Catalogue description Papers of Mrs De Morgan

Papers of Mrs De Morgan concerning the foundation of Bedford College, given to Bedford College in 1961 by Mrs De Morgan's great-great-granddaughter, Joan Antrobus. Sophia De Morgan, daughter of the mathematician and reformer William Frend, was the wife of Augustus De Morgan, Professor of Mathematics at University College, London. She seems to have acted as secretary to the early meetings of those interested in establishing a Ladies College, but, as this correspondence suggests, she may have been prevented from pursuing such an active role by illness. The papers were wrapped in a packet marked [in Mrs De Morgan's hand] '1849', but one letter seems more probably to date from 1848. They include the notes taken by Mrs De Morgan at early meetings [to set up the Ladies Committee?] in May 1849, the original draft of the prospectus, April 1849, and lists of committee members and patronesses, 1849. There is a typed transcript of each item. Also in the file is a copy of the letter offering them to Bedford College, 3 July 1961, ms notes about Augustus and Sophia De Morgan, and photocopies of two letters: one from Lady Byron to Mrs De Morgan [mid-19th century] and one from Lord Lovelace to 'Miss De Morgan', 1894, about his grandmother (Lady Byron)'s relationship with Lord Byron.