Georgia Doble Sitwell: An Inventory of Her Collection in the Manuscript Collection at the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center

Georgia Doble, the Canadian-born wife of Sacheverell Sitwell, was born in 1906 to a banker of Cornish descent. She met Sitwell at a party in 1924 while participating in the social gaiety of the London season. Georgia was familiar with Sitwell’s Southern Baroque Art and enjoyed his company, but she waited almost a year before accepting his marriage proposals. They were married in Paris on October 12, 1925. Their first son, Reresby, was born in 1927 and his younger brother, Francis, in 1935.

Georgia found it difficult to blend in with the Sitwell family, which had more than the usual share of dynamics. She did her best to play the self-assigned role of muse, but Sitwell was not a social man and Georgia missed the busy whirl of London. She attended many social events without him, which led to a great deal of friction between them. They both had affairs over the years, but remained deeply attached to one another throughout their lives. Georgia died in 1980.

Scope and Contents

The Georgia Doble Sitwell Collection is composed primarily of personal correspondence, with a small quantity of business papers having to do with investments and financial matters relating to her Canadian family. The collection is organized in two series: Series I. Correspondence, 1901-1974 (7 boxes); and Series II. Business Papers, 1926-1974 (1 box). Portions of this collection were previously accessible through a preliminary inventory of the Sacheverell Sitwell Collection. They have been re-cataloged as part of a retrospective conversion project.

The personal correspondence series is notable for the variety of people represented. Along with members of the Sitwell family and their close associates, including David Horner and Frank Magro, Georgia's correspondents included Lawrence Audrain, John Lehmann, Loelia Lindsay, René Massigli, Evelyn Waugh, and Mae West. There are also several folders of correspondents identified by first name only. An index of all correspondents is found at the end of this finding aid. Business papers include statements from the firms Coutts and Lloyds, correspondence with publishers regarding Sacheverell's work, and general business papers, including an automobile certificate of ownership.

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Container List

Index of Correspondents

Abbey, Eleanor--1.1 (includes a drawing)
Aberconway, Christabel Mary Melville Macnaghten McLaren, Baroness--1.2
Ahlefeldt-Laurvig, Claus--1.1
Aird, Viola--1.1
Alison, Barley--1.1
Ames, Kit--1.1
Andrade, Lorna--1.3
Anrep, Helen--1.1
Arden, Elsie--1.1
Aria, E.--1.1
Arlen, Michael--1.1
Aston, Gavin--1.1
Audrain, Lawrence A.--1.4
Balston, Thomas--1.5
Bamford, Francis--1.6
Bamford, S.--1.5
Baragwanath, Dotty--1.5
Barrington, William, Lord ("Bill")--1.5
Beaton, Cecil Walter Hardy, Sir, 1904- --1.5
Beaufort, Louise--1.7
Beaverbrook, William Maxwell Aitken, Baron, 1879-1964--1.5
Beerbohm, Max, Sir, 1872-1956--1.5
Beit, Clementine, Lady--1.5
Benake, Anthony--1.5
Bennet, G. W. (George W.) --1.5
Benson, W. V.?--1.5
Bentick, H. N. ("Henry")--1.5
Berckemeyer, Maria E. de--1.5
Bernstorlt, Albrecht, Count--1.5
Betjeman, John, Sir, 1906- --1.5
Betjeman, Penelope, Lady--1.5
Birrell, Francis, 1889-1935--1.5
Blanche, Lesley--1.8
Bolín, Luis A.--1.8
Bolles, Charles--1.8
Boneham, Thomas--1.8
Borenius, Tancred, 1885-1948--1.8
Borura, Maurice--1.8
Bourne, F. M. (Munroe)--1.8
Bourrof?, Auril--1.8
Bradford, Hugh--1.8
Brocklehurst, Charles (C. D. F.) ("Charlie")--1.8
Brooks, Norman--1.8
Brougham, Eleanor M. (Eleanor Mabel), b. 1883--1.8
Browning, Arthur--1.8
Bryher, 1894- --1.8
Byron, Robert, 1905-1941--1.8
Cadd, Dorothy--1.9
Callimachi, Anne-Marie Vacaresco, princess--1.10 (includes photographs)
Cantacuyene, Balasha--1.9
Caraman, Philip, 1911- --1.9
Carisbrooke, Irene Frances Adza Denison Mountbatten, marchioness of, d. 1956--1.9
Cartalio, Satyri--1.9
Cavendish, Adele--1.9
Chamberlain, Austen, Sir, 1863-1937--1.9
Channon, Henry, 1898-1958--1.9
Churchill, Clementine, Lady, 1885-1977--1.9
Clare?, M. L.--2.1
Clark, K.--2.1
Clarkson, Tom--2.1
Clayre, Alasdair--2.1
Clerk, George T.--2.1
Coats, Peter--2.1
Coggins, B. E. --2.1
Colefax, Sibyl, 1874-1950--2.1
Connolly, Cyril, 1903-1974--2.1
Cooper, Diana--2.1
Cooper, Duff, Viscount Norwich, 1890-1954--2.1
Corrigan, Laura--2.1 (report)
Cotton, John Henderson--2.1
Courtauld, Samuel--2.1
Cowling, Ruth C.--2.1
Cox, Lewis, b. 1898--2.1
Cubitt, Sonia--see Keppel, Sonia
Cunard, Emerald--2.1
Davis, Theo--2.2
Dawson, Frederick--2.2
De Faiye, Jane--2.2
De France, Isabelle--2.3
Denys, Monty--2.2
Derby, Alice--2.2
De Zoete, Beryl, 1884-1962--2.2
Doble, Carmen--2.2
Doble, Douglas--2.2
Domvile, Joan--2.2
Dudley, Eric--2.2
Duggan, Hubert--2.2
Egremont, Pamela--2.3
Eliot, Vivienne, 1888-1947--2.3
Elizabeth II, Queen of England, 1926- --2.3
Elizabeth, Queen, consort of George VI, King of Great Britain, 1900- --2.3
Fenn, E. V.--2.3
Ferguson, A.--2.3
Fitzwilliam, Joyce--2.3
Forbes, Alison--2.3
Ford, Brinsley--2.3
Ford, Edward--2.3
Fowler, John--2.3
Frost, Nellie--2.3
Gage, Berkeley, 1904- --2.4
Gathorne-Hardy, Edward, Hon.--2.4
Gee, Lydia--2.4
Goemans, Edith--2.4
Goldsmid, Rosemary d'Avigdor--2.4
Goodman, F. J.--2.4
Gordon Woodhouse, Violet, 1871-1948--2.5
Gourko, Henriette de--2.4
Grant, Duncan--2.4
Greenway, George Lauder, 1904- --2.4
Griffiths, Ann--2.4
Grimwade, Arthur--2.4
Gulday, Han?--2.4
Haddington, Sarah--2.6
Hadley, Patrick, 1889-1973--2.6
Hamerton, F. L.--2.6
Hampton, Dorothy--2.6
Hardwick, Ralph--2.6
Harnis-Smith, Mrs.--2.6
Harper, Allanah, 1904- --2.6
Harrod, Roy Forbes, Sir, 1900- --2.6
Hartnell, Norman--2.6
Hesketh, Freddie, 1921- --2.7
Hesketh, Kristy--2.7
Hillingdon, Arthur Robert Mills, baron, 1891- --2.6
Hobson, Anthony--2.6
Hollingworth, P.--2.6
Hootox, Mrs.--2.6
Horner, David--2.8
Hortun, Henry--2.6
Humphrey, B.--2.6
Hunt, Peter--2.6
Islington, — --2.9
Jackson, Lewis J.--2.9
Jackson, T. Leslie--2.9
James, Zita--2.9
Janin, Nelde--2.9
Jebb, Cynthia--2.9
John, Augustus, 1878-1961--2.9
Kellet, E. O. ("Flash")--2.9
Kennedy, Moira ("Sugar Ray")--2.9
Kent, George--2.9
Keppel, Alice, 1869-1947--2.9
Keppel, Sonia, 1900- --2.9
Khan, Ali Solomon, 1911-1960--2.9
Kobayashi, M.--2.9
Kochno, Boris--2.9
Lacerda, Alberto de, 1928- --2.10
Lambert, Constant, 1905-1951--2.10
Lancaster, Osbert, Sir, 1908- --2.10
Lane, Margaret, 1907- --2.10
Langstaff, Brett--2.10
Lansberg, Bertie--2.10
Lavery, Hazel, Lady, 1880-1935--2.10
Lavery, John, Sir, 1856-1941--2.10
Lees-Milne, James--2.10
Lehmann, John, 1907- --2.10
Lennox, L. Peareth--2.10
Leslie, Kuener--2.10
Leverson, Ada--2.10
Lindsay?, Anabel--2.10
Lindsay, Loelia, 1902- --2.11
Londonderry, Edith Helen, Marchioness Dowager of, 1878?-1959--2.10
Lowz, John--2.10
Lucar, Sam--2.10
Lyon, Ted--2.10
Maby, C. G.--2.12
Magro, Frank--3.1
Marina, Princess--2.12
Markham, Henry--2.12
Marlborough, E.--2.12
Marsh, Eddie--2.12
Martin, Ellen--2.12
Martin, Philip--2.12
Masaryk, Jan, 1886-1948--2.12
Massigli, René Lucien Daniel--3.2
Masson, André--2.12
Matsas, Alexandros--2.12
Maugham, Robin, 1916- --2.12
Maugham, W. Somerset (William Somerset), 1874-1965--2.12
Mawle, I. A.--2.12
McCann, C. W. ("Billy")--2.12
McEwen, Bridget--2.12
McFadden, Frances--2.12
McMullin, John--2.12
Metcalfe, Baba--2.12
Metcalfe, C. W.--2.12
Middleton, Sarah--3.3
Milbanke, Sheila--3.4
Miller, Alfred A.--3.3
Mitford, Nancy, 1904-1973--3.3
Monro, Harold, 1879-1932--3.3
Moore, Marianne, 1887-1972--3.3
Morrow, Julia--3.3
Mortimer, Raymond, 1895-1980--3.3
Mosley, Cynthia, Lady, 1898-1933--3.5
Mullens, Lady--3.3
Nash, Paul--3.6
Neame, Elizabeth--3.6
Nevinson, C. R. W. (Christopher Richard Wynne), 1889-1946--3.6
Nicol, J. L.--3.6
Northampton, Elspeth--3.6
Northampton, Virginia--3.6
Obolensky, Serge--3.6
Olinier, Edith--3.6
Olivrina, Raoul Regis de--see Regis de Olivrina, Raoul
Palewski, Gaston, 1901-1984--3.7
Pansa, Mario--3.7
Pares, Victoria--3.7
Parsons, Bridget--see Cox, Lewis
Pelly, Elizabeth Ponsonby--3.7
Pembroke, Mary--3.7
Petriburg, Cyril--3.7
Petriburg, Sh— (Bishop of Peterborough) --3.7
Petrickstrin, Alexandre--3.7
Pinnegas, V. J.--3.7
Piper, Myfanwy--3.7
Pond, Cordelia Sargent--3.7
Porter, Katherine Anne, 1890-1980--3.7
Potocrie, Helen--3.7
Quennell, Peter, 1905- --3.8
Radziwill, Dolly--3.8
Rainbird, George--3.8
Ramsey, L. G. G.--3.8
Rattigan, Terence--3.8
Reade, Brian--3.8
Regis de Olivrina, Raoul--3.8
Rivaris, Bernard--3.8
Robins, J. F.--3.8
Rootham, Helen--3.8
Roper, Lanning--3.8
Rosslyn, Tony--3.8
Rothenstein, John, Sir, 1901- --3.8
Rotherman, Edward--3.8
Russell, James--3.8
Russell, John--3.8
Sadleir, Michael, 1888-1957--3.9
Salfeld, Denise--3.9
Santa Cruz, Cesilna?, La Marquesa de--3.9
Sargent, Mrs.--see Pond, Cordelia Sargent
Savadenes, Frances--3.9
Saye and Sele, Hersey--3.9
Schwayerberg, Kathleen--3.9
Sekers, Nicholas--3.9
Seles, Olgi?--3.9
Severini, Jeanne--3.9
Simpson, Ernest A.--3.9
Sitwell, Edith, Dame, 1887-1964--3.10-4.7
Sitwell, George Reresby, Sir, 1860-1943--4.8-10
Sitwell, Ida, Lady--5.1
Sitwell, Jessica--3.9
Sitwell, Osbert, 1892-1969--5.2-5.9
Sitwell, Reresby, 1927- --5.10
Smith, Eleanor--3.9
Smith, Fred--3.9
Smith, G.--3.9
Smith, H. Clifford (Harold Clifford), 1876-1960--3.9
Smith, John--3.9
Somerset, Penny--3.9
Southern, G. H.--3.8
Spencer-Churchill, Ivor--3.9
Stark, Freya--3.9
Stevenson, Bernard--5.11
Stevenson, Gertrude Scott, 1891- --5.11
Stewart, Michael--3.9
Sung, Chong--3.9
Sutton, Denys--3.9
Tallegraen, Hébi--5.12
Tchelitchew, Pavel, 1898-1957--5.12
Tennant, David, 1902-1968--5.12
Thomas, Edda--5.12
Thomas, Lucy--5.12
Thursby, Poppy--5.12
Tredegar, Ivan--5.12
Trefusis, Violet Keppel, 1894-1972--5.12
Treowen, Albertina--5.12
Tvede, Mogens--5.12
Verco, W. J. G. (Walter J.)--5.12
von Tropmansthal, Raimund--5.12
Waley, Arthur--5.13
Walton, William--5.12
Wardell, Michael--5.12
Waugh, Evelyn, 1903-1966--5.14
Webb, John--5.12
West, Mae--5.12
West, Rebecca--5.12
Westminster, Hugh Richard Arthur Grosvenor, Duke of, 1879-1953--6.1
Westminster, Loelia Lindsay, Duchess of--see Lindsay, Loelia
Westminster, Sally--5.13
Weymouth, Daphne--5.13
Whilar, Mary--5.13
Whistler, Laurence, 1912- --5.13
White, Gabriel--5.13
Willis, Evan--5.13
Wills, Dorothy E.--5.13
Wills, Frank--5.13
Wimborne, Alice--6.2
Windsor, Edward, Duke of, 1894-1972--5.13
Winn, Kittey--5.13
Woodhouse, Violet Gordon--see Gordon Woodhouse, Violet
Woodrow, E.--5.13
Woog, Bernard--5.13
Woog, Olgila--5.13
Yeo, William--5.13
Zoete, Beryl de--see De Zoete, Beryl

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