Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1877-1918 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
3 items, paper
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Born at 19 Waverley Road, Liverpool. Attended Liverpool High School from the age of 13 to 16. In 1896 she entered Froebel College in Birmingham run by Miss Bishop and Miss Last for Kindergarden training. In 1898 she and her family spent the summer holidays at Ballaigner in the Jura Mountains and met Lady Burne-Jones (Aunt of Rudyard Kipling). She was later asked by Lady Burne-Jones to spend a fortnight with her at North End House, Rottindean looking after Angela and Denis who were staying with her whilst their parents were away.
She met Mrs Kipling whilst staying with Lady Burne-Jones. Mrs Carrie Kipling asked her to look after her children, Elsie and John (aged 5 and 3) whilst their nurse as on holiday for a month. She was then asked to accompany the family to South Africa in December 1900.
After their return she worked partly for herself (embroidery) and travelled in the United States and Canada. She then spent 10 years working for Mr (later Sir) Robert Hudson and his daughter Dorothy in Westminster. This ended once Dorothy turned 21. Sylvia moved to the house she had bought in Hampstead Garden Suburbs. She lived on money she earned embroidering children's clothes, an annuity left by Sir Robert, and an allowance from her mother.
In 1916 she acted as Matron of a rest home for retired Army sisters and nurses near Monte Carlo.
Archival history
The diary was written in the house of the father of Charlotte Stevens, wife of Professor John Stevens (Emeritus Professorial Fellow of Magdalene College). The diary was sent to Charlotte Stevens by an unnamed niece or nephew of Sylvia after her death.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Documents that belonged to Sylvia Thompson, governess to the children of Rudyard Kipling.