| Description | Family correspondence of Jedediah Strutt (1726-1797), his successors and relations by marriage; letters from national figures including:
Samuel Oldknow (d. 1828) cotton mill owner (D5303/23)
Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) philosopher, writer and advocate of 'utilitarianism' (D5303/29) and his brother Sir Samuel Bentham (1757-1831), naval architect and engineer (D5303/44)
James Watt junior (1769-1848), son of James Watt and also a partner in Boulton and Watt (D5303/45)
Joseph Lancaster (1778-1839), the educational reformer, Quaker, and founder of the Lancastrian schools (D5303/46)
Richard Lovell Edgeworth (1744-1817), the Irish author, inventor and friend of Erasmus Darwin (D5303/47/1-8), his daughter Maria Edgeworth (1767-1849), the novelist and advocate of education for women (D5303/67, 69, 75)
John Romilly (1802-1874), 1st Baron Romilly and son of Sir Samuel Romilly (D5303/78)
Joseph Chamberlain (1836-1914), the Birmingham businessman and politician |
| Administrative History | Jedediah Strutt (1726-1797), cotton spinner, developed patents with William Woollat in 1758-1759 and went into partnership with Richard, later Sir Richard, Arkwright (1732-1792). Strutt and his family exchanged correspondence with a wide variety of people, including Samuel Oldknow (d. 1828) cotton mill owner, Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) philosopher, Sir Samuel Bentham (1757-1831), naval architect and engineer, James Watt junior (1769-1848), Joseph Lancaster (1778-1839) educational reformer, Richard Lovell Edgeworth (1744-1817) Irish author and inventor, Maria Edgeworth (1767-1849) novelist, Lord John Romilly (1802-1874), Joseph Chamberlain (1836-1914) businessman and politician. |
| Custodial History | Transferred from Derby Local Studies Library in October 2000. Nothing more is known of the provenance of these letters. |