Two scrapbooks compiled by Durham during her time as Hon. Secretary of the Anglo-Albanian Society, containing cuttings from English and overseas press, letters and other documents relating to Albania and Yugoslavia.
The Edith Durham Balkan Scrapbooks.
This material is held atUniversity of Bradford Special Collections
- Reference
- GB 532 DUR
- Dates of Creation
- Circa 1919 - 1927
- Name of Creator
- Language of Material
- English
- Physical Description
- 0.14 linear metres
Scope and Content
Administrative / Biographical History
Mary Edith Durham was born in 1863 in London, daughter of a surgeon. Educated at Bedford College and at the Royal Academy of Arts, she worked as an artist and illustrator. However, in the late 1890s, she became ill and depressed and was prescribed travel. Sailing to Montenegro, she was captivated by Balkan life and culture. Thereafter she travelled extensively in the region and began systematically to study its history and languages, with a view to understanding the customs and manners of each area. She published several books, including Through the Lands of the Serb (1904), The Burden of the Balkans (1905), and High Albania (1909). In particular, she championed the cause of the Albanians, becoming secretary of the Anglo-Albanian Society (later Association), launched in 1918. Ill-health ended her travels in 1921, but she continued to publish and was active on the Council of the Royal Anthropological Institute.
Access Information
Available to researchers, by appointment. Access to archive material is subject to preservation requirements and must also conform to the restrictions of the Data Protection Act and any other appropriate legislation. There are no restrictions on access to this material under current legislation.
Acquisition Information
Donated to Dr John Horton of the University Library circa 1970 by Dr Fred Singleton.
Archivist's Note
Described by Alison Cullingford, using ISAD(G) 2, February 2007; minor edits August 2013.
Conditions Governing Use
Copies may be supplied or produced at the discretion of Special Collections staff, subject to copyright law and the condition of the originals. Applications for permission to make published use of any material should be directed to the Special Collections Librarian in the first instance. The Library will assist where possible with identifying copyright owners but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material.
Custodial History
Scrapbooks contain provenance of Chatham House (who confirmed in correspondence in 2004 that the materials were withdrawn from their stock and they were happy for Bradford to retain them).