The Darwin Centenary June 22nd-24th, 1909
A collection by Dr. R.S. Woodward
£3,250
Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps & Photographs
Auction: 23 June 2021 at 11:00 BST
Description
The collection, containing 27 items, can be divided into 3 sections:
A - Manuscript
'Notes on the Darwin Centenary' A5 manila envelope labelled in Woodward's hand.
7 sheets of yellow, lined foolscap notepaper containing 9 pages of Woodward's autograph account of the Darwin Commemoration written in pencil with extensive corrections. This narrative is apparently unpublished although the care with which the revisions and corrections have been executed suggests private circulation or perhaps delivery as a paper or speech.
After making some commonplace remarks about Darwin's significance in relation to Newton, Woodward turns to the centenary celebration itself: 'certainly there were never a larger body of men of rare scientific attainments so assembled on an occasion of such significance in conjunction with the progress of human knowledge... The entire learned world from Chile to Japan joined in paying homage to the memory of a man hard at work only the other day.' Although she travelled with him Woodward's wife goes unnamed throughout the 'Notes'. Nonetheless her experiences at a late evening reception at Peterhouse and at the Ladies Dinner at Newnham are obliquely recounted.
Woodward's tone is serious and respectful throughout, sometimes awestruck by the scale of the ceremonial in Cambridge's ancient halls, but most alive when confronted by objects and people known to Darwin himself. There is the moment in Darwin's rooms at Christ's College when he catches sight of the monkey which was dangled over Darwin's head during an honorary degree ceremony at the Senate House in 1877. Particularly affecting is Woodward's starstruck reaction at a late evening party at Pembroke College when he finds himself able to 'look into the faces of and really exchange greetings with such colossal figures as Sir Joseph Hooker, just approaching his 93rd birthday and Mrs Thomas Huxley, keen and bright eyed at 86, Mrs Sidgwick... gentle voiced almost painfully retiring little woman whom, after the first few minutes of conversation you felt you had always known'.
B - Printed Ephemera
Darwin Commemoration June 22-24, 1909. Provisional Programme. [2] With oval stamp presumably on receipt at Woodward's office: 'Carnegie Institution Feb 15 1909 Washington'. A brief resume of events with notes about Hospitality and a request to inform the organisers 'whether they will be accompanied by a Lady'.
'University of Cambridge Darwin Celebration', A4 sized printed envelope issued on arrival in Cambridge to Woodward containing invitations etc. Printed with University Coat of Arms and 'Darwin Celebration' letterhead, accomplished in manuscript: 'Dr R S Woodward c/o Lady Jebb Springfield.' Lady Cara Jebb was the wife of Richard Jebb, Professor of Greek, and a distant Darwin relative, being the aunt of the writer Gwen Raverat.
'Darwin Celebration' A5 Compliments Slip, Accomplished in manuscript with the date, 'May [12th] 1909'.
'Programme'. 4 page, quarto sized, printed bifolium with detailed programme of events, Tuesday June 22-Thursday June 24. Woodward has annotated the programme jotting down 'Senate House' beside the Wednesday morning 'Presentation of Addresses' and correcting the time of the evening reception at Pembroke College as well as writing 'Mr and Mrs' alongside events open to wives.
'List of Delegates and Other Guests Invited by the University', large quarto size, pp 26. Dated June 19, 1909 with 'Final Lists' in top corner of card cover. Laid in, a compliments slip from the Honorary Secretaries. Woodward's name appears on the first page as President of the Carnegie Institution, Washington.
TUESDAY JUNE 22
Reception by the Chancellor, Small Broadside relating to Academic Dress and the Reception of Delegates in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Tuesday June 22.
7 Invitation to Reception in the Fitwilliam Museum by the Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. Oblong card with crest of the University in colour; accomplished in manuscript: 'Dr and Mrs R S Woodward'.
In his manuscript 'Notes on the Darwin Centenary' Woodward records that after the 'kindly formalities' of the Chancellor's introduction at the head of the Grand Stairway of the Fitzwilliam Museum 'the guests passed into the picture galleries where for once the priceless treasures must have been forgotten in the moving picture of life and colour which presented themselves.' Escaping these galleries the Woodwards continued their evening at a reception at Peterhouse College next door where the ladies were warmed with 'white Shetland wool scarfs... The thoughtful courtesy disarmed every American souvenir hunter I am sure'.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23
'Order of Proceedings in the Senate House Wednesday, June 23, 1909', pp 12. Large quarto, sewn. The order is printed on the cover with a list of the delegates occupying 9 pages of the pamphlet, Woodward's name printed on page 3. Woodward recalls this as the 'most impressive function of the week' in his 'Notes', set in the 'simple, oblong auditorium of the House with its overhanging, narrow galleries on the four sides, its grey time stained stone walls lighted by tall classical windows... brilliant with the varied colors of the diversified robes worn by the delegates'. However the picturesque entrance of Lord Rayleigh and his flunkies into the Senate House is contrasted with his speech-making: 'His address was of course eulogistic of Darwin but delivered in so feeble a voice we were glad the ever present reporter was probably furnished with a copy for the next day's press.'
Invitation, A5 size, to American delegates to the unveiling of 'their most splendid and most welcome gift of a bronze bust of Charles Darwin.'
Notice to Delegates, small quarto size broadside with notice of a photograph of Delegates at Christ's College, Wednesday afternoon.
Invitation, 'The Master and Fellows of Christ's College at Home', oblong printed card, Wednesday June 23rd, 4-6. Accomplished in manuscript: 'President and Mrs Woodward'. Woodward recounts in the 'Notes' his excitement on entering Darwin's rooms to find himself surrounded by: 'Manuscripts, letters, copies of first editions with Darwin's own notes... There were, too, many of the rock specimens collected by him during the famous voyage of the Beagle.'
Programme of Music, 'The Darwin Centenary 1909, Christ's College Garden'. A5 flyer with music for the Garden Party played by the Band of H M. Royal Marines, including works by Sullivan, Grieg and Wagner.
Invitation to a 'Banquet in the New Examination Hall', Wednesday June 23, at 7 p.m. Large stiff card, accomplished in manuscript: 'Dr R S Woodward'; folded to fit in a pocket. In his 'Notes' Woodward respectfully records the presence of the great and good at the banquet, including 'ten distinguished members of the Darwin family'.
Banquet 23 June 1909, Plan of Tables. Large (110mm x 45 mm / 43.5" x 16") folding plan with alphabetical list of delegates. Woodward was seated at the foot of Table L, next to Newton's successor at Cambridge, the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics, Joseph Larmor.
'Darwin Celebration Cambridge, June, 1909. Speeches Delivered at the Banquet Held on June 23rd.' Cambridge Daily News, July 1909, pp 22. A pamphlet published a month after the event, preface by George and Francis Darwin, directing the publication to 'those who were present [who] may like to possess a memento'. Together with (loosely inserted):
Large compliments slip "With the Compliments of sir George Darwin and Mr. Francis Darwin." (inserted into item 15.)
17.Ladies Dinner Newnham College, 23 June 1909. Folding stiff card menu and programme of music for the corresponding women's dinner.
Ladies Dinner, Plan of Tables. Mrs Woodward is found on Table A. [I've also spotted a "Ms Stephen" which, after discussion with a Woolf expert, is very likely to be the the 27 year-old Virgina Woolf, whose family was very close with the Darwins.]
Invitation to a late evening reception: 'The Master and Fellows of Pembroke College At Home.. 9.20 to 12', small oblong card, coloured College crest. Accomplished in manuscript: 'Mrs Woodward'. Woodward records his pleasure at being able to attend this 'brilliant gathering' and 'look into the faces of and really exchange greetings with such colossal figures' as Sir Joseph Hooker, Mrs Thomas Huxley and Mrs Sidgwick.
'Programme of Music', H. M. Royal Marines Band, Wagner etc to be played at the Pembroke College event.
THURSDAY, JUNE 24
'Darwin Celebration. 24th June.' Large quarto broadside; Order of procession and Conferral of Honorary Degrees. Unlike the performance he witnessed a day earlier Woodward praises highly the speech given by Sir Archibald Geikie, President of the Royal Society, who 'was proud to claim him [Darwin] as one of their great masters and in their name he begged to offer their tribute and admiration'. Woodward observes the presence of Mrs Thomas Huxley, the only woman on the floor of the Senate House and 'recalls the days in the decade following the publication [of the Origin] when her great husband constituted himself Darwin's bulldog.'
Invitation to Trinity Fellows' Garden, where the Darwin family would be 'AT HOME', accomplished in manuscript: 'Doctor and Mrs R.S. Woodward'. On leaving Cambridge after this 'graciously hospitable' finale Woodward concludes that: 'every one must have felt that the Celebration had been of great historic significance and would long be remembered as a worthy expression of the high estimation in which Charles Darwin's name would be held throughout the learned world.'
FRIDAY JUNE 25 and following
'Cambridge Chronicle and University Journal', Newspaper, June 25th 1909. Extensive reporting of Darwin festivities, pp 4, 6-8; c 10,000 words.
2 newspaper clippings, one from the Times briefly mentioning Woodward; the second from the New York Times on the 'Darwin Centenary Rich in Coloring' mentioning the 'Women's Costumes Add Livelier', also mentioning Woodward's presence at the Senate House Dinner.
C- PRINTED BOOK
Woodward’s copy of: Order of the proceedings at the Darwin celebration held at Cambridge June 22-June 24, 1909 : with a sketch of Darwin's life. Cambridge : Printed at the Cambridge University Press, 1909. [Frontispiece, map of Cambridge 10 plates] pp 23. A fine copy.
[With] Collier, John Darwin, No.4402, a framed photographic engraving
Footnote
Note: The most complete ephemeral record of an unprecedented scientific celebration.
This collection was formed by the American physicist and mathematician, Robert Simpson Woodward (then President of the Carnegie Institution) through his involvement with the Darwin Commemoration held in Cambridge between 22 and 24 June, 1909. During those three days the University of Cambridge played host to scientists, scholars and public figures from 167 different countries to celebrate the centenary of Charles Darwin's birth and the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species.
An archivist's dream Woodward received his provisional programme of events in February 1909 and had the foresight to preserve all the letters, invitations and instructive pamphlets that he received with the result that this collection is richer in ephemeral material than either the analogous archives held by Cambridge University Library or The Royal Society. In addition he wrote an (unpublished) manuscript account of his experience of the Darwin celebration which accompanies the archive.