Letters of Archibald Fox Lambert

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MSS. Afr. s. 2434

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Miscellaneous introductory items comprising:

(fols. 1-14) introductory note written by Sir Anthony Lambert, nephew of Archibald Fox Lambert, n.d. [c. 1989]
(fol. 15) list of Lambert family members as at 1910, n.d.
(fol. 16) Lambert family tree as at 1910, n.d.
(fol. 17) photograph of Archibald Fox Lambert, n.d. [c. 1910].

(fol. 18) Folder containing letters written 1910. From Archibald Fox Lambert (AFL) to his mother, Jane Lambert, unless otherwise stated. Includes:

(fol. 19) Djibouti. En route to British East Africa (Kenya), 20 Jan 1910
(fol. 20) Mombasa. Mentions election result in England and East Renfrewshire (parliamentary seat of John Gilmour, married to sister May), 27 Jan 1910
(fol. 21) 'Kitanga', Machakos, British East Africa (Kenya). Working on farm, dealing with ostriches and harvesting, 25 Feb 1910
(fols. 22-23) Nairobi. To Kilima Kiu with Slatter to inspect farm. Governor's plans to build railway to Fort Hall, 11 Mar 1910
(fols. 24-26) 'Kitanga'. Hunting lions with Prince Arthur of Connaught, 3 Apr 1910
(fol. 27) Nairobi. Visit to Londiani regarding farming prospects. Maiden speech of Jack Gilmour, 5 May 1910
(fol. 28-29) 'Kitanga'. Includes cartoon of 'mained' lion. Mentions news of the King's death. Visitors at Kitanga - Miss MacMahon, Miss Cara Buxton, and Mr Wilson, 20 May 1910
(fol. 30) the King's funeral. Shooting safari with Mervyn Ridley (cousin to Lady Cranworth). Hunting trophies (heads and skins) being sent to Spicer of Leamington to be treated and mounted, 21 Jun 1910
(fol. 31) Nairobi. Finished apprenticeship at Kitanga. Partnership with Wilson at Kilima Kiu in Ulu. Freeman made a peer. Alfred [Maud] a baronet, 8 Jul 1910
(fol. 32) Kilima Kiu. Mentions District Commissioner Dundas, 21 Jul 1910
(fol. 33) copy made by Violet (sister). To Uncle Frederick Fox Lambert. Lion hunt on Kapiti Plains. Ostrich eggs - collecting and incubating, 2 Aug 1910
(fol. 34) description of local game. Slatter managing Kitanga for Sir Alfred Pease, 15 Aug 1910
(fols. 35-36) buying Kilima Kiu, 30 Aug 1910
(fols. 37-42) letters about life at Kilima Kiu, 24 Sep 1910-31 Oct 1910
(fols. 43-44) complaining about local politics, 11 Nov 1910
(fols. 45-48) copy of letter to Johnnie (Gilmour?). Hunting with Donald Seth-Smith, Mervyn Ridley, and Frank Wilson, 28 Nov 1910-4 Dec 1910
(fols. 49-50) visit by A.C. MacDonald, Director of Agriculture; Lady Pease's death, 8 Dec 1910
(fol. 51) from Peter Spicer and Sons. List of trophies sent by Archibald Fox Lambert for mounting, 12 Dec 1910
(fols. 52-54) N'joro. To May (sister). Staying with Lord Delamere. Asked to be Aide-de-Camp to Governor of Uganda. Obstacles to white settlement in Africa. Roosevelt predicting war with Germany on visit to Lord Delamere, but lack of action from British government, 17 Dec 1910
(fol. 55) telegram: 'arrectus dimotus', 24 Dec 1910
(fols. 56-57) Aide-de-Camp post refusal - mentions 'Captain Cordeaux' (Harry Edward Spiller Cordeaux was Governor of Uganda, Feb 1910 to Apr 1911), 28 Dec 1910.

(fol. 58) Folder containing letters written 1911. From Archibald Fox Lambert to his mother, Jane Lambert, unless otherwise stated. Includes:

(fols. 59-60) Kilima Kiu. Robin [Raper] getting married, 11 Jan 1911
(fols. 61-62) Sir Alfred Pease. Staying with Lord and Lady Cranworth. Mrs Moncrieff, 29 Jan 1911
(fol. 63) Sir Alfred Pease, 18 Feb 1911
(fol. 64) Girouards have returned to Nairobi (Sir Edouard Percy Girouard was Governor of the British East Africa Protectorate (Kenya), 1909-1912), 25 Feb 1911
(fols. 65-66) Cordeaux not returning to Uganda, 15 Mar 1911
(fols. 67-69) to Jack (Gilmour). Governor has returned without getting more money from the Government. Political situation with white settlers and Indians. David Davies, MP for Montgomeryshire, shooting at Kilima Kiu with Dr Welsh, 15 Mar 1911
(fol. 70) Sir Alfred Pease. Legislative Council Meeting in Nairobi - local politics. Cranworths to visit Kilima Kiu, 26 Mar 1911
(fol. 71-73) settlers want support from Governor on reduction of the lion population, 11 Apr 1911
(fols. 74-75) to sister Violet, mostly about lions, 17 Apr 1911
(fol. 76) Government House, Nairobi. Archibald Fox Lambert and Frank Meyer are staying with Girouards, 24 Apr 1911
(fol. 77) Kilima Kiu. Governor giving instruction for eradication of 'vermin' (lions), 5 May 1911
(fol. 78) to brother Harry, mostly about lions, 11 May 1911
(fols. 79-80) Fort Hall, Nairobi. Hunting with Lord and Lady Cranworth and Mervyn Ridley. Plague of caterpillars, 5 Jun 1911
(fol. 81) Kilima Kiu. Estate news, 15 Jun 1911
(fol. 82) Nairobi, en route to Londiani. 'Lord B has been made an Earl', 3 Jul 1911
(fol. 83) invoice from Spicer & Sons for trophy mounting, 25 Jul 1911
(fol. 84) Kilima Kiu. Lady Cranworth leaving for England; thefts, 6 Aug 1911
(fols. 85-87) mention of the [dock workers'] strikes in England and delay to goods arriving, 20 Aug 1911 and 9 Sep 1911
(fols. 88-89) rumours of war between France and Germany; strikes in England; mention of 'The Yoke of Silence' by Archibald Fox Lambert's aunt, Amy McLaren (published 1912), 17 Sep 1911
(fols. 90-91) typewritten copy of letter apparently sent to Violet account of hunting lions using a pack of dogs, with Paul Rainey, 17 Sep 1911
(fol. 92) mentions Cartwright, a tenant of Lord Delamere in N'joro, 26 Sep 1911
(fols. 93-94) from Lady Vera Cranworth to Jane Lambert, 1 Oct 1911
(fol. 95) to May. Mentions hunting lions with Paul Rainey and the local Wakamba people, 21 Oct 1911
(fols. 96-97) estate news, 22 Oct 1911-6 Nov 1911
(fols. 98-99) Norfolk Hotel, Nairobi. To May. Mentions local law and politics; 'Cole case' - shooting of a tribal chief, 17 Nov 1911
(fol. 100-101) Kilima Kiu estate news, 28 Nov 1911-5 Dec 1911
(fol. 102) to May. Mentions hunting cheetah, 17 Dec 1911.

(fol. 103) Folder containing letters written 1912. From Archibald Fox Lambert to his mother, Jane Lambert, unless otherwise stated. Includes:

(fols. 104-105) Kilima Kiu. Spent Christmas at N'joro with the Sewells; mentions Frank Joyce, a 'pupil' of Archibald Fox Lambert and Wilson - learning how to farm, etc., 7 Jan 1912
(fols. 106-112) hunting and estate news from Kilima Kiu, 29 Jan 1912-14 Mar 1912
(fol. 113-114) SS Guelph. (On voyage back to British East Africa (Kenya) from England), 28 May 1912 and 13 Jun 1912
(fol. 115) from Lady Cranworth to Jane Lambert, 21 Jun 1912
(fol. 116) Kilima Kiu, 26 Jun 1912
(fol. 117) mention of ongoing strikes in England, 15 Jul 1912
(fol. 118) mentions Frank Joyce. Morrison has bought out Sir Alfred Pease and Slatter, 25 Jul 1912
(fols. 119-122) Mentions looking at land in Uganda for planting, 8 Aug 1912-6 Sep 1912
(fol. 123) in Nairobi staying with Ward; Gordon [Cosens] has arrived, 15 Sep 1912
(fols. 124-129) at Kilima Kiu. Estate news and hunting tales, 6 Oct 1912-10 Nov 1912
(fols. 130-131) thanks for book by Lord Cranworth (A Colony in the Making: or, Sport and Profit in British East Africa by Bertram Francis Gurdon, 2nd Baron Cranworth, pub. 1912), 25 Nov 1912
(fols. 132-136) estate news, 8 Dec 1912 and 22 Dec 1912.

(fol. 137) Folder containing letters written 1913. From Archibald Fox Lambert to his mother, Jane Lambert, unless otherwise stated. Includes:

(fol. 138) 'Kelito', Chania Bridge. Mentions Mr Wilson of Smith MacKenzie of Mombas - import and export firm, 5 Jan 1913
(fol. 139) Kilima Kiu. Estate news, 29 Jan 1913
(fols. 140-141) shooting party - Mr and Mrs Arthur James and Laurence Buxton, 9 Mar 1913
(fols. 142-146) estate news, 16 Mar 1913-27 Apr 1913
(fols. 147-148) African horse sickness, 11 May 1913
(fols. 149-155) estate news, 3 Jun 1913-1 Aug 1913
(fol. 156) visit to sisal plantation on River Thika, 22 Aug 1913
(fol. 157) launched business in Nairobi with brother Harry - Lamberts Limited, an agricultural supply business. New estate in Londiani, 5 Oct 1913
(fols. 158-159) estate news, 13 Oct 1913-4 Nov 1913
(fol. 160) mentions coffee, cocoa, and rubber interests in Uganda, 17 Nov 1913
(fols. 161-165) SS Clement Hill, Lake Victoria, Nyanya. Selected land in Londiani. Trading in ostrich feathers, 10 Dec 1913
(fol. 166) Kilima Kiu. Estate news, 14 Dec 1913
(fol. 167) small calendar for 1914.

(fol. 168) Folder containing letters written 1914. From Archibald Fox Lambert to his mother, Jane Lambert, unless otherwise stated. Includes:

(fols. 169-171) Londiani estate. Local politics in Nairobi. Enclosed specimen of leaf - [stag hommon?], 18 Jan 1914
(fols. 172-174) Kilima Kiu. Estate news, 30 Jan 1914-15 Feb 1914
(fols. 175-177) Londiani. Setting up of new farm, 10 Mar 1914 and 20 Mar 1914
(fol. 178) notice of Archibald Fox Lambert's death from enteric fever on 15 May 1914 at Nairobi, 16 May 1914.

(fol. 179) Folder containing letters written 1910-1914, from Archibald Fox Lambert to his uncle, Canon Frederick Fox Lambert, unless otherwise stated. Includes:

(fols. 180-181) Kitanga. Includes descriptions of the country, and mentions Lord Cranworth, Mervyn Ridley, and the new Governor. Lion hunting with Prince Arthur of Connaught, 6 Mar 1910
(fol. 182) Kilima Kiu. Description of first successful lion hunt, 5 May 1910
(fols. 183-184) purchase of Kilima Kiu with partner Wilson. Approached Harewood and Pusey for a loan, 5 Oct 1910
(fols. 185-186) N'joro. Local politics. Government versus settlers, 3 Jan 1911
(fol. 187) Kilima Kiu. Estate news, 20 Jun 1911
(fol. 188) to brother Reggie. Mentions [dockers'] strikes in England and shares in [Tuscan] Gas Co., 26 Sep 1911
(fols. 189-191) to Frederick Fox Lambert. Mentions hunting lions with dogs, and Paul Rainey, 26 Nov 1911
(fols. 192-193) to Reggie. General news, 29 Nov 1911
(fols. 194-195) to Frederick Fox Lambert. General news, 11 Feb 1912
(fols. 196-198) rumours of Maasai discontent, 26 Feb 1913
(fols. 199-200) mentions Lamberts Limited, 16 Dec 1913
(fol. 201) thanks for book 'Captain [Morse's] Shooting Experiences in Somaliland.' Discussion of 'safari life', 1 Dec 1913
(fol. 202) thanks for book by Sir Alfred Pease (The Book of the Lion, pub. 1914), 19 Feb 1914
(fols. 203-204) near Londiani. Problems with Veterinary Department. Local civil officer murdered by an Indian; reference to Indian labourers indentured by the government; maladministration by the Colonial Office and local government; problems with Maasai, 5 Apr 1914
(fols. 205-206) from Harry Lambert to Frederick Fox Lambert, regarding Archie's death and plans for estates, 13 Jun 1914
(fol. 207) from Frank Wilson (Archibald Fox Lambert's partner in Kilima Kiu) to Miss Lambert, regarding Archibald Fox Lambert's illness, 28 Jul 1914.

(fol. 208) Folder containing draft memoir and notice of dedication of tablet and bells. Includes:

(fols. 209-212) draft memoir written by Frederick Fox Lambert, n.d.
(fols. 213-242) annotated and edited copies of Archibald Fox Lambert's letters to Frederick Fox Lambert and Reginald Everett Lambert, n.d.
(fol. 243) notice from East African Standard, 27 Dec 1924, of the dedication of a memorial tablet and bell peal at All Saints, Nairobi, in memory of Archibald Fox Lambert and his brother, Harry (killed in action in France), 27 Dec 1924.

Dates

Creation: 1910-1924; 1989

Extent

243 Leaves

Language of Materials

English

Preferred Citation

Oxford, Bodleian Libraries [followed by shelfmark and folio or page reference, e.g. MSS. Afr. s. 2434, fol. 1].

Please see our help page for further guidance on citing archives and manuscripts.

Shelfmark:

MSS. Afr. s. 2434

Collection ID (for staff)

CMD ID 2831

Additional Description

Abstract

Letters of Archibald Fox Lambert, settler in Kenya.

Biographical / Historical

Archibald Fox Lambert (born 22 Jun 1884) was a settler in British East Africa (Kenya) between 1910 and his death in 1914. He farmed Kilima Kiu estate in Ulu from 1910 to 1914 (later farmed by Frank Joyce).