Sir Denis and Lady Patricia Barnes (née Abercrombie) Archive
Details
Type of record: Archive
Title: Sir Denis and Lady Patricia Barnes (née Abercrombie) Archive
Classmark: MS 2238
Date(s): c. 1920s - 2000s
Size and medium: 17 boxes
Persistent link: https://explore.library.leeds.ac.uk/special-collections-explore/658868
Collection group(s): English Literature
Description
Material documenting the personal lives and professional and literary careers of Sir Denis and Lady Patricia Barnes.
The archive is divided into five series.
The bulk of the collection covers the literary work of Patricia Barnes, better known by her pen name P. B. Abercrombie. Series contain drafts or proofs for many of her published novels, and a quantity of (presumably unpublished) drafts of other work (MS 2238/1). There are also significant numbers of diaries and journals kept by Patricia Barnes throughout her life (MS 2238/2).
A series of correspondence contains both literary and general letters. These are often addressed to Patricia Barnes and occasionally to the Barnes as a couple. This series includes letters between Denis and Patricia Barnes.(MS 2238/3).
Denis Barnes' career and achievements are documented in a separate series of papers. This includes a file of correspondence addressed specifically to Denis Barnes (MS 2238/4)
A further series of documentation includes passports, legal documents, and associated material relating to the Barnes (MS 2238/5).
Biography or history
Sir Denis Charles Barnes (1914–1992) was a civil servant and industrial relations expert. He was permanent secretary of the Department of Employment from 1966 – 1973. His book (written with Eileen Reid), Government and Trade Unions, was published in 1980. Barnes was made CB in 1964 and KCB in 1967. For more information see Dictionary of National Biography entry.
Lady Patricia Barnes (née Abercrombie) (1917 – 2003) was a novelist who wrote under the name P. B. Abercrombie. She published eight novels between 1955 and 1972. Her most critically and commercially successful novel was 'The Little Difference' (London : Victor Gollancz, 1959). She was a niece of Lascelles Abercrombie.
Denis Barnes and Patricia Abercrombie married in 1938.
Provenance
The archive was donated to Special Collections by Patricia Barnes’ nephew, Jeffrey Cooper in 2018.
Access and usage
Access
This collection is currently being worked on by the Special Collections team and therefore may not always be readily available for users to consult. Please contact staff in advance if you would like to access the material.
This collection is subject to various access conditions. Please see individual catalogue descriptions for further details on access.