Identity area
Reference code
Burton, M. MSS
Title
Date(s)
- 1922-1926 (Creation)
Level of description
Collection
Extent and medium
1 diary
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
First (of four) daughter of Thomas Morton Duckett (1852-1922) and Sarah Annie Williams (1854-1922). She was born in Folkestone, Kent on 31 December 1875. She married Alexander Bell Filson Young in 1902, whom she divorced five years later. In 1914 she married the British archaeologist and photographer Harry Burton (1879-1940). Neither Harry nor Minnie had children from either of their marriages. She died in Florence (Italy) on 30 May 1957. Her grave is located in the Allori Cemetery, where her parents are also buried.
Archival history
Previously in the hands of Mrs Rosalind Berwald (source: Beauman, S., The Visitors (2014), acknowledgment at end), who acquired it years ago from Bertram Rota, an established London book dealer.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Sotheby’s, London. English Literature, Sale L15404, 14 July 2015, lot 29. Acquired by the Griffith Institute at auction thanks to two grants from the Friends of the National Libraries (50%) and the Heritage Lottery Fund (50%).
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Diary kept from 4 May 1922 to 20 October 1926 by the wife of the British archaeologist and photographer Harry Burton (1879-1940). The diary contains detailed daily entries recording social engagements and memorable events, including the excavation of the tomb of Tutankhamun by Howard Carter’s team, of which her husband was a member. The diary details her life and travels with her husband at home in Florence, their stays in Egypt (especially Luxor, but also Cairo), the trip they made across the US and to Hollywood in 1924, and various holidays in Europe (London, Salzburg, St. Moritz, etc.), as well as trips to friends in Italy. Lined account book, 400 pages, 8vo (179 x 110 x 28 mm).
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Kept as received.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Property of the Griffith Institute. No restrictions.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright Griffith Institute, University of Oxford.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Accessioned with extensive loss at spine and lower cover detached. Conservation carried out by Nicole Gilroy, Head of Book Conservation at the Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford, and her team.
Finding aids
None.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
This is an original.
Existence and location of copies
Not known.
Related units of description
Publication note
- Excerpts from diary quoted by Harry James and Christopher Frayling in their publications on Howard Carter and Tutankhamun.
- Full web publication on the Griffith Institute website: http://www.griffith.ox.ac.uk/minnieburton-project/.
Notes area
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Digital object metadata
Filename
Davies_12_09_cropped_to_MB_res72ppi.jpg
Latitude
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Media type
Image
Mime-type
image/jpeg