Item AFL/4 - Letter from Papa to Violet on the occasion of his birthday

Identity area

Reference code

AFL/4

Title

Letter from Papa to Violet on the occasion of his birthday

Date(s)

  • 4 March 1858 (Creation)

Level of description

Item

Extent and medium

1 item

Context area

Name of creator

(1576-1900)

Biographical history

Members of the Aitken family lived in York from 1576. Henry Martin Aitken b. c1815. Married Elizabeth Atkinson in 1843. Died 1874.
Elizabeth Aitken was born c. 1823 and died c.1896.
Their children included: Lydia (1844-1879), Rose (b. 1849), Henry Horatio (b. 1853), Violet (1857-1888), Edith (1861-1941), Elizabeth Mary (c. 1864-1870), Robert (1866-1876), and Charles (b. 1869-1936).

The family lived in the Bishophill area of York during the period covered by this collection. Henry Martin Aitken was a surgical instrument maker.
Henry Horatio Aitken was a glass manufacturer with a business at 29 Micklegate.
Charles Aitken was Director of the Whitechapel Art Gallery from 1901 - 1911. In 1911, he became Keeper of the Tate Gallery, and was it's first Director from 1917 - 1930.
Harry Aitken (Henry's son) became a dentist in Newcastle. The Aitken family travelled around England and Europe, and many of the letters in this collection refer especially to their travels to Neuwied, Germany, and Rotterdam.

Henry Horatio Aitken married Annie Amelia Brown. They had a son, Henry George Aitken (b. 1877) who was known as 'Harry' in the family.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Written by [Henry Martin Aitken] to his daughter, Violet, on the occasion of his 43rd birthday. The letter was written as a keepsake for Violet to have in the future.

Violet is only one year old and is told not to eat this, her first letter.

The letter has been cut into three pieces.

PLEASE ORDER THESE ITEMS ONE WEEK IN ADVANCE - HELD IN OFFSITE STORAGE

Accruals

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Open

Material is available subject to the usual terms and conditions of access to Archives and Local History collections.

Conditions governing reproduction

Images are supplied for private research only at the Archivist's discretion. Please note that material may be unsuitable for copying on conservation grounds. Researchers who wish to publish material must seek copyright permission from the copyright owner.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

    Language and script notes

    Finding aids

    Allied materials area

    Existence and location of originals

    Offsite

    Existence and location of copies

    Related units of description

    Related descriptions

    Notes area

    Alternative identifier(s)

    legacy

    199

    Access points

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    Description control area

    Accession area