UCT Libraries

BC 356B FRANCIS WALKER PAPERS  

Manuscripts & Archives

University of Cape Town Libraries

THIS COLLECTION supplements the collection, BC 356, which is already housed in the Manuscripts & Archives Department of UCT Libraries, on loan from Sir Patrick Walker.   The original collection deals with the papers of Admiral Sir Baldwin Wake Walker 1802-1876, Sir Patrick's great grand-father, and the first baronet, who was honoured for his service to his country.

This smaller collection was donated by Sir Patrick's brother, Francis Donald Baldwin, and centres around their grandfather, Sir Francis Elliot - the 3rd Baronet.   Sir Francis Elliot (known to his friends as Frank), was the third of five sons, and succeeded to the title on the death of his eldest brother, without male issue, in 1905.   The second son was lost at sea in 1870 at the age of 21.

The Walker men had a long tradition as sea-farers - Admiral Baldwin Wake Walker, his son Baldwin, and grandson Baldwin devoting their lives to the British Navy.

A large proportion of this collection consists of personal letters to Sir Francis Walker, and to his wife, particularly from their son, the youngest Baldwin, at school, at naval college, and at sea.   When this collection was donated, many of these letters were already sorted into bundles according to the date they were written by Baldwin, and which ship he was serving on at the time.   This arrangement has been retained in tact, as it provides a chronology of Baldwin's naval career.   Loose letters have been incorporated into the collection according to recipient.   It is interesting to note that Baldwin wrote separately to his father and mother, and that the tone of the letters is quite different.   It would appear that Baldwin changed his name, or at least his signature to "Chick" in his late teens.

There are a number of letters from "Chick" to "Tub" at his father's house in the North of England.   It is unclear who "Tub" is.   As the letters to his sister Marge ceased in later adulthood, "Tub" could have been a nickname for Marge.   It would appear that "Tub" took over Francis' wife's duties after her death in 1902.   Baldwin has a very easy friendly relationship with her, which leads one to suppose it is Marge.

From the letterheads it appears that the main home of Sir Francis and his wife Helen Constance (known as "Nell"), was at Alnwick in Northumberland, though a number of letters from "Nell" were written from an address in York.   It could be that she originated from that area, and that the letters to her husband were written whilst she was on visits to her childhood home and her family there.

The correspondence gives an interesting insight into life styles and relationships between family members in a privileged society around the turn of the century in England.

1.

FRANCIS ELLIOT, 3RD BARONET, 1851-1928

 

1.1

Official documents

1870-79

1.2

Correspondence:

 

1.2.1

Family letters -

 

 

from wife Helen Constance (née Paris)

undated

 

from son Baldwin Charles (later "Chick")

1894-1917

 

from daughter Marjorie

1904-05

1.2.2

Extended family letters -

 

 

from brother Baldwin Wake

ñ1900

 

from wife's brother Archie

1916-1

 

from Archie's wife Lily (signed L.R.P.)

1916-17

1.2.3

Business correspondence

1900-04

1.2.4

Miscellaneous letters

1879-1916

2.

HELEN CONSTANCE, (FRANCIS' WIFE), "NELL",? - 1901

 

2.1

Correspondence:

 

2.1.1

Family letters -

 

 

from husband Frank

1884-1901

 

from son Baldwin Charles

1892-1901

2.1.2

Extended family letters

 

 

from brother Archie Paris

ñ1901

 

from brother Herbert Paris

1890

2.1.3

Miscellaneous letters

undated

3.

BALDWIN CHARLES,  (FRANCIS' SON),  1884-1927

 

3.1

Official documents

1897-1901

3.2

Correspondence

 

 

- to family members, from schooldays (1894) to HMS Revenge (1919), & later from various clubs (latest 1922)

 

4.

MARJORIE,  (FRANCIS' DAUGHTER),? -?

 

4.1

Correspondence:

 

4.1.1

Family letters

 

 

from Baldwin

ñ1901

4.1.2

Extended family letters

 

 

from Archie Paris (uncle)

1916

 

from Aunt Lily (Archie's wife)

1916

4.1.3

Miscellaneous

 

5.

"TUB"

 

5.1

Correspondence:

 

 

from Baldwin ("Chick")

1916-19

6.

BALDWIN WAKE, 2ND BARONET, (FRANCIS' ELDEST BROTHER), 1846-1905

 

6.1

Official documents

1900-03

7.

ADMIRAL SIR BALDWIN WAKE WALKER, (FRANCIS' FATHER), 1802-1876

 

7.1

Correspondence:

 

 

various

1844-

8.

MISCELLANEOUS

 

 

letters & other items

1733?

9.

LEATHER ALBUM OF WRITINGS

 

 

with metal clasp. dated 1823 - therefore probably the property of Admiral Wake Walker

 

BJ/1996

 

 

 

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