Description

Papers of A.S. MacWhirter, tea planter in Assam, and his wife, Mrs M.E. (Edith) MacWhirter, writer, 1930s-1950s. Collection of personal papers, official documents, writing and notes, letters and cuttings with a specific focus on the work of the Indian Tea Association during World War Two.

Ephemera, social functions, theatre performances and programmes, tea estate matters:

• Various menus, typed and handwritten
• Written exercise of Hindi Map of Tea Gardens of Kumargram dated 5/5/31
• Red Cross minutes, 16 December 1939.
• New Cinnatolliah Tea Co., Report and Statements of Account, Season 1942
• Various lunch invitations and visiting cards
• Envelope containing dried leaves
• Various sketches
• Garrison Theatre, Shillong, Calcutta programme, 8 March 1943.
• Grand Hotel, Calcutta. Bill dated March 1943; menu, 9 March 1943.
• Typed letter from Labourers asking from more rice
• Kashmir and Tibet Trading Company, wholesale buying agents. Bill dated 22 February 1944.
• Thanksgiving for Victory and Peace Programme, dated Sunday 19th May 1945 held at the Garrison Theatre, Shillong
• Concert Programme, held at Durbar Hall, Government House dated Friday August 10th 1945
• Copy of letter sent by Lord Mountbatten, 14 June 1945, congratulating the Indian Tea Association Labour Force on its work. Also congratulatoryletter from A. McLaren, Chairman, Indian Tea Association, Calcutta, 14 June 1945.
• Typed and hand written lists of Packages of the personal effects being moved from Cinnatolliah to Kurnargram
• Labourer’s leave pass, 26 February 1946 from Cinnatolliah Tea Estate.
• Government of Assam cloth ration card for Shillong for half-year ending Spetember 1946.
• Assorted bills for books, glasses, cloths and clay figures.
• Private cash book, May 1950.
• Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford Upon Avon, 1951 programme 2 July to 1 September.
• Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford Upon Avon, various programmes.
• Catalogue of the art section, Whitstable Festival Exhibition, 1951.
• Typed copy of The enduring stones by Edward Percy, and press cuttings about the performance on August 3, 1951.
• RMS Circassia: list of passengers March 1951.
• RMS Circassia menu.
• RMS Caledonia: list of passengers 22 September 1951.
• Anchor line track chart for the Eastern service.
• M. Sharp Brothers, Indian hand empbroidery, Calcutta. Stock list and prices.
• Telegram
• Typed Order of Service, IN MEMORIAM OF HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE VI (1936-53)
• Kalimpong Arts & Crafts Catalogue 1953-54
• Christmas Party programme
• Harrods bill dated 1954 Pye All dry battery portable radio instructions and bill
• Press cutting from MONTHLY REVIEW of Racing, dated March 1954
• Press cuttings from MONTHLY REVIEW of Social events dated Feb. 1954
• Landing cards for Ellerman Lines, 18 June 1954.
• Bazaar shopping lists from the 1950s.
• Programmes of events for the Dooars, published by the UK Citizens’ Association.
• UK Citizens’ Association minutes and policy statements.
• Handwritten marriage notes
• Typed and handwritten lists of Sale of Furniture and Effects
• Christmas Cards
• Golf score cards
• Information Leaflet on Sissinghurst Castle, Kent.
• Two one rupee notes
• Book entitled “Navvies to the Fourteenth Army” by A H Pilcher, with a foreword by Gen. Sir William Slim — November 1947. Book details the work of the Indian Tea Association labour force in the last stages of the long grim retreat from Burma in 1942. Stating that without the ITA help few of the Burma Army would have reached India.