contain both personal and professional correspondence; notebooks, manuscript and typescript drafts, research material, and news cuttings concerning her writing career; alongside photographs, news cuttings, art diaries and ephemera documenting her artistic work. Brief family papers and ephemera also appear towards the end of the collection, representing Edith's active family life and the work of her husband, the noted geneticist Dr. Eric Reeve.

Dates

  • Creation: Majority of material found within circa 1932-2008

Creator

Language of Materials

Primarily English, with some correspondence and papers in German and French.

Conditions Governing Access

Normal access conditions apply.

Conditions Governing Use

Normal reproduction conditions apply, subject to any copyright restrictions.

Extent

67 Boxes

Arrangement

Upon receipt by the NLS Archives & Manuscript Division in 2016, the papers were summarily sorted into folders and rehoused in numbered archival boxes for long-term preservation. A temporary box listing was created in 2022, with a full catalogue being finalised in December 2023. Archival arrangement has been undertaken to facilitate user access and follows the natural thematic groupings identified in the collection, bringing similar and related papers together.

Custodial History

Acc.13772 was previously TD.3544

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Bought, 2016, from Antonia Reeve, Edinburgh.

Related Materials

Accession 14390: Further professional and personal papers of Edith Simon, and Dr. Eric Reeve, accompanied by photographic and audiovisual material

Accession 14192: Letter and Christmas cards of Edith Simon to Dr Joan Basden, with two photographs.

Bibliography

Moderation be Damned: Edith Simon, published by Antonia Reeve, Edinburgh, 2005.
Title
National Library of Scotland Catalogue of Manuscripts
Author
National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division
Description rules
International Standard for Archival Description - General
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division Repository

Contact:
Archives and Manuscript Division
National Library of Scotland
George IV Bridge
Edinburgh EH1 1EJ
0131 623 3700