Mary Ansell signature?

[mjc]

Could anyone point me to an online example of Mary Ansell's handwriting? I believe I have a book from her personal library, but I haven't been able to locate anything for visual comparison.

[Robert Greenham]

I don't know of any online sources but you could try the University of Nottingham because they hold printed and manuscript collections of D H Lawrence, including his letters to Mary (Cannan) between 1914 (when they met as neighbours in Buckinghamshire) and the 1920s.  They may have her replies in their archive.  Try this URL as a starting point: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/mss/collections/dhl-resources/circle.phtml

NB  Beware the University's persistence in erroneously stating that Mary's dates were 1867-1950.  I've tried to convince them of their error but they didn't seem interested.  They should state: 1861-1950.

Good luck!  I'd be interested to hear how you get on.

[mjc]

Thanks for the reply, and the suggested source. I am pursuing it and will let you know how it turns out.

The book in question was inscribed by the author to "Mrs. J.M. Barrie" in the mid-1890s. It also bears the later signature "M.K. Cannan 1910."

I assumed that Mary Ansell added the signature after her divorce and re-marriage, but I haven't found any indication that she had or used a middle name -- unless it signifies her mother's maiden name "Kitchen."

A puzzle without something more definite to go on ...

[Robert Greenham]

I, too, never came across a middle name for Mary. Certainly none was stated on her birth certificate, marriage certificates, death certificate, or in the English Birth and Marriage indices. I think your guess that K stood for her maiden name is a reasonable one.  Undoubtedly the book you have was hers. 

[mjc]

No luck with the U of Nottingham, although it was an excellent suggestion and they were very helpful. Unfortunatey, there are no letters in Mary Ansell's hand in their D.H. Lawrence collection.

[andrew]

There are examples of Mary's handwriting reproduced in my book, "J M Barrie & the Lost Boys"....