| Description | Cecil Harmsworth's 'T.J. & J. Smith's One Day Octavo Scribbling Diary' for 1913. Includes note at the front of the diary: '6 ii 1934 CH 12 vi 1936' and explanatory pencil notes throughout the diary, presumably added by Cecil Harmsworth before the diary was copied by Isobel Nicholson.
Includes entries relating to time spent with friends and family; social engagements; meetings with parliamentary colleagues; political duties within his constituency of Luton; the opening of Parliament by the King and Queen (10 February); proceedings and voting in the House of Commons, including on the Home Rule Bill, the Decrepit Horse Bill, the Finance Bill, the Housing Bill, and emergency bills; Harold Harmsworth [brother of Cecil Harmsworth] taking his seat in the House of Lords as Baron Rothermere (18 Mar); the Curragh mutiny debated in the House of Commons (25-30 Mar); reflections on his role as a Member of Parliament (added in 1936); the royal ball at Buckingham Palace (09 June); the 'Buckingham Palace conference' (20-22 Jul); European countries begin to mobilise for war [First World War]; the response to the outbreak of war in the House of Commons and the atmosphere in London; response to Indian troops joining the war (28 Aug, 09 Sep); application to join the Artists Rifles as a veteran (31 Aug); Sylvia Pankhurst and Women's Suffrage (02 September); preparations in London against potential attacks (14 Sep); a Belgian refugee, Ophelie Vertroost, comes to stay with the Harmsworth family (21 Oct); the death of Emilie Harmsworth's brother Larry [Captain Henry Telford Maffett], killed in action (24 Oct); the opening of Parliament by the King and Queen (11 Nov); Christmas; and an application for membership of the Old Boys Corps (31 Dec).
Contains several pasted-in items, including newspaper clippings; an emergency note worth ten shillings issued by the Treasury; and correspondence.
Contains several inserted items in an envelope at the back of the diary, including a typed programme for a family play on Christmas Eve; correspondence; a compliments card from Mr and Mrs Harmsworth dated 28 April 1987 [their wedding day]; an invitation to the wedding of Cecil Harmsworth and Emilie Maffett, dated 18987; letters from Cecil Harmsworth's children to Father Christmas; an order of service for the memorial service for the Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, M.P.; and a sketch of Charlie Chaplin by Cecil Desmond Harmsworth. |