Hugh Goodwin family collection

Access and use

Location of collection:
George Mason University
2400 Fenwick Library
Special Collections Research Center
Fenwick Library MS2FL
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA 22030
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Mieko Palazzo
Phone: (703) 993-2220
Fax: (703) 993-2669
Restrictions:

There are no access restrictions.

Terms of access:

All materials created up to 1928 are in the public domain.

The following statement applies to materials created from 1929 onward: The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)

Preferred citation:

Hugh Goodwin family collection, C0527, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries

Summary

Extent:
4 Linear Feet 7 boxes
Creator:
Goodwin, Hugh
Abstract:
The Hugh Goodwin family collection contains correspondence, writings, scrapbooks, photographs, and other materials created and collected by Hugh's grandparents Charles and Beatrice (also known as Trix) Goodwin and his Great Uncle Jack Clarke documenting their work and travels in West Africa and Egypt.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Hugh Goodwin family collection, C0527, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries

Background

Scope and content:

The Hugh Goodwin family collection contains correspondence, writings, scrapbooks, photographs, and other materials created and collected by Hugh's grandparents Charles and Beatrice (also known as Trix) Goodwin and his Great Uncle Jack Clarke documenting their work and travels in West Africa and Egypt. Correspondence includes letters sent by Jack Clarke to his family while stationed in Egypt during World War I, letters and postcards sent to family and friends by Charles and Beatrice Goodwin, and letters sent to Charles and Beatrice by others, including several individuals they met while living in West Africa.

The majority of the materials include typed and handwritten notes and manuscripts of articles and stories, most dealing with experiences and people in West Africa, written by Beatrice under the pen name Trix Goodwyn, as well as a manuscript written by Jack Clarke titled "Clarke's History of the War." The collection also includes a large number of photographs and scrapbooks, most documenting Charles and Beatrice's time living in West Africa, as well as two small albums containing photographs of Jack Clarke's experiences in Egypt during World War I, as well as newspaper clippings, most dealing with West Africa or stories about the Goodwin family, and general mementos and ephemera.

Biographical / historical:

Beatrice (also known as Trix) Emma Suzanne Clarke was born on September 6, 1891 in London, England to Frank Randall and concert pianist Mary Elizabeth (formerly Morgan) Clarke (known professionally as E.W. Ellis). Beatrice attended Owens College (now Victoria University of Manchester) before moving to the United States in 1913 where she met American Charles C. Goodwin. Born on September 10, 1890, Charles Clement Goodwin was a native of Portland, Maine and the son of Charles Henry and Susan (formerly Sanders) Goodwin. Beatrice and Charles married on June 8, 1914 and their first of four children, son Robert (father of Hugh Goodwin), was born just over a year later on July 13, 1915. Over the course of their marriage, Charles' work as an engineer required that he travel overseas for extended periods of time, leaving Beatrice at home to raise their children. Beatrice also devoted her time to serving as a Girl Scout leader, a role she held for 30 years, a Red Cross volunteer, receiving a citation for her work during World War II, and working as a news reporter and lecturer. Following the end of the war in 1946, and with their children now grown, Beatrice was able to join Charles in West Africa, where he had been working for eight years as an engineer for a manganese mining company. Sometime in the 1950s, the couple returned to America and eventually made one final move to St. Petersburg, Florida. Charles passed away on October 15, 1969 at the age of 79. Beatrice passed away on March 7, 1972 at the age of 80.

John Henry David Clarke (also known as Jack Clarke) was born in 1890 in London, England, the elder brother of Beatrice Clarke. In 1914, he enlisted with the British Army and served as a Lance Serjeant in the Manchester Regiment during World War I. As part of the 1/6th Battalion, Clarke was initially stationed in Egypt as part of the East Lancashire Division and later took part in the eight month campaign on Turkey's Gallipoli Peninsula. Clarke was one of over 21,000 Commonwealth servicemen killed in action during this campaign, with his death listed on the Helles Memorial obelisk as August 7, 1915 at the age of 26.

Acquisition information:
Donated by Hugh Goodwin, grandson of Beatrice Charles Goodwin, in October 2023 and February 2024.
Processing information:

Processing completed by Meghan Glasbrenner in February 2025. Finding aid completed by Meghan Glasbrenner from March - April 2025.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged by material type or function and then chronologically where possible.

Physical location:
R 73 , C 2 , S 2 R 73 , C 3 , S 1
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard