Margaret L. More Collection

Description

The diaries of Margaret Louise More (1888-1952), a British housewife. The diaries date between 1920 and 1949, and are in the format of purpose built diaires or notebooks used as diaries.


Margaret writes about her day-to-day life; the content ranging from the weather of the day, her life with her husband Jack and pet dogs, the holidays she went on that year, visiting family and friends, as well as what chores and activities she did that day.


Margaret continues to write throughout World War 2, documenting war life such as having to go to shelters during bomb raids and the hardship of rationing. Towards the latter part of her life she increasingly documents her ill health in her entries, as well as Jack's.


One diary in the collection, 1907, belongs to Daisy McMurdo. Daisy was probably Margaret's childhood nickname.


Also included in the collection is a book detailing Margaret's purchases and transactions (1927-1946) and her death certificate.

Biography or history

Margaret Louise More was born 15 May 1888 in Hackney, Middlesex. She was the daughter of William McMurdo and Margaret Gardiner McMurdo and had one brother, Norman Thomas. William McMurdo was a commercial traveller. Margaret was brought up partly in Dumfries, Scotland. Her childhood nickname was probably Daisy.



Margaret married John Eadie More (known as Jack) on 23 December 1918. Jack worked as a civil servant, in May 1907 he was assigned to the Board of Education. More gained a driving certificate from the RAC on 21 June 1915.


Margaret and Jack lived at 14A West Kensington Mansions, North End Road, London, and Buckshott Farm, Weycombe, Surrey. They moved to Laneside Richings Way, Iver, Buckinghamshire, in 1926. He is listed as a company director in the 1939 register.



The couple did not have children, but had many pet dogs over their years together. Her brother, Norman, visited regularly every year with his wife, Jess.

Margaret had an Aunt Nell, who lived in Dumfries. Margaret and Jack visited her regularly until the Second World War.


Towards the end of her life Margaret underwent ECT (electro convulsive therapy) and stayed in Holloway Sanitorium. She died on 1 March 1952.

Provenance

The papers were placed in the Collection by

Access and usage

Reproduction

Access

Access to this collection is protected under the Data Protection Act. You will need to complete a data protection access form and return it to Special Collections for review by staff before access can be granted

Material in this collection is in copyright. Photocopies or digital images can only be supplied by the Library for research or private study within the terms of copyright legislation. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain the copyright holder's permission to reproduce for any other purpose. Guidance is available on tracing copyright status and ownership.