Quiller-Couch family papers

The Quiller-Couch Family Papers consist of a photograph album and storybook by J. M. Barrie, postcards and postcard albums, scrapbooks, photographs, and a toy theater version of Peter Pan, all of which belonged to the family of Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch, and span the years 1878-1954. The papers are housed in eight boxes (including 3 oversize boxes) and are organized into five series: Writings of J. M. Barrie, Postcards, Scrapbooks, Photographs, and Peter Pan Toy Theater.

Series I, Writings of J. M. Barrie , contains "The Pippa and Porthos," a photograph album and storybook with 24 photographs taken January 1, 1895, at Fowey, with inscription, "Dedicated to Mrs. Quiller-Couch (without her permission). The Literary matter by J. M. Barrie. The drudgery by Mary Barrie." Photographs show Fowey, two unidentified women, Bevil Quiller-Couch, who Barrie nicknamed "The Pippa," and Barrie's dog Porthos, a St. Bernard. The story chronicles a walk taken by Bevil Quiller-Couch and Porthos around Fowey.

Series II, Postcards , contains postcard albums and loose postcards, probably collected by Foy Felicia Quiller-Couch. The postcard albums are arranged chronologically and the loose postcards are arranged alphabetically into places, people, and other postcards.

Postcard subjects, in both the postcard albums and loose postcards, include many cities, towns, and buildings across England and Europe, particularly France, Germany, and Italy. Postcards also contain pictures of animals, humorous and holiday illustrations, ships, sailboats, artwork, and people, including a series of female "Cinema Stars," English royalty, and others.

Postcard albums contain both blank and written postcards, including postcards sent to Foy Felicia, Bevil, and Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch, Lilian Quiller-Couch (Mrs. John Hay Lobban), and Juilles Couch, an unidentified family member. Most correspondents are unidentified but include Bevil Quiller-Couch and "Aunt Mamie" [Mabel Quiller-Couch?]. Most of the loose postcards are blank, but include postcards sent to Foy Felicia Quller-Couch, Lillian Quiller-Couch (Mrs. John Hay Lobban), and Juilles Couch.

Series III, Scrapbooks , contains two scrapbooks. The first scrapbook is labelled "Arthur Couch" and spans the years 1878-80. It includes forget-me-not, Valentine's Day, Christmas, and New Year's cards from Arthur Quiller-Couch and others, possibly collected by his wife, Louisa. Manuscript notes identify some of the correspondents. The second scrapbook contains miscellaneous engravings and other pictures, many of which were colored by an unidentified child. It includes several manuscript poems, including poems signed "Sarah Ann," "Clara," "Emily," and "Elle Williams."

Series IV, Photographs , contains two undated photographs, a photograph of a portrait of J. M. Barrie, with inscription, "Yours Ever, J. M. Barrie," and a photograph of an unidentified building.

Series V, Peter Pan Toy Theater , contains cutouts and boards from a toy theater for children depicting Barrie's Peter Pan, ca. 1905. The series is arranged alphabetically into Characters, Scenery, and Other Papers. Characters includes cutouts of all of the characters in Peter Pan, including the Darling family, Lost Boys, Mermaids, Peter Pan, Piccaninny tribe, and Pirates. Most characters are represented by more than one cutout. Most cutouts are labelled with the act and scene in which they appear. Some cutouts correspond to multiple scenes.

Scenery includes both cutouts and boards representing the Darling nursery, the Lost Boys's Home under the Ground, the Mermaid's Lagoon, and the pirate ship Jolly Roger. Other papers related to the toy theater include a manuscript note by Foy Felicia Quiller-Couch, which states that the toy theater was a gift to her from her godfather, J. M. Barrie.