Catalogue

Picture of young child (Robert Dobson?) in push chair on garden path outside the window of an unidentified house, n.d. [1880s]

Lally Letham's Will: A Tale of the Great City by A. Rycroft Taylor, an illustrated book presented to Robert Johnston Dobson by the teachers of Newfield Primitive Methodist Sunday School for reciting at the anniversary, 1892 Annotated with details of the birth of John Dobson (4 March 1887 and Madge Dobson (10 June ??)

Studio photograph of Robert Dobson as a young man taken by Science and Art Photo Company, Saddler Street, Durham, also South Shields and Sunderland, n.d. [1905 -7?]

Memorial card in memory of Alexander Stewart, beloved husband of Mary Stewart of Benwell, who was accidentally killed at Montagu Colliery, Scotswood, aged 48 years , [?father of Sarah Ellen Stewart later Mrs. Robert Dobson], 27 August 1903

Letter written to Mr. Robert Dobson, c/o Mrs. Smith, 12 Hall Terrace, Willington, from Miss Sallie [Sarah Ellen] Stewart of 37 Bond Street, Benwell, reporting that she arrived home safely and that she was looking forward to seeing him in a fortnight, 13 September 1905

Studio photograph of Sarah Ellen Stewart (who became Mrs. Robert Dobson), taken by Edward G. Bewis, artist photographer, Victoria Art Studios, 8-10 New Bridge Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, n.d. [1905-7]

Photograph of Starbeck, Harrogate, described by Mrs. S.E. Dobson as 'The house where we lodged when we were on our honeymoon', n.d. [1906-7?]

Family studio photograph of Mr. and Mrs. R. Dobson and their children, Elsie and Fred, n.d. [1914?]

Birth certificate of Elsie Dobson, born on 21 November 1908, 22 December 1908

Copy of the baptism certificate of Elsie Dobson issued by Rev. Charles Crabtree, Primitive Methodist Minister, Willington, 10 January 1909

Unidentifed photograph of school children outside Willington School [probably including Elsie and Fred Dobson], [1914-18?]

Unidentified photograph of school children outside Willington School including Fred Dobson (third from the right on the front row), n.d. [1915-16?]

Coloured congratulations postcard of two children with blossom , sent as a birthday card to Elsie Dobson, from her grandma, 21 November 1913

Studio photograph of Robert Dobson in army corporal's uniform, n.d. [1914-18]

"A Soldier's verse letter" with a verse called 'At the Camp' and a picture of a soldier by a camp fire on one side of the postcard; on the other side is a message from Robert Dobson, Bordon, Hants., to his wife at 12 Bainbridge Avenue, Willington, 9 February 1918

Letter to Robert Johnston Dobson, 12 Bainbridge Avenue, Willington, from P.S. Daniel, Lieut. Col. in Command of Records, Record Office, Preston, sending him the British War and Victory Medal "which would have been conferred upon Private F. Dobson, No. 17712, Border Regiment had he lived, in memory of his services with the British Forces during the Great War" (1914-18), 16 May 1922

Letter to Elsie Dobson, 27 Bellevue Terrace, Willington, from Alastair S., 15 Melville Terrace, Edinburgh, referring to a recent visit to her in Willington, telling her of his activities and suggesting a meeting soon, 7 August 1934

Letter to Elsie Dobson, 27 Belle Vue Terrace, Willington, from Alastair (S?), 15 Melville Terrace, Edinburgh, describing his golfing activities and suggesting a meeting at Morpeth, 10 August 1934

Photograph of Elsie Dobson, aged thirty, n.d. [1938]

Letter to Elsie Dobson from her mother, father and brother, Fred, all looking forward to seeing her over Christmas, 19 (December 1939-48?)

Letter to Elsie Dobson from her father telling her of problems about working at Nicholson's Bakery when a chimney of one of the ovens collapsed and blowlamps were needed to melt ice on scaffolding; he was swept off his ladder by an avalanche of snow from the roof and damaged his knee; he thinks that Britain will win the war when the politicians wake up to the danger, 12 February 1942

Letter to Elsie Dobson from her mother and father telling that her brother, Fred, had left for initial army training at Dumbarton and how much they are looking forward to seeing her for Christmas, 17 December 1942

Letter to Elsie Dobson, Marquette, Greenway, Burnham, Bucks., from Arthur [Mills], Stranrear, Scotland, telling her that he is about to leave for duty in Ireland, 12 July 1943

A 2nd Tactical Air Force of the Royal Air Force Christmas Card (depicting the route from the D Day beach-head through Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin and back to the United Kingdom) sent to Elsie Dobson from Arthur [Mills], Christmas 1944

Envelope sent to Miss E. Dobson, c/o 798 Western Road, Slough Trading Estate, Slough, Bucks, from Corporal A.T. Mills, 1655710, R.A.F., B.A.F.O., checked by R.A.F. censor 36, 24 July 194? For enclosures see: D/X 1070/26-7

Photograph of a Bailey Bridge over the Elbe at Luneburg, Germany, taken in 1945 by Corporal Arthur Mills, R.A.F., and sent to Elsie Dobson, 798 Western Road, Slough Trading Estate, Slough, Bucks., 1945

Photograph of a group of men taken outside 'our information post at Luneberg, Germany, [identified as "Crinkly"?, Army/Military Police Interpreter, and Corporal J. Huntington, R.A.F. Police, "age 32 and not married"], sent by corporal Arthur Mills, R.A.F., to Elsie Dobson, 798 Western Road, Slough Trading Estate, Slough, Bucks., n.d. [1945]

V.E. Day, May 1945: Message to relatives and friends of all members of 2nd Tactical Air Force, R.A.F., from Air Marshall Sir Arthur Coningham, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief; also giving a brief history of the 2nd Tactical Air Force, sent to Elsie Dobson by Arthur [Mills], May 1945

Telegram sent to Elsie Dobson, 4 Crabourne Road, Salt Hill, Slough, from her brother, Fred Dobson, informing her that he is home on a month's leave, 27 October 1945

Letter to Elsie Dobson from her mother, telling her that she has not been well, her father and Fred have plenty of work particularly with roof repairs; she includes news of Willington acquaintances and disapproves of Elsie moving to new lodgings, 27 February 1948

Telegram to Dobson [Elsie?], 3 Almondville, Burnham, Bucks. from an unidentified person in Birmingham giving the message "Paddington 10.30 a.m. = Olympic" [possibly a meeting prior to a visit to the Olympic Games at Wembley], 9 August 1948

National Registration Identity Card re-issued to Elsie Dobson of 27 Belle Vue, Willington, 24 August 1948

Photograph of Fred Dobson in army uniform with three small photographs of him as a small boy attached to it, n.d. [1942-5 (large photograph) and 1914-18 (small photographs)

Greetings from India Christmas air letter sent to Mr. and Mrs. R.J. Dobson, 27 Belle Vue, Willington, from their son, Fred Dobson, sapper no. 14384691, 58 Field Company Royal Engineers, India Command, 29 October 1944

Thanks to Fred Dobson from the Willington Town Welcome Home Fund Committee for his contributions in the 1939-45 war, n.d. [1945]

Photograph of the lychgate at Willington Church with clergy, choirboys, soldiers and members of the public (possibly the dedication service?); the gate was built by Robert and Fred Dobson, as a memorial to the church members who lost their lives in the Second World War, n.d. [late 1940s]

Certified copy of the death certificate of Frederick Stewart Dobson, retired hotelier, of 21 Lang's Road, Preston, Paignton, Devon, registered on 24 September 1984, 15 October 1984

Photograph of a group of unidentified women in checked gingham dresses, short aprons and dutch style headresses, at Willington, n.d. [1920s?]

Studio photograph of unidentified young man, n.d. [1930s?]