COLLECTION NAME: JOURNAL OF WALDORF ASTOR SCOPE NOTE: Written in 1901 during his days as a student at New College, Oxford, the Journal of Waldorf Astor provides a brief, but interesting glimpse into the life of a young man who was born into immense wealth and would later devote himself to public service. This journal records Astor's social activities and personal interests, paricularly his love of horses, which comes as no surprise given that he eventually built up one of the best known studs in Great Britain. Aside from his numerous entries focused on horses, polo and drag hunting, there are several passages in which Astor poors out his frustrations and discussions problems that were presently plaguing him. Surprisingly, his financial situation seemed to cause him more grief than anything else. These entries give one more insight into Astor's ways of thinking at the time and are especially useful to researchers wishing to know more about his personal life before the launch of his political career. The journal remains physically bound, however, each entry has been assigned to a separate folder for cataloging purposes. In addition, the cataloger has numbered each page on the bottom outside corner of each page so that the entries can be referenced more easily. The page number on which each journal entry can be found is included in the folder description. Biographical Sketch Waldorf Astor had already distinguished himself as an scholar before he began his advanced studies at New College. He had spent the previous years at Eton College where he won the Prince Consort's first French prize in 1897. In addition, he was one of the editors of the Eton College Chronicle and captain of the boats. His success continued at New College where Astor once again assumed leadership roles in school activities such as the university's polo, steeple chasing, and sabres clubs. Astor left Oxford in 1902 with a fourth class in history and went on to lead an overall very successful life. In 1911, he won a seat in the British Parliament as a Unionist member for Plymouth. During the following years he was successively appointed parliamentary private secretary to Lloyd George, parliamentary secretary to the Ministry of Food, and to the Ministry of Health. The death of his father, William Waldorf Astor, in 1919 left him with the title of Viscount and forced him to resign from the House of Commons, after which his wife, Nancy Witcher Shaw, stood in his stead for the Sutton division of Plymouth. She was subsequently elected and became the first woman to take her seat in the British Parliament, thus making her one of the most recognized public figures in Britain. Her remarkable career often overshadowed that of Astor, but he continued to be active in politics and was a British delegate to the League of Nations Assembly in 1931. He also remained the proprietor of the Observer, a newspaper his father had purchased from Lord Northcliffe, until the time of his death. As a result, his estate, Cliveden, served as a weekend hub for politicians and journalists alike. Although he no longer represented Plymouth in the House of Commons, Astor remained attentive to its needs throughout the course of his life. He built a housing estate and founding Virginia House as a social center for women and girls. When Plymouth was severely damaged by bombing in World War II, Astor played a lead part in its reconstruction. He was rewarded for his efforts when he was made an honorary freeman of the city and lord mayor in 1939-1944. Aside from his other activities, Astor also took the time to pursue his personal interests, namely his racing stable and agriculture, on which he co-authored several books. He was considered a great authority on agriculture and became chairman of the joint committee of agricultural, economic, and health experts appointed by the League of Nations in 1936. After leading a long and fruitful life, Astor died at Cliveden on September 30, 1952 and was succeeded by his eldest son, William Waldorf. Sources Dictionary of National Biography, 1951-1960 (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1971) ACCESSION DATA: Status: Open Access Provenance: Purchased from a dealer in 2001. Processed by Kathy Banuelos, April 2002 BULK DATES: 1901 - 1901 SPAN DATES: 1901 - 1901 EXTENT: 1 Box SERIES: 1. One Series Only 1 1 [May 4, 1901] 5/4/1901 ]DESCRIPTION: 1 AJE dated 5/4/1901 containing WA's hourly account of his day, which he spent mostly at leisure. The majority of his entry is devoted to discussing different packs of hounds he hunted with that season. Newspaper clippings of articles relating to hounds and hunting are pasted on some of the pages. Pages 1-10 1 2 [May 5, 1901] 5/1/1901 ]DESCRIPTION: 1 AJE dated 5/5/1901 in which WA gives an hourly acount of his day. His morning is spent having brunch with various friends, including Samuel Hoare, and taking a trip to a horse breeding establishment. The remainder of the passage describes his evening activities of dinner and a concert at Balliol College, during which WA comments on the difference of behavior between undergraduates at New College and Balliol College. Newspaper clippings from the Luie Stock Journal relating to horse breeding are also pasted in this entry. Pages 11-19 1 3 [May 6, 1901] 5/6/1901 ]DESCRIPTION: 1 AJE dated 5/6/1901 containing a draft of a letter WA wrote to Oswald S. in which he congratulates him on his recent engagement and updates him on his polo activities. Pages 20-23 1 4 [May 7, 1901] 5/7/1901 ]DESCRIPTION: 1 AJE dated 5/7/1901 containing a hourly acount of WA's activities for the day. His love for horses and horse racing is manifest here as he discusses in detail and includes more newspaper clippings with the results of recent races at Hurst Park. This particular entry is filled with many of WA's observations and comments about his friends, particularly those he plays a game of rugby with. Ernest Burford Horlick, son of Sir James Horlick, is the focus of a long passage during which WA expresses his great dislike of him and his behavior. Pages 24-43 1 5 [May 8, 1901] 5/8/1901 ]DESCRIPTION: 1 AJE dated 5/8/1901 containing a draft of a letter written to Frank F. Euren by WA in which he inquiring about the procedures he needs to take to register his mare. Pages 44-45 1 6 [May 8, 1901] 5/8/1901 ]DESCRIPTION: 1 AJE dated 5/8/1901 in which WA discusses an experiment conducted by the Thames Salmon Association whose goal was to introduce salmon into the Thames River. WA expresses his opinion that the whole experiment will work. In addition, WA makes a reference to his father, William Waldorf Astor while he is writing about exercising his horses at Cliveden, as the elder Astor disapproves of him doing so. Newspaper clippings about the salmon experiment, fox hunting, pasturing and soiling also pasted on these pages. Pages 46-55 1 7 [May 10, 1901] 5/10/1901 ]DESCRIPTION: 1 AJE dated 5/10/1901 in which WA discusses a polo match he played in against the Hawes and Balding family. Pages 56-62 1 8 [May 13, 1901] 5/13/1901 ]DESCRIPTION: 1 AJE dated 5/13/1901 containing a draft of a letter written to Lady Lathom by WA in which he offers himself as a guide during her upcoming trip to Oxford. Page 63 1 9 [May 13, 1901] 5/13/1901 ]DESCRIPTION: 1 AJE dated 5/13/1901 describing WA's activities for the day, which included playing polo, writing an essay for his class with Sir Robert Sangster Rait, and excercising his horses. WA expresses his dislike of Rait's teaching, as he considers it ineffective. He also mentions a letter he received from his father informing him that his stocks had increased in value tremendously. Newspaper clippings regarding upcoming horse shows and hunter breeding are also included. Pages 65-75 1 10 [May 14, 1901] 5/14/1901 ]DESCRIPTION: 1 AJE dated 5/14/1901 containing a draft of a letter written by WA to his father, William Waldorf Astor, in which he asks him to get a sum out of his bonds so that he may donate it to the Oxford Etonian Club, which is on the verge of bankruptcy. Pages 77-79 1 11 [May 14, 1901] 5/14/1901 ]DESCRIPTION: 1 AJE dated 5/14/1901 containing a draft of a letter written by WA to D.J. Archer regarding the potential sale of one of Astor's horses. Pages 80-81 1 12 [Letter from H.J. Hale to Waldorf Astor] 5/14/1901 ]DESCRIPTION: 1 AL dated 5/14/1901 sent by H.J. Hale to Waldorf Astor in which he asks WA to donate funds to help the Oxford Etonian Club pay off its debt. The letter is pasted onto page 86 of the journal. 1 13 [May 18, 1901] 5/18/1901 ]DESCRIPTION: 1 AJE dated 5/18/1901 containing a draft of a letter written to H.J. Hale by WA in which he informs Hale that he will be donating 25 pounds to help the Oxford Etonian Club pay off its debt. He also reaffirms his belief that the Club should be dissolved as it does nothing to raise the esteem of Eton College. Pages 87-89 1 13 [May 23, 1901] 5/23/1901 ]DESCRIPTION: 1 AJE dated 5/23/1901 containing the text of a speech WA gave at Cliveden after being presented with a gift from the servants on his twenty-first birthday. Pages 103-107 1 14 [May 18, 1901] 5/18/1901 ]DESCRIPTION: 1 AJE dated 5/18/1901 describing Oxford University polo match against Eden Park, which WA took part in. A newspaper clipping of an article discussing the polo matches is pasted onto one of the pages of this entry. Pages 90-93 1 15 [May 21, 1901] 5/21/1901 ]DESCRIPTION: 1 AJE dated 5/21/1901 in which WA discusses his plans for the sale of one of his horses and the deal he made with his friend, Billy Balding. Pages 95-97 1 16 [May 22, 1901] 5/22/1901 ]DESCRIPTION: 1 AJE dated 5/22/1901 describing Oxford's victory in a polo match over Moreton. Pages 99-101 1 18 [May 29, 1901] 5/29/1901 ]DESCRIPTION: 1 AJE dated 5/29/1901 containing a short description of a polo match between Oxford and Cirencester. Page 109 1 19 [June 1, 1901] 6/1/1901 ]DESCRIPTION: 1 AJE dated 6/1/1901 in which WA describes his day drag hunting with fellow students from Oxford University. Pages 110-113 1 20 [June 5, 1901] 6/5/1901 ]DESCRIPTION: 1 AJE dated 6/5/1901 in which WA describes a polo match between Oxford University and Cirencester. Page 115 1 21 [June 7, 1901] 6/7/1901 ]DESCRIPTION: 1 AJE dated 6/7/1901 containing a draft of a letter written to Tom G.Stevenson by WA updating him on his present activities at Oxford University. Pages 116-119 1 22 [Champagne Cup] 6/9/1901 ]DESCRIPTION: 1 AJE containing a recipe for Champagne Cup. Pages 120-121 1 23 [June 10, 1901] 6/10/1901 ]DESCRIPTION: 1 AJE dated 6/10/1901 in which WA expresses his frustration with his current financial situation. The overall tone of this entry is very melancholy, but also insightful as WA dissatisfaction with his own spendthrift habits are very manifest. Pages 123-136 1 24 [June 11, 1901] 6/11/1901 ]DESCRIPTION: 1 AJE dated 6/11/1901 describing the polo matches that took place on the first day of the college Polo Tournament. Page 137 1 25 [June 12, 1901] 6/12/1901 ]DESCRIPTION: 1 AJE dated 6/12/1901 containing WA's recount of more games of the Polo Tournament. Pages 139-141 1 26 [June 13, 1901] 6/13/1901 ]DESCRIPTION: 1 AJE dated 6/13/1901 containing a brief account of WA's activities for the day. Page 143 1 27 [June 21, 1901] 6/21/1901 ]DESCRIPTION: 1 AJE dated 6/21/1901 describing another polo match, which the Oxford University Polo Club participated in. Pages 146-147 1 28 [June 24, 1901] 6/24/1901 ]DESCRIPTION: 1 AJE dated 6/24/1901 describing WA's activities for the day which included a polo match with his friends, dinner at Lady Hothfield's house and appearances at two dances hosted by Lady O'Neill and Lady Dartmouth respectively. Pages 147-148 1 29 [June 25, 1901] 6/25/1901 ]DESCRIPTION: 1 AJE dated 6/25/1901 containing a brief account of WA's activities for the day. Pages 150-151 1 30 [June 26, 1901] 6/26/1901 ]DESCRIPTION: 1 AJE dated 6/26/1901 describing WA's experiences at a concert and at a dance hosted by Lady Halifax, which is refers to as a "hopeless failure". Pages 152-153 1 31 [June 28, 1901] 6/28/1901 ]DESCRIPTION: 1 AJE dated 6/28/1901 in which WA briefly describes a dance he attended the previous night. Pages 154-155 1 32 [July 3, 1901] 7/3/1901 ]DESCRIPTION: 1 AJE dated 7/2/1901 filled with WA interesting observations of and comments about his female acquaintances. His description of a young woman named Muriel White, whome he does not hold in the highest regard, is worthy of note. Pages 157-161 1 33 [July 16, 1901] 7/16/1901 ]DESCRIPTION: 1 AJE dated 7/16/1901 containing a draft of a letter written to John T. Colledge by WA wishing him success on his exams and updating him all his current social activities. Pages 162-165 INDEX BOX - FOLD - KEYWORD PHRASE 1 32 ACHESON, ALDRA - REFERENCE (1901) 1 11 ARCHER, D.J. - CORRESPONDENCE FROM WALDORF ASTOR (1901) 1 12 ASTOR, WALDORF - CORRESPONDENCE FROM H.J. HALE (1901) 1 11 ASTOR, WALDORF - CORRESPONDENCE TO D.J. ARCHER (1901) 1 5 ASTOR, WALDORF - CORRESPONDENCE TO FRANK F. EUREN (1901) 1 13 ASTOR, WALDORF - CORRESPONDENCE TO H.J. HALE (1901) 1 33 ASTOR, WALDORF - CORRESPONDENCE TO JOHN T. COLLEDGE (1901) 1 8 ASTOR, WALDORF - CORRESPONDENCE TO LADY LATHOM (1901) 1 3 ASTOR, WALDORF - CORRESPONDENCE TO OSWALD SEROCOLD (1901) 1 21 ASTOR, WALDORF - CORRESPONDENCE TO TOM G. STEVENSON (1901) 1 10 ASTOR, WALDORF - CORRESPONDENCE TO WILLIAM WALDOFR ASTOR (1901) 1 1 ASTOR, WALDORF - JOURNAL ENTRY (1901) 1 2 ASTOR, WALDORF - JOURNAL ENTRY (1901) 1 4 ASTOR, WALDORF - JOURNAL ENTRY (1901) 1 6 ASTOR, WALDORF - JOURNAL ENTRY (1901) 1 7 ASTOR, WALDORF - JOURNAL ENTRY (1901) 1 9 ASTOR, WALDORF - JOURNAL ENTRY (1901) 1 14 ASTOR, WALDORF - JOURNAL ENTRY (1901) 1 15 ASTOR, WALDORF - JOURNAL ENTRY (1901) 1 16 ASTOR, WALDORF - JOURNAL ENTRY (1901) 1 13 ASTOR, WALDORF - JOURNAL ENTRY (1901) 1 18 ASTOR, WALDORF - JOURNAL ENTRY (1901) 1 19 ASTOR, WALDORF - JOURNAL ENTRY (1901) 1 20 ASTOR, WALDORF - JOURNAL ENTRY (1901) 1 22 ASTOR, WALDORF - JOURNAL ENTRY (1901) 1 23 ASTOR, WALDORF - JOURNAL ENTRY (1901) 1 24 ASTOR, WALDORF - JOURNAL ENTRY (1901) 1 25 ASTOR, WALDORF - JOURNAL ENTRY (1901) 1 26 ASTOR, WALDORF - JOURNAL ENTRY (1901) 1 27 ASTOR, WALDORF - JOURNAL ENTRY (1901) 1 28 ASTOR, WALDORF - JOURNAL ENTRY (1901) 1 29 ASTOR, WALDORF - JOURNAL ENTRY (1901) 1 30 ASTOR, WALDORF - JOURNAL ENTRY (1901) 1 31 ASTOR, WALDORF - JOURNAL ENTRY (1901) 1 32 ASTOR, WALDORF - JOURNAL ENTRY (1901) 1 10 ASTOR, WILLIAM WALDORF - CORRESPONDENCE FROM WALDORF ASTOR (1901) 1 6 ASTOR, WILLIAM WALDORF - REFERENCE (1901) 1 9 ASTOR, WILLIAM WALDORF - REFERENCE (1901) 1 2 BAKER, HAROLD - REFERENCE (1901) 1 4 BALDING, BILLY - REFERENCE (1901) 1 7 BALDING, BILLY - REFERENCE (1901) 1 9 BALDING, BILLY - REFERENCE (1901) 1 15 BALDING, BILLY - REFERENCE (1901) 1 25 BALDING, BILLY - REFERENCE (1901) 1 2 BALLIOL COLLEGE - REFERENCE (1901) 1 32 BEUTINCK, MAY - REFERENCE (1901) 1 6 BOSTON, GEORGE - REFERENCE (1901) 1 32 BREESE, ELOISE - REFERENCE (1901) 1 32 BRODRICK, MURIEL - REFERENCE (1901) 1 22 CHAMPAGNE CUP - RECIPE (1901) 1 32 CHURCHILL, JACK - REFERENCE (1901) 1 18 CIRENCESTER - REFERENCE (1901) 1 24 CIRENCESTER - REFERENCE (1901) 1 6 CLIVEDEN - REFERENCE (1901) 1 9 CLIVEDEN - REFERENCE (1901) 1 13 CLIVEDEN - REFERENCE (1901) 1 19 CLIVEDEN - REFERENCE (1901) 1 28 CLIVEDEN - REFERENCE (1901) 1 33 COLLEDGE, JOHN T. - CORRESPONDENCE FROM WA (1901) 1 1 COLLEDGE, JOHN T. - REFERENCE (1901) 1 2 COLLEDGE, JOHN T. - REFERENCE (1901) 1 4 COLLEDGE, JOHN T. - REFERENCE (1901) 1 19 COLLEDGE, JOHN T. - REFERENCE (1901) 1 4 COOCH BEHAR, MAHARAJA KUMAR OF - REFERENCE (1901) 1 14 COOCH BEHAR, MAHARAJA KUMAR OF - REFERENCE (1901) 1 16 COOCH BEHAR, MAHARAJA KUMAR OF - REFERENCE (1901) 1 20 COOCH BEHAR, MAHARAJA KUMAR OF - REFERENCE (1901) 1 27 COOCH BEHAR, MAHARAJA KUMAR OF - REFERENCE (1901) 1 28 COOCH BEHAR, MAHARAJA KUMAR OF - REFERENCE (1901) 1 32 CRICHTON, MABEL - REFERENCE (1901) 1 24 CRICKLEWOOD - REFERENCE (1901) 1 28 DARTMOUTH, LADY - REFERENCE (1901) 1 32 DE BILLE, ELSA - REFERENCE (1901) 1 32 DE GREY, JULIET - REFERENCE (1901) 1 14 EDEN PARK - REFERENCE (1901) 1 5 EUREN, FRANK F. - CORRESPONDENCE FROM WA 1 32 FELLOWES, ALEXANDRA - REFERENCE (1901) 1 6 FIELD (NEWSPAPER) - CLIPPING (1901) 1 9 FIELD (NEWSPAPER) - CLIPPING (1901) 1 10 FURGE, MICHAEL BOLTON - REFERENCE (1901) 1 12 FURGE, MICHAEL BOLTON - REFERENCE (1901) 1 19 HAGNES, WILL - REFERENCE (1901) 1 13 HALE, H.J. - CORRESPONDENCE FROM WALDORF ASTOR (1901) 1 12 HALE, H.J. - CORRESPONDENCE TO WALDORF ASTOR (1901) 1 30 HALIFAX, LADY - REFERENCE (1901) 1 2 HELMSLY, CHARLES - REFERENCE (1901) 1 14 HELMSLY, CHARLES - REFERENCE (1901) 1 16 HELMSLY, CHARLES - REFERENCE (1901) 1 20 HELMSLY, CHARLES - REFERENCE (1901) 1 25 HELMSLY, CHARLES - REFERENCE (1901) 1 27 HELMSLY, CHARLES - REFERENCE (1901) 1 28 HELMSLY, CHARLES - REFERENCE (1901) 1 32 HERBERT, BEATRIX - REFERENCE (1901) 1 27 HERBERT, LORD - REFERENCE (1901) 1 1 HEYTHROP HOUNDS - REFERENCE (1901) 1 2 HOARE, SAMUEL - REFERENCE (1901) 1 4 HORLICK, ERNEST BUFORD - REFERENCE (1901) 1 28 HOTHFIELD, LADY - REFERENCE (1901) 1 4 HURST PARK - REFERENCE (1901) 1 27 INGESTRE, LORD - REFERENCE (1901) 1 6 LAND & WATER (NEWSPAPER) - CLIPPING (1901) 1 8 LATHOM, LADY - CORRESPONDENCE FROM WA (1901) 1 2 LUIE STOCK JOURNAL - NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS (1901) 1 2 MALCOLM, IAN - REFERENCE (1901) 1 2 MIDDLETON, LAMBERT - REFERENCE (1901) 1 16 MORETON - REFERENCE (1901) 1 2 NEW COLLEGE - REFERENCE (1901) 1 28 O'NEILL, LADY - REFERENCE (1901) 1 10 OXFORD ETONIAN CLUB - REFERENCE (1901) 1 12 OXFORD ETONIAN CLUB - REFERENCE (1901) 1 13 OXFORD ETONIAN CLUB - REFERENCE (1901) 1 19 OXFORD UNIVERSITY DRAG HOUNDS - REFERENCE (1901) 1 16 OXFORD UNIVERSITY POLO CLUB - REFERENCE (1901) 1 18 OXFORD UNIVERSITY POLO CLUB - REFERENCE (1901) 1 20 OXFORD UNIVERSITY POLO CLUB - REFERENCE (1901) 1 24 OXFORD UNIVERSITY POLO CLUB - REFERENCE (1901) 1 7 PALMER, WADE - REFERENCE (1901) 1 14 PALMER, WADE - REFERENCE (1901) 1 16 PALMER, WADE - REFERENCE (1901) 1 20 PALMER, WADE - REFERENCE (1901) 1 27 PALMER, WADE - REFERENCE (1901) 1 28 PALMER, WADE - REFERENCE (1901) 1 32 PHIPPS, MARGARET - REFERENCE (1901) 1 1 PONSONBY, MYLES - REFERENCE (1901) 1 6 PORT MEADOW - REFERENCE (1901) 1 32 PRIMROSE, SIBYL - REFERENCE (1901) 1 4 RAIT, ROBERT SANGSTER - REFERENCE (1901) 1 9 RAIT, ROBERT SANGSTER - REFERENCE (1901) 1 19 SCOTT, HERBERT - REFERENCE (1901) 1 6 SEFTON PARK - REFERENCE (1901) 1 3 SEROCOLD, OSWALD - CORRESPONDENCE FROM WA 1 19 SEROCOLD, OSWALD - REFERENCE (1901) 1 32 SMITH, OLIVE HUGH - REFERENCE (1901) 1 21 STEVENSON, TOM G. - CORRESPONDENCE FROM WA (1901) 1 6 THAMES SALMON ASSOCIATION - REFERENCE (1901) 1 32 THYME, AGATHA - REFERENCE (1901) 1 24 WARWICKSHIRE - REFERENCE (1901) 1 1 WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS - REFERENCE (1901) 1 32 WHITE, MURIEL - REFERENCE (1901)