| The Quakers in Chichester |
Working Notes and Chronology 5 |
| .1911 - 1967 |
| .. |
| Michael Woolley 1999 |
| This Internet Edition last revised 18 September 2006 |
| .... |
| Number (column two) refers to documents in the associated hard copy (blue) files which are held by the Preparative Meeting Librarian |
| Date | Number | Source 1 | Source 2 | Content |
| 1911 | James Walvin The Quakers Money and Morals p200 | The 1911 National Insurance Act introduced when Lloyd George was Chancellor and Churchill President of the Board of Trade. [Rowntree's study had reached a remarkable conclusion] | ||
| 1913 | 171 | Chichester Papers 26 | The building of the 1812 Lancastrian Girls on East Walls demolished for the Shipphams factory [see 1812 - this does not appear correct MW 1999] | |
| 1916 | 11 | RR Morgan | Ground plans of Friar's Gate and curtilage | |
| 1916 | Story of Quakerism 253ff | Thanks to the efforts of Quakers the Conscription Act included a conscience clause - however in the fever of war some were conscripted and imprisoned -even sent to France that they might be shot as deserters (though this was commuted) Throughout the war Friends' Meetings were interrupted, even mobbed many times. Medical work of various kinds was undertaken, the Friends' Ambulance Unit formed, Famine relief organised. | ||
| 1917 | 227 | MW contemporaneous note from Friends House Library | Carl Heath suggested the establishment of Quaker Embassies (Houses) for International Service | |
| 1920 | 170 | Brighton Strongroom | Worthing restarted | |
| 1921 | 188 | Edward Hamper lecture p 268 | Friends Quarterly post 10th month 1979 | The Arundel War Memorial erected on the site of Hamper's well. |
| 1923 | MW contemporaneous note from Friends House Library | Leslie Metcalf spent a year in the USSR as an electrical engineer | ||
| 1925 | 6 | Friends House Library | Lewes and Chichester MM ix 1925 | Meetings were being held again |
| 1925 | 15 | WC Stewart (notes) | Meetings again held regularly till 1932 | |
| 1925 | 136 | MM Minutes | p85 | 16/9/25 Robert Penney has given particulars as to the meetings held in the MH in Chichester by visitors to Selsey and others...[Pleasure in the news]... Clerk directed to write to William and Beatrice Hobson/ Stanley Carter offer [help] |
| 1925 | 136 | MM Minutes | p90 | 21/10/25 Might be possible to hold meetings once a month during the winter |
| 1925 | 136 | MM Minutes | 289 | An adult school worker came to reside in a
neighboring town and with his help local Friends decided to reopen the MH one Sunday a
month. This developed into a Meeting every other Sunday. Report of the Small Meetings Committee for 1930, minuted 14/3/31. |
| 1925 | 136 | MM Minutes | p115 | 12/6/26 Average attendance 14. Wm Hobson suggests meeting twice a month: encouraged by MM |
| 1926 | 6 | Friends House Library | YM Proc 1931 | Became an allowed meeting |
| 1930 | 136 | MM Minutes | p246 | 19/2/30 We have now read the QM minute about the closed MH at Chichester [committee appointed including Ronald Littleboy] to discuss the re-opening with local Friends |
| 1930 | 136 | MM Minutes | p250 | 10/3/30 Committee...reports they hope meetings will shortly be started again. We ask Bertram Southall and Albert Dainey to have done whatever internal repairs are necessary |
| 1930 | 136 | MM Minutes | p254 | 16/4/30 Recommended to accept F Hills tender of £16.8.0. Meetings are expected to be restarted shortly |
| 1930 | 136 | MM Minutes | p259 | The first Sunday Meeting was held 15/6/30 |
| 1930 | 136 | MM Minutes | p259 | 21/6/30 Repairs reported complete |
| 1930 | 136 | MM Minutes | p278 | 19/11/30 Agree to use of MH by NUR |
| 1930 | 136 | MM Minutes | p280 | 31/12/30 Annual return: members 16 (-1) attenders 3 (+2) |
| 1930 | 136 | MM Minutes | p289 | We are informed that during the whole of the last year meetings were held every Sunday morning. Attendances were small but helped by visitors especially in the summer months.. Report of the Small Meetings Committee for 1930, minuted 14/3/31. |
| 1930 | 6 | Friends House Library | YM Proc 1932 | Meeting discontinued |
| 1931 | 25 | Notes, author unknown | Burial ground leased to Chichester Corporation | |
| 1931 | Trust Property Book 1939 | Chichester, Burial Ground, Rumboldswhyke
(South side of Bognor Road). Freehold, by deed of enlargement 1931, originally leasehold
for 1000 years from 1673 at a rent of 4d per year, last payment seems to have been about
1699. Twenty Burials are recorded between 1660 and 1779 as at Rumboldswhyke, but probably a number of those recorded simply as at Chichester were also buried there. In 1931, a strip of land was dedicated to the public for road widening and the remainder leased to Chichester Corporation as a rest garden with commemorative tablet. Annual value, 5/- paid to QM funds. |
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| 1931 | 136 | MM Minutes | p303 | 15/7/31 Property Committee pays £7.7.0 to light Chichester MH by gas |
| 1931 | 136 | MM Minutes | p313 | 18/11/1931 It is reported that the Allowed Meeting at Chichester has been discontinued for the winter months. |
| 1931 | Story of Quakerism 270 | Friends' House Hubert Lidbetter, Bronze medal of RIBA | ||
| 1932 | 15 | WC Stewart (notes) | Christian Alliance cancelled a meeting as it could be detrimental to the caretaker's health. The caretaker (who lived on the premises) died 1936 | |
| 1935 | 86 | Millington | ??? her researches:[oral memory?] | In Nov 1939 the Meeting was repaired and painted outside and was let to the Chichester Christian Spiritualist Church for a period of two years. When the lease expired (Feb 1942) Friends started regular meetings for worship again |
| 1939 | Quarterly Meeting draft minutes 2/2/40 | Lewes MM reports that Chichester MH has been let to the Chichester Christian Spiritualist Church at £1 month for two years from 1st November 1939 | ||
| 1939 | 6 | Friends House Library | YM Proc 1941 | Allowed meeting started again |
| 1940 | 217 | The Friend 3rd May 1991 | [Ian Serraillier] went to Birmingham for his Tribunal and was registered as a conscientious objector on condition that he continued teaching English, did ARP work,helped at Quaker work camps, and loaned his car to the Friends Ambulance Unit | |
| 1940 | Worthing Minutes 1939 - 46 p52 | 21st July Seven members went to Chichester for a special afternoon meeting in the MH when they met others round the district and had fellowship and a good social time. Twenty one present | ||
| 1940 | Worthing Minutes 1939 - 46 p62 | 7th January MM has agreed to the request of Friends at Chichester that their meeting should be recognized as allowed | ||
| 1941 | Quarterly Meeting draft minutes 23/10/41 | It is reported that the lease granted to the Spiritualist church expires on 31st inst and will not be extended as Friends now require the building for their own use | ||
| 1941 | 86 | Millington | ??? her researches:[oral memory?] | February: Friends started regular meetings for worship again |
| 1941 | 175 | Brief History of Upper Chichester | "The municipality [of Upper Chichester] became a first class township on December 30th 1941 and is 6.4 square miles" | |
| 1942 | 20 | Contemporanious note of conversation with Guy Stringer, Oxford Meeting, Oxfam founder member. | Oxford Committee for Famine Relief founded by 42 Quakers with one or two others who wrote to ex-students and others raising £3000 for Greece, then in enemy hands. Sent via Red Cross. Br cabinet threatened imprisonment if they did it again. Later changed name to Oxfam to save Telegraph fees! | |
| 1942 | Story of Quakerism 286 | Quaker team worked in Belson only 6 days after it was liberated | ||
| 1945 | Story of Quakerism286 | Many young Germans were brought to England as guests of Friends' schools and Friends' meetings.... | ||
| 1946 | Quarterly Meeting draft minutes 6/3/46 | Arundel ... we agree to the premises sale for two thousand pounds subject to ... (Hamper estate) | ||
| 1946 | Quarterly Meeting draft minutes 20/7/46 | We agree that local meetings may under present conditions repaint the outside of their MH and do any necessary outside repairs as labour is available.... | ||
| 1946 | 137 | The leaves have lost their trees p66 | Notes on Darke and Hess | After the war desparate for news of his parents he went to Germany... |
| 1946 | 217 | The Friend 3rd May 1991 | The Friend was an important source for the novel [The Silver Sword] Sellotaped into the plotbook is a stash of clippings from the Friend of 1946 containing reports of Friends Relief Service work in Germany and Poland... | |
| 1946 | Story of Quakerism 288 | Nobel Peace Prize | ||
| 1947 | 6 | Friends House Library | YM Proc 1948 | Again established as a particular meeting |
| 1947 | 241 | Friends House Library | Godfrey Mace, ex clerk Hampstead (1935-39), became clerk at Chichester 1947/48 | |
| 1947 | 58 | The Friend? | August 1947 p121 | After a lapse of some 40 years Lewes and Chichester MM has again been held at the Cathedral City of Chichester, Sussex..... |
| 1947 | 239 | Photographs | After the MM showing Ronald Littleboy on the left/ Interior - printers masters | |
| 1947 | Chichester Minutes | QM 19/7/47 recognizes Chichester as a Particular Meeting, first PM 7/9/47 records thanks to Worthing under whose charge Chi was while an AM. | ||
| 1947 | Chichester Minutes | Let to Spiritualists renewed | ||
| 1947 | Chichester Minutes | Internal decoration and repair, two Friends (John and Ursula Drill) pay for electric light and heat installation | ||
| 1947 | 127 | Chichester Minutes | Chi Observer | 11/10/47 Letter published in the Chichester
Observer from the clerk Godfrey Mace, "... Members of the Society of Friends deeply
deplore the remarks of the Dean of Chichester in his recent Battle of Britain address
which can only intensify the prevailing atmosphere of distrust and despair; and hinder the
work of the United Nations Organisation and all who seek to promote international
goodwill." For biographical notes on Godfrey Mace see 219 / 241 |
| 1947 | 240 | Press cutting | Actual cutting of the above item - printers master | |
| 1947 | Chichester PM Minutes | 19/1/47 "Atomic Power a Quaker Reply" together with minute of Meeting for sufferings on conscription, sent to thirty six clergy in the district. | ||
| 1947 | Chichester PM Minutes | Food parcels from America allocated | ||
| 1947 | Chichester PM Minutes | We decide to send a food parcel each month to the Russian Zone in Germany | ||
| 1947 | 11 | RR Morgan | Ground plans | |
| 1948 | Chichester PM Minutes | Letter received from two POWs who met with us last year. We are pleased to know that Hans Netz is back with his family again. | ||
| 1948 | Chichester PM Minutes | MH let to WEA | ||
| 1948 | Chichester PM Minutes | Concern about MH wall and arch. Hubert Lidbetter asked for advice | ||
| 1948 | Chichester PM Minutes | Agreement with Spiritualists for them to rent three times a week | ||
| 1948 | Chichester PM Minutes | Death watch beetle is active in the MH, MM consulted about this and the condition of the outside wall and arch. H Lidbetter will visit the premises 7th October. | ||
| 1948 | 169 | Photograph | Chichester Meeting House Priory Road | |
| 1949 | Chichester PM Minutes | We have considered the future of the Meeting in the light of reduced numbers and active members.....a meeting for worship each Sunday is becoming more difficult. | ||
| 1949 | Chichester PM Minutes | We have considered again the future of the Chichester Meeting. It is the clear wish of Friends that we continue to meet each Sunday....We encourage our Friends in Littlehampton to arrange a meeting occasionally in their own district if they feel it right to do so. | ||
| 1949 | Chichester PM Minutes | 7/5/50 H Lidbetter recommends that the north gable of the MH needs to be rebuilt from the level of the attic window cills... work to be a charge on QM funds...we decide to ask the builders to distemper the china cupboard when the work is done. | ||
| 1950 | Chichester PM Minutes | Eric Millington has reminded us of the continued need for clothing to be collected particularly for refugees in Germany... | ||
| 1950 | Chichester PM Minutes | We decide to defer making improvements to the outbuildings but to point out to QM that this work might become necessary later. | ||
| 1950 | 241 | Friends' House Library | Godfrey Mace, clerk 1947-48, again clerk Chichester PM 1950-51 | |
| 1950 | Chichester PM Minutes | We are glad to learn that Friends who have been meeting in Littlehampton have had their Meeting recognized as an Allowed Meeting......We are interested to hear the proposal to hold a meeting in Bognor once a month as an experiment.... | ||
| 1951 | Chichester PM Minutes | Spiritualists want a Saturday afternoon meeting and a large exterior noticeboard "...we feel that if this church wishes to extend its activities the time has come when it should seek other accommodation..." | ||
| 1951 | Chichester PM Minutes | 1/5/51 We are clear that we can no longer sustain a meeting in Chichester every Sunday....We are agreed that worship will be 1st and 3rd Sunday only...that Bognor will continue 2nd.. be encouraged 4th...that the Meeting should become the Chichester and Bognor Meeting | ||
| 1951 | Chichester PM Minutes | The Spiritualists have erected a large noticeboard against the express wishes of the Meeting....the apologise and agree to change it....and cooperate "over the condition of the premises generally and in particular the cupboard". | ||
| 1951 | 227 | MW contemporaneous note from Friends House Library | Leslie Metcalf Chair of a delegation of British Quakers visiting Russia | |
| 1951 | Chichester PM Minutes | Eric Millington reports that Bognor has rented a room at Den House. | ||
| 1951 | Chichester PM Minutes | 4/5/52 We have been glad to welcome Florence Sarville of Concord Monthly Meeting Philadelphia...we ask her to write to the Chichester Meeting Pennsylvania. | ||
| 1952 | 241 | Friends' House Library | Godfrey Mace Chichester MM clerk 1952-1957 | |
| 1952 | Chichester & Bognor PM Minutes | The Bognor Congregationalists offer their church parlour for Meetings. | ||
| 1953 | 40 | Chichester Observer | The front gable was removed when it began to bulge ominously | |
| 1955 | Chichester & Bognor PM Minutes | We approve spending on the rehabilitation and upkeep of the garden | ||
| 1955 | Chichester & Bognor PM Minutes | A correspondent appointed for race relations | ||
| 1955 | Chichester & Bognor PM Minutes | 3/7/55 No money has been received from the C C
Spiritualists since December in spite of repeated requests for payment. Agreed a) that the
treasurer makes a further demand b) that the clerk gives one month's notice from the end
of July, for the agreement to terminate at the end of August as Friends feel they would
like the MH to themselves. 4/9/55 We agree to allow the use of the premises [by the Spiritualists] during September it being clearly understood that there can be no further extension |
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| 1955 | Chichester & Bognor PM Minutes | In view of the larger attendances in recent
months there is a need for the MH to again be open every week. We feel that this should be
done experimentally until the end of September and that from now on a meeting for worship
should be held every Sunday at 3pm also that a notice to that effect should be put in the paper |
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| 1956 | 217 | The Friend 3rd May 1991 | Publication of "The Silver Sword" by Ian Serrailler | |
| 1957 | Chichester & Bognor PM Minutes | Having read the minute from MM [on boundries] we feel there would be many advantages in making the areas smaller and more compact... | ||
| 1957 | Chichester & Bognor PM Minutes | 1/10/57 We believe the more regular gathering
has strengthened our meeting...we decide to continue to meet every Sunday. Friends at
Bognoe Regis will contue to meet on 2nd and 4th Sundays. ... we ask MM to seek QM approval
for Chichester becoming once again a Particular Meeting. Also for BR to become an AM under
the care of Chichester Meeting. 19/10/57 QM agrees, is "pleased to welcome Chichester Friends as a Particular Meeting." |
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| 1957 | 29 | Notes, author unknown | AE Russell spoke at the tercentenary meeting | |
| 1957 | 217 | The Friend 3rd May 1991 | "The Silver Sword" by Ian Serrailler a radio serial and subsequently filmed for Children's television | |
| 1958 | 241 | Friends' House Library | Godfrey Mace clerk to Sussex Surrey and Hampshire Quarterly Meeting 1958 - 63 | |
| 1958 | 220 | Chichester Papers 26 | Lancastrian Schools opened on the Basin Road site | |
| 1958 | 217 | The Friend 3rd May 1991 | News Chronical 24th March 1958 | "The Silver Sword" voted one of the twelve most popular programmes on TV |
| 1958 | Chichester PM Minutes | 2/3/58 BR Friends desire to hold a Meeting for Worship every Sunday. We agree... and set in hand the necessary arrangements with the Congregationalists. | ||
| 1958 | Chichester PM Minutes | 6/4/58 We agree to allow the use of the MH for an initial meeting of representatives of various organisations to try and form a committee in support of CND [further meeting allowed 10/11/58] | ||
| 1958 | Chichester PM Minutes | Arrangements for younger children to be gathered together more regularly than at present [there are increasing numbers of children] | ||
| 1958 | Chichester PM Minutes 7/12/58 | "In view of the removal from the district of Godfrey Mace..." [ There is a reference to the family two months earlier so presumably they moved around November 1958 MW 2001] | ||
| 1962 | 139 | Letter from MM | 24/9/62 £150 grant pound for pound, for improvement | |
| 1962 | 140 | Letter to Friends' House | 9/10/62 "...£200 still needed..." [Total cost for toilet facilities, renovation of upstairs room and fitted sink £535] Grant made | |
| 1963 | 142 | Letter from MM | 22/5/63 "...as the committee had before them both the earlier and this present plan...feel the kitchen would prove to be too small..." | |
| 1963 | 143 | Letter from PM Clerk | 3/7/63 "... MM clerk stressed the need to think in terms of a bold imaginative scheme..." | |
| 1963 | 143 | Letter from MM | 5/9/63 "...new plan...the new layout is a tremendous improvement on earlier schemes..." | |
| 1963 | 144 | Letter from MM | 10/9/63 "...is the side entrance really necessary?..." | |
| 1963 | 40 | Chichester Observer | First application | Planning application first made |
| 1963 | 122 | District Planning Office | rejected | 9/10/63 Planning permission refused |
| 1963 | 144 | BF Accounts | 31/10/63 Balance in hand £445.0.3d Promises for £590 | |
| 1963 | 145 | MM Finance Com minutes | 9/11/63 Estimate from Harfield approved £3,051.16.0 | |
| 1963 | 146 | Grant application | 17/11/63 57 members including Bognor Regis | |
| 1964 | 147 | Letter from Fhouse | 7/1/64 ....loan of £600 and grant of £400... | |
| 1964 | 122 | Internal memo | Second application | This is quite acceptable as was the first
application. It's this sort of idiotic decision by the City, amounting merely to interference with the detailing of a perfectly competent architect that brings design control into disregard Memo from Area Planning Officer to City Planning Officer 31/1/64 |
| 1964 | 148 | Letter from architect | 13/3/64 ...City Council....only way to satisfy their stringent requirements...[plan] | |
| 1964 | 149
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Letter from MM | rejected | 15/4/64 ...sorry to hear the City Council will not approve the elevation... |
| 1964 | 150 | Letter to MM | Third application passed | 8/6/64 ...the latest plan has been accepted and approved by them [City Council] |
| 1964 | 151 | Minute MM Finance Committee | MM rejects | 13/6/64 ...we feel unable to approve the present plan... |
| 1964 | 151 | Dorothy Darke | Fourth application | 11/7/64 ...town planner suggests we resubmit the first proposal... |
| 1964 | 152 | Letter from MM | rejected | 20/10/64 ....I was very sorry that.....the latest plans have been turned down... |
| 1964 | 145 | BF Accounts | 31/10/64 Balance in hand £3670.17.7 Plus loan if required £600 | |
| 1964 | 152 | Dorothy Darke | Fifth and sixth applications | 2/11/64 ....the architect has had a meeting with Councillor O'Reilly who can see no reason why they have been turned down .... Deputy City Surveyor of same opinion....resubmitting with a request for re-consideration. |
| 1964 | 122 | District Planning Office | rejected | Application refused 30/11/64 |
| 1964 | 122 | District Planning Office | rejected | Application refused 11/12/64 |
| 1965 | 241 | Friends' House Library | Godfrey Mace became Yearly Meeting Clerk 1965 - 69 | |
| 1965 | 154 | Letter from MM | Appealed | 18/1/65 ... Planning Committee's further deferment....MM Finance committee felt .... this matter be taken to appeal. |
| 1965 | 155 | Letter from MM | 24/2/65 ... The Bishop would like to be put in touch with some Friend who could show him the premises and explain the situation.... | |
| 1965 | 159 | Letter to F House | In March 1965 Chichester Friends altered the times of their Sunday meetings for worship from every Sunday afternoon and two mornings per month to every Sunday morning and two afternoons. This resulted in very much larger attendances ... | |
| 1965 | 155 | Letter from Alan Stevens (treasurer) | 9/4/65 ...the tortuous journey...has brought to some minds...starting off with another conception...a complete new building... | |
| 1965 | 57, 234 (Printers master) | The Friend | September 24 1965 p1140 and cover | Chichester Friends said au revoir recently to Lesley and Harriet Metcalf ... [Photo of old building exterior] |
| 1965 | 126 | David Tregear | Leslie and Harriet Metcalf wardens of the Quaker Centre in Vienna | |
| 1965 | 156 | Letter to Dennis Conolly | Appeal withdrawn | 17/9/65 ...instruct you to withdraw the appeal because the plan under appeal will not be suitable for the changed needs of the meeting |
| 1965 | 157 | MM Finance com minute | 13/11/65 ...report on Georgian house in North Pallant... purchase and maintenance beyond the means of MM | |
| 1966 | 159 | Letter to F House | 11/2/66...the plan under appeal would not give sufficient accommodation. | |
| 1966 | 122 | District Planning Office | Seventh application | Application 7/4/66 |
| 1966 | 122 | Memo from Area Planning Officer | The proposal is very good indeed
architecturally. A most sympathetic scheme with the use of good materials proposed. Good
detailing will ensure an excellent result... Area Planning Officer to I Wilson, City Planning officer |
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| 1966 | 161 | Letter from F House | 10/5/66 ...a loan of £3000 and a grant of £2000 | |
| 1966 | 122 | District Planning Office | passed | 11/5/66 Planning permission granted |
| 1966 | 163 | MM Minute | 11/6/66 ...we are glad to hear that the plans have been passed... | |
| 1966 | 163 | Appeal leaflet proof | The estimated cost will be at least thirteen thousand pounds... | |
| 1966 | 162 | Letter to B Shipham | 7/7/66 ...we are indeed sorry that you react so unfavourably... | |
| 1967 | 40 | Chichester Observer | 24 February 1967: Last week the old fashioned 'peg' tiles in the high pitched roof were being removed. 1 exterior and 2 interior photographs | |
| 1967 | 54 | Chichester Observer | JP angered by Quakers' new building: The new meeting place of one of Chichester's most rapidly expanding religious groups, the Quakers, has been criticized by Mr CPB Shippam, Freeman of the City and Chairman of the local Bench .... | |
| 1967 | 56 | Chichester Observer | 25th November 1967: New building opened for use. "The new Friends' Meeting House in Priory Road was opened for use on Saturday...." [Photos] | |
| 1967 | 55 | Millington? | Present at the opening of the Meeting House .... | |
| 1967 | 39 | The Friend | 1 December: the new MH was opened last Saturday. Among many guests were the mayor and mayoress .... | |
| 1967 | 36 | Ian Serraillier | Flimsy for article published in the Friend, with some details of the materials used in the construction and bodies found | |
| 1967 | 41 | Ian Serraillier | Possible letting to Chichester Bridge Club | |
| 1967 | 167 | Chichester Observer | Photo of the old meeting house exterior and interior | |
| 1967 | 176 | Heasman letter | "Robert loved building the new MH and the men used to laugh and say he polished every brick!" | |
| 1967 | 176 | Heasman letter | "I invited [Basil Shippham] to the opening but he quite politely refused the invitation" | |
| 1967 | 180 | Chichester Observer 1/12/1967 | "The new Friends' Meeting House in Priory Road, Chichester, was opened for use..." | |
| 1968 | 37 | Sussex appeal leaflet | £3175 still needed for Chichester.... | |
| 1969 | 89 | Chi District Council letter | Negotiations for gate into burial ground | |
| 1999 | 169 | Photograph | Exterior of new Chichester Meeting House with members |
| PART ONE 1483-1654 |
| PART TWO 1655-1700 |
| PART THREE 1701-1808 |
| PART FOUR 1809-1910 |
| PART FIVE 1911-1967 |
| PART SIX Miscellaneous Notes, Bibliography |
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