Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 February 2017
It has been written of Anne Isabella, Lady Noel-Byron (1792–1860) that she “managed to quarrel with practically everyone for whom she undertook any philanthropy and certainly does not emerge from any examination of her good works without the conclusion being drawn that her unrecognized motive was to dominate.”1 That may be so. What is certain is that Lady Byron was a member of that small group that includes Jeremy Bentham and Richard Lovell Edgeworth, whose work for education was considerable and from whom public recognition has largely been withheld. In this regard Lady Byron was both disciple and innovator. She readily cooperated with and took advice from contemporary social critics who had an interest in education (Maria Edgeworth, Richard Lovell Edgeworth, Samuel Frend, Emmanuel de Fellenberg are names that come naturally to mind) but the ways in which she applied her knowledge were innovative and, indeed, frequently idiosyncratic.
1. Langley-Moore, Doris, Letter to Taylor, B.W., dated 15 March 1986.Google Scholar
2. Mayne, Ethel Colburn, The Life and Letters of Anne Isabella, Lady Noel Byron (New York, 1929) 34.Google Scholar
3. Byron, Lord George Gordon, quoted in Stowe, Harriet Beecher, Lady Byron Vindicated: A History of the Byron Controversy. (Boston, 1870) 205.Google Scholar
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5. Mayne, , Life and Letters of Anne Isabella, 332.Google Scholar
6. Moore, Doris Langley-Levy, Ada, Countess of Lovelace: Byron's Legitimate Daughter. (London, 1977).Google Scholar
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8. Letter, Bromby, W. to Byron, Lady, 3 December 1830, Byron-Lovelace Papers. Bodleian Library, Oxford, Box 64, Sheets 165/166.Google Scholar
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10. Ibid., Box 76, Sheets 171/172.Google Scholar
11. Ibid., Box 46, Sheets 157/158.Google Scholar
12. Mayne, , Life and Letters of Anne Isabella, p. 329.Google Scholar
13. Ibid., pp. 327–8.Google Scholar
14. Refer to ibid. , 333.Google Scholar
15. Ibid., p. 333. Also Stowe, , Lady Byron Vindicated, p. 157.Google Scholar
16. Refer to Byron-Lovelace Papers, Bodleian Library, Oxford University, Box 64, Sheets 157/158, also 165/166; Box 37, Sheets 50–52 and 48; Box 38, Sheet 76; Box 17, Sheets 3/4.Google Scholar
17. The Co-operative Movement, a development of the earlier Benefit Societies and Friendly Societies spread quite rapidly, particularly in the industrialized north of England in the 1820s. In its simplest form it simply meant buying needed goods in bulk and dividing that up amongst the purchasers. This principle was then extended to the establishment of small retail stores owned by the members of the Co-operative Society. Each Society was independent of the others. It is estimated that by the early 1830s there were 500 local societies with 20,000 members. The Co-operative stores which are still a prominent part of the British retail shopping scene later went on to offer a wide variety of services such as insurance and funeral business and, even, a left of centre political party.Google Scholar
18. Ibid., Box 62.Google Scholar
19. L.P.'s identity is not known for certain.Google Scholar
20. Moore, Doris Langley-Levy, Ada, Countess of Lovelace: Byron's Legitimate Daughter, 79.Google Scholar
21. Byron-Lovelace, Papers, Box 71, Sheet 72. Dated October 24, 1831.Google Scholar
22. Ibid., Box 119, Miscellaneous Co-operative Papers.Google Scholar
23. Ibid., Box 78, Sheets 231/232.Google Scholar
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25. Ibid., 491–492.Google Scholar
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27. Noel-Byron, Lady Isabella. Lovelace Papers, Box 119, 180/184.Google Scholar
28. Ibid., Box 51, 207/208.Google Scholar
29. Ibid., Box 51, 207/208.Google Scholar
30. Ibid., Box 51, 220/221.Google Scholar
31. Frend, William, Letter (unsigned) to Byron, Lady. Dated 1st January, 1829. Lovelace Papers, Box 37, Sheet 48.Google Scholar
32. Noel-Byron, Lady Isabella, Lovelace Papers, Box 119, 178.Google Scholar
33. Ibid., Lovelace Papers, Box 15, 105.Google Scholar
34. Ibid. Lovelace Papers, Box 119, 195/196.Google Scholar
35. Ibid., Lovelace Papers, Box 119, 208 original emphasis.Google Scholar
36. Ibid., Lovelace Papers, Box 75, 159. Letter to Mrs.Jameson, , dated April 13th, 1849, from Esher.Google Scholar
37. Ibid. Not dated, but the paper is watermarked 1837. It appears to be a draft of a submission on a natural system of education. Lovelace Papers, Box 119, 216/217.Google Scholar
38. Ibid., Lovelace Papers, Box 119, 220 original emphasis.Google Scholar
39. Ibid., Lovelace Papers, Box 116, 164/166.Google Scholar
40. Ibid., Byron, Lady to Baillie, Joanne, dated January 29th [1839?] from Ockham Park.Google Scholar
41. Ibid., Byron, Lady to Baillie, Joanne, dated February 12th [1831?] from Hangers Hill original emphasis.Google Scholar
42. Ibid., Lovelace Papers, Box 119, 155. Lady Byron to Mrs. Fry. Dated 19th April, 1835.Google Scholar
43. Anonymous. Lovelace Papers, Box 119, 164/169. Dated May 9th, 1846.Google Scholar
44. Byron, Lady. Lovelace Papers, Box 54, 102. Dated November 14th [no year] from Esher original emphasis.Google Scholar
45. Ibid., Lovelace Papers, Box 78, 223.Google Scholar
46. Ibid., Lovelace Papers, Box 78, 347/348. Dated January 12th, 1838 from Windsor.Google Scholar
47. Ibid., Lovelace Papers, Box 51, 138.Google Scholar
48. At certain times of the day, Ada was confined to a “reclining board” which served the dual function of providing rest from physical exertion and of disciplining her against fidgeting.Google Scholar
49. Lamont, Miss, Journal, Lovelace Papers, Box 118, pp. 4 and 30, respectively.Google Scholar
50. Mayne, , Life and Letters of Anne Isabella, 332.Google Scholar
51. Moore, , Ada, Countess of Lovelace, 249.Google Scholar
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58. Annabella, Lady Noel-Byron, Lovelace Papers, Box 54, 116/117.Google Scholar
59. Dr.Carpenter, Wm. P., Lovelace Papers, Box 169, 19.Google Scholar
60. Annabella, Lady Noel-Byron, Lovelace Papers, Box 55, 99.Google Scholar
61. Dr.Carpenter, Wm. C., Lovelace Papers, Box 51, 264.Google Scholar
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