Interview with Lady Kathleen Griffiths [sound recording]

Audio recording of oral history interview with Lady Kathleen Griffiths, covering the period 1922-1947. Cassette side OA1/32/1: Obtaining position as governess in India. Shipboard romance; prestige of getting engaged to Indian Civil Service officer. Work as governess. Marriage in Dacca. Traumatic jo...

Full description

Archive & Special Collections OA1/32/1-2 Closed

Date(s) of creation: 1972-1974
Level: Item
Format: Archive           
Main author: Griffiths; Lady; Kathleen (d 1979); née Wilkes, wife of Sir Percival Griffiths
Other authors: Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer

collection SOAS Archive
id OA1.32.1-2
recordtype archive
scb_item_location Archive & Special Collections
item_location Archive & Special Collections
scb_loan_type Reference only
callnumber OA1/32/1-2
callnumber_txt OA1/32/1-2
callnumber-sort OA1/32/1-2
prefix_number 1-2
title Interview with Lady Kathleen Griffiths [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. approx. (sound cassette: analog).
author Griffiths; Lady; Kathleen (d 1979); née Wilkes, wife of Sir Percival Griffiths
author_facet Griffiths; Lady; Kathleen (d 1979); née Wilkes, wife of Sir Percival Griffiths
Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
authorStr Griffiths; Lady; Kathleen (d 1979); née Wilkes, wife of Sir Percival Griffiths
author_letter Griffiths; Lady; Kathleen (d 1979); née Wilkes, wife of Sir Percival Griffiths
author2 Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
author2Str Allen; Charles (b 1940); historian and interviewer
format Archive
scb_admin_history British wife of District Officer in Indian Civil Service.
description Audio recording of oral history interview with Lady Kathleen Griffiths, covering the period 1922-1947. Cassette side OA1/32/1: Obtaining position as governess in India. Shipboard romance; prestige of getting engaged to Indian Civil Service officer. Work as governess. Marriage in Dacca. Traumatic journey to Contai substation. Making best of situation; amusing incidents. Visiting primary schools and local medicine dispensaries. Teaching hygiene; contacts with pupils. Efforts to alleviate isolation. Feelings for India. Restrictions during terrorist activity at Midnapore; fears for husband. Cassette side OA1/32/2: Managing servants and household in Contai. Description of Dacca household. Local food and primitive amenities in Contai. Problem of pregnancy in remote area. Transfer to Kalimpong; birth of baby. Separations from children. Evocative smells and sounds of India. Cook's role in shopping. Servants' pay. Problems of protocol. Paternalistic feeling towards Indians. Servants' trustworthiness. Stories illustrating relative status of Briton in India and Britain. Recollections of 'gully gully' man at Port Said.
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: C1510/32/01-02. 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: C1510/32/01-02 Copy available at Imperial War Museum. Reference: 004931/02
scb_related_material Transcript available at SOAS Library. Reference: OA1/32/T
hierarchy_top_id_raw OA1
hierarchy_sequence OA1.0032.001-2

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