Cecil Gould's diaries and travel notes
1936-1987
Title
Date
Archive reference number
Description
Cecil Gould started to keep a diary in 1936 when he was living with his mother, her friend Miss Gurney, and his sister in Kew and attending Westminster School. They cover his Wartime service, employment at the National Gallery and his retirement in Thorncombe in Somerset. The handwritten diaries detail daily events in both his professional and personal life, and include comment on world events and politics. Some entries are written in shorthand.
The series is incomplete and some volumes are missing. There is a notable gap from 1946-1954. Gould states in NGA17/3/2 p46 'Taking the rather bulky form of the diary which I had been using until then was unsuited to the impending situation [War]. I concluded it and put it away, transferring to some small format, which I have since lost'.
Some volumes of the diary have enclosures such as press cuttings and postcards. These have been catalogued separately
Record type
Alternative reference numbers
Your list will only be saved temporarily. Inactivity of more than 20 minutes could result in the loss of your list. If you would like to keep a record of your list, we suggest you print it out or email it to yourself.
Your list of records will be sent to us if you request an appointment, and a summary will be included in your appointment email notification.