| Ref No (click to see in context) | RF |
| Title | RACHEL ELFREDA FOWLER |
| Level | Fonds |
| Date | c1927-1947 |
| Extent | 6 boxes |
| Creator Name | Fowler, Rachel Elfreda (1872-1952) |
| Description | Research notebooks on world travel, Renaissance explorers and Andre Thevet (1502-1590). |
| Admin History | Rachel Elfreda Fowler was born on the 10 December 1872 in Weymouth, Dorset. She was the daughter of Sir Robert Nicolas Fowler (1828–1891), a politician and banker. She entered Westfield College in 1894 but had also been taking French classes at Bedford College from 1887-1895 alongside her sister Bertha. Her sisters, Octavia Louisa Fowler (1867-1903) and Bertha Sophie Fowler (1871-1927) were also students at Westfield College. Fowler left to study Modern Languages at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University in 1897, finishing in 1898. She completed her thesis on Andre Thevet during a Bachelor of Literature degree.
Fowler completed her doctorate thesis in 1905 on “Une Source Française des Poèmes de Gower" and assisted on other projects during her time at L’Université de Paris. She lived at 4 Rue Jules Chaplain in Paris, France.
She moved back to Oxford by 1911 and became a lecturer at Oxford University in Literature. During World War One she served as a nurse with L’Association des Dames Française, on the British Committee of the French red cross 1914-1920. She received a British War Medal and Victory Medal for her work.
During her time at Oxford University she lectured on art, history, filmed pictures and artefacts. She published “The Still Picture on the Screen” in 1935 and “Charles VII and Jeanne d’Arc” in 1930, both held by the Bodleian Library. Fowler died by suicide on 22 September 1951 in Berkshire, England.
Please note that the language you may encounter in this collection reflects the period in which it was written and Fowler's own perspective. Many of the terms she uses to classify groups of people are now recognised as offensive. Her writings also reflect a period typical belief that colonisation was a "civilising force" which led to language around colonisation now recognised as harmful. Where necessary to describe an item, we have quoted Fowler's own words in catalogue descriptions which do include offensive terminology. Please apply to the archivist for a specific list of terms you may encounter if you have any concerns. |
| Arrangement | Original order mantained where possible and by subject where not. |
| Copyright Statement | No material may be published without the prior permission of both the copyright holder and the Library. All applications for publication
must be made to the College Archivist in the first instance, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user. |
| Access Status | Open |
| Code | Person or Corporate Body Name |
| DS/UK/97 | Fowler; Rachel Elfreda (1872-1951); Lecturer in art, history and filmed pictures |
| DS/UK/98 | Fowler; Sir; Robert Nicholas (1828-1891); first baronet; Banker and politician |
| DS/UK/99 | Thevet; Andre (1502-1590); French Franciscan priest, explorer, cosmographer and writer |
| DS/UK/371 | University of London; Bedford College; 1849-1985; Higher Education Institution |
| DS/UK/2938 | University of Oxford; Lady Margaret College; 1878-; Higher Education Institution |
| DS/UK/280 | University of Paris; c.1160-; Higher Education Institution |
| DS/UK/2939 | L’Association des Dames Française; 1879-1940 |