Call Number:

MC.1257

Repository:

Haverford College Quaker & Special Collections

Extent:

0.25 linear ft. (1 box)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Beresford Family papers (HC.MC.1257), Quaker & Special Collections, Haverford College, Haverford, PA.

Date:

1929-1949 (inclusive) and 1929-1932 (bulk)

Creator:

Beresford, Loretta, Beresford, Peter Aldbury, Beresford, Natalie, and Beresford, David Osmond

Abstract:

Included are letters between Peter A. Beresford, David O. Beresford, and Dorothy Beresford, as well as various other writers, mostly written 1929-1932.

Peter Aldbury Beresford (June 18th, 1909 - May 17th, 2006), originally of Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, England, worked as an assistant engineer on the S.S. Tongariro, traveling between port cities in Scotland, England, Australia, China, New Zealand, South Africa, Panama, and more. He settled in Botany, New South Wales, Australia, with his wife Natalie and daughter Loretta. He was the older brother of David O. Beresford and the son of Dorothy and Frank Beresford. Peter eventually moved to Albany, New York, where he died in 2006.

David Osmond Beresford (October 2nd, 1910 - April 10th, 2004), originally of Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, England, emigrated to Delanson, Schenectady County, New York. He worked as a cattle farmer, as an assistant to farmer Harold J. Gorst at 'New Acres'. He was the younger brother of Peter A. Beresford and the son of Dorothy and Frank Beresford.

Dorothy Beresford (January 26th, 1880 - December 16th, 1962), maiden name Mahomed, lived in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, England, and in 1931, emigrated to live with David in New York. She worked as an actress. She was the mother of David O. and Peter A. Beresford and the wife of Frank Beresford, formerly Francis Binstead, who also was an actor.

This collection contains letters mainly to Dorothy Beresford from her sons Peter and David, as well as letters between David and Peter, and various other correspondents tied to the Beresford family such as Peter's wife Natalie and daughter Loretta. These letters were primarily written between 1929 and 1932, although they span to 1949. The Beresford family originated in England, but first David and later Dorothy emigrated to New York, while Peter traveled between various continents during his career as a ship's assistant engineer, eventually settling in Australia. The letters touch on a wide range of topics, including simple family matters such as David's daily life in New York, Peter's experiences traveling between various port cities in Scotland, England, Australia, China (including mention of Sino-Japanese hostilities), New Zealand, South Africa, Panama, etc., the effects of the Great Depression, and the progress of technology.

The collection is organized alphabetically by correspondent.