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Georgiana Solomon (nee Thompson)
Georgiana Margaret Solomon (nee Thomson) (1844 - 1933) was the wife and then widow of the prominent South African politician Saul Solomon, and also the co-founder of the South African Women’s Federation (Suid-Afrikaanse Vrouefederasie, SAVF). Georgiana Thomson was born and educated in Scotland but in 1873 was persuaded by Dr Charles Murray to take up the post of principal of the Good Hope Seminary for Girls in Cape Town. In 1874, she met and married Saul Solomon. In September 1881 their daughter Maggie and her governess Miss Martha Burton were tragically drowned. Partly as a result of this tragedy, the family travelled to England in 1883 and in 1888 settled there permanently. Saul Solomon died in 1892.
Georgiana Solomon was active in the pro-Boer movement in Britain during the South African War and after the war she travelled to South Africa where she spent time touring the ‘ruined areas’ and involving herself in rehabilitation and reconstruction work. Together with Annie Botha, wife of the Boer general and politician Louis Botha, she helped establish the SAVF in 1904. After her subsequent return to London she maintained her interest in South African affairs and was a member of the Anti-Slavery and Aborigines Protection Society. She was an enthusiastic speaker and letter-writer and was involved in hosting members of various ‘native’ delegations which visited London between 1913 and 1919, and she acted as an important networker, particularly in relation to Solomon Plaatje.
Most of Schreiner’s extant letters to Georgiana Solomon take the form of postcards written while she was living in London between 1914 and 1920, and are centered on activities and arrangements concerning their common interest in the ‘native question’ and South African politics. Schreiner wrote to Solomon to obtain information about Solomon Plaatje’s whereabouts, and also arranged for him to meet with John Hodgson. She also clearly attended political meetings at Georgiana Solomon’s home, commenting in a 1919 letter for example, “Your gathering was most interesting. How well Platje and all the delegates spoke!” Despite their shared interest in race matters, Schreiner and Mrs Solomon clearly disagreed with one another regarding the First World War, and Schreiner was forced to remind Mrs Solomon that she was a pacifist, adding in a letter of 1914, “So we’d better not talk about the war, dear Mrs Solomon. I think when two people have so many things in common as you and I have, we need never refer to the things about which we don’t agree. Don't you think so? We can’t all think alike can we?” It is possible to discern from her letters to others that even on matters relating to South African politics Schreiner did not always agree with Mrs Solomon’s views or tactics; in a 1917 letter to Will Schreiner she referred to Mrs Solomon and John Hodgson as a “distressing pair”.
For further information see:
Elizabeth van Heyningen (2006) ‘Solomon, Georgiana Margaret (1844-1933)’ Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford University Press http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/56252
T.C. Pienaar (1981) ‘Solomon, Georgiana Margaret’ in (ed) C.J. Beyers Dictionary of South African Biography Vol IV Pretoria: Human Sciences Research Council, pp. 590 - 591
Recipient Of
- National Library of South Africa, Cape Town: Special Collections at the NLSA provide one of the leading locations for archival papers across many periods, organisations a... Show/Hide Collection Letters
- Olive Schreiner: Georgiana Solomon MSC 26/2.13.1:19 Adam Street, Portman Sq, Monday, Dear Mrs Solomon, My landlady has given me notice to leave at the end of the week I have ...
- Olive Schreiner: Georgiana Solomon MSC 26/2.13.2:Kensington Palace Mansions & Hotel,, De Vere Gardens,, W., Dear Mrs Solomon, Daisy mustnt trouble to come & fetch me....
- Olive Schreiner: Georgiana Solomon MSC 26/2.13.3:Dawson Place Mansions, Pembridge Sq, London W., Oct 5th 1916, Dear Mrs Solomon, I have not read Platjes book but will get it ...
- Olive Schreiner: Georgiana Solomon MSC 26/2.13.4:Alexi,, The Park,, Hampstead., Dawson Place Mansions, Pembridge Sq, Wednesday, Dear Mrs Solomon, Mr Hodgson was delighted wit...
- Olive Schreiner: Georgiana Solomon MSC 26/2.13.5:Dear Mrs Solomon, There is a little gathering at my doctors Dr Ettie Sayer , 35 Upper Brooke St, Park Lane. Where a man who h...
- Olive Schreiner: Georgiana Solomon MSC 26/2.13.6:Thank you, dear Mrs Solomon for your lovely gift. I love little soft shawls. I would long ago have been to see you if it wasn...
- Olive Schreiner: Georgiana Solomon MSC 26/2.13.7:Saturday, My dear Friend, Thank you for your beautiful beautiful gift. I will keep it to wear on board ship, in case I am abl...
- Olive Schreiner: Georgiana Solomon MSC 26/2.13.8:Dear Mrs Solomon, I have again mislaid your Tunbridge Wells address I am so anxious to know if all is going well with you. D ...
- Olive Schreiner: Georgiana Solomon MSC 26/2.13.9:Dear Mrs Solomon, Its so long since I had any news of you I am feeling quite anxious. Do drop me a post card. I hope you are ...
- University of Cape Town, Historical Manuscripts: Manuscripts & Archives at the University of Cape Town is a leading location for accessing archival papers across many per... Show/Hide Collection Letters
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box6/Fold3/1917/13:9 Porchester Place, Por, Edgware Rd, W, Tuesday, Dear Mrs Solomon, I would be so glad if you & dear little Daisy could co...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box6/Fold3/1917/17:9 Porchester Place, Edgware Rd, Dear Mrs Solomon, You may be interested to see this bit of Mr Mushets letter He is married to...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box6/Fold3/1917/18:Dear Mrs Solomon, It was so good to see your dear brave face. Of course I should be so glad to see you Daisy any time you cou...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box6/Fold4/1918/4:Dear Mrs Solomon, I was so glad to get your card I do hope the warmth of Bath will do you good. Any how it is good to get awa...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box6/Fold4/1918/7:Dear Mrs Solomon, I am so grieved to hear you were so unwell & would long ago have been to see you if it were not for the...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box6/Fold4/1918/18:Dear Mrs Solomon, I was so sorry I had to jump into the bus so quickly I couldn’t say a real good-bye to you. I did so ...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box7/Fold1/Jan-July1919/1:It was such a dis-appointment I miss being cheered up by a sight of your faces. I am so sorry the servant was out & my la...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box7/Fold1/Jan-July1919/22:Dear Mrs Solomon, Your gathering was most interesting. How well Platje & all the delegates spoke! But you looked very wor...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box7/Fold1/Jan-July1919/25:Dear Mrs Solomon my brother is to be buried tomorrow (Tuesday) at 12 o clock at the Crematorium at Golder’s Green., My ...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box7/Fold1/Jan-July1919/26:Thank you for your letter. I sent you a card on Monday to tell you when the funeral would be. Did you ever get it. I did not ...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box7/Fold2/Aug-Dec1919/6:My nephew Oliver says he would much like to come up tomorrow afternoon. I told him I was sure you would be glad if he brought...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box7/Fold2/Aug-Dec1919/22:Dear Friend, I do hope your son & Daisy have got off all right. Let me know of your movements Could you give me Solomon P...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box7/Fold2/Aug-Dec1919/29:Dear Friend,, We had news from Helen Greene this morning. Alice seems seriously ill, so Betty left at once for Trevone. I fea...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box7/Fold4/Mar-Dec1920/2:Dear Friend, Did you ever get my letter thanking you for the lovely shawl, & did you get a typewritten letter I sent you ...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box11/Fold1/Dated/4:Dear Mrs Solomon, I shall be so glad to see Daisy. Perhaps Miss Molteno & I will be able to come in & see you some ev...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box11/Fold1/Dated/40:Saturday , Dear Mrs Solomon, I am so grieved to hear Daisy has been so unwell. I don’t envy many people anything, but I...
Mentioned In
- Humanities Research Center, University of Texas at Austin: The HRC, Austin, is one of the world leading locations for archival papers pertaining to literary life and manuscripts across... Show/Hide Collection Letters
- HRC/OliveSchreinerLetters/OS-JohnHodgson/12:I’m so glad you enjoyed your visit to Mrs Solomon. I am better. I went up to Hampstead last night & had to sleep th...
- HRC/OliveSchreinerLetters/OS-JohnHodgson/58:Dear Mr Hodgson, I have not been able to write to Mrs Solomon as I’ve been in bed ever since I saw you., Don’t tr...
- HRC/OliveSchreinerLetters/OS-JohnHodgson/59:Dawson Place Mansions, Pembridge Sq, Wednes-day, Dear Mr Hodgson, Thank you for those lovely, very lovely, flowers. I had bee...
- HRC/OliveSchreinerLetters/OS-JohnHodgson/62:I have written to Mrs Solomon & given her your address & asked her to invite you to meet Solomon Platje. You might wr...
- HRC/OliveSchreinerLetters/OS-JohnHodgson/98:Wednesday, Dear Mr Hodgson, On Sunday I am practically never in; I always to g my brothers. Mrs Solomon writes to me in great...
- National English Literary Museum, Grahamstown: The National English Literary Museum is the leading location for collections pertaining to the imaginative and creative writi... Show/Hide Collection Letters
- Olive Schreiner: Mimmie Murray 2001.24/10:Hotel Milner, Matjiesfontein, Cape Colony, Jan 19/09, Dear Mrs Murray, I was so glad to get your letter with its valuable new...
- National Library of South Africa, Cape Town: Special Collections at the NLSA provide one of the leading locations for archival papers across many periods, organisations a... Show/Hide Collection Letters
- Olive Schreiner: Georgiana Solomon MSC 26/2.13.1:19 Adam Street, Portman Sq, Monday, Dear Mrs Solomon, My landlady has given me notice to leave at the end of the week I have ...
- Olive Schreiner: Georgiana Solomon MSC 26/2.13.2:Kensington Palace Mansions & Hotel,, De Vere Gardens,, W., Dear Mrs Solomon, Daisy mustnt trouble to come & fetch me....
- Olive Schreiner: Georgiana Solomon MSC 26/2.13.3:Dawson Place Mansions, Pembridge Sq, London W., Oct 5th 1916, Dear Mrs Solomon, I have not read Platjes book but will get it ...
- Olive Schreiner: Georgiana Solomon MSC 26/2.13.4:Alexi,, The Park,, Hampstead., Dawson Place Mansions, Pembridge Sq, Wednesday, Dear Mrs Solomon, Mr Hodgson was delighted wit...
- Olive Schreiner: Georgiana Solomon MSC 26/2.13.5:Dear Mrs Solomon, There is a little gathering at my doctors Dr Ettie Sayer , 35 Upper Brooke St, Park Lane. Where a man who h...
- Olive Schreiner: Georgiana Solomon MSC 26/2.13.6:Thank you, dear Mrs Solomon for your lovely gift. I love little soft shawls. I would long ago have been to see you if it wasn...
- Olive Schreiner: Georgiana Solomon MSC 26/2.13.8:Dear Mrs Solomon, I have again mislaid your Tunbridge Wells address I am so anxious to know if all is going well with you. D ...
- Olive Schreiner: Georgiana Solomon MSC 26/2.13.9:Dear Mrs Solomon, Its so long since I had any news of you I am feeling quite anxious. Do drop me a post card. I hope you are ...
- University of Cape Town, Historical Manuscripts: Manuscripts & Archives at the University of Cape Town is a leading location for accessing archival papers across many per... Show/Hide Collection Letters
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box3/Fold4/1905/24:Hanover, July 1st 1905, My darling Friend, I do hope you will get away to Athens & Rome. (Oh Athens!) Miss Greene is quit...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box3/Fold6/1907/30:De Aar, Nov 8th 1907, Dear Friend, I haven’t been able to write of late, but it’s such a curious comfort to me to...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box6/Fold3/1917/2:19 Adam Street , Portman Sq, W, Monday, Dear old man, I have moved into my little room which I like much so far. I heard a wo...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box6/Fold3/1917/13:9 Porchester Place, Por, Edgware Rd, W, Tuesday, Dear Mrs Solomon, I would be so glad if you & dear little Daisy could co...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box6/Fold4/1918/4:Dear Mrs Solomon, I was so glad to get your card I do hope the warmth of Bath will do you good. Any how it is good to get awa...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box6/Fold4/1918/7:Dear Mrs Solomon, I am so grieved to hear you were so unwell & would long ago have been to see you if it were not for the...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box6/Fold4/1918/18:Dear Mrs Solomon, I was so sorry I had to jump into the bus so quickly I couldn’t say a real good-bye to you. I did so ...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box6/Fold4/1918/20:Saturday, Darling Betty, It was quite a bitter disappointment to me when I got your card this morning to say you were not com...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box7/Fold1/Jan-July1919/22:Dear Mrs Solomon, Your gathering was most interesting. How well Platje & all the delegates spoke! But you looked very wor...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box7/Fold1/Jan-July1919/25:Dear Mrs Solomon my brother is to be buried tomorrow (Tuesday) at 12 o clock at the Crematorium at Golder’s Green., My ...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box7/Fold2/Aug-Dec1919/1:Tuesday, Darling Betty, I was so glad of that news, that Alice had been for a walk. I cannot but feel that doctors may mistak...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box7/Fold2/Aug-Dec1919/11:Monday, Dear one, I have written to Percy & Mrs Solomon & May – I suppose you posted your letter to Mrs Murray ...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box7/Fold4/Mar-Dec1920/1:My own Betty, I don’t like your being so alone there. Are Helen & Polly still in their cottage? , I sent off the “...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box11/Fold1/Dated/3:Tuesday , My darling Betty, I feared your not coming might mean that. I am sure our Alice must not try to walk. Oh I wish I w...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box11/Fold1/Dated/4:Dear Mrs Solomon, I shall be so glad to see Daisy. Perhaps Miss Molteno & I will be able to come in & see you some ev...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box11/Fold1/Dated/40:Saturday , Dear Mrs Solomon, I am so grieved to hear Daisy has been so unwell. I don’t envy many people anything, but I...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box 12/Fold1/Undated/22:Sunday, My darling Betty, Your face has haunted me; the last two days it look so worn & full of pain. I couldn’t as...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box 12/Fold2/Misc/7:Dear, I enclose a letter Mrs Solomon sent me & asked me to enclose to you. I’ve given her your address., It is pour...
- Olive Schreiner BC16/Box8/Fold4/MMPr/AssortedCorres/FredPL/28:Thursday, Which afternoon this week or next would you be able to have the delegates to tea? Please give me a couple of aftern...