Newcastle University

Mary Moorman: An Historical and Literary Heritage

This exhibition is intended to highlight some of the material from the collection of archives known as the Mary Moorman Papers held in the University Library's Special Collections, which have recently been catalogued. A catalogue of the papers can be found at the issue desk.

Mary Caroline Moorman, née Trevelyan was born on 19 February 1905. She was the first child of George Macaulay Trevelyan, the historian, who was in turn the third son of Sir George Otto Trevelyan of Wallington, Northumberland. The papers of these and other members of the Trevelyan family are also held in Newcastle University Library Special Collections. Mary Moorman's mother was Janet Penrose Trevelyan, née Ward, whose mother was the novelist known as Mrs. Humphry Ward, thus Mary was the product of both literary and historical family stock.

The material chosen for inclusion in the exhibition concentrates on items relating to Mary Moorman's parents, George M. Trevelyan and Janet Trevelyan (née Ward) for two main reasons. Firstly the majority of the collection is composed of letters from Mary's parents to her. These letters are a valuable resource showing the thoughts and processes of two influential figures of the twentieth century during the period of their greatest activity. Secondly the material shows the influence of Mary's parents on her life and her subsequent choices in life.

Mary Moorman was educated at Berkhampsted School and Somerville College, Oxford gaining a first class honours in history. In the Autumn of 1926 and 1927 she studied near to Amsterdam which resulted in the publication of her first book William III and the Defence of Holland, 1672-4 in 1930. In the same year she married John R.H. Moorman. They initially lived in Leeds whilst John was curate of Holbeck parish, but consequently moved to various parts of England including Chichester where John was Principal of Chichester Theological College and Chancellor of Chichester Cathedral until 1956.

It was whilst living here that Mary Moorman began the copious research to write her books on William Wordsworth. This arrangement continued when, in 1959, John Moorman was made the Bishop of Ripon. In 1975 they retired to Durham where they both continued to research and write books and articles. John Moorman died in 1989 and Mary Moorman in 1994.

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