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Undergraduate study, Queen Mary, University of London
Ref No (click to see in context)CLM
TitleCONSTANCE LOUISA MAYNARD
LevelFonds
Date1866-1935
Extent19 boxes, 1 outsize item
Creator NameMaynard, Constance Louisa (1849-1935)
DescriptionThis collection contains the papers of Constance Maynard from 1866-1935.

It comprises diaries of a varying nature relating to all aspects of the life of Constance Maynard including her Greenbook diaries 1866-1935 - of her emotions, thoughts, extracts from letters, sermons and texts; her Diaries 1871-1913 - detailing weekly activities and events of both a personal and work nature; her Sundial Diaries 1911-1935 - recording the search for both cottages, the Sundial, Little Bookham and the Sundial, Gerrard's Cross, and subsequently details of life in retirement such as accounts of her visitors, visits made, community work and works read and written; her Travel Diaries, 1868-1926 - of her college vacations, holidays, tours and visits, detailing companions and places visited with some photographs, maps and drawings; Diaries regarding Effie [Stephanë Anthon] 1887-1915 - detailing the life, character and relationship with Effie [Stephanë Anthon] from the arrangement of her adoption until her death; the Autobiography written 1915-1933 - covering 1849-1927, divided into seven parts and further into chapters by Constance Maynard, covering all aspects of her life, and including her edited version of a history of the Henry Maynard family, c.1920s, originally written by her Cousin Mary [HM King] 1910, covering 1839-1910; Writings by Constance Maynard 1870-1931 - including indexed anthologies of her own poems, and of poems by other authors, anecdotes told to her, notes on subjects such as Euminides and the Parables, Extracts from Texts, and a Bible with extensive notes added by Constance Maynard; Writings by Family and Friends 1871-1905 - including diaries and notebooks of Catherine Firth, Dora Maynard and Mabel Prideaux; and Personal Memorabilia, 1868-1913 - including her Girton College Degree Certificate, a life painting of Limpsfield, a book presented to her by Westfield College on her retirement and a life painting of The Sundial, Little Bookham.
Admin HistoryConstance Lousia Maynard was born on 9 February 1849 in Middlesex, one of four daughters and two sons of Henry Maynard (1880-1888) South African merchant, and his wife Louisa Maynard née Hillyard (1806-1878). She grew up in Hawkhurst, Kent, in the house of Oakfield. She was educated at home, before studying for one year at Belstead School in Suffolk. After her education was completed she, alongside her sisters, helped in the community.

In 1872, Constance Maynard left to study at Hitchin College, and moved with the college to Cambridge to become Girton College, in 1873. She was the first Girton student to study the Moral Sciences tripos and in 1875 received a second class honours degree. Whilst at Girton she established a group called Girton Prayer Group.

After leaving Girton, due to problems in the family business, Constance Maynard was allowed to accept an invitation from Frances Dove to join the staff of Cheltenham Ladies' College. In 1877 she left with her colleague and friend Louisa Lumsden to establish St Leonard's School, at St Andrews, where Lumsden was head. During her three years (1877-1880) here, she rejected offers of headships, including that of her former school Belstead. She also hesitatingly refused a marriage proposal from Scottish Minister Dr James Robertson.

In 1880 she moved to London with her brother and studied part time at the Slade School of Art. Whilst studying here she became involved with a group of individuals including Major Charles Hamilton Malan, Ann Dudin Brown and and Caroline Cavendish, with the shared aim of establishing a ladies' college. All with varying ideas of how the college should proceed, Constance Maynard was an integral part of forming the plans for her ideal college - to prepare ladies for the London degree, based on Christian principles.

The group first met for discussions in February 1882, and in May Constance Maynard was offered the position of Mistress (a title borrowed from Girton), and in October of that year, Westfield College opened in two private houses in Hampstead.

She remained Mistress of Westfield for thirty-three years, retiring in 1913, leaving Westfield as a securely established school of the University of London. She had taught around five hundred students, and many were successful working in schools, colleges and for missionary organisations. She kept in close contact with her old students through letters and visits, and maintained strong relationships with them. The money they collected as a parting gift she donated to the college; some was used as a hardship fund, the remainder as endowment for the Maynard divinity lectures.

In 1888 Maynard adopted a child of Italian extraction, through a friend in the Salvation Army. At the time of her adoption Stephanë Anthon, known as Effie, was eight years old, and the relationship between them was a tumultuous one. Whilst Constance continued to support Effie until her death in 1915, from tuberculosis, it is detailed in her diaries as a period of disappoint.

Religious movements, from the Salvation Army to the Modern Churchmen's Union, figure prominently in the life of Constance Maynard. She was elected as old students' representative to the governing body of Girton and served from 1897 to about 1905 on the council of the Church Schools' Society. She also traveled extensively around the world; to South Africa, the Holy Land, Canada, Europe, and by bicycle throughout the British Isles.

After her retirement, Constance Maynard spent her time travelling, receiving visitors, reading and writing. She wrote poetry, including four volumes of War poems, lectures, particularly Divinity lectures, and pamphlets of a moral nature on subjects such as temperance. Her published works include 'Between College Terms' (1910); 'The Life of Dora Greenwell' (1926); 'From an early Victorian schoolroom to the university', Nineteenth Century, November 1914; contributions to The Hibbert Journal and other religious periodicals; and numerous tracts and pamphlets. Her unpublished writings include an unfinished autobiography, composed at intervals between 1915 and 1927.

Constance Maynard died at her home, The Sundial, Marsham Way, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, on 26 March 1935, and was buried at Gerrards Cross parish church on 29 March. Under her will the college received £1500 to fund an entrance scholarship.
ArrangementThis collection has been arranged by function, chronologically, and where possible respecting the original order of the records.

It has been divided into 9 series; Greenbook Diaries; Diaries; Sundial Diaries; Travel Diaries and Notebooks; Diaries regarding Effie [Stephanë Anthon]; Autobiography; Writings by Constance Maynard; Writings by Family and Friends; and Personal Memorabilia.
Copyright StatementNo 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 StatusOpen
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Persons
CodePerson or Corporate Body Name
DS/UK/34Maynard; Constance Louisa (1849-1935); Mistress, Educational pioneer
DS/UK/32Smith; Ellen Delf- (1883-1980); Dr.; nee Delf, Botanist
DS/UK/52Prideaux; Mabel (fl. 1881-1884); Friend of Constance Maynard.
DS/UK/30Westfield College; 1882-1989; Higher Education Institution
DS/UK/53Moilliet; Dora (1846-1947); Née Maynard, Sister of Constance Maynard.
DS/UK/54Anthon; Stephanë (1882-1915); Adopted by Constance Maynard 1889, Salvation Army
DS/UK/55University of Cambridge; Girton College; 1873-; Higher Education Institution
DS/UK/56Davies; Emily (1830-1921); Suffragist, Founder Girton College
DS/UK/57Firth; Catherine B (fl. 1905); Doctor of History; Historian
DS/UK/199Gray; Frances Ralph (1861-1935); Headteacher, Classicist
DS/UK/29McDougall; Eleanor (1873-1956); Principal, Missionary, Classicist
DS/UK/257Sturge; Winifred (fl.1901-1904)
DS/UK/202Collisson; Harry (fl. 1869-1884); Minister
DS/UK/201Maynard; George Pitt Holland (1850-1942); Brother of Constance Maynard
DS/UK/205Welsh; Elizabeth (1843-1921); Mistress of Girton College 1885–1903.
DS/UK/208Umphelby; Maria Elizabeth (fl.1807-1887); Head of Belstead School, Suffolk.
DS/UK/206Otter; Isabella Harriette (fl.1851-1875); Née Gamble, Student at Girton College 1870-1874
DS/UK/207Scott; Rachel Susan (1848-1905); Née Cook; eductional work.
DS/UK/209Stephens; Amy Annie (fl.1873-1913); née Mantle
DS/UK/210Higgs; Mary (1854-1937); OBE; Née Kingsland; Lecturer and social reformer.
DS/UK/211Lewis; Eliza (1854-1924); Née Baker; Student at Girton College 1872-1876.
DS/UK/212Richardson; Elizabeth Lucy (1855-1918); Née Burgess; Student at Girton College 1873-1877.
DS/UK/217Grüner; Joan Frances Ottilie (1848-1936); Principal of Hindhead School.
DS/UK/218Dove; Dame; (Jane) Frances (1847-1942); Lecturer and headmistress.
DS/UK/220Robertson; James (fl.1877-1920); Scottish Minister
DS/UK/221Maynard; Henry (1800-1888); Father of Constance Maynard, South African merchant, Maynard Bros. Co.
DS/UK/223Maynard; Louisa (1806-1878); Née Hillyard, Mother of Constance Maynard.
DS/UK/224Lumsden; Dame; Louisa Innes (1840-1935); Lecturer, Headmistress
DS/UK/225Moilliet; Francis Albert (1848-1937); Husband of Dora Maynard.
DS/UK/227Greenwell; Dorothy (1821-1882); Poet
DS/UK/228Maynard; Henry (1840-1918); Brother of Constance Maynard.
DS/UK/229Bernard; Christian (fl.1881)
DS/UK/231Malan; Charles Hamilton (1837-1881); Major; Solider, Missionary.
DS/UK/232Cavendish; Caroline (fl.1880s); Secretary of CWEU; Ran the Princess Mary Village Homes.
DS/UK/233Brooke; Margaret (fl. 1865-1890s); Student at Westfield College, 1882-.
DS/UK/234Millington-Synge; Frances (fl. 1865-1890s); Née Synge; Student at Westfield College, 1882-.
DS/UK/235Tristram; Katherine Alice (1858-1948); Principal, Missionary, Academic
DS/UK/236Richardson; Anne Wakefield (1859-1942); Classicist, Quaker
DS/UK/237Rawlinson; Effie (fl.1882-1886); Friend of Constance Maynard
DS/UK/238Wakefield; Marion (fl.1897-1935); Friend of Constance Maynard; Student, and then secretary of Westfield College.
DS/UK/239Maynard; Josephine (1839-1907); Sister of Constance Maynard.
DS/UK/240Campbell; Lewis (1830-1908); Vicar.
DS/UK/241Campbell; Frances Pitt; Née Andrews; Cousin of Constance Maynard.
DS/UK/242Sélincourt; Agnes de (1872-1917); Principal, Missionary
DS/UK/244Mackintosh; Catharine Winkworth (fl.1897-1907); Writer.
DS/UK/245Henson; Herbert Hensley (1863-1947); Bishop of Durham; Anglican priest and Bishop of Durham.
DS/UK/246Gillett; Jim (fl.1913-1926); Friend of Constance Maynard.
DS/UK/247Lodge; Eleanor Constance (1869-1936); Principal, Historian
DS/UK/248Holmes; Mabel (fl.1893-1924); Student at Westfield College 1893-.
DS/UK/249Maynard; Gabrielle M (1845-1925); Sister of Constance Maynard
DS/UK/250Maynard; Gertrude (fl. 1864-1931); Née Langston; Sister-in-law of Constance Maynard.
DS/UK/251Chapman; Dorothy (1878-1967); Principal, Lecturer
DS/UK/252Hervey; Griselda Mary (c.1869-1906); Née Campbell; Student at Westfield College 1887-;
DS/UK/258Beloe; Mabel Theodora (fl. 1866-1901); Lecturer and headmistress.
DS/UK/259Mussen; Helen (fl.1901-1904)
DS/UK/260Gillett; Margaret (fl.1901-1904)
DS/UK/261Kidd; Dudley (fl.1886-1911)
DS/UK/262Moilliet; Theodore Maynard (1883-1968); Son of Dora Maynard and Francis Moilliet.
DS/UK/263Moilliet; Erskine Lind (1889-1954); Son of Dora Maynard and Francis Moilliet.
DS/UK/264Gillett; Joseph (fl.1895)
DS/UK/265Gillett; Richenda (fl.1895)
DS/UK/266Duke; L S (fl.1895-1896)
DS/UK/267Sitwell; S (fl.1895-1896)
DS/UK/268Clark; E O (fl.1869-1898); Travelling companion of Constance Maynard.
DS/UK/269MacGregor; Ina (fl.1897-1906); Travelling companion of Constance Maynard
DS/UK/270Woodd-Smith; M (fl.1897-1898); Travelling companion of Constance Maynard.
DS/UK/271Gillett; Mabel (fl.1897-1898)
DS/UK/272Wakefield; Florence (fl.1898-1899)
DS/UK/273Smith; Hilda (fl.1892-1906); Student at Westfield College 1892-1897; travelling companion of Constance Maynard.
DS/UK/274Maynard; Jean (fl.1888-1925); Sister of Anne Richardson.
DS/UK/275Belgrave (fl.1900); Travelling companion of Constance Maynard.
DS/UK/276Sinclair; Lady; Marjorie Adeline (1880-1970); Née Gordon.
DS/UK/278Campbell; Eva (fl.1905-1906); Friend of Constance Maynard.
DS/UK/281Whitby; Lilian Janie (fl.1895-1946); Lecturer.
DS/UK/282Crommelin; Harriet (fl.1908)
DS/UK/283Tony; Gracy
DS/UK/284Moilliet; Louisa Gabrielle (fl.1879-1922); Niece of Constance Maynard; daughter of Dora and Francis Moilliet.
DS/UK/285Maynard; Herbert L (fl.1898-1910)
DS/UK/286Blackwell; G H (fl.1910); Clergyman.
DS/UK/287Anderson (fl.1910)
DS/UK/288Knox; Ellen Mary (fl.1890-1924); Principal.
DS/UK/292Vance (fl.1910)
DS/UK/293Hankin; Mabel (fl.1916-1921)
DS/UK/294Vaughan (fl.1920)
DS/UK/295Forbes (fl.1920)
DS/UK/296Miller (fl.1920)
DS/UK/297Fawkes (fl.1920)
DS/UK/298Porter; Kate (fl.1922)
DS/UK/300Maynard; Henry L (fl.1910); Reverend Prebendary; Clergyman
DS/UK/302Tickner (fl.1890-1891)
DS/UK/303Burroughs; Pleasance (fl.1877-1890); Friend of Constance Maynard.
DS/UK/304Mann; Annie (1858-1914); Née Charlesworth.
DS/UK/305Gladstone; William Ewart (1809-1898); British statesman; Liberal Prime Minister four times (1868-1874, 1880-1885, 1886, 1892-1894). Chancellor of the Exchequer four times.
DS/UK/306Bleby; Alicia S (fl.1882-1905); Student at Westfield College, 1882-1887.
DS/UK/307Rouse; (Clara) Ruth (1872-1956); Missionary.
DS/UK/308Kawai; Michi (1878-1953); Founder of 'Foundation of Blessing School'.
DS/UK/309Story; Robert Herbert (1835-1907); Scottish Divine; Principal of University of Glasgow.
DS/UK/310Coleridge; Samuel Taylor (1772-1834); English poet; Romantic; Literary critic and philosopher.
DS/UK/312Moilliet; Francis Keir (fl.1885-1954); Nephew of Constance Maynard.
DS/UK/313Divine (fl.1900-1905)
DS/UK/314Marsh (fl.1905-1907)
DS/UK/315de Mouw (fl. 1905-1907)
DS/UK/316King; (Harriett) Mary (1831-c.1915); Cousin of Constance Maynard.
DS/UK/317Beyson; H (fl.1907-1911)
DS/UK/318St John (fl.1912-1920)
DS/UK/319Pash; Ellen (fl.1850s-1890s); Captain in the Salvation Army.
DS/UK/320Sharman (fl.1893-1896); Orphanage head.
DS/UK/321Wakefield; W (fl.1882-1888)
DS/UK/322Addelen; Margaret (fl.1891-1892); An orphan that Constance Maynard wanted to adopt.
DS/UK/323Taylor (fl.1893-1896); Looked after Stephane Anthon.
DS/UK/324Taylor (fl.1893-1896); Looked after Stephane Anthon.
DS/UK/325Comber (fl.1893-1896); Looked after Stephane Anthon.
DS/UK/326Richwood; Jeb (fl.1893-1896); Servants in Constance Maynard's family home.
DS/UK/327Richwood; Lizzie (fl.1893-1896); Servants in Constance Maynard's family home.
DS/UK/328Barnardo; Thomas John (1845-1905); Founder and director of homes for poor children.
DS/UK/329Zeller (fl.1887-1888)
Places
CodePlace Entry
NA16Italy/Europe
NA17Switzerland/Europe
NA18Austria/Europe
NA19Middle East
NA20South Africa/Africa
NA276Palestine/Asia