Leabharlann Náisiúnta na hÉireann National Library of Ireland

Collection List No. A22

W.A. Henderson Papers

(Mss 33,448 – 33,460) (Accession 4712)

The papers of William Alexander Henderson. The collection consists of correspondence, theatre ephemera, pictures, printed material, news cuttings, illustrations and some photographs. Material relates to Henderson’s involvement with the National Theatre, National Literary Society, traveling and his interest in Irish History.

Table of Contents Introduction........................................................................................................................................3 I Collection of letters, cards and papers relating to Theatre and John Millington Synge ..........4 II Collection of letters, cards and papers relating to the Theatre and William Butler Yeats.....4 III Miscellaneous letters, cards and papers .....................................................................................5 IV Scrapbooks, illustrations and printed material collected and compiled by Henderson ......11

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Introduction Mr William Alexander Henderson of ‘Belcare’, 23 Leinster Road West, Dublin filled the post of secretary and manager of the Abbey Theatre Dublin (1906-1911) during the most critical period in its history. He served for 22 years as the Honorary Secretary of the National Literary Society. He delivered important lectures to the society on the topic of literature in Ireland which were published in the New Ireland Review, Charles Robert Maturin, The Life and Times of Charles Lever and St Patrick’s Purgatory. In the 20 years before 1915 he had written over 300 articles, reviews and travel sketches for various newspapers and periodicals. Between 1892-1902 he contributed close to 150 notes and articles to Queries and the Athenexeum. As a journalist and author he traveled to many countries and cities of the world, London Paris, Petrograd, the Hauge, Venice , Perugia, Rome, Naples and Athens. In a scrapbook (MS 33,460) he has left a pictorial record of two cruises which he made on board Dr Lunns pleasure steam yacht ‘The Argonaut’. One in July 1902 to the Norwegian Fiords and the other to the Northern Capitals of Europe in 1903. The Argonaut left Hull on 22 August 1903 visiting St Petersburg of which he wrote in an article published in the Saturday Herald (December 1904). They went to Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway. The Argonauts cruises were well known in Dublin and were organised by Sir Henry Lunns (Lunns Tours). On the history of Dublin W.A. Henderson was an expert. He contributed articles which were printed in the Evening herald such as Dublin of Old and Walk Around Dublin. He spent many years in the study of the Tristan and Isolde romances on which he intended to publish a book which due to his death on 12 December 1927 never came to pass. W.A. Henderson is buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery in the grave of his brother in laws parents (Mr and Mrs Stobie). The Papers A number of papers were presented to the National Library by Henderson prior to his death in 1927. A further collection of letters and scrapbooks were presented to the library by his niece Anne Harrington (nee Stobie). The papers of William Alexander Henderson mainly consist of correspondence. The letters relate to the theatre and literary matters. There is also some correspondence from personal friends and acquaintances. The correspondence has been listed together. Other items in the collection include printed material, news cuttings, pamphlets, pictures, postcards, photographs, research notes and other memoranda. There is a scrapbook (MS 33,460) kept by Henderson that records his travels to Norway and the Northern Citadels of Europe on the Argonaut in July 1902 and August 1903. The scrapbook contains photographs, newspaper articles, postcards and leaflets and written captions. It is an extremely interesting insight into what it was like traveling by sea in the early part of the twentieth century.

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I Collection of letters, cards and papers relating to Theatre and John Millington Synge MS 33,448/ 1

11 February 1908 Postcard from Synge to Henderson

MS 33,448/ 2

Letter from Synge (Silchester House, Kingstown, Dublin) to Henderson.

MS 33,448/ 3

Letter from Synge (Glendalough House, Co Wicklow) to Henderson

MS 33,448/ 4

28 August Letter from Synge (Glendalough House, Co Wicklow) to Henderson. No year given.

MS 33,448/ 5

2 February Letter from Synge (Glendalough House, Co Wicklow) to Henderson No year given.

MS 33,448/ 6

1909 Photograph of John Millington Synge with note ‘Author of the Playboy died 27 March 1909’ on reverse. 1 item

II Collection of letters, cards and papers relating to the Theatre and William Butler Yeats MS 33,449/ 1

3 September 1907 Letter from Yeats (18 Woburn Buildings, London) to Henderson regarding Henderson’s book

MS 33,449/ 2

10 July Letter from Yeats (Coole Park, Sligo) to Henderson

MS 33,449/ 3

16 July Letter from Yeats (Burren, Co Clare) to Henderson

MS 33,449/ 4

29 July Letter from Yeats (Coole Park, Sligo) to Henderson

MS 33,449/ 5

8 August Letter from Yeats (Coole Park, Sligo) to Henderson

MS 33,449/ 6

17 August Letter from Yeats (Coole Park, Sligo) to Henderson

MS 33,449/ 7

18 August Letter from Yeats (Coole Park, Sligo) to Henderson

MS 33,449/ 8

Letter from Yeats (Coole Park, Sligo) to Henderson. Day noted as Friday.

MS 33,449/ 9

Letter from Yeats (Coole Park, Sligo) to Henderson. Letter marked private and refers to photograph of Sara Allgood. Day noted as 4

Tuesday. MS 33,449/ 10

9 November Letter from Yeats (Stone Cottage, Sussex, England) to Henderson.

MS 33,449/ 11

1906 Picture of W.B Yeats in Edinburgh, 1906.

MS 33,449/ 12

Part of envelope with note that it came from W.B Yeats

MS 33,450

1 November 1910 Copy of an agreement to establish a National Theatre Society. Agreement sent to Miss Maire Nic Shiublaigh. Signed by William Butler Yeats and Lennox Robinson and witnessed by W.A Henderson. 1 item

MS 33,451/ 1

Document written by W.A Henderson containing an account of all the meetings he has had with William Butler Yeats and George Bernard Shaw. 3 pp

MS 33,451/ 2

1906 Account book kept by W.A Henderson for The Abbey Theatre while he was manager. 1 item

MS 33,451/ 3

14 February 1914 Postcard from Douglas Hyde to Henderson Letter from actor Jim Kerrigan (The Crawford, Crawfordsville Industries) to Henderson. 2 pp

MS 33,451/ 4

MS 33,451/ 5

Signed photograph of actor Jim Kerrigan. 1 item

III Miscellaneous letters, cards and papers MS 33,452/ 1

27 December 1911 Postcard sent by Arthur Sinclair (New York) to Henderson. Postcard with image of the Maxine Elliot Theatre, New York. 1 item

MS 33,452/ 2

21 December 1912 Letter written R.M.S Majestic ships stationery (White Star Line) from Sinclair to Henderson 1 item

MS 33,452/ 3

13 April 1914 Postcard sent from Sinclair (Fine Arts Theatre, Chicago) to Henderson 5

1 item MS 33,452/ 4

30 October 1915 Letter sent from Sinclair (35 Dargle Road, Drumcondra, Dublin) to Henderson. The letter refers to personal matters. 1 item

MS 33,453/ 1

4 October 1915 Letter from Goddard H Orpen (Monksgrange, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford) to Henderson. 1 item

MS 33,453/ 2

Postcard from Orpen to Henderson. 1 item 21 November 1915 Letter from Orpen (St Leonard’s House, Killiney, Co Dublin) to Henderson. 1 item

MS 33,453/ 3

MS 33,453/ 4

31 May 1913 Postcard from Orpen (Monksgrange, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford) to Henderson. 1 item

MS 33,454/ 1

26 August Letter from Lennox Robinson (Ballymoney, Ballineen) to Henderson. 1 item

MS 33,454/ 2

24 February 1909 Letter from Lennox Robinson to Henderson 1 item

MS 33,455/ 1

December 1915 Postcard with pen and ink drawing by Joseph Holloway 1 item

MS 33,455/ 2

December 1917 Postcard with pen and ink drawing by Joseph Holloway 1 item

MS 33,455/ 3

December 1918 Postcard with pen and ink drawing by Joseph Holloway (21 Northumberland Road, Dublin) 1 item

MS 33,456/ 1

Postcard showing scene from Easter 1916 Rising. Sent by George Noble Count Plunkett. 1 item 28 February 1914 Letter sent by George Noble Count Plunkett (26 Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin) 1 item

MS 33,456/ 2

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MS 33,456/ 3

26 September 1917 Letter sent by George Noble Count Plunkett (26 Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin) 1 item

MS 33,457/ 1

4 February 1915 Letter sent by The Plunkett House 1 item

MS 33,458/ 1

20 October 1922 Letter from J.F Larchot, musician, teacher and conductor (8 St Mary’s Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin) to Henderson 1 item

MS 33,458/ 2

2 July 1918 Letter from T. W. Lyster (National Library of Ireland) to Henderson 1 item

MS 33,458/ 3

19 May 1911 Letter from P.F. Callender (Avondene, Statford-on-Avon, England) to Henderson 1 item

MS 33,458/ 4

26 January 1916 Letter from G. Coselett-Heller (4 Sidney Terrace, Upper Lesson Street, Dublin) to Henderson 1 item

MS 33,458/ 5

10 July 1920 Letter from John Booth (63 Mid Abbey Street, Dublin), not on back of letter 1 item

MS 33,458/ 6

Small envelope with manuscript poem in Irish written on back by Dora Sigerson-Shorters ‘Cnoc Mo Rujn’. 1 item

MS 33,458/ 7

16 June 1915 Letter from Professor Lewis C. Purser (35 Trinity College, Dublin). 1 item

MS 33,458/ 8

3 October 1917 Letter from S.H. Purser (Mespil House, Dublin) 1 item

MS 33,458/ 9

26 February 1910 Postcard from T.P. Shakespeare (Orelia Terrace) 1 item

MS 33,458/ 10

Photograph of Edgar Bruce with caption ‘Why certainly the Colonel’ 1 item 7

MS 33,458/ 11

21 March 1919 Letter from Inchicore House, Inchicore relating to the history of the house in the area 1 item

MS 33,458/ 12

Letter from Federic R Higgins (Lower Northbrook Avenue, North Strand) 1 item

MS 33,458/ 13

[1914] Verses of poetry written by Sealy Jeffares (67 Ashfield Road, Ranelagh, Dublin) on piece of card. Ranelagh address embossed on back of card. 1 item

MS 33,458/ 14

30 June 1914 Letter from Frank Laurie (The Gaiety Manchester) 1 item

MS 33,458/ 15

18 June 1912 Letter from L Donofan (Sunnyside, Drogheda) 1 item

MS 33,458/ 16

5 December 1915 Letter from Lord Walter Fitzgerald (Kilkea Castle, Mageny, Co Kildare) 1 item

MS 33,458/ 17

27 February 1918 Letter from Lord Walter Fitzgerald (24 Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin) 1 item

MS 33,458/ 18

25 January 1917 Letter from H.O. Brunskill (43 Upper Leeson Street, Dublin) 1 item

MS 33,458/ 19

27 June 1915 Letter from H.O. Brunskill (43 Upper Leeson Street, Dublin) 1 item

MS 33,458/ 20

13 April 1910 Letter from W Boyle (56 Crescent Lane, Clapham, London) 1 item

MS 33,458/ 21

7 June 1911 Letter from W Boyle on Inland Revenue stationary 1 item

MS 33,458/ 22

Letter from W Boyle (Le Lyceum, 28 Rue de la Biennaisance,Paris) 1 item

MS 33,458/ 23

Letter from M&F Cox, solicitors, (26 Merrion Street, Dublin) 8

1 item MS 33,458/ 24

17 January 1916 Letter from W Brooks (35 Brighton Road, Rathgar, Dublin) 1 item

MS 33,458/ 25

19 January 1904 Letter from O.D. Isolda and P.H. Fox (The Rectory, Chapelizod, Dublin) 1 item

MS 33,458/ 26

12 July 1915 Letter from Mary Hayde, Professor (16 Rathmines Road, Dublin) 1 item

MS 33,458/ 27

21 April 1903 Letter from Dr Kells Ingram (38 Upper Mount Street, Dublin) 1 item

MS 33,458/ 28

19 March 1911 Letter from J Lloyd Jones (16 Hollybrook Road, Clontarf, Dublin) 1 item

MS 33,458/ 30

14 Dec 1902 Letter from J Loyd Jones (Hiatt and Company, Masshouse Lane, Birmingham, England) 1 item

MS 33,458/ 31

8 March 1911 Letter from Dr George Siegerson, Professor of Biology (3 Clare Street, Dublin) 1 item

MS 33,458/ 32

11 October 1913 Postcard from Maurice Bourgeons (Avenue D’Orleans, Paris) 1 item

MS 33,458/ 33

23 September 1916 Letter from A.H. Walker (27 Ashfield Park, Terenure, Dublin) 1 item

MS 33,458/ 34

12 October 1902 Letter from J.C. Doyle (46 Arranmore Terrace, North Circular Road, Dublin) 1 item

MS 33,458/ 35

24 November 1914 Postcard from J.H. Cousins (41 Island Road, Garston, Liverpool) 1 item

MS 33,458/ 36

12 February1915 Note from Cosgrave MacDowell M.D. physician to Lord Lieutenant (5 9

Gardiner Row, Dublin) 1 item MS 33,458/ 37

6 August 1911 Letter from unidentified person (Westland Hotel) 1 item

MS 33,458/ 38

2 March 1908 Letter from Alexander Bugge 1 item

MS 33,458/ 39

10 September 1899 Letter from Alfred Nuv (Oakmead, Harrow, England) 1 item

MS 33,458/ 40

27 May 1908 Letter from Alfred Nuv (57-59 Long Acre, London) 1 item

MS 33,458/ 41

8 January 1904 Letter from T.D Sullivan (1 Belvedere Place, Dublin) 1 item

MS 33,458/ 42

September 1917 Letter from Dora Buckinghamshire) 1 item

Struty

(Knockmoroon,

Great

Missendon,

MS 33,459/ 1

1908 Envelopes with different postmarks 2 items

MS 33,459/ 2

Photograph signed by Joseph Connolly 1 item

MS 33,459/ 3

Postcard with picture of Times Office, Queen Victoria Street, London 1 item

MS 33,459/ 4

3 December 1907 Postcard from unidentified person in France 1 item

MS 33,459/ 5

1 January 1908 Envelope with Paris postmark on it 1 item

MS 33,459/ 6

31 January 1911 Postcard from Lisbon with National Literary Society stamp 1 item

MS 33,459/ 7

5 November 1917 10

Postcard inviting members to National Literary Society Council meeting at 63 Merrion Square, Dublin 1 item MS 33,459/ 8

31 October 1909 Postcard with picture of the Catholic Young Men’s Society, Fute in Dublin 1 item

MS 33,459/ 9

Postcard from unidenfied person and location. Possibly picture of Villa Geogise, Marino, Dublin 1 item

MS 33,459/ 10

14 August1907 Postcard with picture of Lough Derg, Co Donegal 1 item

MS 33,459/ 11

12 August 1910 Postcard from William Stubil, nephew of W.A.Henderson 1 item

MS 33,459/ 12

29 May 1907 Part of a receipt 1 item

MS 33,459/ 13

Set of four ‘Alpha’ postcards from the Italian pastille series 4 items

MS 33,459/ 14

20 February 1878 Pen and ink drawing by W.A Henderson of Mehemet Ali Pasha in Crete 1 item

MS 33,459/ 15

27 April 1914 and 12 May 1917 Two letters from the editor of ‘Athenagum’, London to Henderson 2 items

MS 33,459/ 16

5 June 1914 Letter from unidentified person (7 Grimsdale, Boustridge, Seaton, Devon) 2 pp

MS 33,459/ 17

Translation of document by George Siegerson 3 pp

IV Scrapbooks, illustrations and printed material collected and compiled by Henderson MS 33,460

1902-1903 Scrapbook kept by Henderson giving an account of his travels on the Argonaut cruise ship to Norway in July 1902 and to the Citadels of 11

Northern Europe in August 1903. Includes photographs, articles, picture postcards, information leaflets and handwritten captions. 53 pp MS 33, 460/ A

File of cuttings from newspapers, magazines and other publications compiled by Henderson. The cuttings include pictures, reviews, articles, obituaries and columns. The cuttings relate to the history of Howth, Maynooth, Galway and Dublin, the Tristan and Isolde romance, significant deaths of the early part of the twentieth century, Irish history and other matters that interested Henderson. The cuttings have been pasted onto pieces of cardboard and have been sewn together. For more information on the contents please consult the 12 page index included with the collection. 243 pp

MS 33,460/ B

1921-1946 Scrapbook of cuttings kept by Henderson. The cuttings include pictures, reviews, articles, obituaries and columns. The cuttings relate to Irish History and events surrounding The Treaty Commemoration. 103 pp

MS 33,460/ C

1924 File containing manuscript notes, statements, illustrations and other memoranda relating to the Tristan and Isolde romance and research Henderson has done on the topic. 24 items

MS 33,460/ D

Miscellaneous items including sketch of army corps done by Henderson, autograph of Henderson, letter of application and testimonials in favour of Mr Henderson as candidate for the post of Clerk or Assistant to the Director of the National Gallery, Dublin, membership form for National Literary Society. 4 items

MS 33,460/ E

File of magazines, books, news cuttings and other memoranda compiled by Henderson. Material relates to the theatre, plays, reviews of performances and other matters that interested Henderson. c 25 items

MS 33, 460/ F

1805, 1907, 1909, 1910 and 1917 Box file of books and publications owned by Henderson. Items include Sinn Fein rebellion handbook (1917), The Flag The Book of the Union Jack Club (1907), Popular Tales by Maria Edgeworth (1805) and two issues of the annual school publication An Macaom (1909 and1910) edited by P.H Pearse and published at St Enda’s. 5 items

MS 33,460/ G / 1

July –September 1906 Loose leaf pages from issues of the publication Dialogues of the Day conducted by Francis Sheehy Skeffington. 56 pp

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MS 33,460/ G / 2

Miscellaneous file of magazines, journals and news cuttings relating to Irish Theatre and Irish History kept by Henderson. c 30 items

MS 33,460/ G / 3

File of items relating to Irish history. Includes a journal titled irish Life: Record of the Irish Rebellion, a picture album titled Souvenir Album of the Dublin Fighting, 1922 and a copy of map of Dublin ‘specially drawn for third edition Sinn Fein Rebellion Handbook compiled by the weekly Irish Times. 3 items

MS 33,460/ G / 4

1917 File of items relating to the Irish Convention, British Commonwealth, Conscription and Home Rule collected by Henderson. Includes mostly pamphlets and flyers in Irish and English. 15 items

MS 33,460/ G / 5

1922 Copies of pages from publication Stop Press Poblacht Na Eireann War News. 3 items

MS 33,460/ G / 6

Postcards and pictures of Dublin during the aftermath of the 1916 Rising and of some of the rebels who participated in the 1916 Rising. 7 items

MS 33,460/ G / 7

Miscellaneous items collected by Henderson. Items include copy of 1610 map of Dublin, copy of programme of music for Miss Maud McCarthy’s Violin Recital (1906), copy of Dr G. Siegerson’s Dublin Christmas Magazine (1911) and copy of a prospectus on The Work of John M Synge. 4 items

MS 33,460/ G/ 8

File of illustrations, pictures, postcards, photographs and printed material. 23 items

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