[ James Purdey & Sons, Ltd. ] Papers of Managing Director C. Harry Lawrence, inc. revreport on American trip, correspondence (mainly Buckingham Palace officials), report to board, speech to W'ful Company of Gunmakers, photographs, press articles.

Charles Harry Lawrence (hereafter CHL) was perhaps the finest gunmaker of the twentieth century. At the age of 14 he joined James Purdey & Sons as an actioner's apprentice, and he remained with the firm for the rest of his life. For fifteen years, ending in 1970, he was the firm's managing director. He was twice (1954 and 1962) Master of the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers, and was Chairman of the Proof House Committee for 27 years from 1954. Having previously received an MBE for his war work, he was awarded an OBE in 1978. The present archive of his private papers provides a fascinating insight into the workings of Britain's leading firm of gunsmiths. Heading the correspondence is a draft of a letter from CHL to James Orr, Private Secretary to the, setting out the whole process of gunmaking, as part of arrangements for a visit by the Duke of Edinburgh to the firm's factory in Paddington. Orr's own letter is one of ten communications from Royal officials to CHL, indicating the close relationship between Prince Philip and the firm. Among other items present is the typescript of a speech made by CHL in 1950 to the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers, conveying his attachment to his firm and profession. Also a report by CHL to the firm's board, reporting on a tour of the United States in 1955. Also numerous photographs, newspaper and magazine articles, and a number of miscellaneous items, including a results card for a shooting party held at Windsor Castle in 1961. The collection (divided below into five sections: A. Correspondence, etc.; B. Typescripts of Reports and Articles; C. Photographs; D. Newspaper and Magazine Articles; E. Miscellaneous) comprises: A. CORRESPONDENCE, etc. ONE: C. H. Lawrence. Autograph draft of letter to James Orr (1917-2008), Private Secretary to the Duke of Edinburgh. 5pp., 4to. Undated. On three letterheads of the firm's premises, Audley House, 57-58, South Audley Street, W.1. Undated; replying to Orr's letter of 10 January 1961, below (and see also the duplicated itinerary of the visit on Buckingham Palace letterhead, below). Suggesting arrangements for the Duke of Edinburgh's visit to the firm's factory in Paddington. 'When His Royal Highness arrives, I think that it will probably be best to have laid out in one of the Offices every part that goes into the manufacture of a gun so that I can quickly explain every stage to His Royal Highness, so that when he starts going round the works he will be able to appreciate what is going on. Gives precis, over two pages and under twelve numbered headings, of the 'sequence of manufacture', from 'Barrels' to 'Final Finishing'. Postscript: 'I am writing this long hand as only Richard Beaumont & myself know of this visit. TWO: [C. H. Lawrence.] Typescript of speech, proposing a toast to the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers, London. Undated, but in the 313 year of Company's history, i.e. 1950. 68 lines of text, on seven slips of paper, stapled together. With autograph emendations. An emotional address: '[...] "Master" that magic word, how often am I reminded of the Master of this great Company, for I suppose practically every day of my working life I visit the long room at South Audley Street, and there the walls of that room are graced with the shields of the Purdey's who have been Past Masters of this Company. | This House of Gunmakers, to whom [sic] I owe allegiance, and you will please forgive me, gentlemen, for making this point, have in four generations of father to soon been Masters of this Company on no less than 16 occasions, there is no limit, gentlemen, to the service that family can give this great Company, and I believe the House of Barnet has a similar record. [...]' THREE: Eight Typed Letters Signed to CHL, all on Buckingham Palace letterheads: two from Rear-Admiral Christopher Bonham-Carter (1907-1975), Treasurer to the Duke of Edinburgh; three from Orr; and one apiece from: Victoria Lee Barber; Lieut-General Sir Frederick A. M. Browning (1896-1965); and Sir William Heseltine (born 1930). Dating from between 1957 and 1961. Browning's letter of 10 May 1957 indicates the close relationship between the firm and the Duke of Edinburgh: 'The Prince Philip has asked me to write and thank you most sincerely for all the trouble you have taken, and he added that in connection with the guns on the last page, perhaps you would be good enough to arrange to include details in the cases at Sandringham as soon as you collect the necessary information.' On 3 November 1960 Bonham-Carter writes regarding CHL's attendance at a shooting party at Windsor: 'The party will meet in the Quadrangle of the Castle for a 10 a.m. start. You need only bring one gun and 150 cartridges is about right but a reserve supply can easily be kept in the Land Rover. A change of shoes is advisable as we normally have tea in the Castle after shooting. No tips of any sort are given.' (The results card for this shooting party is also present, see below.) Orr's letter of 10 January 1961 accepts CHL's invitation to the Duke of Edinburgh to 'visit your factory and the Long Room at Purdey's', but it is not till 8 September 1961 that Barber finalises arrangements: 'Nearer the time perhaps you could let Mr. Orr know who will receive His Royal Highness and also let him have the names and positions of any one who is to be presented to him.' In the same letter Browning suggests a press anouncement. Bonham-Carter writes informally on 3 November 1961, informing CHL that he is 'blasting away at pheasants - probably low - with Joe Nickerson this Saturday', and asking him to look out for 'one pair second hand Purdeys [...] They are for the Marchese Giorgio Ghislieri who lives in Turin [...] Nor need they be quite so good as the pair you found me for Medici.' FOUR: Sir William Fellowes, the Queen's Land Agent at Sandringham. Two Typed Letters Signed. On 27 September 1954 he writes that the Duke of Edinburgh 'is simply delighted with the guns', and also with a 'proposed catalogue' of the Royal gun collection. 'I told him that we had chosen a leather cover for this catalogue, and that one would be deposited in the Gun Room. He will also want three more copies, cloth bound, one for this Office, and one for Dodd, and one for His Royal Highness's valet. | Before you send this one to Press I had better warn you that he is sending for the Late King's guns. He wishes them to be put in the Gun Room. A new gun case will be made for them. He has collected them from Buckingham Palace. They will, therefore, have to be added to the list.' And on 3 March 1955 Fellowes writes expressing interest regarding CHL's 'tests on various loads in Crimp cartridges'. FIVE: Sir Angus Ogilvy (1928-2004). Autograph Letter Signed ('Angus Ogilvy') to CHL. New York, on letterhead of the International Hotel, Kennedy Airport. 4 December [1970]. 2pp., 8vo. He has seen Victor Seeley, who told him that CHL had decided to retire. 'Many - I am sure - will be as sad as I am to hear this news - because without you somehow Purdeys will never quite be the same. | I would however like to thank you for all the trouble you have taken over the years. You have given us a unique service and I would like you to know how much we have appreciated it. SIX: Typed Letter from CHL's wife and children, signed 'Florence, Pamela, Audrey, Ben'. 22 April 1960. Airmail letter from Tudor House, Gerard Road, Harrow, to CHL at Mayfair House, New York. On family matters. B. TYPESCRIPTS OF REPORTS AND ARTICLES. ONE: Typescript by 'EHJH', titled 'Verbatim Report by Mr. C. H. Lawrence, M.B.E. re his American trip'. Dated 25 November 1955. 2pp., 4to. Apparently an in-house account of a report by CHL to the firm's board. Begins: 'Lord Sherwood said that first of all he would like to say how pleased they all were to have Mr. Lawrence back safely. | Mr. Lawrence said the best place he did business in was [sic] Chicago. Cooks had been very bad in their arrangements. Mr. Purdey had been very helpful. Tom Walton invaluable. Easily our best friend in Chicago and in the whole of the U.S.A. He thought the Board should give some consideration to the possibility of giving him some honorary title or capacity with our Company for all his efforts on our behalf as our unpaid Ambassador.' TWO: Anonymous typescript: 'History of a famous Trade-mark'. 6pp., 4to. Apparently written by an American on a 'recent trip to London', and giving a long and knowledgeable account of a (1960s?) visit to CHL at Audley House. Headings: 'The history of the firm "James Purdey & Sons"', 'Manufacture of a "Purdey"', 'Producing a "Purdey"', 'The Clientele of "Purdey & Sons"'. THREE:. Signed typescript by Roderick Fraser Willett, titled 'Purdeys'. 4pp., folio. Dated 'Slindon, | February 1969.' With a few manuscript corrections. An overview of the firm, apparently written in the 1960s. Willett was an authority on guns and shooting, and author of three books on the subject. FOUR: [Buckingham Palace.] Duplicated typescript itinerary, on blue Buckingham Palace letterhead, titled 'The Duke of Edinburgh visits the Factory and Long Room of James Purdey and Sons Limited | Wednesday, 1st November, 1961'. Dated 25 October 1961. 'Party: The Duke of Edinburgh. | Admiral Bonham-Carter. | Superintendent Kelley. | Dress: Lounge suit.' C. PHOTOGRAPHS. Around 60 photographs of various sizes, almost all black and white. Comprising: ONE. 22 family photographs (with a further 3 duplicates), apparently dating from between 1914 and 1940. Including two of men in army fatigues, boy in school uniform, portrait of four children (Jack, Les, Stella and Edgar Lawrence), young girls and boys, man in 1920s evening dress ('Your Loving Hubby Wimp') and large tinted portrait of young child with pageboy hairdo (CHL?). Also two later colour photographs, and a packet of colour negatives, apparently of a 1970s family holiday. TWO: Five posed photographs of what appear to be Purdey 'beanos'. One of a 1930s formal dinner with around 50 men; one of around 60 men on a barge in the 1920s; two long 1930s photographs showing around 50 men on a Windsor barge named the Empress of India (one with the image of an individual (CHL?) torn away); one of around 30 aged men outside a hostelry named the Spaniard Hotel. THREE: Framed photograph of CHL in Audley House long room with pipe-smoking customer examining a rifle. FOUR: Three photographs (two stamped 'Unretouched proof') of CHL in ceremonial dress (of the Master of the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers?). [1950s?] FIVE: Three photographs of CHL at formal dinners (of the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers?). Apparently dating from the 1960s and 1970s. SIX: Two 35 x 28 cm portraits of CHL holding a rifle at Audley House, the first in the long room and the second in a show room. [1960s?] SEVEN: Four proofs of portrait photographs of CHL, by Allied Photo Service Corp., New York. With larger versions of two of the portraits. [1960s?] EIGHT: Five photographs by Loren Kelley Photography, Chicago, showing CHL at an American trade fair. [1960s?] NINE: Six photographs by Hal Randall, of Millbrae, California. Showing CHL and the firm's stand ('The Purdy Gun in America') at an American trade fair. [1970s?] TEN: Two photographs of coat of arms (CHL's?), with motto 'Ad Perfectionem'. ELEVEN: Portrait photograph of man, inscribed 'To Harry Lawrence without whom our British fortnight would not have been a success | Irving R. '. D. NEWSPAPER AND MAGAZINE ARTICLES. Seventeen articles from British and American newspapers and magazines, 1928-1987, mostly entirely devoted to the firm, and many featuring photographs of CHL. From: 'Shooting Times and British Sportsman', London (obituary of Athol S. Purdy, 1928); 'Dallas Morning News', 1957 ('[...] one of the most distinguished builders of guns in the world, C. Harry Lawrence, managing director of James Purdey & Sons, Ltd., London, England, holds that many Americans overgun themselves [...]'; 'Chicago Daily Tribune', 1955 ('Tailor Styles His "Stock" to Suit. British Firm Fits Shotguns for $1,300, Up'); 'The Times', London, 1958 (with autograph signature of gun collector W. Keith Neal); 'Los Angeles Times', 1960 ('British Custom Gunmaker Says American Public Hunters Lucky'); 'Kilburn Times' (London), 3 November 1961 ('Royal Visitor at World-Famous Gunsmiths', main article (with photographs) on front page); 'Los Angeles Times', 1962; 'Atlanta Journal', 1962 ('A Pretty Gun Is A Purdey Shotgun'); 'Washington Post', 1962 ('Gun-Toters Tour U.S.')'; 'Guns & Ammo' (Los Angeles). 1964 ('The Princely Purdey | Rated as the "Rolls Royce" of the gun world, money can't buy a finer firearm. Here's why by John S. du Mont'); 'Evening Standard', London, 1965; 'The Field Glass' (Marshall Field & Company, Chicago), 1966; 'Daily Mirror', London, 1968 ('Your gun sir, made to measure at £1,100', beginning: 'The Purdey, in case you're not already a member of the shooting set, is the Rolls-Royce of the gun world.'; undated (1960s) article by Kent Biffle from unnamed American newspaper, titled 'London Firearms Firm Director Tailors Custom Guns to People | Conservative Model: $1,700'; 'The Field', London, 1984 (obituary of CHL titled 'Gun master'; 'Sunday Times', London, 1987 (with photograph of chairman Richard Beaumont in Purdey long room); 'Daily Telegraph', London, 1987. E. MISCELLANEOUS. ONE: CHL's printed Windsor Great Park shooting card, completed in manuscript with details of a shoot by him and members of Buckingham Palace staff, on 12 December 1960 (referred to in letter by Bonham-Carter, 3 November 1960, above). Others present: Sir Arthur Bromley, Sir John Aird, Col. C. A. Leatham, C. Bonham-Carter, James Orr and Martin Charteris. Beat: 'The Long Walk and Bears Rails'. Itemised list of 175 'Game Killed' ('Includes Pick-up: 1 pheasant'). In franked Royal envelope addressed to CHL at South Audley Street. TWO: Two printed menus for a 'Celebration Luncheon | CHL | at the Devonshire Club on Monday 9th March at 1p.m.' Year not stated. 'Toasts to C. H. Lawrence, Esq., M.B.E. by L. J. Pearce, Esq. Master Worshipful Company of Gunmakers and W. R. H. Robson, Esq. President The Gun Trade Association'. THREE: Christmas card to CHL, 'Audrey and Pamela', signed by Purdey chairman Richard Beaumont and his wife.?>