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Papers of Arnold Toynbee (1852-1883)

• Biographical information
• Provenance
• Catalogue

Biographical information

Born in London 23 August 1852, second son of Joseph Toynbee (see D.N.B.).

Educated :

King's College London.

Oxford:Toynbee originally went to Pembroke College Oxford (1873-4), but wanted to change to Balliol; Benjamin Jowett, seeing his potential, assisted him in this. They later became close friends.

Balliol Hilary 1875-1878; read for a pass degree (owing to ill-health); B.A. 1878, M.A. 1880. His brother P.J. Toynbee was also at Balliol (Hilary 1874), as was his nephew Arnold Joseph Toynbee (Balliol 1907; Fellow of Balliol; historian).

Married Charlotte Atwood in 1879. No children.

Career as social and educational reformer (influenced by T.H. Green), and Economic Historian:

Lecturer (in political economy) at Balliol 1878-83. Senior Bursar 1881-3. Tutor in charge of Indian Civil Service probationers 1878.

Gave public lectures on social questions, for example, in 1883, on Henry George's controversial book Progress and Poverty (New York 1880, London 1881); this series of debates was cut short by his death. Gave popular lectures on the industrial problems of the day in various industrial towns.

Active in charity organisation, co-operation, and church reform. Worked amongst the poor of East London.

Died March 1883. Buried in Wimbledon. Toynbee Hall, Whitechapel (the first university settlement, designed to encourage closer relations between the working classes and those educated at the universities) was founded in his memory.

Publications : The Industrial Revolution, published posthumously in 1884, with memoir by Jowett. The book was based on lectures given at Balliol, and on other public addresses: much of the book was based upon notes of Toynbee's lectures taken by W.J. Ashley (Balliol 1878) and Bolton King (Balliol 1879). These two were responsible for preparing the book for publication, by comparing their notes with those of others who had attended the lectures, and with Toynbee's own notes, such as they were.

Toynbee's two lectures about Henry George's book were printed in 1883; there is a copy in Balliol Pamphlets, in the Library.

Sources and further information :

On Toynbee

• Balliol College Register 1833-1933.
• The Dictionary of National Biography (1st ed).
• Alon Kadish, Apostle Arnold: The Life and Death of Arnold Toynbee 1852-1883 (1986).
• Alfred Milner (Balliol 1873), Arnold Toynbee: A Reminiscence (1895).
• Professor F.C. Montague (Balliol 1876), Arnold Toynbee (1889).
• Reminiscences and Letters of Joseph and Arnold Toynbee (ed. by Gertrude Toynbee (Toynbee's sister); n.d.).

Re the notebook of research notes, see Ashley, W. (1927), 'The place of economic history in university studies.' The Economic History Review no.1: pp.1–12. doi:10.1111/j.1468-0289.1927.tb00747.x .

There is also some material on Toynbee in the Balliolenses files in the archives.

Toynbee Hall

• Robert C. Reinders, "Toynbee Hall and the American Settlement Movement," Social Service Review 56, no. 1 (Mar., 1982): 39-54. https://doi.org/10.1086/643979
• A. Briggs and A. Macartney, Toynbee Hall - The First Hundred Years (1984).
• Standish Meacham, Toynbee Hall and Social Reform 1880-1914: The Search for Community. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1987.

Provenance of the papers and related material:

The notebook of Toynbee's research notes was given to the College in 1927 by Percy Ashley, brother of Prof Sir William Ashley (Balliol 1878), who had received it from Mrs Toynbee.

Toynbee's lecture notes (found amongst some of his papers) were given to Balliol by Arnold Joseph Toynbee , Arnold Toynbee's nephew, c. 1967.

In 1982 Miss Margaret Toynbee gave a collection of letters written by her uncle, Arnold Toynbee, to members of his family. Many of the letters were printed in Reminiscences and letters of Joseph and Arnold Toynbee, edited by Gertrude Toynbee (Margaret Toynbee's aunt).

For material on Toynbee from Balliol's other manuscripts collections, see:

• Mynors MS 395.
• The Jowett papers.

Catalogue

Correspondence

1 NB, soft red cover embossed 'MSS' entwined. Tipped-in ALS and MS transcripts of letters by Arnold Toynbee, mainly to family members, not arranged chronologically or by recipient. 141pp, many p. blank esp. versos. With table by EV Quinn of 'Authographs & copies of letters presented by Miss M Toynbee, April 1982.' Headings: date, recipient, original/copy, printed, exercise book. Printed letters appear in Gertrude Toynbee's Reminiscences.

31 individual letters:

1. ALS from Joseph Toynbee (AT's father) to Arnold Toynbee. 10 Savile Row W1 [London], 18 April 1866. 1p.

2. ALS from Arnold Toynbee to his mother, Harriet Toynbee (nee Holmes). Oxford, 24 November 1871.

3. ALS from Arnold Toynbee to one or both of his parents (no salutation, prob. incomplete). ND, annotated 'Arnold's letter Nov ? 1872.' Discusses initial (economic and academic) choice of Pembroke College and intention to sit for the Brakenbury Scholarship at Balliol. 2pp.

4. ALS from Arnold Toynbee to his mother, Harriet Toynbee (nee Holmes). 8 College Precincts [?Worcester], November 1872. 4pp.

5. ALS from Arnold Toynbee to 'Falk' [probably his brother-in-law, Hermann John Falk, married to AT's sister Rachel Russell Everard Toynbee.] 2 Howard St, [Stroud/Strand? ?prob Oxford as AT was living out of college.]

6. ALS from John Ruskin to Arnold Toynbee. Naples, 2 May 1874. 2pp. With envelope (no stamp/postmark, not the original).

7. ALS from Arnold Toynbee to 'Falk' [probably his brother-in-law, (Hermann) John Falk, married to AT's sister Rachel Russell Everard Toynbee.] Mrs Norrises Aldboro' Suffolk, 10 September 1874. 2pp.

8. ALS from Arnold Toynbee to his mother, Harriet Toynbee (nee Holmes). Kildrummy Lodge, Mossat, Aberdeenshire, 16 August 1875. AT is enjoying the company but has not participated in the grouse shooting - will be there until mid September. 2pp.

9. ALS from Arnold Toynbee to 'John' [Falk]. Kildrummy Lodge, Mossat, Aberdeenshire, 31 August 1875. A very warm and affectionate personal letter. 1p. Published in Reminiscences.

10. ALS from Arnold Toynbee to his mother, Harriet Toynbee (nee Holmes). Balliol [College, Oxford], 8 March 1876. Mentions the Master of Balliol (Benjamin Jowett) and 'the gentleman whom we knew at Wimbledon as Mr Bullock... He has a french wife and a new name and lives at Weybridge. What his new name is I forget.' 1p.

11. ALS from Arnold Toynbee to Mrs Penny ('Annie Brown, afterwards Mrs. Penny, sister of Ruskin’s tutor at Christchurch' - Reminiscences). 42 Clanricarde Gardens [London], 3 October 1876. 1p.

12. ALS from Arnold Toynbee to 'John' [Falk]. 26 Chelbert Crescent, Cliftonville, Margate, 9 November 1876. 1p.

13. ALS from Arnold Toynbee to 'John' [Falk]. 42 Clanricarde Gardens [London], 29 December 1876. 2pp.

14. ALS from Arnold Toynbee to Mrs Penny ('Annie Brown, afterwards Mrs. Penny, sister of Ruskin’s tutor at Christchurch' - Reminiscences). 42 Clanricarde Gardens [London], 31 December 1876. in another hand several names and addresses of nursing institutions. 3pp.

15. ALS from Arnold Toynbee to his mother, Harriet Toynbee (nee Holmes). Hotel Louvre, Paris, 4 January 1877. 1p.

16. ALS from Arnold Toynbee to his mother, Harriet Toynbee (nee Holmes). Hotel Anglo-Americain, Rome, 10 January 1877. 1p.

17. ALS from Arnold Toynbee to Mrs Penny ('Annie Brown, afterwards Mrs. Penny, sister of Ruskin’s tutor at Christchurch' - Reminiscences). Hotel Tiberio, Capri, 19 March 1877. 4pp.

18. ALS from Arnold Toynbee to his mother, Harriet Toynbee (nee Holmes). Malta, Steamship 'Pera', April 1877. 1p.

19. ALS from Arnold Toynbee to his mother, Harriet Toynbee (nee Holmes). Miss Murrell's Chapel Street, Cromer, 26 July 1877. 3pp.

20. ALS from Arnold Toynbee to Mrs Penny ('Annie Brown, afterwards Mrs. Penny, sister of Ruskin’s tutor at Christchurch' - Reminiscences). 10 Museum Villas, Oxford, 25 November 1877 2pp.

21. ALS from Arnold Toynbee to Mrs Penny ('Annie Brown, afterwards Mrs. Penny, sister of Ruskin’s tutor at Christchurch' - Reminiscences). Oxford, 8 December 1877. 2pp.

22. ALS from Arnold Toynbee to Mrs Penny ('Annie Brown, afterwards Mrs. Penny, sister of Ruskin’s tutor at Christchurch' - Reminiscences). Mrs Atwood, Thornton Hill, Wimbledon, 15 January 1878. 3pp.

23. ALS from Arnold Toynbee to Mrs Penny ('Annie Brown, afterwards Mrs. Penny, sister of Ruskin’s tutor at Christchurch' - Reminiscences). Balliol [College, Oxford], 24 January 1878. 2pp.

24. ALS from Arnold Toynbee to Mrs Penny ('Annie Brown, afterwards Mrs. Penny, sister of Ruskin’s tutor at Christchurch' - Reminiscences). Mrs Atwoods', Thornton Hill, Wimbledon. ND [1878] Tells Mrs Penny of his engagement to Charlotte Atwood - 'I am so happy.' 3pp.

25. ALS from Arnold Toynbee to 'My dear Uncle.' [Capt Henry Toynbee (1819-1909), m. Ellen Smyth (1828-1881)] On their example of the Christian life, and his own happiness at the impending marriage to Miss Atwood. 3pp.

26. ALS from Arnold Toynbee to 'John' [Falk]. Exeter [?Ann - elsewhere Exeter House], New Inn Hall Street, Oxford, 20 October 1878. 2pp.

27. ALS from Arnold Toynbee to Mrs Penny ('Annie Brown, afterwards Mrs. Penny, sister of Ruskin’s tutor at Christchurch' - Reminiscences). Wimbledon, 23 December 1878. 4pp.

28. ALS from Arnold Toynbee to Mrs Penny ('Annie Brown, afterwards Mrs. Penny, sister of Ruskin’s tutor at Christchurch' - Reminiscences). Oxford, 30 May 1829. 2pp.

29. ALS from Arnold Toynbee to Mrs Penny ('Annie Brown, afterwards Mrs. Penny, sister of Ruskin’s tutor at Christchurch' - Reminiscences). Balliol College, Oxford, 3 June 1879. 2pp.

30. ALS from Arnold Toynbee to Mrs Penny ('Annie Brown, afterwards Mrs. Penny, sister of Ruskin’s tutor at Christchurch' - Reminiscences). Broad Rain Farm [now Broadrayne], Grasmere, 4 July 1879. 2pp.

31. ALS from Arnold Toynbee to 'John' [Falk].7 January 1882. 1p.

32. Envelope only, addressed in Arnold Toynbee's hand to Mrs Sheppard c/o Mrs Toynbee, 42 Clanricarde Gardens, Bayswater London. Postmarks Capri and Naples, 1877. 1 stamp.

Research notes

1 NB, soft cover. MS, Arnold Toynbee's notes on archival research re economic history of early modern England. Presented to the College Library in 1927, former shelfmark 515 b 23. 232 pp.

Lectures - notes and drafts

Lecture outline - 4 headings with subheadings/talking points:

• I. 'England of the Revolution 1688 to 1776. Preparation for II.'
• II. England of Adam Smith 1776 to 1798. Emphasis on Labour, Production.'
• III. 'England of Malthus 1798 to 1815(?) Emphasis on Labourer, Distribution.'
• IV. 'England of Sir Robert Peel 1815 to 1846. Emphasis on Foreign Trade, Exchange.'

ND. Blue paper, 1p.

Printed advertising leaflet: Society for the Extension of University Teaching, Tower Hamlets District, adveritising four lectures by Alfred Milner, 'An Examination of Socialism', from 10 January 1882. With summary of each lecture. 1p.

Printed booklet: Central Cooperative Board Congress 1882, Congress Papers. Incl. 'Education of Co-operators' by Arnold Toybe pp.17-21. 31pp. NB fragile, all pages detached.

Printed text of lecture: 'The American Republic: its Dangers and its Possibilities, an Oration delivered by Henry George in the California Theatre, San Francisco, on the Celebration of the 4th of July, 1877.'

Printed journal: The Toynbee Record vol V no 2, November 1892. Published by Toynbee Hall. 28pp.

Printed report: Toynbee Hall, Whitechapel [London]. Second Annual Report of the Universities' Settlement in East London. Oxford, 1886. 72pp.

Photographs

B/W photographic copies of old photos (no originals):

Toynbee Photos 1. Arnold Toynbee as a young child, seated, in tartan dress. No photographer given; printed on the original 'Copied by the LS & P Co.' 2 cc.

Toynbee Photos 2. Arnold Toynbee as a schoolboy, seated. Photographer Maull & Polyblank, London. 2cc.

Toynbee Photos 3. Arnold Toynbee as a young man, right 3/4 head and shoulders. No photographer given; 'Weymouth School of Art.' 2cc.

Toynbee Photos 4. Arnold Toynbee as a young man, nearly full left 3/4 head and shoulders. Photographer, Hills & Saunders, Oxford & Rugby etc. 2cc.

Toynbee Photos 5. Arnold Toynbee as a young man, right profile head and shoulders. No photographer or caption. 2cc.

Toynbee Photos 6. Arnold Toynbee as an adult, right 3/4 head and shoulders. Photographer: Hills & Saunders. 2cc. Same photo as NPG x9053.

Toynbee Photos 7. Arnold Toynbee as an adult, right 3/4 head and shoulders. Mounted college portrait. 'Arnold Toynbee 1852-1883 Commoner 1875, Lecturer 1875.' Another copy is annotated 'Robert Faulkner. Dated 8 December 1876.' Photo above is nearly identical. 4cc.

Toynbee Photos 8. B/W Photo of Arnold Toynbee's portrait by Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm Bart, RA, on a white marble plaque, circular, dia 17, c1883. (Balliol Portraits 146)

Toynbee Photos 9. Charlotte Toynbee as a young woman, in a hat, leaning on a podium. Photographer: Jabez Hughes, Ryde IW. 2cc.

Toynbee Photos 10. Charlotte Toynbee as a young woman, left profile, in riding costume including hat and veil, with a white horse.. No photographer given. 2 cc.

Toynbee Photos 11. Charlotte Toynbee as a young woman, left profile head and shoulders. Photographer: Jabez Hughes, Ryde IW. 2cc.

Toynbee Photos 12. Charlotte Toynbee as a young woman, left 3/4 head and shoulders, in a checked dress. Photographer: Robinson & Cherrill, Tunbridge Wells. 2cc.

Toynbee Photos 13. Charlotte Toynbee as a young woman, right 3/4, seated at a desk. Photographer: Elliott & Fry, 55 Baker St , London. 2cc.

With negs for all. note in EV Quinn's hand 'copied from photographs in the possession of Miss Margaret Toynbee 1976.' All ND.

Toynbee Photos 14. B/W print: 'Shiro Abe by grave of Arnold Toynbee, Wimbledon.' [MS annotation by EVQ on reverse] ND. (See Briggs & McCartney, above)

Photocopy of part of a letter [to EV Quinn, Librarian] from Shiro Abe [Japanese writer, social worker and Protestant churchman], a sketch showing the location of Toynbee's grave in the churchard of St Mary's Church, Wimbledon. With photocopy of photo of Shiro Abe by Toynbee's grave.1p.

There is a rough listing of the letters of Toynbee held by Balliol (by E.V. Quinn, Librarian of Balliol), stored with them.

- Rachel Kemsley, Modern MSS Asst, March 1995