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‘Must Read’ Letters

Olive Schreiner’s letters are important for many reasons. Many of them are about ordinary things and the fabric of her everyday life, as well as, mixed in with this, being about extraordinary events or cataclysmic changes. Alongside this, her attention was always on the future, sometimes what was just around the corner, at others what she called ‘the far, far future’ when the world would have changed in fundamental ways. As a social theorist, Schreiner’s approach is very distinctive, because she was always closely attentive to the events of the moment - but with an eye closely trained on what these were putting in motion that might be irrevocable for the future. In addition, Schreiner had a good sense of humour, strong political and ethical convictions, a keen enjoyment of life's rich ironies, and a modest assessment of her own achievements and capabilities. Her letters are sometimes very funny. She also had many much loved friends and family members, among whom she counted her dogs, cats and meerkats.

Interested in Olive Schreiner but not enough time to read all the letters? Want to know what kind of letters she wrote, but don’t want to search them and do your own research? For people who want to read the very best of her letters, the ‘Must Read’ miscellany fits the bill. They are an eclectic mix, including life in Boer homesteads, loving friendships, family gossip, Dutch Reform Church clergymen frightened by meerkat attacks, the short life of her only child, the trials & tribulations of war, scrubbing pots & baking sour-dough bread, the accidental death of her much loved dog Neta, her analysis of imperialism & its iniquities, swingeing assessments of international diplomacy, despair at the industrial scale of war after 1914, telling off world-leaders for their limitations, and more.

We hope you will enjoy reading them as much as we have enjoyed selecting them.

 

To: , 4 November 1855: Olive Schreiner Birth Certificate
No. 181., November 4th 1855, Olive Emily Albertina, daughter of, Gottlob & Rebecca Lyndall, Schreiner, Wittebergen, born ...
[Olive Schreiner's birth certificate]
To: Rebecca Schreiner nee Lyndall, 10 June 1874: Olive Schreiner: Rebecca Schreiner 97.12.3.6.22
Colesburg, June 10th 1874, My dearest old Moth!, Last post brought me your letter & I don't like you to go with out a wor...
[Life as governess on farm]
To: Margaret McNaughton, 24 September 1878: Olive Schreiner: Margaret McNaughton 97.12.3.6.23
Ganna Hoek, Sep 24th 1878, My dear Miss McNaughton!, After having six months to pass I feel more than half ashamed to fulfil ...
[Ganna Hoek, a wild and beautiful place]
To: Alice Hemming nee Schreiner, 29 July 1880: Schreiner-Hemming Family BC 1080 A1.7/6
Lily Kloof, July 29 / 80, My dear darling old Sister!, This evening Robert’s letter reached me. I cannot believe that i...
[Death of Leo, I never knew I loved you so much]
To: Philip Kent, 19 April 1883: HRC/OliveSchreinerUncatLetters/OS-PhilipKent/3
Edinburgh House, Warrior Square, St Leonards-on-Sea, April 19 / 83, My dear Mr Kent, Thanks for your letter. About Smith &...
[Publishing 'The Story of an African Farm', publishers]
To: Havelock Ellis, 28 March 1884: HRC/CAT/OS/1a-iii
Edinburgh Hotel , March 28 / 84 , My dear Mr. Ellis, I have just finished reading your article in the Westminster, & I ha...
[First real letter to Ellis, Spencer's First Principles]
To: William Philip ('Will') Schreiner, 3 June 1884: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box1/Fold1/1884/1
32 Fitzroy St, June 3rd 1884, Dear old Will,, Thank you for your letter. I am much aggrieved. I hear that at some not absolut...
[Small Schreiner expected by Will & Fan, many London friends]
To: Havelock Ellis, 11 July 1884: HRC/CAT/OS/1b-ii
Friday Night , I do feel better today. I have been sleeping ever since I got here, & yet not fast asleep. , Henry, I am s...
[My heart is heavy over my work]
To: Havelock Ellis, 12 July 1884: HRC/CAT/OS/1b-iii
[page/s missing], Sh though mine is so completely blended with my mind, that it is not as strong in me. It is not so easily a...
[Use of religious terms, Hinton]
To: Havelock Ellis, 19 July 1884: Olive Schreiner: Havelock Ellis 2006.29/7
Friday, I thought I shouldn't to write to you today, but I find a kind of need. , Did you ever read that passage in Shelly's ...
[Shelley on genius, 'looking at things really']
To: Havelock Ellis, 8 August 1884: HRC/CAT/OS/2a-v
Buxton , Friday. , I am so glad that exam is over. Even if you haven’t passed it it’s something to have got rid o...
[Ribbed & plain writing]
To: Havelock Ellis, 3 September 1884: HRC/CAT/OS/2a-xi
Blackwell , Wednesday Ngt , I got here this afternoon. The woman is so horrible: they want me to take & pay for the room ...
[In despair, weary of roving, contact Harkness and Marx]
To: Havelock Ellis, 31 October 1884: HRC/CAT/OS/3a-i
Th Friday Mo Eve. , I have written & thought all day so delightfully. When it was getting dark this evening I went out fo...
[On prostitution and the woman question]
To: Havelock Ellis, 4 November 1884: HRC/UNCAT/OS-3
Tuesday Evening , I got a letter from you late last night, yet all day I have been restless for another It has seemed so long...
[Not got passion for Ellis]
To: Havelock Ellis, 17 June 1885: HRC/UNCAT/OS-47
My Havelock, I want you. I need you. In some ways I need you more than ever before. , You are my family to me & fill up t...
[Ellis wants sex love, OS can't give it]
To: Karl Pearson, 19 July 1885: Karl Pearson 840/4/1/21-26
Sunday, My dear Mr Pearson , Thankyou very much for your letter. When I came home I carried on our conversation for an hour o...
[Prostitution, changing a whole system]
To: E. Ray Lankester, 31 January 1886: Olive Schreiner: Havelock Ellis 2006.29/24
To Prof Ray Lanchester from OS, Royal Spa Hotel, Shanklin, 31 Jan Feb/86, ...You say: "It appears to me quite a truth proposi...
[On women, marriage, prostitution]
To: Havelock Ellis, 31 May 1886: Olive Schreiner: Havelock Ellis 2006.29/9
Havelock, I've just come back from seeing M. Harkness. Oh, the joy to get back & here again. I could have cried for joy w...
[Solitude, change, work]
To: Karl Pearson, 23 June 1886: Karl Pearson 840/4/2/90-91
Sunday night , My dear Mr Pearson , I have spent today not in telling stories to children, but with an older child, a prostit...
[The prostitute friend, new friendship between man & woman]
To: Karl Pearson, July 1886: Karl Pearson 840/4/3/34-39
Tuesday night, Dear K.P. , I have been reading your letter over again, & there are many things it makes me want to say. , ...
[Minds go through stages, like a caterpillar]
To: Karl Pearson, 3 July 1886: Karl Pearson 840/4/3/2-12
The Convent, Friday , My dear K.P. , You say the senses of taste & touch seem to have no intellectual side, & so you...
[The senses, sexual sense]
To: Karl Pearson, 7 July 1886: Karl Pearson 840/4/3/17-21
The Convent, Tuesday night, I cannot enter into the whole question, only touch one point. , If the course of action which liv...
[Aesthetics]
To: Karl Pearson, 10 July 1886: Karl Pearson 840/4/3/22-26
The Convent, Friday night, , I am writing to ask you a favour. When I have the first printed proof sheets of my book complet...
['From Man To Man', can she dedicate to Pearson]
To: Karl Pearson, 13 July 1886: Karl Pearson 840/4/3/30-31
The Convent, July 13 / 86, Your paper is deliciously, tantalizingly, excitingly, suggestive. It sends one off in every direct...
[Life-long unions, ideal unions]
To: Karl Pearson, 7 August 1886: Karl Pearson 840/4/3/43-52
The Convent, Saturday night, Aug 7 / 86, I do not know your address, but write tonight that I may send it when I do. Your let...
[Intellect & mothering instinct not at odds, types of minds]
To: Karl Pearson, 10 September 1886: Karl Pearson 840/4/3/61-64
On the other side I have scribbled down some such plan of a Woman’s Book as has been in my mind for many years. I wonde...
[Plan for 'woman book']
To: Karl Pearson, 25 October 1886: Karl Pearson 840/4/3/102-110
You say we need a Jesus Christ, that we leave the work of preaching in the streets to the Hyndmans & Avelings! We do need...
[You say we need a Jesus Christ, power of influence ]
To: The Editor, The Standard, 4 January 1887: The Standard / 5 January 1887, page 5, col 6
THE POLICE AND THE PUBLIC, TO THE EDITOR OF THE STANDARD, Sir, -, A short time back the remark was made in my presence, that ...
[OS harassed by a policeman tryng to extort money]
To: The Editor, The Standard, 6 January 1887: The Standard / Saturday 9 January 1887, page 5
THE POLICE AND THE PUBLIC, TO THE EDITOR OF THE STANDARD, Sir, - , In reply to the courteous letter of your Correspondent “...
[OS reply to B, who had responded to her earlier letter about harassment by a policeman]
To: Karl Pearson, 30 January 1887: Karl Pearson 840/4/4/3-8
Hotel Roth, Clarens, Lake of Geneva, Sunday night, Jan 30th 1887, My dear Mr Pearson , I read this morning, for the first tim...
[Not sex love, our intellectual relations]
To: Havelock Ellis, 31 January 1887: HRC/CAT/OS/4a-ii
Hotel Roth , Clarens , Lake of Geneva , Sunday Night , My Havelock, You must never write when you feel drawn I’ll do th...
[About misunderstanding with Pearson, explaining]
To: Maria Sharpe, 24 November 1887: Maria Sharpe 840/5/17-20
Address – , Alassio, Italy. , Nov 24th 1887, Dear Miss Sharpe., I hear from Mrs Cobb & Miss Müller that your p...
[Prostitution, en & Women's Club paper, women working together]
To: Edward Carpenter, 1 April 1888: Edward Carpenter 359/17
Hotel Oxford et Cambridge, Rue d’Alger, Paris , No, dear old man, it’s not men that trouble me its middle class w...
[I've got a little Socialist dream, the men in the morgue]
To: Oscar Wilde, June 1888: HRC/OscarWilde/RecipHanley/OS-OscarWilde/1
Roseneath, Harpenden, Herts, Dear Mr Wilde, Please be sure to send me the proofs. I wrote the thing in a letter to a friend t...
[Be sure to send proofs, hope the world goes well]
To: Edward Carpenter, 21 January 1889: Edward Carpenter 359/35
Mentone, My dear old Edward , You don’t know how precious your last letter has been to me. You can’t understand. ...
[Spencer's First Principles, key books, we who have never been to school starved, you overfed]
To: Edward Carpenter, 31 January 1889: Edward Carpenter 359/36
Hotel du Parc , Mentone , Thank you, Edward, I know you write just for my sake. Thank you. , You are entirely wrong about me,...
[Writing, retouching, ambition]
To: Havelock Ellis, 18 March 1889: HRC/CAT/OS/4b-ii
Monday , My Havelock, You remember that long ago I told you how nearly 20 years ago when I was at Dordrecht I had such a horr...
[Hunted down by people, experience at hotel]
To: Havelock Ellis, 6 April 1889: Olive Schreiner: Havelock Ellis 2006.29/13
Paris, You quite intentionally misunderstand me in every thing, or, sometimes I think are we grown so wide apart that no unde...
[Desire for self-expression not sermonising, writing desecrated by showing to others]
To: William Thomas Stead, March 1890: T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/6- pages 58-61
Thank you, good friend, for your letter. But your last two letters don’t seem like you. Perhaps it is only their being ...
[Work, isolation, getting away from people]
To: Havelock Ellis, 19 March 1890: HRC/CAT/OS-4b-xiv
My Havelock , Next week I hope to be at Matjesfontein & I shall have heard of your arrival in Paris. If you like I will k...
[Am going to meet Rhodes, more solitary in this country than you can conceive]
To: Karl Pearson, 11 November 1890: Karl Pearson 840/4/5/10-16
Matjesfontein, Cape of Good Hope, Nov 11 / 90 , My dear Karl Pearson , With all my heart keep the letters if they are of the...
[I was bleeding to death, you saved my life]
To: Frances (‘Fan’) Schreiner nee Reitz, 1891: W.P. Schreiner BC112/B31/4
Matjesfontein , Sunday night, My darling Fanny, Now you are settled in your new home & I want to know all about it & ...
[Wonderful Dot Schreiner, tall thin woman who caused me no end of trouble]
To: Margaret (Maggie) Harkness, January 1891: T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/4- pages 47-54
missing page/s , I am giving up today & tomorrow in trying to answer., I wrote to you last in June or July not yet quite ...
[Do not come, do not write, impersonal work]
To: Mary Sauer nee Cloete, February 1891: Olive Schreiner: Mary Sauer MSC 26/2.11.11
Dear Mary, A word in great hurry. I have got £106 for Peter Naude already, but £16 has to go for passage money. I m...
[Money to help the artist Naude, I have got so many stories]
To: Mary Sauer nee Cloete, 20 February 1891: Olive Schreiner: Mary Sauer MSC 26/2.11.9
Dear Mary , I am sorry I couldn't come to Worcester. I am working very hard to get a long article done that must be done by t...
[Standing by what you write]
To: Cecil John Rhodes, August 1891: Rhodes Papers, MSS. Afr. s. 228, C27 (142) 12
Dear Mr Rhodes, I shall be leaving Cape Town in about a fortnight. I want to have a talk with you before I go, as I may not h...
[Meeting, you are large enough to take me impersonally]
To: Mary Sauer nee Cloete, September 1891: Olive Schreiner: Mary Sauer MSC 26/2.11.39
Matjesfontein , Dear Mary, I'm so glad you are coming Mr Logan say charge will be £1 per day for all included (except wi...
[I'm working so hard to get all my things done to take to England, I like Rudyard Kipling, his letter of thanks to OS]
To: John T. Lloyd, 1892: Olive Schreiner: J.T. Lloyd MSC 26/2.5.2
[page/s missing], One point he & I are always having great arguments about: he, like Grant Allen & others, thinks it ...
[Women, independence, marriage]
To: Mary Sauer nee Cloete, January 1892: Olive Schreiner: Mary Sauer MSC 26/2.11.47
My darling old Mary, We had such a splendid day up the mountain yesterday. You were the old only person I wished was up there...
[Climbing Table Mountain, silence is golden, don't talk about personal, love you for loving Shippard]
To: William Thomas Stead, March 1892: T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/54- pages 209-214
Matjesfontein, Dear Friend, It’s a long while since I last heard from you. I quite wish for some word. I haven’t ...
['From Man to Man', Rhodes dream, friendship should precede marriage]
To: Mary Sauer nee Cloete, 8 May 1892: Olive Schreiner: Mary Sauer MSC 26/2.11.53
Matjesfontein, May 8 / 9., Dear old Mary, How I wish you were here this morning so beautiful & fresh after the five terri...
[Please don't discuss my affairs, my big sex book]
To: William Philip ('Will') Schreiner, 13 September 1892: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box1/Fold1/1892/12
Matjesfontein, Tuesday 13 / 92, My old Will,, I hope when this reaches you you will be settled in the old Man’s study, ...
[Not a spot of hypocrisy in Rhodes; show myself nakedly to him; Boer article and 'Buddhist Priest's wife']
To: Mary Sauer nee Cloete, 25 September 1892: Olive Schreiner: Mary Sauer MSC 26/2.11.57
Matjesfontein , Sep 25 / 92, My dear Mary,, Thank you for your letter. I'd been meaning to write any how - though I've no new...
[I know by experience I can make a woman perfectly happy]
To: William Philip ('Will') Schreiner, 9 October 1892: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box1/Fold1/1892/15
Matjesfontein, Sunday , Oct 9 / 92, Dear Boy,, I’m writing on the chance of catching you in England. I was so glad of y...
[Private, Jameson ]
To: John T. Lloyd, 29 October 1892: Olive Schreiner: J.T. Lloyd MSC 26/2.5.1
Matjesfontein , Oct 29 / 92, Dear Mr Lloyd , Thank you very much for the lecture you sent me. Need I tell you that I valued i...
[Religion, unity of all things, words very poor things]
To: Edward Carpenter, 23 November 1892: Edward Carpenter 359/58
Matjesfontein , S. Africa, Nov 23 / 92, I’ve been lying in bed all day & reading that book of Francis Adams you sen...
[South African whites all philistines, no classes]
To: Mary Sauer nee Cloete, February 1893: Olive Schreiner: Mary Sauer MSC 26/2.11.59
Middleburg, Saturday, My darling Mary, It's a beautiful evening. I am just going off for my solitary walk across the plain, b...
[Going with me to England, think it all over carefully]
To: Rebecca Schreiner nee Lyndall, 27 February 1894: Schreiner-Hemming Family BC 1080 A1.7/28
Krantz Plaatz, Feb. 27. 1894, My own little Mother. I’ve not had time before to tell you about our quiet little wedding...
[Details of wedding day]
To: Edward Carpenter, 8 October 1894: Edward Carpenter 359/73
The Homestead, Kimberley, South Africa , Oct 8 / 94 , Dear old E. C. , The marriage pamphlet has come. I think it splendid! Y...
[Marriage, women's financial independence]
To: Constance Lytton, 3 February 1895: Lytton 01229/10
The Homestead, Nr Kimberley, Feb 3 / 95, Dear Con, I could not help a great feeling of joy for you when I saw in the paper th...
[Marriage, can't read ordinary novel]
To: Henrietta ('Ettie') Schreiner m. Stakesby Lewis (1891), 16 May 1895: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box1/Fold2/1895/3
The Homestead, Ap May 16 / 95, My darling old Ettie,, I am sending you three pictures of my little one. When you have looked ...
[The baby's holy little life]
To: Betty Molteno, 24 May 1895: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box1/Fold2/1895/4
The Homestead , Friday morning, Dear Heart,, Yes, Merriman has made a splendid stand. I have had several very interesting let...
[Mill's Logic as most affecting OS spiritual life, her debt to Mill can never be repaid]
To: William Philip ('Will') Schreiner, 13 August 1895: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box1/Fold2/1895/9
Private, Kimberley , Aug 13 / 95, Dear dear old Laddie, I have been wanting to write you a long letter, but just because ther...
[Rhodes as almighty might-have-been]
To: William Thomas Stead, September 1895: T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/63- pages 243-246
Dear Friend, I am sending you a paper by containing a speech by my husband. It will show you why persons of a liberal or prog...
[George Grey]
To: James Rose Innes, 2 September 1895: James Rose Innes MSC 21/2/1895:33
The Homestead, Aug Sep 2nd 1895, Dear Mr Innes, Do come up. It would be of great benefit to the work we all have at heart: ev...
[James Rose Innes in broader political life, O advises]
To: William Thomas Stead, January 1896: T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/59- pages 231-2 & 251-252
Private, My dear Friend, Thanks for the letter you sent me. I have had a great many from all parts of the world about that Ha...
[Objects to Rhodes's money]
To: William Thomas Stead, 4 January 1896: T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/11- pages 74-5 & 249-250
Address to Kimberley, The Kowie, Jan 4 / 95, Dear Friend, Your likeness is splendid. You as I like to remember you as you sat...
[Jameson Raid, break Rhodes's power]
To: William Thomas Stead, 10 January 1896: T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/21- pages 111-16 & pages 253-4
Middelburg, Jan 10 / 95, Thank you, dear friend, for Blastus. It opens up so many interesting questions that I cannot enter u...
[Women & marriage, Boer guns saved South Africa, Jameson Raid, Rhodes is over]
To: Mary Sauer nee Cloete, 2 April 1896: Olive Schreiner: Mary Sauer MSC 26/2.11.100
The Homestead, Mar April 2 / 96, Thursday night nine o'clock , Darling , Your letter came late this evening, & at first I...
[Don't come, Cron's dear old mother]
To: Betty Molteno, May 1896: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box1/Fold3/1896/14
Friday morning , Thank you for your letter. Oh yes, I am very regular with the meals, & cook very well!!!! Dr To day we a...
[Influence & marriage]
To: John X. Merriman, 5 May 1896: John X. Merriman MSC 15/71/4/1
May 5 / 96, Dear Mr Merriman , Thank you for your letter. I should like to answer at length your interesting criticisms, but ...
[Colossal evil threatening South Africa, Boer society hidebound]
To: James Rose Innes, 7 May 1896: James Rose Innes MSC 21/2/1896:55
My dear Friend , What tidings are these that I hear of thee on every hand??? , Since I came out from England primed il with S...
[Act now against Rhodes or life-long regret]
To: John X. Merriman, 25 May 1896: John X. Merriman MSC 15/71/4/2
The Homestead , May 25 / 96, Dear Mr Merriman , Thank you for your letter. Your speech was without any doubt the most brillia...
[Only two questions in South Africa, rank confers duties]
To: John X. Merriman, 29 June 1896: John X. Merriman MSC 15/71/4/3
The Homestead, June 29 / 96, Dear Mr Merriman , I am very glad you liked my Bushman paper. I have never gone on with the lett...
[Position of half-caste, blood thicker than water]
To: Jan Smuts, 1 July 1896: Smuts A1/186/73
The Homestead, July 1st 1896, Dear Mr Smuts , Thankyou heartily for the letter I got just now. I respond sincerely to its sym...
[Mingling races, my articles, not my husband]
To: Betty Molteno, 18 July 1896: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box1/Fold3/1896/21
Dear Friend Am not thinking of coming down for the show now. Cron returned yesterday from Cradock where he had been for ten d...
[Hounding of Mashona, evil keeps begetting itself, mills of God]
To: T. Fisher Unwin, 28 September 1896: HRC/OliveSchreinerUncatLetters/OS-TFisherUnwin/26
The Homestead, Kimberley, Cape Colony, 28th Sept. 1896, T. Fisher Unwin Esq., 11 Paternoster Buildings, London E.C., Dear Sir...
[Publishing 'Trooper Peter Halket']
To: William Philip ('Will') Schreiner, December 1896: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box1/Fold3/1896/36
[page/s missing], to go by that vessel, we are not responsible. It will of course be very unpleasant for us. Rhodes & his...
[Predicts how war will be drummed up, strive to regard native as brother, Boer do so regard]
To: Sir George Grey, 4 February 1897: GL S10 (Olive Schreiner to Sir George Grey 4 Feb 1897)
New College Junior School,, Eastbourne., Feb 4 / 97, Dear Sir George Grey, Thank you much for the words of sympathy with my l...
[Your words of sympathy re my little story, 'Trooper Peter Halket']
To: William Philip ('Will') Schreiner, 9 March 1897: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box1/Fold4/1897/4
Post Restante, Rome, March 9 / 97, Dear Laddie, I have just this moment got Fred’s letter to say you had landed in Engl...
[Rhodes wriggling wriggling]
To: William Philip ('Will') Schreiner, 15 March 1897: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box1/Fold4/1897/5
Address: Poste Restante, Amalfi, ------------------------------, Rome, March 15 / 97, Dear Laddie, Ellis was in town staying ...
['Peter Halket' not overdrawn]
To: John X. Merriman, 3 April 1897: John X. Merriman MSC 15/1897:17
Grand Hotel , Alassio , Riviera , Italy , April 3rd 1897, Dear Mr Merriman , I have just got your letter of March 1st. I am i...
[Rhodes system, the matrix, fruits of native policy]
To: Edward Carpenter, 2 May 1897: Edward Carpenter 359/77
Alassio, Riviera, Italy, May 2nd 1897 , Dear E.C. , Send Bob’s letter here. I wish I could see the dear old fellow. The...
[Barrenness middle class women's lives]
To: William Philip ('Will') Schreiner, 17 November 1897: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box1/Fold4/1897/22
Nov 17th 1897, Dear Laddie, I am feeling very played out & ill so that I hardly know how I shall write this letter to you...
[Case against Cronwright-Schreiner; OS asks Will Schreiner seven legal questions]
To: John Findlay, 3 December 1897: Findlay Family A1199/3709
The Homestead, Kimberley, Dec 3rd 1897, Dear John Findlay, Your truly inexplicable & astonishing letter was forwarded to ...
[Your astonishing letter, family duties, will never mention Katie's name as long as I live]
To: Betty Molteno, 16 December 1897: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box1/Fold4/1897/25
Thurs-day, Dearest Friend, I have just got your letter. I can’t tell you how great a joy & comfort your sympathy is...
[The trial, Rhodes removing names from voters' lists, educated Christian Kaffir]
To: Betty Molteno, 1 March 1898: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box1/Fold5/1898/1
The Homestead, March 1st 1898, Dear Friend, The picture has just come. I do like it so. I’m going to hang it up in my s...
[Rhodes as a system]
To: Dollie Radford nee Maitland, June 1898: Radford Collection - uncatalogued
Dear Dolly Radford,, Thank you for your letter. I have been desiring terribly further details with regard to Eleanor. I have ...
[Eleanor Marx's death]
To: William Philip ('Will') Schreiner, 12 June 1898: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box1/Fold5/1898/10
The Homestead, June 12th 1898, Dear Laddie, I am full of anxiety as to how things will go next Tuesday. I fear me there is bu...
[Rhodes, redistribution bill]
To: William Philip ('Will') Schreiner, 29 June 1898: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box1/Fold5/1898/13
The Homestead, June 29th 1898, Dear Laddie, I posted a line to you this morning & got yours just after I posted mine., Wi...
[Will Schreiner's political duty, difficulty of finding path of duty,' Peter Halket' & lay aside ambition]
To: Betty Molteno, 10 November 1898: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box1/Fold5/1898/41
Dounan’s House, Hospital Hill, Johannesburg, Nov 10th 1898, Dear Friend, I am sending you a note from John X (private, ...
[Her writing a religion]
To: Edward Carpenter, 13 November 1898: Edward Carpenter 359/82
Box 2, Johannesburg, Trans Vaal, South Africa, Nov 13th 1898 , Dear E.C. , I don’t know what makes me suddenly want to ...
[Johannesburg, fiendish hell, veld all round]
To: William Philip ('Will') Schreiner, 8 January 1899: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box2/Fold1/Jan-June1899/1
Dear Laddie, I wrote you a long letter of six sheets yesterday but have just torn it up. The weight of each man’s life ...
[Won't take money from Transvaal Government; Rhodes' lies about 'Peter Halket'; expecting war]
To: Jan Smuts, 23 January 1899: Smuts A1/186/75
Primrose Terrace, Berea, Johannesburg, Dear Mr Smuts, Some time ago my husband told me that Mr Rous had mentioned to him that...
[Doornkop, anti-capitalist fight]
To: John X. Merriman, 17 March 1899: John X. Merriman MSC 15/1899:113
Hell, March 17 / 99, Dear Mr Merriman , You will perceive from the superscription above that I am still in Johannesburg. I ha...
[Johannesburg, lust for gold, moral decay]
To: Alfred Milner, 30 May 1899: Milner Papers, dep. 209, ff. 278-280
Box 406, Johannesburg, May 30th 1899, Dear Sir Alfred Milner,, I have much wished to see you or to write to you. I have tried...
[Begs Milner to read article]
To: William Philip ('Will') Schreiner, 2 June 1899: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box2/Fold1/Jan-June1899/27
2 Primrose Terrace, Berea Estate, Johannesburg, June 2nd 1899, Dear Laddie, Your wire was one of the most valued of the thing...
[Would put up two monuments, Doornkop & Slachter's Nek, pacifism]
To: Jan ('Onze Jan') Hendrick Hofmeyr, 3 June 1899: J.H. Hofmeyr MSB 8/Box9/1
2 Primrose Terrace , Berea Estate , Johannesburg , June 3rd 1899, Dear Mr Hofmeyr, I hope you received the copy of my paper o...
[Anti-war pamphlet, war, capitalism]
To: Edward Carpenter, 17 June 1899: Edward Carpenter 359/83
Box 406, Johannesburg, Dear Ed , Things are going on with us from bad to worse. Fancy having absolutely to fight the capitali...
[Fight the capitalists for our lives]
To: William Philip ('Will') Schreiner, 28 June 1899: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box2/Fold1/Jan-June1899/38
Wednesday, Dear Laddie, Miss Molteno & Miss Greene are here & I am going over with them to Pretoria on Friday, & ...
[Coming war, fighting now?]
To: Betty Molteno and Alice Greene, 6 July 1899: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box2/Fold2/July-Dec1899/3
The City of Dreadful Night, Thursday morning, My dear Friends, I was so anxious all night about Miss Greene though I couldn’...
[City of dreadful night; cut throats, don't mention political news]
To: Alfred Milner, 10 July 1899: Milner Papers, dep. 210, ff. 396-7
Box 406, Johannesburg, Dear Sir Alfred Milner, I wrote you a letter of 16 sheets yesterday, but thinking it over it seems, wh...
[We thought Milner was our new George Grey]
To: Betty Molteno, 13 July 1899: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box2/Fold2/July-Dec1899/7
2 Primrose Terrace, Berea Estate, Johannesburg, Dear Friend, Things are looking pretty war like here; but it is not we, it is...
[War, translation of anti-war pamphlet, peace, Alice Corthorn]
To: William Philip ('Will') Schreiner, 26 July 1899: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box2/Fold2/July-Dec1899/11
July 26th 1899, Dear Laddie, You are having a hard time, but it seems we are winning for the moment at last. My friend Mr J T...
[Great native question, we shall reap as we have sown]
To: William Philip ('Will') Schreiner, 31 August 1899: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box2/Fold2/July-Dec1899/23
Karree Kloof, Via Kran Kuil, Aug 31st 1899., Dear Laddie, I’ve just got your note enclosing Loch’s. I returned Bu...
[Kran Kuil, writing papers, war]
To: William Philip ('Will') Schreiner, 14 September 1899: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box2/Fold2/July-Dec1899/28
Karree Kloof, Kran Kuil, Sep 14 / 99, Dear Laddie, I enclose a letter I have just got from Hobson the Manchester Guardian Rep...
[Hobson, cables, OS difference wilth Will Schreiner]
To: William Philip ('Will') Schreiner, 24 September 1899: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box2/Fold2/July-Dec1899/32
Karee Kloof, Sunday, Sep 24th 1899, Dear Laddy, Your two notes of the 20th & 18th enclosing the cable are to hand. Always...
[Jan Smuts, front, facilities]
To: William Philip ('Will') Schreiner, 1900: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box 12/Fold1/Undated/18
Sunday, Dear Laddie, I find that the Rhodesian curs of Adderly St have been diverting themselves by Premier bating! Both ther...
[Boer Republics as bulwark to capitalists, great campaign of 20th century against capitalism, Doornkop]
To: Betty Molteno, 1 January 1900: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box2/Fold3/1900/1
Dear Friend , I send you a lovely poem of dear old Jackson Millers, sent me from America. Your letter astonished me, dear. Wh...
[Why not happy, arming native, politics]
To: Betty Molteno, 3 April 1900: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box2/Fold3/1900/21
April 3rd 1900, Dear Friend, I was so glad to get your note. I have been laid up for a week or should have written sooner. I ...
[House, James Rose Innes speech, Cronwright-Schreiner's meetings in England]
To: Betty Molteno, 23 May 1900: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box2/Fold3/1900/30
May 23 / 00, Dear Friend, I am sending you the two articles on the woman question. Please return them when you’ve done ...
[Two articles on woman, Lloyd ratted about war]
To: Little, Brown & Co, 5 October 1900: Findlay Family A1199/B Documents: Box 7/12
Address: - Olive Schreiner, c/o Hon. W.P. Schreiner Q.C., Lyndall, Newlands, Cape Colony,, South Africa, 5th Oct. 1900, Messr...
[Angry exchange with Little, Brown & Co, 'Stray Thoughts on South Africa' is not published]
To: Somerset East Women’s Congress, 12 October 1900: A119 Renier / A119-133
Uittreksel van ‘n Toespraak gelewer deur live Schreiner aan ‘n Vroue-Kongres te Somerset-Oos, op 12 Oktober 1900....
[In losing the friendship of the Republics, England has blown away one of the bulwarks of Empire, when England stands where we stand today let her remember Soouth Africa]
To: Betty Molteno, January 1901: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box2/Fold4/1901/1
Dear Friend, I was very glad to get your letter, though letterwriting does not seem to be worth much now a days The commando ...
[War stuff all around]
To: Horatio Kitchener, 9 January 1901: Olive Schreiner: Horatio Kitchener 87.17/1/Kitch/1
Hanover, Jan 9th 1901, Lord Kitchener, Dear Sir,, I trust you will pardon the liberty I am taking in asking whether, if you s...
[An interview with Kitchener, I wish to put a few points before you]
To: Betty Molteno, 27 January 1901: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box2/Fold4/1901/4
Hanover, Jan 27 / 01, Dear Friend, I want to know how things are going with you both. Cron says you are going to live in a li...
[How OS living, a dream]
To: Alfred ('Alf', 'Mat') Mattison, 13 February 1901: Alfred Mattison, Goldfields Collection, MS 16098/3
Hanover, Cape Colony, Feb 13 / 01, Dear Mat,, I was ever so glad to get your letter & the photo. I haven't got a photo I ...
[Soldiers outside door, 'when the war is over']
To: Effie Hemming m. Brown (1903), October 1901: Schreiner-Hemming Family BC 1080 A1.7/48
Hanover, Friday night, Darling Effie,, I suppose mother leaves Cape Town tomorrow for Grahamstown & that the week after n...
[Meet you at Hanover Road, ordering provisions]
To: Henrietta ('Ettie') Schreiner m. Stakesby Lewis (1891), 25 December 1901: Schreiner-Hemming Family BC 1080 A1.7/49
Xmas Morning., My darling old sister,, I hope you are feeling really better. It is so delightful to me that the dear little m...
[Writing process, 'Prelude', 'Peter Halket', you can't alter the pictures as they come to you]
To: Isie Smuts nee Krige, 4 June 1902: Smuts A1/187/82
Hanover, June 4th 1902, Dear Isie, I was so very very glad to hear from you again. Please write soon & tell me how all go...
[Boer surrender, peace, the sun will rise at last]
To: Betty Molteno, 27 July 1902: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box3/Fold1/1902/23
Hanover, July 27 / 02, Dear Friend, There is much to write of, but there seems to be no time & no strength. Thanks for yo...
[Pinaar case]
To: Emily Hobhouse, August 1902: Steyn Papers: Emily Hobhouse (Olive Schreiner) 156/3/12/2
From Olive Schreiner, Private, Dear Miss Hobhouse,, From your letter it appears you never got the long letter I wrote to you ...
[Families of the Hanover men executed, Mrs Nienaber's maching machine]
To: Betty Molteno, 5 October 1902: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box3/Fold1/1902/26
Hanover, Oct 5th 1902, Dearest Friend, I have not written to you for so long because I have been ill. Did you get my very lon...
[Rebels hard time, house, boy]
To: Henrietta ('Ettie') Schreiner m. Stakesby Lewis (1891), 24 December 1902: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box3/Fold1/1902/34
Hanover, Dec 24th 1902, My own darling, I am so glad Effie has got that house so near to you. Not only for her sweet little s...
[Heart dying up last 5 or 6 years, 'Soul of a People' like rain falling on dry parched soil]
To: Emily Hobhouse, 8 October 1903: Steyn Papers: Emily Hobhouse (Olive Schreiner) 156/3/12/4
From Olive Schreiner, Copy, Hanover, Oct 8th 1903, Dear Miss Hobhouse,, I am afraid you must be very tired. No one who does n...
[Distributing relief money & goods wisely & justly]
To: Henrietta ('Ettie') Schreiner m. Stakesby Lewis (1891), 22 October 1903: Schreiner-Hemming Family BC 1080 A1.7/69
Hanover, Oct 22nd 1903, Darling, I’m so glad you had that good meeting. I know how it strengthens one when you have fel...
[Woman's best time for work is after 50]
To: Emily Hobhouse, 5 November 1903: Steyn Papers: Emily Hobhouse (Olive Schreiner) 156/3/12/5
From Olive Schreiner. Copy., Hanover, Novbr 5, 1903, Dear Miss Hobhouse,, How must I wish I could have had just one long talk...
[Relief for various Hanover families & OS's plan for this]
To: Henrietta ('Ettie') Schreiner m. Stakesby Lewis (1891), 12 November 1903: Schreiner-Hemming Family BC 1080 A1.7/71
Nov 12 / 03, My darling, I am so sorry about the sweet old eyes. You know when I was in Town I didn’t like the look of ...
[About Rebecca Schreiner, OS's childhood, her writing]
To: Henrietta (‘Ettie’) Schreiner m. Stakesby Lewis (1891), January 1904: Schreiner-Hemming Family BC 1080 A1.7/72
My darling, Theo tells me you are writing on the native question. Do take care what you write, my darling. Remember it is not...
[Pen dipped in blood, hasten union]
To: Isie Smuts nee Krige, 12 February 1904: Smuts A1/188/62
Hanover, Feb 12 / 04, Dear Isie, I was so glad this morning to get the really beautiful photo of you three. It’s so goo...
[Post-war typhoid, misery, common bond gone]
To: William Thomas Stead, 14 March 1904: T120 (M722): W.T. Stead Papers/61- pages 235-8
Dear Friend, I write in great haste. Many thanks for your letter. I do hope your time in South Africa has been a good one to ...
[Great is silence, time for silence, time for speech]
To: Alice Greene, 10 June 1904: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box3/Fold3/1904/13
Little Hell of Desolation, June 10 / 04, Dear Friend, I did not understand you intended to start at once for Hanover, but tho...
[Thrown away 10 years of my life to prevent inevitable]
To: Betty Molteno, 16 June 1904: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box3/Fold3/1904/17
Hanover, Thursday evening, June 16th 1904, My dear dear Friend, I was glad to get your letter this morning & know you wer...
[Affection, farm for sale, go mad here]
To: Edward Carpenter, 17 June 1904: Olive Schreiner: Edward Carpenter SMD 30/32/c
Hanover, June 17 / 04, Dear old Edward, Some friends have asked me to come to England & they say you wanted me to come to...
[Natives to be crushed, effects of the war]
To: Betty Molteno, 23 July 1904: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box3/Fold3/1904/29
Dear Friend,, I’m so glad it has been such a good time with your brother, & I’m so thankful you are keeping w...
[Terrible blow fallen on me about Cronwright-Schreiner & an action against him]
To: Alice Greene, 14 October 1904: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box3/Fold3/1904/50
Hanover, October 14th 1904, Dear Friend, You will have wondered that I did not write before but I have not been well. You are...
[Great meerkat attack on Dutch parson]
To: Alice Greene, 19 November 1904: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box3/Fold3/1904/30
Saturday, My darling Friend, I got your letter this morning I most fully understand it. I feel so sure the going to England i...
[Place with husband, Betty Molteno needs new world]
To: Alice Greene, 24 December 1904: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box3/Fold3/1904/57
Hanover, Xmas Eve, Dear Friend, I am sitting here in my little study again. The time at Pretoria was splendid. No accounts of...
[Kruger's funeral]
To: Isie Smuts nee Krige, 1905: Smuts A1/188/71
Do you know two things you said to me at Pretoria were a comfort to me. One was that you mentioned something about the differ...
[Since war, people pass on street, wealth is friends, health]
To: Isie Smuts nee Krige, 13 May 1905: Smuts A1/188/72
Eastbergholt, Tamboer’s Kloof Rd , Tamboer’s Kloof, May 13th 1905, My dear Isie, Nearly every day for months I’...
[Lies about Boer generals & about OS, she self-supporting]
To: Isie Smuts nee Krige, 24 May 1905: Smuts A1/188/73
Eastberg Holt, Tamboer’s Kloof Rd, May 24th 1905, Dear Isie , Thank so you so much for Cato’s picture. She is so ...
[Neta crushed under the wheels, the best friend I ever had]
To: Edward Carpenter, 26 October 1905: Edward Carpenter 359/90
Hanover, CC Cape Colony , South Africa, Oct 26 / 05 , Dear Edward , It was nice to see your handwriting again. The Lawrence s...
[Du Bois, great desolating native war]
To: John X. Merriman, 1906: John X. Merriman MSC 15/1906:233
Wednesday night , Dear Mr Merriman, I have just had a great pleasure. Sir William Butler spent 24 hours with us. I have alway...
[Women's franchise, small part of woman question]
To: Betty Molteno, 8 May 1906: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box3/Fold5/1906/7
Cronwright-Schreiner & Meyer, Law and Estate Agents., Auctioneers, &c,, Hanover and De Aar, Cronwright-Schreiner,, La...
[Goad natives into one more Isandlawana]
To: William Philip ('Will') Schreiner, 22 March 1907: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box3/Fold6/1907/4
Hanover, March 22nd 1907, My dear old Laddie, I’ve wanted so much of late to write you along letter about several thing...
[That I may finish that book, 'From Man to Man', being of some use, tragedy & bitterness of woman's fate]
To: Julia Solly nee Muspratt, 26 March 1907: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box3/Fold6/1907/5
Hanover, March 26th 1907, Dear Mrs Solly, Thankyou much for your letter. I have not been well enough to write or would have a...
[No religious etc differences in Women's Enfranchisement League]
To: Julia Solly nee Muspratt, 7 May 1907: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box3/Fold6/1907/12
Hanover, May 7 / 07, Dear Mrs Solly, Thank you much for your letter. I asked what C.T. meant because I fancied it might mean ...
[No god save the king or god bless Paul Kruger]
To: Alice Greene, 14 May 1907: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box3/Fold6/1907/13
Hanover, CC, May 14 / 07, Darling Alice, I long so to hear from you; & more, to see you. I would write much longer letter...
[Fighting Boer women]
To: Havelock Ellis, 6 July 1907: HRC/CAT/OS/4b-xxii
[page/s missing], they cannot return the love to leave them & never if possible to allow them to see them. If I, for inst...
[Men, women, love]
To: William Philip ('Will') Schreiner, 30 November 1907: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box3/Fold6/1907/31
Hanover, Nov 30th 1907, My dear old Man, Let me know when there is any chance of seeing you on your way to Queenstown; there ...
[Nasty blow, political instinct]
To: Ursula Schreiner, 4 December 1907: W.P. Schreiner BC112/B31/13
Box 24, de Aar, Dec 4th 1907, How are you all getting on, darling? We are flourishing here because we had half an inch of rai...
[Working hard, will be blooming millionaire when book is done]
To: Caroline Murray nee Molteno, 9 December 1907: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box3/Fold6/1907/33
Box 24, De Aar, Dec 9 / 07, Dear Mrs Murray, Thank you for sending Betty’s letter. Can you give j me her right address;...
[Woman question secondary to native question]
To: Edward Carpenter, 6 February 1908: Olive Schreiner: Edward Carpenter SMD 30/32/gii
De Aar, Feb 6th 1908, Dear Edward, Months ago I began the enclosed letter. I haven't written because I wanted to go on with i...
[De Aar dust & heat]
To: Julia Solly nee Muspratt, May 1908: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box11/Fold1/Dated/26
Dear Mrs Solly, I can’t quite understand your letter & perhaps you don’t quite understand me. I don’t m...
[Opposition to vote on same terms as men, our constitution was violated, politics of Women's Enfranchisement League]
To: Anna Purcell nee Cambier Faure, May 1908: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box11/Fold1/Dated/27
Tuesd, Wednesday morning, My darling Anna, I’ve not been out any where or written a letter or done anything since my sp...
[Women's Enfranchisement Leaguecommittee decisions]
To: Julia Solly nee Muspratt, 6 May 1908: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box4/Fold1/1908/26
Matjesfontein, May 6th 1908, My dear Mrs Solly, I was so very sorry I could not come to see you, I was so very very ill. I co...
[Women's Enfranchisement League leadership - Mrs MacFadyen cannot be WEL & Loyal Labour League at same time]
To: William Philip ('Will') Schreiner, 10 May 1908: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box4/Fold1/1908/29
Sunday afternoon , 10 May 1908 , Dear Laddie, I was glad to see thy handwriting. Yesterday afternoon the servant came in with...
[Put 'She wrote 'Peter Halket'' on my grave]
To: Julia Solly nee Muspratt, 10 May 1908: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box4/Fold1/1908/28
Matjesfontein, May the 10th 1908, Dear Mrs Solly, I have been feeling quite unhappy about that letter I sent you thinking it ...
[Long term franchise will happen anyway]
To: Emily Hobhouse, 29 May 1908: Olive Schreiner to Emily Hobhouse HTC/1
Letter to be read at meeting, de Aar, May 29th 1908 , Dear Miss Hobhouse, I regret I cannot be with you on the second., The t...
[1908 address, federation of states, federation of sexes]
To: Julia Solly nee Muspratt, 16 August 1908: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box11/Fold1/Dated/19
Dear Mrs Solly, I will try to find two Dutch ladies who will be willing to be vice presidents; but I couldn’t possibly ...
[Getting in Dutch vice president of Women's Enfranchisement League, Mrs MacFadyen, we have to educate women in South Africa slowly]
To: Robert Franklin ('Bob') Muirhead, 16 November 1908: MacFarlane-Muirhead/21
Box 24, De Aar, Nov 16th 1908, Dear Bob, I am sending you two photos of my self, take one for yourself & Lenie & send...
[Dinuzulu trial, white races plan to take away franchise from natives]
To: William Philip ('Will') Schreiner, 1 December 1908: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box4/Fold1/1908/66
de Aar, Dec 1st 1908, I got the photograph signed by Dinuzulu yesterday, dear. I suppose you sent it. I like it greatly. Your...
[Dinizulu, my boy Jim]
To: Mary Brown nee Solomon, 1 December 1908: Olive Schreiner: John & Mary Brown MSC 26/2.2.23
Private, I'm writing a thing on closer Union. If no one else will speak out for the natives I must. When done it will be publ...
['Closer Union', speak out for natives]
To: Jan Smuts, 21 December 1908: Smuts A1/191/57
Lieve Neef Jan , Ik stuur voor jou een "article", de ik greschryven het. Lees dit. Dink daar o’er. Ik veet jÿ is v...
[The taal letter]
To: Frederick ('Fred') Pethick-Lawrence, 1 January 1909: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box8/Fold4/MMPr/AssortedCorres/FredPL/5
Matjesfontein , January 1st, 1909 , Dear Fred, I have written a little paper on Closer Union which I had published in a Johan...
[Citizen franchise league, women here far behind, nothing like England]
To: Minnie or Mimmie Murray nee Parkes, 3 January 1909: Olive Schreiner: Mimmie Murray 2001.24/37
Matjiesfontein, Dec Jan 3rd 1909, Dear Mrs Murray, All good wishes for the new year to you all., I have been here about a wee...
[Cronwright-Schreiner is a child]
To: Francois Stephanus ('FS') Malan, 6 January 1909: Olive Schreiner: F.S. Malan 1000/7
Hotel Milner, Matjiesfontein, Cape Colony, Jan 6 1909, My dear F.S. Malan , Thank-you for your letter. I wanted to sit down &...
[Not love uniting you but greed, gold-thirsty native policy, cheap labour]
To: Edward Carpenter, 19 February 1909: Edward Carpenter 359/94
Matjesfontein, Cape Colony, Feb 19 / 09, Dear Edward , You are an absolutely wicked boy! I did send those two photographs to ...
[Dipping pen into ink but really blood]
To: Francois Stephanus ('FS') Malan, April 1909: Olive Schreiner: F.S. Malan 1000/1
Cap, Eastburgholt, Tamboer's Kloof Road, Tamboer's Kloof, Cape Town , Wednesday , Dear Friend, Please return me that little p...
[Dream for federation of South Africa, one day we shall need love & devotion of black & coloured man]
To: William Philip ('Will') Schreiner, 9 April 1909: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box4/Fold2/1909/20
Good Friday morn, My dear Laddie, I’ve just made a little allegory, in bed this morning. It came to me the minute I ope...
[Men selling their souls & fate watching]
To: Abdullah Abdurahman, 9 April 1909: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box4/Fold2/1909/21
Private, Eastbergholt , Tamboer’s Kloof Road, Friday, Dear Dr Abdurahman, It was a great pleasure to me to meet you &...
[Great pleasure to meet you, hope sincere friendship may follow]
To: William Philip ('Will') Schreiner, 16 July 1909: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box4/Fold2/1909/35
De Aar, 16 July 1909, Dear Laddie, I was glad to get your letter from Maderia, & find the voyage had been pleasant to you...
[Trying to help Will Schreiner politically; I want 'She wrote Peter Halket' on my grave; it's what it cost me]
To: William Philip ('Will') Schreiner, 27 July 1909: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box4/Fold2/1909/39
de Aar, July 27th 1909, My dear Laddie, I have a letter from Alice Corthorn by this mail, telling me she had dinner with you ...
[Only hope for native after union is politicians falling out over spoils, Jabavu standing firm]
To: Frederick ('Fred') Pethick-Lawrence, 19 December 1910: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box8/Fold4/MMPr/AssortedCorres/FredPL/19
Portlock, Nr. Graaf Reinet, December 19th, 1910, I am looking forward most anxiously to next mail to get the "Votes for Women...
[Votes for women, 'Women & Labour' & sex book]
To: William Philip ('Will') Schreiner, 2 May 1911: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box4/Fold4/1911/19
de Aar, April , May 2nd 1911, Dear Laddie, I certainly think it would be most unwise to start a branch of the A.P. society he...
[Unwise to start branch of Aborigines Protection society; bad name]
To: Havelock Ellis, June 1911: Olive Schreiner: Havelock Ellis 2006.29/18
Victoria Falls Hotel, Zambesi, S.A., Thursday, Dear Havelock boy,, We leave tomorrow this most lovely & beautiful & w...
[Victoria Falls fill one with joy]
To: Caroline Murray nee Molteno, 6 September 1911: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box4/Fold4/1911/43
De Aar, Sep 6th 1911, Dear Mrs Murray, It was so nice to see your handwriting again have you any news of Betty’s moveme...
[Little in favour of union]
To: Havelock Ellis, 12 December 1911: HRC/CAT/OS/4b-xxi-b
[page/s missing], I believe the only remedy for the agony & suffering sex inflicts is absolute truthfulness & opennes...
[Truthfulness & openness as remedy for suffering sex inflicts]
To: Unknown, January 1912: Olive Schreiner: Ruth Alexander MSC 26/2.1.29
It was not a personal matter than made me leave the society, The women of the Cape Colony all women of the Cape Colony, These...
[Not a personal matter, all women of Cape Colony, Women's Enfranchisement League]
To: William Philip ('Will') Schreiner, 21 April 1912: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box5/Fold1/1912/14
Sunday morning , Dear old Man, Have you seen Het since I left? What does Theo think of her condition?, I enclose a cutting fr...
[On helping set up women's branch of Democratic Foundation 1880s London]
To: Betty Molteno, 23 April 1912: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box5/Fold1/1912/15
De Aar, Tuesday, Darling Friend, It’s a great disappointment you are not coming. I have a ty tiny room ready for you, &...
[Dube, Gandhi]
To: Edward Carpenter, 24 April 1912: Olive Schreiner: Edward Carpenter SMD 30/32/l
De Aar, April 24th 1912, Dear Edward, I now & then hear a word of you from some one who has seen you & they say all s...
[Sandstorm at De Aar & animals]
To: Patrick Duncan, 27 June 1912: Patrick Duncan BC 294/D1.33.2
This is Private, De Aar, June 27th 1912, Dear Mr Duncan, I have just got your letter. I’m sorry you couldn’t brea...
[Studying defence act, moral story about boy and knife]
To: Havelock Ellis, 30 June 1912: Olive Schreiner: Havelock Ellis 2006.29/5
De Aar, June 30th 1912, Dear old Boy, Thanks for your letter. Of course each person's "diary works" (I mean simple, spontaneo...
[About writing, Ellis's books v letters]
To: John X. Merriman, 11 August 1912: John X. Merriman MSC 15/1912:132
De Aar, Aug 11th 1912, Dear Mr Merriman., Re. your letter. No, I do not take a sorrowful view of life generally; nor above al...
[Downward movement of England, of South Africa, downtrodden millions]
To: Alice Greene, 5 October 1912: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box 12/Fold1/Undated/45
My darling Alice, The more I think of it the more I feel sure the Cape Times must have misrepresented you. I know you hold wi...
[Woman's work, men & women's qualities, education]
To: Betty Molteno, April 1913: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box 12/Fold1/Undated/16
Dear Friend, This ought to have gone a week ago. Every thing is so dark & mysterious I can make nothing out of the papers...
[Everything so dark & mysterious, going to be a great European war]
To: Edward Carpenter, 29 April 1913: Olive Schreiner: Edward Carpenter SMD 30/32/m
De Aar, April 29 / 13, /13, My dear old Edward, I wonder how the world goes with you. I often wonder just what your feeling a...
[Brute force, women fighting, England/SA comparison]
To: Francois Stephanus ('FS') Malan, July 1913: Olive Schreiner: F.S. Malan 1000/4
De Aar, Tuesday , To F S Malan , My dear Friend, My heart is sore sorrowful. What are these things which you are doing up in ...
[Sorrowful heart about the Transvaal]
To: S.C. ('Cron') Cronwright-Schreiner, 2 July 1913: Olive Schreiner: S.C. Cronwright-Schreiner SMD/30/34/c
My dear Pal, You have so many letters to read I'll be as short as I can, darling. A year & a half ago when Emily Hobhouse...
[You suggested going: try to carry it out]
To: John X. Merriman, 20 July 1913: John X. Merriman MSC 15/1913:134
De Aar, July 20th 1913, Dear Mr Merriman, I have not answered your last interesting letters because I have been too ill to wr...
[Sauer's last act, no glimmering of modern truths in South Africa]
To: William Philip ('Will') Schreiner, 12 September 1913: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box5/Fold2/1913/37
Thursday, Sept 12th 1913, Private, My dear old Man, It was good to see the dear old face for a moment Saturday will be a sad ...
[Going to Europe to try treatments, borrowing money from Will Schreiner, payment in copyright; writing plans]
To: Frances (‘Fan’) Schreiner nee Reitz, October 1913: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box11/Fold2/Undated/43
Dear Fan, I generally make my bread with zoet-zuur, which I like the best; but sometimes I make it with the "magic yeast", wh...
[How OS makes bread, the yeast, the sheep tail fat]
To: William Philip ('Will') Schreiner, November 1913: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box5/Fold2/1913/47
Private, Dear Laddie, I am sorry about the hurried note I wrote you the other day, as it is quite unlikely you will meet Miss...
[Emily Hobhouse, Vrouemonument, funny story]
To: Frances (‘Fan’) Schreiner nee Reitz, 17 November 1913: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box5/Fold2/1913/46
My dear little sister Fan, I have been spending the last days in writing & destroying old papers & letters, as I have...
[Spending the last days destroying letters & papers, no daughter to leave them to]
To: Lucy Molteno nee Mitchell, 26 December 1913: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box5/Fold2/1913/57
London , 26 December 1913, Darling Lucy, Do you know it was only to-day when I went out to cash the cheque that I found out w...
[The gift via Lucy Molteno]
To: Frederick ('Fred') Pethick-Lawrence, 15 January 1914: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box8/Fold4/MMPr/AssortedCorres/FredPL/26
Alassio , Thursday 15th 1914 , After many wanderings to Mentone etc. I have settled down here at my beloved Alassio which I f...
[Alassio at basis doesn't change]
To: William Philip ('Will') Schreiner, 11 August 1914: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box5/Fold3/1914/47
Tuesday, 30 Mary Abbott’s Terrace, My darling Will, How are you? My heart is breaking over South Africa Oh if only I ha...
[Went to see Lloyd George, writing to the Nation]
To: Mohandas Gandhi, 15 August 1914: Olive Schreiner: Hermann Kallenbach MSC 26/2.3.2
Telephone, 3350, 3300Western, 30 St Mary Abbott's Terrace, Kensington, London W., Saturday, My dear Mr Ghandi, I have at last...
[Letter to Ghandi on pacifism]
To: Bertrand Russell, October 1914: Bertrand Russell: Box 5.44, Document 710.0557091
Telephone: 3675 Kensington., Telegrams: Apartment, London., Kensington Palace Mansions & Hotel,, De Vere Gardens, W., Dea...
[Could Bertrand Russell come & see OS tomorrow]
To: Robert Franklin ('Bob') Muirhead, October 1914: MacFarlane-Muirhead/26
Telephone 7266 Paddington, The Windsor,, 61 & 62 Lancaster Gate, W, Dear Bob, Thanks for your letter & thanks for ask...
[Wicked mad diplomacy, lying & darkness]
To: Edward Carpenter, 13 October 1914: Olive Schreiner: Edward Carpenter SMD 30/32/q
The Windsor, 61 & 62 Lancaster Gate, W., Durrants Hotel, Manchester Square, London W., Dear old Edward, I think so much o...
[Best blood of youth, beginning of half century of war]
To: William Philip ('Will') Schreiner, 31 December 1914: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box5/Fold3/1914/94
Old Years Night, Dear Laddie, I am sitting here alone in my little room, watching the old year out – the saddest & ...
[Saddest & loneliest old years eve, old days at Heald Town]
To: Edward Carpenter, January 1915: Olive Schreiner: Edward Carpenter SMD 30/32/rii
Kensington Palace Mansions & Hotel, De Vere Gardens, W., My dear old Edward, I think you think I am a horrid person, but ...
[Stunned Carpenter supports war, hate & war beget hate & war, will never talk of again]
To: Betty Molteno, 5 March 1915: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box5/Fold4/Jan-June1915/9
Telephone: 3675 Kensington., Telegrams: Apartment, London., Kensington Palace Mansions. , De Vere Gardens, W., Monday, Dear B...
[Isaac Rosenberg paintings]
To: Betty Molteno, April 1915: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box5/Fold4/Jan-June1915/22
Telephone: 3675 Kensington., Telegrams: Apartment, London., Kensington Palace Mansions & Hotel, De Vere Gardens, W. , Dea...
[Small band desire peace, far future is ours]
To: Betty Molteno, 30 April 1915: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box5/Fold4/Jan-June1915/24
Telephone: 3675 Kensington., Telegrams: Apartment, London., Kensington Palace Mansions & Hotel, De Vere Gardens, W. , Dea...
[Jane Addams & Aletta Jacobs]
To: John Hodgson, June 1915: HRC/OliveSchreinerLetters/OS-JohnHodgson/78
Telephone: 3675 Kensington., Telegrams: Apartment, London., Kensington Palace Mansions & Hotel,, De Vere Gardens, W., Dea...
[All art should be an expression of the individual soul; views don't interest me]
To: Betty Molteno, 10 September 1915: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box6/Fold1/July-Dec1915/20
Dear Betty,, Perhaps this may interest you. Emily Hobhouse who is now quite strong & well is working in Holland with Dr J...
[Emily Hobhouse, Women's International League for Peace & Freedom]
To: William Philip ('Will') Schreiner, January 1916: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box6/Fold2/1916/1
30 St Mary Abbotts Terrace , Wednesday night, My dear old Man, I hear from the Cape that there is a report in the papers ther...
[War, shadow, little book]
To: Robert Franklin ('Bob') Muirhead, January 1916: MacFarlane-Muirhead/33
30 St Mary Abbotts Terrace, Kensington, Friday, Dear Bob, Thank you for your letter. I wonder what you feel on the cons-cript...
[Joining No-Conscription Fellowship, difficulties will come when war over]
To: The Times, 12 January 1916: The Times, Wednesday 12 January 1916, page 5, column 1
SIR J. SIMON’S SUPPORTERS., ---, LETTER FROM 36 SYMPATHIZERS., The following letter was handed to Sir John Simon last e...
[Support for John Simon in opposing the introduction of conscription]
To: Havelock Ellis, 29 June 1916: HRC/CAT/OS/5b-xiv
Llandrindod Wells , Wales , Thursday. , Dear Havelock. , I’m glad you had a nice time in the country. , You I thought y...
[Destroying letters, letters as sacred as a promise]
To: Ruth Alexander nee Schechter, 1917: Olive Schreiner: Ruth Alexander MSC 26/2.1.10
My darling Ruth, It is all so awful. Oh Ruth its not the fighting its the lying the injustice that is the worst of all & ...
[League of curs]
To: John Hodgson, 18 June 1917: HRC/OliveSchreinerLetters/OS-JohnHodgson/87
9 Porchester Place, Edgware Rd, Dear John, I wonder if you saw the air raid? It was a wonderful & impressive thing. I got...
[Air raid, a wonderful & impressive thing]
To: Alice Greene, November 1917: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box11/Fold1/Dated/43
Darling Alice, I’m glad to get such good news of you from Betty, that you are happy & that dear fawn-like child Eva...
[Been to Women's International Federation meeting, woman in street says 'traitor meeting']
To: Betty Molteno, 1918: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box11/Fold2/Undated/76
9 Porchester Place, Edgware Rd, Tuesday, My Betty, I am very anxious about both you & Alice. You said perhaps you would b...
[War sent humanity back 300 years, distant future of justice & freedom]
To: Caroline Murray nee Molteno, 19 April 1918: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box6/Fold4/1918/12
9 Porchester Place, Edgware Rd, April 19th 1918, Dear dear Mrs Murray,, My whole heart is with you. Your beautiful, beautiful...
[On the death of George Murray]
To: May Murray Parker, 22 April 1918: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box6/Fold4/1918/14
9 Porchester Place, Edgware Rd , Sunday, My darling May, All my heart is folding you round with love & tenderness. I know...
[George Murray killed; my heart is folding round you with love; I hate war]
To: Havelock Ellis, 19 October 1918: HRC/UNCAT/OS-152
Oct 19th , 9 Porchester Place , Edgeware Rd , Dear Havelock , I’ve been very ill. That’s why I’ve not writt...
[Particularities of illness]
To: Jan Smuts, 19 November 1918: Smuts A1/204/146
9 Porchester Place, Edgware Road, Nov 19th 1918 , Dear Jan , Don’t you begin to see this is the 20th Century!! That the...
[The old world is cracking, Mrs Partington & her broom]
To: Katherine Bruce Glasier nee St John Conway, 1 April 1919: Glasier Papers/1/1/1793
9 Porchester Place, Edgeware Rd, April 1st 1919, Dear Friend,, Isabella Ford has told me how very ill & suffering your de...
[John Bruce Glasier, he has done so much for the cause]
To: William Philip ('Will') Schreiner, May 1919: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box7/Fold1/Jan-July1919/7
My old Brother , Your face haunts me. Your dear eyes. My poor old Will. , I know, dear., Olive,
[Your dear eyes, I know dear]
To: May Murray Parker nee Murray, 25 June 1919: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box7/Fold1/Jan-July1919/21
Wednesday, Dear May, I know you & Freddie won’t mind my telling you of little things that have helped me greatly. , ...
[Detailed advice for nursing Will Schreiner just before his death]
To: Jan Smuts, 3 July 1919: Smuts A1/206/121
telephone no 6506 , Paddington, 9 Porchester Place , Edgware Road, W., June 3rd 1919 , Dear Jan , They tell me you were just ...
[Did not see Jan Smuts at Golders Green, new century, try to lead]
To: Alfred Milner, 3 July 1919: Milner Papers, dep. 46, ff. 183-184
9 Porchester Place, Edgware Rd, W., July 3rd 1919, Dear Lord Milner, My sister-law showed me your note to her. I valued it mo...
[I valued it more than all the hundreds of letters]
To: Frances (‘Fan’) Schreiner nee Reitz, 29 August 1919: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box7/Fold2/Aug-Dec1919/8
Aug 29th 1919, My dear old sister, Tomorrow will be our Will’s birthday. I know what you will be thinking of. Oh I am s...
[Will Schreiner's death, first time in 50 years not writing to him on his birthday]
To: Alice Greene, 26 November 1919: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box11/Fold1/Dated/49
Wednesday , My darling darling Alice, I hope getting letters doesn’t worry you, but I feel I must write to you just one...
[My arms stretching out to Alice Greene; if I could put my love into words, must feel it coming to you across the miles]
To: Frances (‘Fan’) Schreiner nee Reitz, 22 January 1920: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box7/Fold3/Jan-Feb1920/11
Porchester 9 Porchester Place, Edgware Rd, Jan 22 / 1920, My dear old Sister, I got your interesting long letter yesterday. Y...
[Extended family news, that little casket holds so much for you & me]
To: John Brown, 2 February 1920: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box7/Fold3/Jan-Feb1920/23
Dear JB,, I think you would be surprised if you knew how continually my thoughts are with you & Mary. How I long to see y...
[Prices, shortages, OS taken passage]
To: S.C. ('Cron') Cronwright-Schreiner, 11 May 1920: Olive Schreiner: S.C. Cronwright-Schreiner SMD/30/34/e
[page/s missing], 3, or as long as you want it you are sure of that small room, & lots of room to store your luggage but ...
[Never thought Cronwright-Schreiner loved Philpot]
To: S.C. (‘Cron’) Cronwright-Schreiner, 13 August 1920: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box7/Fold4/Mar-Dec1920/16
Union-Castle Line, R.M.S “Balmoral Castle” , Friday, Dear, I am just writing a word to tell you Ive got a nice ca...
[Good bye to Cronwright: have my big stone warmater bottle, yours ever]
To: Jan Smuts, 19 October 1920: Smuts A1/207/185
Address , c/o Mrs. W P Schreiner, Lyndall , Garden Street , Plumstead, nr. Cape Town , Oct 19th 1920, Dear Jan, Thank you for...
[Serf in the palace, where is Czar, meet incoming tide]
To: Betty Molteno, 5 November 1920: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box7/Fold4/Mar-Dec1920/33
Oct Nov 5th 1920, My darling darling Betty, Oh how I wish you were here: all this trouble with the poor natives makes me long...
[Narrow racialism of Nationalists]
To: Caroline Murray nee Molteno, 30 November 1920: Olive Schreiner BC16/Box7/Fold4/Mar-Dec1920/41
Oak Hall , Tram terminus, Wynberg, My dear Mrs Murray, I am so glad to think next week you will be here. As you will be at Mi...
[Half-dead but into action]
To: S.C. ('Cron') Cronwright-Schreiner, 12 December 1920: Olive Schreiner: S.C. Cronwright-Schreiner SMD 30/33/e
From Mrs W. P. Schreiner, CA 51 K CAPETOWNPO 12 LG/11., CRONWRIGHT SCHREINER STANDARD BANK CLEMENTS LANE LN., OLIVE DIED PEAC...
[Olive died peacefully]