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Collection Overview

Creator:
Potter, Herbert Cecil, 1875-1964
Title:
Herbert Cecil Potter Papers
Repository:
Manuscripts Division
Permanent URL:
http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/5712m727n
Dates:
1892-1955 (mostly 1893-1919)
Size:
23 boxes and 9.2 linear feet
Storage Note:
  • Firestone Library (scamss): Box 1-23
Language:
English

Abstract

Potter was a lifelong British military officer who attained the rank of brigadier-general. He served in Ireland (1898), South Africa (1901-1902), Egypt and Sudan (1903-1913), and World War I (1914-1918); he retired in 1927. Consists primarily of Potter's lengthy correspondence with his mother and future wife while stationed abroad, often during significant British military operations, including censor-stamped envelopes.

Collection Description & Creator Information

Scope and Contents

The collection consists primarily of Potter's lengthy correspondence with his mother and future wife while stationed abroad, often during significant British military operations, including censor-stamped envelopes. By means of detailed, very legible letters, the collection thoroughly documents a British officer's life during the historic range of Potter's years, from training at the Royal Military College in the 1890s through the hellish trench warfare of World War I. Potter saw active combat in France throughout World War I, and his unit participated in the Battle of the Somme. Besides several thousand letters, the collection contains Potter's diary for 1897, occasional photographs, and a few relevant newspaper clippings. Letters to Potter by his future wife often relate activities of the Bedford Soldiers' Home, where apparently she played an active role.

Collection Creator Biography:

Potter, Herbert Cecil, 1875-1964

Herbert Cecil Potter was a lifelong British military officer who attained the rank of brigadier-general. He served in Ireland (1898), South Africa (1901-1902), Egypt and Sudan (1903-1913), and World War I (1914-1918); he retired in 1927. Wounded several times, Potter earned several awards for meritorious service. Among Potter's military units were the King's Liverpool Regiment and the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. He married "May" Griffith in 1913 after carrying on a lengthy military-life romance, marked by long absences and distance. The couple had one son and two daughters.

Collection History

Acquisition:

Purchased from Richard Ford Ltd. in 2011 (AM2012-15).

Appraisal

No materials were separated during 2011 processing.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Lisa Yankowitz 2013 in 2011 November . Finding aid written by John Delaney in 2011 November .

Access & Use

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.

Credit this material:

Herbert Cecil Potter Papers; Manuscripts Division, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library

Permanent URL:
http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/5712m727n
Location:
Firestone Library
One Washington Road
Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
(609) 258-3184
Storage Note:
  • Firestone Library (scamss): Box 1-23