Interview with Edith Dixon [sound recording]

Audio recording of oral history interview with Edith Dixon, covering the period 1898-1914. Cassette side OA1/26/1: Tragic family background in India. Father's work for Indian State Railways. Childhood recollections of accompanying father on tour: description of inspection train; near-accident; stat...

Full description

Archive & Special Collections OA1/26/1-4 Closed

Date(s) of creation: 1972-1974
Level: Item
Format: Archive           
Main author: Dixon; Edith (fl 1898-1972); daughter of Indian state railways traffic manager
Other authors: Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer

collection SOAS Archive
id OA1.26.1-4
recordtype archive
scb_item_location Archive & Special Collections
item_location Archive & Special Collections
scb_loan_type Reference only
callnumber OA1/26/1-4
callnumber_txt OA1/26/1-4
callnumber-sort OA1/26/1-4
prefix_number 1-4
title Interview with Edith Dixon [sound recording]
scb_date_creation 1972-1974
scb_level Item
level_sort 8/Collection/Sub-Collection/Sub-Sub-Collection/Sub-Sub-Sub-Collection/Series/Sub-Series/Sub-Sub-Series/File/Item
scb_extent 1 hr. 52 min.
author Dixon; Edith (fl 1898-1972); daughter of Indian state railways traffic manager
author_facet Dixon; Edith (fl 1898-1972); daughter of Indian state railways traffic manager
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
authorStr Dixon; Edith (fl 1898-1972); daughter of Indian state railways traffic manager
author_letter Dixon; Edith (fl 1898-1972); daughter of Indian state railways traffic manager
author2 Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
author2Str Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
format Archive
scb_admin_history British daughter of traffic manager on Indian State Railways.
description Audio recording of oral history interview with Edith Dixon, covering the period 1898-1914. Cassette side OA1/26/1: Tragic family background in India. Father's work for Indian State Railways. Childhood recollections of accompanying father on tour: description of inspection train; near-accident; station atmosphere. Recollections of ayah; father's bearer; other servants. Indian reaction to birth of her brother. Caste system amongst servants. Class system amongst British; inferiority of commercial 'box wallahs'; gradings in society. Description of bungalow. Cassette side OA1/26/2: Musical evenings. Description of furnishings and clothes. Mother's social life. Attending fancy dress party at Viceregal Lodge. Recollections of voyages to and from India. Life in Rawalpindi; attending church and gymkhanas. Riding experiences. Description of clothes. Combatting effects of heat. Stories illustrating appalling state of medical facilities. Cassette side OA1/26/3: Continuation of story illustrating state of medical facilities. Snake charmer; fear of snakes and insects. Bathroom facilities. Father's transfer to Saharanpur; recollections of spending hot season at hill station. Description of food. Child's view of British society. Outbreak of plague in Saharanpur; staying with friends. Account of being bitten by rabid dog; course of treatment. Love of flowers. Father's posting to Secretariat in Simla. Recollections of life in Simla. Cassette side OA1/26/4: View from Simla. Leaving India for school in England 1908; unfashionable nature of Indian clothes on arrival. Recollections of life in Calcutta during cold weather season: drive in motor car; local eccentric couple. Opinions on childhood in India. Role of Raj.
scb_access_status Closed
scb_conditions_gov_access Access to sound recording of this interview is currently unavailable at SOAS Library. The transcript can be consulted. Researchers can access a copy of this sound recording at the British Library Listening & Viewing Service. Reference: C1510/26/01-04. For more details see www.bl.uk/listening or contact listening@bl.uk / 020 7412 7418.
scb_copyright Copyright held by British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
scb_use_restrictions Private study only. For publication or broadcast please refer to Archivist
language English
language_search English
scb_copies Copy available at British Library Listening & Viewing Service. Reference: C1510/26/01-04 Copy available at Imperial War Museum. Reference: 004925/04
scb_related_material Transcript available at SOAS Library. Reference: OA1/26/T
hierarchy_top_id_raw OA1
hierarchy_sequence OA1.0026.001-4

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