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Malleson, Lady Constance, 1895-
Annesley, Priscilla, Countess
French, Percy, 1854-1920

Lady Constance Malleson fonds. -- 1890-1975. -- 3 m of textual records and graphic material.

Lady Constance Malleson, actress and author, was born on 24 October 1895 in Castewellan castle, the country home of her parents, Hugh, the 5th Earl Annesley and his wife Priscilla. Constance Malleson was educated in Dresden and Paris as well as the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. She acted in many West End productions in London, as well as in repertory theatre, using the stage name of Colette O'Niel. She also appeared in the two films Hindle Wakes and The Admirable Crichton. Colette toured South Africa with Dame Sybil Thorndike and Sir Lewis Casson in 1928; later on in 1932 she toured the Middle East with them. In 1915 she had married Miles Malleson. They divorced in 1923. She worked for various social causes, including mental hospital reform and the blood supply system. Opposed to World War I, she met Bertrand Russell through her association with the No-Conscription Fellowship. She lectured in Sweden in 1936-37 and in Finland during 1941 and 1946. She wrote several books including the autobiographical After Ten Years (1931). Her sister, Mabel M. Annesley was a well-known wood-engraver; Constance Malleson edited her unfinished autobiography, As the Sight Is Bent. She died on 5 October 1975 in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk.

Priscilla, Countess Annesley was the wife of Hugh, the 5th Earl of Annesley. After the death of her husband, Priscilla began a long affair with Prince Henry of Prussia. Percy French married Priscilla's sister, Ettie Armitage-Moore, in 1890. French was an accomplished painter, poet, singer and composer.

The fonds consists of manuscripts and typescripts; correspondence (includes personal, Bertrand Russell, legal, and newspapers); theatre material; book and journals; reviews of her books; and photographs (many of them theatrical) created by and for Constance Malleson in her life as an actress and writer. The fonds also contains manuscripts, photograph albums containing watercolours by Percy French and other materials belonging to Priscilla, Lady Annesley, which document her life as a member of the Anglo-Irish aristocracy. The fonds has been arranged into six series: manuscripts and typescripts; correspondence; theatre-related material; reviews of books and articles; photographs, art-work and realia; books, printed materials and books; Priscilla, Lady Annesley.

Researchers should also consult the Bertrand Russell fonds, including several recent acquisitions which contain Malleson materials. For a biographical sketch of Lady Annesley see "French surprise," Library Research News n.s. 6, no. 1 (spring 1996).

Title based on content of fonds.
The fonds (Rec. Acq. 596) was acquired from Phyllis Urch in late 1976 and 1977.
There are no access restrictions. Copyright in all writings of Lady Constance Malleson belongs to McMaster University. Phyllis Urch, the excutor of Lady Constance Malleson's estate and her copyright owner, transferred control of the archives and the copyright to McMaster University on 1 May 2004.
Finding aid available in hard copy and electronically. Individual Bertrand Russell letters may be searched electronically through BRACERS.
Further accruals are not expected.

Contact: archives@mcmaster.ca
Last Reviewed: November 22, 2010
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