Personal papers of Michael Harris, Overseas Division Director, and Joe Mitty, Gift Shops Manager, 1948-2007 and n.d. [late 1940s-c.1992]

File

MS. Oxfam DON/1/3

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Comprises:

Folder 1: Michael Harris's personal papers, including a mass mailing letter of thanks to donors sent by Lady Ogilvie, Jesus College, on behalf of Oxfam, n.d. [late 1940s], Oxfam guides to parts of Lesotho by David Ambrose, 1967-1969, reports relating to Oxfam work in Brazil, 1982-1983, and a photocopy of a letter from former Oxfam Director, Brian Walker, to William Shawcross regarding his publication The Quality of Mercy, 1984, 1967-1987 and n.d. [late 1940s-1960s]
Folder 2: correspondence of Joe Mitty, including a letter of appreciation from Cecil Jackson-Cole, 1951, and correspondence with Andrews Estate Agents, which was founded by Cecil Jackson-Cole in 1946, 2003, 1951-2003
Folder 3: photographs belonging to Joe Mitty, including the Broad Street Oxfam shop interiors and exteriors, 1948-1971 and n.d. [late 1940s-1970s] and the Princess Royal's visit to the shop in 1963, 1948-2003 and n.d. [late 1940s-1970s]
Folder 4: press cuttings collected by Joe Mitty, including The Daily Telegraph Magazine feature 'Salesman on the Side of the Angels' by Byron Rogers, 6 Aug 1971, 1963-2007
Folder 5: shops publicity materials and other documents relating to the history of Oxfam shops, collected by Joe Mitty, including a postcard featuring the poem 'Oxford Famine Relief Shop' by Culex [n.d. 1950s], 1964-2004 and n.d. [1950s-1980s]
Folder 6: documents relating to the history of Oxfam, collected by Joe Mitty, including a booklet for a service of thanksgiving for the life of Cecil Jackson-Cole, 1 Nov 1979, 1966-1979 and n.d. [c.1992]

Dates

Creation: 1948-2007 and n.d. [late 1940s-c.1992]

Extent

1 box (5 folders)

Language of Materials

English

Shelfmark

MS. Oxfam DON/1/3

Additional Description

Biographical / Historical

Joe Mitty was asked by Oxfam's archivist about the origins of the 'Oxford Famine Relief Shop' poem postcard: "Yes! I remember very well - it was in the mid 1950s. The poem was written by 'Culex', a pseudonym of a poet who wrote every Friday for the Oxford Times. I found out (from Michael Rowntree, the owner of the Oxford Times and the then Oxfam Chair of Trustees), that 'Culex' was a Mrs Stanier. Mrs Stanier happened to be the wife of the headmaster of my son's school. One day Mrs Stanier happened to come into the Broad Street shop - so I asked her to write a poem for us. I then asked Michael Rowntree if he wouldn't mind printing some copies of the poem on postcards (for free - I never used to pay for anything that I could manage to get for free), which we then sold in the shop for 3d. We sold lots and even had to get more printed."