P.O. Box 1896, Addis Ababa.—Is glad he likes Rita, whose knowledge of languages, including Romanian, is useful to Richard. Refers to her own prior interest in Romanian literature.
(Undated. Postmarked 29 Aug. 1959.)
P.O. Box 1896, Addis Ababa.—Is glad he likes Rita, whose knowledge of languages, including Romanian, is useful to Richard. Refers to her own prior interest in Romanian literature.
(Undated. Postmarked 29 Aug. 1959.)
P.O. Box 1896, Addis Ababa.—Her father’s letters have been destroyed. Comments on Elsa Fraenkel’s plan to exhibit some of her (Sylvia’s) sculptures.
(Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead.)—Thanks her for helping to arrange for the safe birth of her son.
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Transcript
Dearest Emmeline,
I am only allowed to write to Silvio so slip in a note for you to sign.
Yes dear friend he is a fine healthy beautiful Child perfect in every way. Yet I am told if I had not come here {1} when I did I should not have brought him out alive. And that I could not have done so without Lady Barretts help in the nick of time as it was.
So dear it seems I owe him to you and Silvio {1}–You first and through all.
Thanks thanks and love.
Till Friday
Sylvia.
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This letter was evidently written shortly after the birth of Sylvia Pankhurst’s son Richard on 3 December 1927. A few of the words are indistinct.
{1} The Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, where Lady Barrett was a consultant surgeon. See PETH 9/61.
P.O. Box 1896, Addis Ababa.—Thanks him for his kind words on the death of his mother. They are trying to complete some of her projects, and a memorial issue of the Observer is being prepared.
P.O. Box 1896, Addis Ababa.—His mother’s death came without warning, while her mind was still full of plans. He will publish the issues of the Ethiopia Observer already in hand, and then close it. Invites Pethick-Lawrence to contribute to a memorial issue. His mother will be buried with the victims of the Graziani massacre.
‘Just for H. P-L’s information[.] To be returned to Gladys please. re Sylvia Pank-hurst.’
11 Old Square, Lincoln’s Inn, London, W.C.2.—Is glad she remembers Helen. Sends a message expressing his delight that Ethiopian women have been given the vote.
P.O. Box 1896, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.—Is glad Helen’s back is better. Richard is researching a book in London. Suggests corrections to her sister’s book.
P.O. Box 1896, Addis Ababa.—Important items should not be sent to her by post, but given to her son, who is in London.
P.O. Box 1896, Addis Ababa.—Is writing a biography of her father. Asks for help in obtaining his letters to her mother, which are in the possession of Grace Roe, her sister’s executrix.
P.O. Box 1896, Addis Ababa.—Declines his offer of a second copy of Christabel’s book. Her father’s letters to her mother should be included in her memoir of him, but they are in the hands of someone outside the family.
P.O. Box 1896, Addis Ababa.—Richard and Rita are going to England shortly, via Palermo.
P.O. Box 1896, Addis Ababa.—The names of her parents’ first two sons are not given correctly in her sister’s book.
(Addis Ababa.)—Thanks him for a copy of her sister’s book (Unshackled), and discusses the references in it to herself.
(Addis Ababa.)—Has been moved by Christabel’s book (Unshackled). Is planning to write a memoir of her father, and asks for help in procuring his letters.
(Addis Ababa.)—Thanks Lady Pethick-Lawrence for an account of the celebra-tion of her mother (Emmeline Pankhurst)’s centenary. Suggests ideas for a suitable memorial (for Christabel?), and recalls the courageous actions of Princess Tsahai.
P.O. Box 1896, Addis Ababa.—Thanks him for a copy of his speech at the memorial service (for Dame Christabel Pankhurst). Reflects on the suffrage movement and the the Pethick-Lawrences’ contributions to it.
(Letter-head of the Ethiopia Observer. Sylvia Pankhurst is named as Editor.)
(Addis Ababa.)—Reflects on her sister Christabel’s death.
(Addis Ababa.)—The Emperor hopes that Pethick-Lawrence will stop at Ethiopia on his way to India or on the way home.