Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1921 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 volume, paper
Context area
Name of creator
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Diary entries are written in German script. There is a transcript of the diary entries in another hand [Muriel Brittain's] on most pages or on loose sheets.
On the first page is a list of books read during the year.
On the back pages are notes written under housekeeping, a list of books to buy, a list of books on Richard Jefferies and a list of the complete works of Richard Jefferies.
Diary entries describe his life as an undergraduate at Jesus College (end of his second year / beginning of his third year) including timetables of lectures, number of hours reading, details of debates attended at the Union, church services attended and involvement in rowing. Also details of his time at home during the vacations.
15 January - Had a meeting with the Dean to discuss starting a sung Mass in Chapel on Sundays "after some Protestant demur" settled on starting one on Tuesday at 11.15.
27 February - The Dean's gyp found that his door had been screwed down in the night and the heads of the screws filed off. He telephoned the Dean from the Porter's Lodge to tell him "he need not get up yet" and the door had to be opened by crowbars.
30 April - Foundation of the Cambridge University Pavement Club [members of this club were to meet at 12 noon on every fine Saturday of the Easter term for "the pursuit of entertainment, quiet conversation, and the reading of newspapers aloud. The Club will meet on some choice and central pavement, and the sole condition of membership, is that all members shall sit while meeting".] The first meeting was held in King's Parade Road which was soon blocked.
7 May - Meeting of the Pavement Club in Parker's Piece attended by about 1500 people having a picnic, listening to a jazz band and a few speeches.
54 hours reading for the week "my record so far!"
10 June - Meeting of the Pavement Club. About 500 people cycled from Senate House to Newnham College where a meeting was held [the last meeting].
17 June - Got a 2nd in the tripos.
20 June - Went to Senate House with 20 other supplicants to sign the register and pay the University degree fee of £4.
21 June - His mother saw him take his BA degree at Senate House.
20 October - Vote at Senate House as to whether women should have membership of the University or titular degrees. The vote in favour of membership was lost by 300, titular degrees carried by 100.
6 November - Elected a member of the Roosters Club.