ARCHIVE.
Evans, Marie de Grasse. Manuscript Archive. 1863-1917.
A collection of seven discrete book length works, along with numerous additional items, by
American born Marie de Grasse Stevens Van Wart, daughter of Daniel Webster’s friend the
Honorable Samuel Stevens of Albany, New York, and widow of Irving Van Wart.
Evans was also a member of the National Women’s Anti-Suffrage
League. In 1872 Marie remarried – the English banker and Liberal politician Francis Henry
Evans – and became Lady Evans on his being knighted in 1893. (He was made a baronet in
1902.) Also in 1893 Marie – sister of novelist Augusta de Grasse Stevens – published, as “Mrs.
Frank Evans,” a collection of four stories with Cassell & Co. of London.
1. Manuscript drafts of three speeches: first at a ‘Sale of Work’ at the Fulham Branch of the
British Women’s Temperance Association; second at the ‘F.C.G.G.’ (a ‘Woman’s Guild’); third
at the [Liberal Party?] ‘L.S.C.’ Draft of speech at the Fulham branch of the British Women’s
Temperance Association dated 6 March 1917; draft of other two speeches without place or date.
Item One (BTWA): 15pp., 12mo. First page headed ‘1 | Sale of Work. March 6 1917 | British
Women Tem. Association | Fulham’ The first ten pages, numbered by Lady Evans, carry the
speech; the eleventh page is a synopsis; the twelfth carries two quotations; and the last three
pages carry quotations from ‘Pilgrims Progress’, ‘Abraham Lincoln’ and ‘The King’. The speech
begins ‘Mrs Dixon - Mrs Roberts & Ladies | I thank you for yr. very kind welcome - | When I
received the flattering invitation of yr. committee to undertake for the 2nd. time this agreeable
little ceremony I felt a little diffident - having the welfare of the Association very much at heart -
I thought a new & fresh interest might be of more advantage - Since I was overruled - I am left to
think that a known acquaintance is of some value’. She states that she is ‘what they call a Pacifist
- I am thinking only of a just & honorable Peace - because it does seem a little nearer - & it is
wise & right of us to consider how we shall prepare for it.’ Item Two (FCGG): 14pp., 12mo, with
additions on 2pp., 16mo. With synopsis and page carrying quotation from Wordsworth. The
speech begins: ‘1 | When I received the invitation to again address the annual meeting of the
F.C.G.G. I knew at once that I would accept it. I am more than appreciative of the compliment -
also I am conscious of the fact - that I am not a new & fresh spirit in this enterprise - but if any
ideas of mine are the smallest help - or encouragement to any of the women & girl [sic] in
sympathy with our Guild - it is my happiness to offer them for whatever they are worth.’ During
the course of the speech she recalls ‘Mr King speaking of Ruskin’s belief of character as
displaying itself in words’, and asserts: ‘Ours is a women’s Guild - & we are all workers -’ She
concludes by giving her ‘sincerest wishes for the continued prosperity of the F.C.G.G.’ Item
Three (LSC): 3pp., 12mo. The speech opens: ‘I rise with great pleasure to second this vote of
thanks to the speakers. From time immemorial women have been accredited with a large share of
the gift of speech. Be this as it may we well know that most women shrink from the ordeal of a
large hall & a keen audience even if sympathetic. I claim for my sex another gift - a gift that has
been encouraged & cultivated & abundantly made use of by the L.S.C.’ She concludes by
describing ‘unity & earnestness’ as ‘the heart & soul of Liberalism’. Item Three is accompanied
by a draft (2pp., 12mo) of a letter by Lady Evans, beginning ‘I have heard from the Central
Committee that you are proposing to join the L.S.C. I write to ask you since you are in sympathy
with Liberalism if you will not join the Kent Branch of this society - There is so much to be done
in the County - & so few ladies who find themselves prepared’. Lady Evans’s country hous
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