Browse Items · UAH Archives, Special Collections, and Digital Initiatives

William Godwin's diary, 24-30 July 1814

Photograph of William Godwin's diary from 24-30 July 1814. The entry for the 28th reads "Five in the morning. Macmillan calls. M. J. to Dover"

Mary Shelley - Letter to Percy Bysshe Shelley (Audio)

"Shelley was now financially responsible for Mary and Claire as well as Harriet, who was heavily pregnant with their second child. Godwin refused to see him, but drew on his resources. Mary wrote this impassioned letter to Shelley when he was in hiding from his numerous creditors. They could meet only on Sundays, when it was illegal to make arrests for debt."

Percy Bysshe Shelley and Mary Shelley - Joint journal entry (Audio)

"Shelley and Mary eloped at 4.15 am on 28 July 1814, accompanied by Mary's step-sister Jane Clairmont. They were pursued by Mrs Godwin (Claire's mother), who caught up with them the following day at Calais, but failed to persuade them to return. On 2 August Shelley, Mary and Claire reached Paris, where they purchased this notebook. Shelley wrote up their dramatic flight from England, the stormy crossing (during which he began 'to reason upon death') and their arrival in France. Mary makes her first contribution to the journal by lightly completing a sentence: 'Mary was there. Shelley was also with me.'"

Mary Shelley - Journal of Sorrow (Audio)

"In the months immediately following Shelley's death Mary lived at Albaro on the outskirts of Genoa. Her only regular companions were her young son, Percy Florence, and the journal she began on 2 October 1822.

To this 'Journal of Sorrow' she confided her innermost thoughts: 'White paper - wilt thou be my confident? I will trust thee fully, for none shall see what I write.' To be sure, Mary would not have shared the entries she wrote immediately after Shelley's death, in which her remorse and despair sometimes approached hysteria. But she left no instructions for the 'Journal of Sorrow' to be destroyed after her death, and was perhaps reconciled to the idea that this, and her other journals, would eventually be seen by other eyes."

Katherine Parr Full-Length Portrait

Full-length portrait of Katherine Parr.

Katherine Parr Portrait

Portrait of Katherine Parr

Miniature of Katherine Parr

Miniature portrait of Katherine Parr

Katherine Parr Love Letter to Thomas Seymour

A love letter from Katherine Parr to Thomas Seymour declaring that if she had not married the King, she would have married him for love.

Katherine Parr Letter Regarding Thomas Seymour's Brother

Letter sent by Katherine Parr where she exclaims her dislike for Thomas Seymour's brother

Katherine Parr Letter Signed 'Kateryn the Queen'

Letter from Katherine Parr where she declares herself 'Kateryn the Queen'

Prayers and Meditations

The second book published by Katherine Parr but the first book to be published by an English woman under her own name.

Prayers and Meditations Full Book

Prayers and Meditations which was published on July 8th, 1545 by Katherine Parr. Although this was the second book published by the queen, this is the first she published under her own name. This is also the first book published by an English woman under her own name.

Katherine Parr Grave Robberies

The tooth, necklace, and emblem of Katherine Parr that were stolen from her grave during a violent robbery that destroyed what remained of her body. The items were eventually returned to Sudeley Castle.

Katherine Parr Locket

Locket belonging to Katherine Parr containing perfectly preserved strands of her hair that have allowed us to confirm her hair texture, type, and color. Although the locket was stolen from her grave during a violent robbery that destroyed what remained of her body, the item was eventually returned to Sudeley Castle.