Source Material Related to

Henry Rosher James (1862-1931) and Mary Edith James, née Hindle (1864-1947)

Henry Rosher James ("Uncle Bobby") was my grandfather's eldest brother. A large collection of papers relating to him and to other members of his immediate family came to light in the summer of 2010 at "Challonsleigh", Whitchurch, Tavistock, Devon. This house was formerly owned by HRJ's younger son Eric Trevenen James (1904-1989) and is now owned by Eric's stepson Geoffrey Fox (b. 1938), who gave me the entire collection.

This page catalogues the material from this collection related particularly to Henry Rosher James (HRJ) and his wife Mary Edith James (MEJ), née Hindle, along with other material concerning them.

John Barnard
18 Jan 2021

Number
& Link
Description Location
HRJ-1 Poor condition MS notes in red cover, some in Greek. Dated 9 Nov 1885; Commonplace book "1885-19" From Challonsleigh; held by John Barnard
HRJ-2 Hardback diary, dated 1882, probably while up at Oxford From Challonsleigh; held by John Barnard
HRJ-3 Photos of MEJ's grave at Marida Yallock, Victoria, Australia From Challonsleigh; held by John Barnard
HRJ-4 A4 envelope with various birth certificates, press cuttings and notes on HRJ's dismissal from Presidency College, Calcutta. Also includes marriage certificate for his son Eric T. James (22 Jan 1948, Nairobi), and purchase invoice for Challonsleigh. From Challonsleigh; held by John Barnard
HRJ-5 Loose photos of HRJ and his children (?) From Challonsleigh; held by John Barnard
HRJ-6 Miscellaneous collection of letters and other documents relating to HRJ, including several letters from his sister-in-law Lil Hindle (confusingly she signs herself "sister"), contracts with publishers for books, and letters concerning injustices done to him by the Indian Educational Service From Challonsleigh; held by John Barnard
HRJ-7 Large bundle of letters from HRJ in India addressed to "Sonny" (probably his elder son Harold Hindle James) From Challonsleigh; held by John Barnard
HRJ-8 Portrait photo of HRJ in academic dress From Challonsleigh; held by John Barnard
HRJ-9 Two oval mounted photos by Johnston & Hoffmann, Calcutta, showing MEJ (different poses with reference numbers 55069 (sitter identified in pencil in unknown hand) and 55071) From Challonsleigh; held by John Barnard
HRJ-10 Miniature portrait in frame showing HRJ and his elder son Harold Hindle James (circa 1899) From Challonsleigh; held by John Barnard
HRJ-11 Seven hardback notebooks and diaries from 1880s and 1890s From Challonsleigh; held by John Barnard
HRJ-12 Leather-bound photo of HRJ in middle age (signed by him) From Challonsleigh; held by John Barnard
HRJ-13 4 miniature diaries, 2 miniature address books and miniature book of Horace (Latin) - unidentified From Challonsleigh; held by John Barnard
HRJ-14 Letters from HRJ's daughter Mollie. Some probably childhood (no year) from Cameron House and Monmouth School House; others (1929, 1931) from Buenos Aires From Challonsleigh; held by John Barnard
HRJ-15 Letters from Donald Mackinnon, dated May and August 1927, concerning his intentions towards HRJ's daughter Mollie. From Challonsleigh; held by John Barnard
HRJ-16 H.R. James, Our Hellenic Heritage. Vol I: Part I. The Great Epics; Part II. The Struggle with Persia. London: Macmillan, 1921 Held by John Barnard
HRJ-17 H.R. James, Our Hellenic Heritage. Vol II: Part III. Athens - her Splendour and her Fall. London: Macmillan, 1922 (inscribed in hand of Lionel James: "A. G. Trevenen James in memory of 'Uncle Bobbie', Nov 8th 1936") Given to John Barnard by Astrid Garran, August 2019
HRJ-18 H.R. James, Our Hellenic Heritage. Vol II: Part IV. The Abiding Splendour. London: Macmillan, 1924 (inscribed in hand of Lionel James: "A. G. Trevenen James in memory of 'Uncle Bobbie', Nov 8th 1936") Given to John Barnard by Astrid Garran, August 2019
HRJ-19 Service agreement between HRJ and the Secretary of State for India for HRJ's service as Professor of English Literature in India. Dated 13 Dec 1889 From Challonsleigh; held by John Barnard
HRJ-20 Presidency College Magazine Vol II No. 1, August 1915. Includes photograph and several references to HRJ highlighted in pencil From Challonsleigh; held by John Barnard
HRJ-21 Collection of manuscript letters to HRJ from his students at Presidency College, some asking for financial support From Challonsleigh; held by John Barnard
HRJ-22 Cartoon from Indian newspaper (The Englishman, 21 Apr 1913) following the failure to appoint HRJ as Director of Public Education in Bengal From Challonsleigh; held by John Barnard
HRJ-23 Original printed copy of reports of House of Lords debates on failure to appoint HRJ as Director of Public Education in Bengal, 14 Aug 1913 and 13 May 1914 From Challonsleigh; held by John Barnard
HRJ-24 Manuscript account of "The Assault on a Professor" written by HRJ. [Relates to an incident at Presidency College which ultimately led to HRJ's resignation as Principal of the college] From Challonsleigh; held by John Barnard
HRJ-25 Miscellaneous letters and papers:
  • appointment of HRJ at Patna College
  • MEJ passport
  • correspondence re non-appointment of HRJ as Director of Public education in Bengal
  • Material from 1880s in including "Phillimore English Essay"
  • Family letters (including long one from HRJ to MEJ)
From Challonsleigh; held by John Barnard
HRJ-26 Miscellaneous letters and other material still to be sorted From Challonsleigh; held by John Barnard
HRJ-27MEJ Estate Accounts, 1949. Including HRJ Trust AccountsFrom Challonsleigh; held by John Barnard
HRJ-28Mounted photograph of MEJ (two copies - one identified on back in pencil "MEJ at Cairo, 1938")From Challonsleigh; held by John Barnard
HRJ-29Framed photograph of a portrait of MEJ
HRJ-30The Consolation of Philosophy of Boethius, translated by H.R. James. The New Universal Library. London: George Routledge & Sons [1906]. Copy purchased by John Barnard 22 Feb 2010
HRJ-31H.R. James Education and Statesmanship in India 1797 to 1910, 2nd Ed. London: Longmans, Green & Co., 1917. Inscribed on flyleaf, "Trevenen James, Flat 7, 125 Harley St., London W1N 1HF" in hand of A.G.T. James (nephew of the author).Copy presumably sold by AGTJ and purchased on second-hand market by John Barnard, Feb 2010
HRJ-32Mind Body and Society. Life and Mentality in Colonial Bengal. Ed. R.K. Ray. Calcutta: Oxford University Press, 1995. Chapter VII "Chatra Samaj: The Significance of the Student Community in Bengal c. 1870-1922", by John Berwick (pp. 232-293) contains a substantial section, "The British Reaction: Curzon and H.R. James" (pp. 250-264) discussing the work of HRJ as Principal of Presidency College 1907-1916.Copy purchased by John Barnard 16 Jan 2011