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, complimented 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 ‘four-nation’ approach to Empire containing documents which view Empire from the perspective of England, Scotland Ireland 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.
In this, the third volume of Empire and Popular Culture, documents are presented that shed light on three principal themes: The shaping of personal. collective and national identities of British citizens by the Empire; the commemoration of individuals and collective groups who were noted for their roles in Empire building; and finally, the way in which the Empire entered popular culture by means of trade with the Empire and the goods that were imported.
Empire and Popular Culture – Volume 3
Edited by John Griffiths
Introduction
Part 1. Masculinity and Empire
1. Extracts from Sidney Smith’s ‘The Settler’s New Home’, in C. Hursthouse, New Zealand: The English Field of 1851, An Account of New Plymouth (Aberdeen: D. Chalmers, 1851), pp. 170-186.
2. Charles Hursthouse ‘The Unfit Emigrants’ in New Zealand or Zealandia, the Britain of the South, Vol. II (London: Edward Stanford, 1857), pp. 630-633.
3. Samuel Smiles, ‘Energy and Courage’, in Self-Help: with Illustrations of Conduct and Perseverance, (London: John Murray, 1859), pp. 223-262.
4. Emigrant Letter, Inverness Courier, 26th July 1849, p. 4.
5. ‘Woman’s Life in the Colonies’ Ovens and Murray Advertiser, 6th June 1874, p. 5.
6. ‘The Colonies and Colonial Life’, Geelong Advertiser, 18th July 1881, p. 4.
7. ‘The Character of the Emigrant’, in Bolton Evening News, 9th August 1910, p. 3.
8. William Morris, ‘Hard Work for a Real Empire’, in The Herald, Melbourne, Victoria, 3rd March 1928, p. 17.
9. G. R. Lindner Clark, ‘The Terror of the Bush’, (parts 1 and 8), Chums Annual for 1927-8
pp. 641-643, 780-781.
Part 2. Militarism and Empire
10. ‘The Working Classes as Volunteers’, Volunteer Service Gazette and Military Dispatch, 31st December 1859, p.1.
11. ‘The Royal Military Exhibition’, Daily Telegraph, 7th May 1890, p. 7.
12. ‘Royal Navy Exhibition’, The Morning Post, 2nd May 1891, p. 5.
13. ‘The Strathpeffer Gathering’, in Highland News, 19th August 1893, p. 3.
14. ‘The Jubilee Naval Review’, in Illustrated London News, 23rd August 1902, p. 6.
15. ‘Hurrah Ships’ and the Review of the Fleet in Evening News and Southern Daily Mail, 28th July 1924, p.4.
16. The Hendon Air Display, Official Programme 1927.
17. The Aldershot Tattoo, Official Programme for 1936. Staged 11th – 20th June 1936.
Part 3. Heroes of Empire
18. Who and What is Havelock? (London, 1857).
19. Rev. William Brock, ‘He Being Dead Yet Speaketh’, Biographical Sketch of Sir Henry Havelock (New York: Robert Carter, 1964 [1857]), pp. 291-305.
20. Lucy Taylor, ‘Havelock’s Saints’, in The Story of Sir Henry Havelock: The Hero of Lucknow, (London: T. Nelson and Sons, 1895), pp. 14-20.
21. G. W. Steevans, ‘Sirdar’, in With Kitchener to Khartum (Edinburgh: William Blackwood and Sons, 1898), pp. 45-52.
22. Basil Hansard, ‘Admiral Sir Percy Scott’, in Leaders of the Empire: A Roll of Fame, including Politicians, Ecclesiasts, Lawyers, Sailors, Soldiers, Scientists, Artists, Authors, Musicians and others who are Men of the Century Volume 4, (London: Virtue and Company, 1912-1914), pp. 41-48.
23. Rev James Ellis, ‘The Wonder of His Age’, Short Lives of Men with a Mission: Henry Morton Stanley and David Livingstone (London: James Nisbet, 1890), pp. 45-58.
24. Official Programme, The Stanley and African Exhibition 1890.
25. Lowell Thomas, ‘The Uncrowned King of Arabia: Colonel T. E. Lawrence’, in The Strand Magazine, January, 1920, pp. 41-53.
Part 4. Femininity and Empire
26. Emigrant’s Letter, Soulby’s Ulverston Advertiser and General Intelligencer, 4h September 1884, p. 7.
27. ‘The Class Who May and the Class Who Should Never Venture Out to the Colonies’, Extract from ‘Hopeful’, Taken-In: A Sketch of New Zealand Life (London: W.H. Allen and Co, 1887), pp. 170-184.
28. `Women’s Coronation Procession’, The Hants and Sussex News, 21st June 1911, p. 5.
29. ‘British Empire Bazaar’, The Bucks Herald, 28th March 1908, p. 8.
30. First Annual Report of the Victoria League, pp. 7-24.
31. ‘Baby Week/Queen at the Exhibition’ in The Times, 3rd July 1917, p. 6.
32. ‘Women Organising for an Active Part’, West Middlesex Gazette, 12th January 1924, p. 6.
33. ‘Women in India’, The Englishwoman’s Review of Social and Industrial Questions 15th August 1876, pp. 366-370.
Part 5. Sport and Empire
34. ‘The King’s Cup’, The Times, 17th April, 1919, p. 5.
35. ‘Editor’s Note’, 1912 Triangular Test Cricket Tournament’. Wisden Cricketers’ Almanac 1913, pp. 230-234
36. ‘The Australian Tour’, The Cricketer, Vol. 1 no 3, 14th May 1921, pp. 13-17.
37. ‘Reaction and Treatment of the Team while in Great Britain’, in G. Williams, J. Warbrick and H. Wynyard, Rugby Football: The Tour of the Native Team (Palmerston North: Caxton Printing, 1896), pp. 69-78.
38. ‘Inter-Empire Championships’ at The Festival of Empire’, Athletic News, 26th June 1911, p. 3.
39. ‘Cricket and the Victorian Era’, in Prince Ranjitsinhji, The Jubilee Book of Cricket (Edinburgh: William Blackwood, 1897), pp. 151-160.
40. ‘Athletics’, Lancashire Daily Post, 11th August 1934, p. 9.
41. Arthur Wharton, Athletic News, 9th October, 1888, p. 5.
Part 6. Nationalism and Empire
42. ‘Empire Day in Swansea’, in Cardiff Times, 11th April 1908, p.4.
43. (a) ‘Mafeking Rejoicings’, Montgomery County Times and Shropshire and Mid Wales Advertiser 26th May 1900, p. 8.
(b) ‘Mafeking Yn Rhydd’ Yr Wythnos a’r Eryr 30th May 1900, p. 4.
44. ‘A Great Day for Wales’, The Investiture of the Prince of Wales 1911, The Western Mail, 13th July 1911.
45. Owen Rhoscomyl, ‘The Place of Wales in the Empire’, in Wales, A National Magazine for the English Speaking Parts of Wales Vol II no 7 (1912), pp. 369-371.
46. ‘Livingstone Centenary’, The Scotsman, 17th March 1913, p. 8.
47. Duke of Atholl, ‘Courage and Loyalty’, in The Duke of Atholl, Sir D.Y. Cameron, W.Elliot, George Gordon, J. Graham Kerr, Lord Macmillan, C. Warr, A Scotsman’s Heritage (London: Alexander Maclehose, 1932), pp. 3-28.
48. ‘Aye Read Tae Fecht for Auld England’, in The Amateur and Singer’s Journal, June, 1894, p. 4.
49. Lord Meston, ‘Geography and Progress in India’, in The Scottish Geographical Magazine Vol. 38:2, 15th April 1922, pp. 101-115.
Part 7. The Church and Empire
50. ‘Missionary Meeting’ Synod of the United Presbyterian Church, The Scotsman, 6th May 1880, p. 3.
51. Juvenile Missionary Magazine and Annual for 1868, (London: John Snow 1868), pp. 69-75.
52. Children’s Companion and Juvenile Instructor, (London RTS, 1895), pp. 37, 44-45.
53. ‘The Salvation Army at the Alexandra Palace’, Islington Gazette, 21st July 1887, p. 2.
54. ‘Mission Hymns’, The Methodist Hymn Book (London: Wesleyan Conference Office, 1905).
55. ‘How to Win the Boy! Sunday Schools as Empire Builders’, Fleetwood Chronicle and Fylde Advertiser, 17th April 1906, p. 7.
56. ‘Missionary Festival at Evesham’, Evesham Standard and West Midland Observer 16th June 1923, p. 5.
57. Church Mission Society (CMS) ‘Africa and the East’ Missionary Exhibition, Bristol 1920, Official Programme, pps. 12-15, 35-37.
Part 8. Commodities and Empire
58. B.B.C. Household Talks (London: British Broadcasting Corporation, 1929).
59. John Coatman Empire and Ourselves 1 ‘What is the British Empire?’ in The Listener, 13th January 1932, p. 42-43.
60. Empire Marketing Board (EMB) Posters for Schools c.1930s.
61. ‘British Colonies’, in Sunlight Almanac for 1896 (Port Sunlight: Lever Brothers), pp. 117-131.
62. ‘An Unpacific Yarn’, Pears Soap Advert, Penny Illustrated Newspapers, 1st March 1890, p. 16.
63. Lemco Advert, Illustrated London News, 5th April 1902, p. 27.
64. United Kingdom Tea Company Advertisement, The Graphic, 5th December 1894, p. 689
65. ‘The King’s and Queen’s Empire Speeches on Gramophone’, Yorkshire Post, 24th May 1923, p. 6.
66. Sam Manning’s West Indian Rhythm Boys.
Index
Biography
John Griffiths is Senior Lecturer in British and British World History, Massey University, New Zealand
