Constance Maynard’s ‘Green Book’ diaries and unpublished autobiography have been digitised, making them available to view online for the first time.
Maynard’s personal writings cover over 40 years of her life. They detail her devout faith and her close friendships, research, teaching and role in the formation and early years of Westfield College.
Key events in the life of Constance Maynard |
|
| 1872-1875 | Studied at Hitchin College (Girton College) |
| 1876 | Taught at Cheltenham Ladies College |
| 1877-1880 | Helped establish St Leonard’s School, St Andrews |
| 1880 | Moved to London and took classes at the Slade School of Art |
| 1882 | Became involved in plans for a Christian Women’s College |
| Oct 1882 | First term of the Ladies College at Westfield, Hampstead |
| 1888 | Adopted a child, Stephanë Anthon, ‘Effie' |
| 1913 | Retired from Westfield College |
| 1919 | Death of Effie |
| 1928 | Awarded a Masters degree from University of Cambridge |
Green Book Diaries 1866-1935 (available for download)
Constance Decribed her 'inner life', her emotions and thoughts in her 'Green Book' Diaries. She also detailed activities, events, conversations, and included literary extracts. She often summaries her year on the 31st December and set herself targets at the beginning of a new year.
To view these digitised records, please use the drop down menus below.* In addition, an image gallery has been created highlighting Constance's writings alongside additional archive material held at Queen Mary.
* Please note that due to the size of some of the PDF files, download times may take up to 30 seconds. *
View all diaries
Green Book Diary, 1 January - 31 December 1866 Link
Green Book Diary, 1 January - 31 December 1867 Link
Green Book Diary, 1 January - 10 August 1868 Link
Green Book Diary, 12 August 1868- 13 April 1869 Link
Green Book Diary, 1869 Link
Green Book Diary, 28 November 1869 - 18 November 1870 Link
Green Book Diary, 27 November 1870 - 6 November 1871 Link
Green Book Diary, 26 November 1871 - 31 December 1872 Link
Green Book Diary, 1 January 1873 - 5 July 1874, October 1874 Link
Green Book Diary, 12 July - 31 December 1874 Link
Green Book Diary, 11 January - 4 June 1875 Link
Green Book Diary, 7 June - 4 November 1875 Link
Green Book Diary, 12 November 1875 - 19 March 1876 Link
Green Book Diary, 20 March 1876 - 31 December 1877 Link
Green Book Diary, 1 January - 31 December 1878 Link
Green Book Diary, 1 January 1879 - 23 May 1880 Link
Green Book Diary, 24 May 1880 - 4 December 1881 Link
Green Book Diary, 14 December 1881 - 16 October 1882 Link
Green Book Diary, 22 October 1882 - 31 December 1884 Link
Green Book Diary, 3 January 1885 - 12 August 1887 Link
Green Book Diary, 1 January 1901- 31 December 1904 Link
Green Book Diary, 1 January 1905 - 31 December 1910 Link
Green Book Diary, 1 January 1911 - 21 July 1916 Link
Green Book Diary, 6 August 1916- 31 December 1919 Link
Green Book Diary, 1 January 1920 - 31 December 1923 Link
Green Book Diary, 1 January 1924 - 24 March 1935 Link
Autobiography (available for download)
The Autobiography of Constance Maynard was written throughout the period of 1915-1933, and covers her life from 1849-1927. The chapters have been divided in to discrete periods of her life and can be viewed by using the drop down menus below.
* Please note that due to the size of some of the PDF files, download times may take up to 30 seconds. *
Part 1 - Early days. Covers the period 1849-1864.
Covers the period 1849-1864; relating to her childhood and home life, through to adolescence and schooling at Belstead.
Chapter 1 Link
Chapter 2 Link
Chapter 3 Link
Part 2 - Life at Home. Covers the period 1865-1872.
Covers the period 1865-1872; relating to life at home, her interests, travel, and finally her entrance examination and desire for further education.
Chapter 4 Link
Chapter 5 Link
Chapter 6 Link
Chapter 7 Link
Chapter 8 Link
Chapter 9 Link
Chapter 10 Link
Part 3 - Life at College. Covers the period 1872-1875.
Covers the period 1872-1875; her thoughts on the education of women, her life at Hitchin (later Girton College), her studies and life at college, and her travels abroad.
Chapter 11 Link
Chapter 12 Link
Chapter 13 Link
Chapter 14 Link
Chapter 15 Link
Chapter 16 Link
Chapter 17 Link
Chapter 18 Link
Chapter 19 Link
Chapter 20 Link
Chapter 21 Link
Chapter 22 Link
Chapter 23 Link
Chapter 24 Link
Chapter 25 Link
Chapter 26 Link
Covers the period 1876-1877; her life at home after Girton and her work at Cheltenham Ladies College.
Chapter 27 Link
Chapter 28 Link
Chapter 29 Link
Chapter 30 Link
Chapter 31 Link
Part 5 - My Three Years at St Andrews. Covers the period 1877-1880.
Covers the period 1877-1880, when Constance help set up St Leonards School in St Andrews with fellow Girton alumna, Louisa Lumsden.
Chapter 32 Link
Chapter 33 Link
Chapter 34 Link
Chapter 35 Link
Chapter 36 Link
Chapter 37 Link
Part 6 - Preparations for Westfield College. Covers the period 1880-1882.
Covers the period 1880-1882, when Constance moved to London, studied at The Slade School, plus the planning and preparation work for Westfield College.
Chapter 38 Link
Chapter 39 Link
Chapter 40 Link
Chapter 41 Link
Chapter 42 Link
Chapter 43 Link
Part 7 - My life work. Covers the period 1882-1927.
Covers the period 1882-1927; Constance Maynard’s role as Mistress of Westfield College, as well as holidays during the vacation periods, and life outside of college. Chapter 52 relates to the adoption of Stephanë Anthon (Effie).
Chapter 44 Link
Chapter 45 Link
Chapter 46 Link
Chapter 47 Link
Chapter 48 Link
Chapter 49 - Draft 1 Link
Chapter 49 - Draft 2 Link
Chapter 50 Link
Chapter 51 Link
Chapter 52 Link
Chapter 53 Link
Chapter 54 Link
Chapter 55 Link
Chapter 56 Link
Autobiography 1894-1895 Link
Autobiography 1896 Link
Autobiography 1897-1899 Link
Autobiography 1900-1905 Link
Autobiography 1905-1907 Link
Autobiography 1907-1911 Link
Autobiography 1912-1920 Link
Autobiography 1921-1927 Link
Extracts from HM King's Manuscript
An account of the family of Henry and Lousia Maynard, and their children Constance, George, Henry, Gabrielle, Dora and Josephine. Includes other relatives. Covering 1839-1910.
Part I Link
Parts II and III Link
For further information about Constance Maynard and the Constance Maynard collection in Archives, please follow this link to the Archive Catalogue.
To view the Constance Maynard image gallery, highlighting the text alongside supporting documents, please follow this link.