From 1830, if not before, the Empire began to permeate the domestic culture of Empire nations in many ways. From consumables, to the excitement of colonial wars, celebrations relating to events in the history of Empire, and the construction of Empire Day in the early Edwardian period, most citizens were encouraged to think of themselves not only as citizens of a nation but of an Empire. Much of the popular culture of the period presented Empire as a force for ‘civilisation’ but it was often far from the truth and rather, Empire was a repressive mechanism designed ultimately to benefit white settlers and the metropolitan economy.
This four volume collection on Empire and Popular Culture contains a wide array of primary sources, complemented by editorial narratives which help the reader to understand the significance of the documents contained therein. It is informed by the recent advocacy of a ‘three-nation’ approach to Empire containing documents which view Empire from the perspective of England, Scotland and Wales and will also contain material produced for Empire audiences, as well as indigenous perspectives. The sources reveal both the celebratory and the notorious sides of Empire.
These volumes focus on institutions and popular culture such as clubs, societies, missions, churches, educational institutions and the ways in which people were depicted in popular culture – from heroic explorers to the fascination with and racism towards, indigenous peoples across the long nineteenth century.
Introduction – volume 1
Headnote 1
1. ‘St. Cyprians’s Preparatory School, Eastbourne’ in War Office Times and Naval Review, 1st May 1910, pp. 24-26.
Headnote 2-4
2. Rev. J.E.C. Welldon ‘The Training of an English Gentleman in the Public Schools’, in The Nineteenth Century and After, Vol. 60 No. 355 (1906), pp. 396-413.
3. Rev. J.E.C. Welldon ‘The Imperial Aspects of Education’, in Proceedings of the Royal Colonial Institute, Vol. 26 (1894-5), pp. 322-346.
4. Rev. J.E.C. Welldon, ‘The National Life’ in Fire Upon the Altar Sermon’s Preached to Harrow Boys, Second Series, 1887-1890, (London: Percival and Co, 1891), pp. 228-239.
Headnote 5
5. G. Drage, Eton and the Empire: An Address Delivered at Eton College, November 15th 1890 (Eton: Ingleton Drake, 1890), pp. 5-40.
Headnote 6
6. The Corps, The Harrovian 2nd June 1900, pp. 46-47.
Headnote 7
7. ‘In Memoriam: William Joseph Myers 1858-1899’, Eton College Chronicle, 20th December 1899, pp. 763-764.
Headnote 8
8. Rev. J. P. Way, ‘Military Training’, in The Public Schools From Within: A Collection of Essays on Public School Education, Written Chiefly by School Masters, (London: Sampson, Low, Marston & Company, 1906), pp. 208-217.
Headnote 9
9. The Lorettonian, 27th October 1900, p. 1.
Headnote 10
10. H.B. Gray, ‘To the Parents of England’s Sons’, in The Public Schools and the Empire (London: William & Norgate, 1913), pp. 1-26.
Headnote 11
11. ‘Public School Boys Empire Tour’ in The Times Educational Supplement, 18th August 1931 p. 321.
Headnote 12-13
12. ‘A Visit to a Boer Camp’, in The Cheltenham Ladies College Magazine, (Autumn 1902), pp. 197-199.
13. P. D. Hemingway, ‘The Duties and Privileges of Imperial Citizenship’, in The Cheltenham Ladies College Magazine, (Autumn 1907), pp. 241-246.
Headnote 14-15
14. J. Grant, ‘The Last Day of Khartoum’, in Cassell’s Illustrated History of the War in the Soudan Vol. II (London: Cassell, 1885-1886), pp. 148-158
15. Richard Danes, ‘The First Fight – Talana Hill’ and ‘The Causes of the War’, in Cassell’s Illustrated History the Boer War (London: Cassell, 1902), pp. 1-24
Headnote 16
16. S. R. Gardiner, A Student’s History of England From the Earliest Times to 1885 (London: Longmans and Co) 1892), pp. 952-955.
Headnote 17
17. E. Salmon, The Story of the Empire (London: George Newnes, 1902), pp. 154-163.
Headnote 18
18. J.M.D. Meiklejohn and M.J C. Meiklejohn, ‘Victoria and Her Colonies’, in A School History of England (London: Alfred Holden, 1902), pp. 449-463.
Headnote 19
19. C.R.L. Fletcher and R. Kipling, A School History of England, (Oxford: Clarendon, 1911), pp. 240-243.
Headnote 20-23
20. ‘Twenty Second Story – the Growth of the Empire’, in The Patriotic Historical Reader Book V: Thirty Stories and Biographies from 1688-1897 (London: William Colllins,1898), pp. 208-215.
21. Instructive Stories from English History Holborn Series Historical Reader (London: Educational Supply Association, 1900), pp. 135-144.
22. ‘Setting Free the Slaves’, in The Young Briton’ History Reader (Glasgow: Collins 1904), pp. 88-93
23. ‘The First English Colonies, the Work of Raleigh and His Friends’, in Macmillan’s New History Readers: Senior (London: Macmillan and Co, 1902), pp. 158-165.
Headnote 24-28
24. Chambers New Geographical Readers, Book VI, British Colonies and Dependencies (London: W & R Chambers, 1898), pp. 31-40, 76-77, 100-103.
25. R. Finch, FRGS. The Kingsway Book of Geography Stories (London: Evans Brothers Ltd, 1919), pp.76-82, 152-157, 195-199.
26. E. C.T. Horniblow, Lands and Life: Human Geographies, People and Children of Wonderful Lands (London: Grant Educational Co, 1930-1935). Extract taken from the 1944 edition. pp. pp.7-19; 103-108.
27. Collins’ Wide World Geography Reader: The British Empire (London: William Collins, 1901-1923), pp. 83-87.
28. B. G. Hardingham, Round the Globe: The Foundations of Geography 1. (London: Thomas Nelson and Sons, 1934), pp. 5-13, 73-86, 113-129.
Headnote 29-37
29. ‘School Drill’, The Globe, 15th July 1889, p. 1.
30. ‘Lads’ Drill Association’ in Volunteer Service Gazette, 19th June 1903, p. 530.
31. ‘The Duty and Discipline Movement’, The Times 5th November 1913, p.6.
32. ‘Celebration of Empire Day in Schools’ in 28th June 1938, p.7.
33. ‘Empire Day in Cheltenham’, in Cheltenham Ladies College Magazine, Autumn 1907, pp. 260-264.
34. ‘Empire Day Pageant at Perth’, Dundee Evening Telegraph and Post, 24th May 1921 p. 1
35. ‘Children’s Empire Day Broadcast’, The Daily Independent, 25th May 1930 p. 11.
36. ‘The King’s Empire Day Broadcast’, The Evening News, 25th May 1940, p 2.
37. C. Norwood, ‘The Empire and the League of Nations: Their Real Meaning and Ideals’ in The Cheltenham Ladies College Magazine (Autumn, 1925), pp. 74-79.
Headnote 38
38. The Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee on Physical Deterioration (London: HMSO, 1905), pp. 13-17.
Headnote 39-41
39. ‘Morris Dances: Mr Cecil Sharp Lecture at Queen’s Hall’ Westminster Gazette 1st June 1910, p. 8
40. G. T. Kimmins, The Masque of the Children of the Empire (London: J. Curwen & Sons, 1909), pp. 5-14.
41. ‘The Union Jack’, in The Teachers Treasury (London: Home Library Book Co, Vol. 2, 1926), pp. 51-62.
Headnote 42-44
42. ‘The British Empire League’, Leamington Spa Courier, 6th June 1896, p. 6.
43. ‘The League of Empire’, The Gazette, 2nd December 1905, p. 5.
44. ‘Lord Balfour and the Victoria League’, The Scotsman 1st July 1922, p. 9.
Headnote 45
45. H. J. Mackinder, ‘The Teaching of Geography from an Imperial Point of View and the Use Which Could and Should be Made of Visual Instruction’ in The Geographical Teacher, Vol. 6: 2 (1911), pp. 79-86.
Headnote 46-47
46. Board of Education, Handbook of Suggestions (London: HMSO, 1937), pp. 416-419.
47. H. Martens and E. H. Carter, Histories. Book IV. The Modern Age (Oxford: Basil Blackwell, Eleventh Edition 1952), First published 1931. pp. 183-189; 320-323.
Headnote 48-56
48. ‘A Wonderful Escape’ in’ A. R. Buckland (ed.), Boys’ Own Book of Heroism and Adventure (London: RTS Society, 1914), pp. 311-331.
49. Hugh Denville, ‘For Queen and Country: A Stirring Story of British Conquest in India’ Stories of Pluck, 44, 20th September 1895, pp.1-13.
50. Rev. E. C. Dawson ‘Froth’, in Boys of the Empire, 1st December 1900, p. 111.
51. W. Shaw Rae, ‘Through Peril to Fortune: The Strange Adventure of Two Young Britons in the Heart of Africa’, Chapter 1, The Union Jack, 15th October 1898, pp. 1-2.
52. ‘David Livingstone Missionary and Explorer’, Young England, Vol. 34. (1912-13), pp. 219-223; 263-266.
53. Robert Harding, ‘The 4 Adventurers’, in Chums, Annual for 1927-1928, pp. 396-397.
54., ‘Hindu Women’, The Girls Own Paper (1881), pp.118-119.
55. Dora de Blaquiere, ‘On the Purchase of Outfits for India and the Colonies’, The Girls’ Own Paper, (1889), pp, 68-69.
56. H. C. Storer, ‘A Girl in the Bush’, Empire Annual for Girls (London RTS, 1910), pp. 283-291.
Headnote 57-60
57. The Boys Brigade Gazette, 1st December 1892 pp. 149-170.
58. Robert Baden Powell, ‘Patriotism; or Our Duties as Citizens’, in Scouting for Boys: A Handbook for Instruction in Good Citizenship (London: Pearson, 7th Edition, 1915), pp. 265-271.
59. R. Baden Powell, ‘How Indian Develops Character’, in Indian Memories: Recollections of Soldiering, Sport, Etc (London: Herbert Jenkins), pp. 106-122.
60. Agnes Baden Powell, How Girls Can Help to Build Up the Empire: The Handbook for Girl Guides (London: Thomas Nelson 1912), pp. 405-413.
Index
Biography
John Griffiths is Senior Lecturer in British and British World History, Massey University, New Zealand
