1991.1016.111.4

Philip Norman (architect)

Letter (1991.1016.111.4b) dated 11th August 1918 in its original envelope (1991.1016.111.4a) from Philip Norman to Emery Walker. Norman writes of a visit to Sir Edward Coates with Campbell Dodgson to see a card collection of illustrations of London. EW is asked to help with the process of going through it so that it can be better recorded Found inserted in the book, London Vanished and Vanishing by Norman, Philip, when acquired by the museum, shelf J21. Part of the Emery Walker Library.

London

1918-08-11 - 1918-08-11

Arts & Crafts, 20th century

Letter from Philip Norman to Emery Walker dated 11th August 1918 and marked ‘Private’. Found in London Vanished and Vanishing by Philip Norman. The envelope for the letter survives and is addressed to Emery Walker Esq. at 16 Cliffords Inn, Fleet Street EC4. 11th August 1918. Private Dear Emery Walker, I have been calling on Sir Richard Coates[i] with Campbell Dodgson[ii]. He produced a card catalogue of something like a third of his collection I think there were seven boxes each containing a great many cards. After a good deal of talk, it was settled that he should send his imperfect catalogue to the Burlington Fine Arts Club and Campbell Dodgson has promised to look through it. He hopes very much that you will help him, he [inserted] says he will probably telephone to you on the subject. He will go in the late afternoons and if you can spare an hour or two in the late afternoons at the same time it will make all the difference, as I don’t think he knows quite enough about London Topography or about such draughtsmen as George Sheppard and others of the end of the 18th & early 19th century. From the catalogue a list can be made out with reference to the portfolios and when Sir Edward’s secretary returns [inserted] from a holiday in about three weeks time with that list as our guide portfolios can be opened and examined at the Safe Deposit [unreadable character] drawings extracted a note of the fact being inserted in the vacant spaces. I wish I could offer to do part of this preliminary work, but I really must go away and have a quiet time for two or three weeks. I think you will be able to get out the list early before the club closes on the 27th. The [Ealing] and Southwark are perhaps the most interesting [Transcriber’s note: The text of the letter now travels vertically up the left side of the page] parts as being the oldest settled ; inns, medieval churches now destroyed bits of Roman [Transcriber’s note: The text of the letter now rises vertically up the right side of the page] wall exceptionally fine houses [&] City halls occur to me as the best subjects Yours very sincerely P Norman[iii] [Footnotes: [i] Sir Edward Coates (1851 – 1921) was a British stockbroker and politician as well as a collector of old prints and a trustee of the National Portrait Gallery. [ii]Campbell Dodgson (1867 – 1948) was an art historian and Keeper of Prints and Drawings at the British Museum. [iii]Philip E Norman (1842 – 1931) was an artist, author and antiquary. CAW]