Letters to the Strutt family

The most extensive correspondence in this section comprises letters written to Joseph Strutt, his wife Isabella Strutt (nee Douglas) and their son Joseph Douglas Strutt. The section also includes letters written to Elizabeth Evans (nee Strutt), sister of Joseph Strutt, Caroline Hurt (nee Strutt), his daughter, and William Strutt, his brother, and copies of letters writen by Joseph Strutt. Much of the correspondence concerns family life, family relationships and social activities, particularly letters written to Isabella Strutt by her sisters Susannah Cooper and Charlotte Fox, and letters written by Isabella Strutt to her husband Joseph Strutt and to others. Another significant theme is education and learning; this interest is particularly evident in letters written to Joseph Strutt, Isabella Strutt and Joseph Douglas Strutt. Several letters to Joseph Strutt, including those written by Major John Cartwright and John Thelwall, together with some written by his son Joseph Douglas Strutt reflect his interest in political reform, and others, together with copies of letters written by Joseph Strutt to the Derby Mechanics Institute, illustrate his support for the provision of education for ordinary people. Significant sequences of correspondence include letters written by William Archibald Douglas to his sister Isabella Strutt (nee Douglas) and to his brother-in-law Joseph Strutt, from Cape Coast Castle in west Africa which contain detailed information about his business interests there, and letters written by Joseph Douglas Strutt to his father Joseph Strutt which provide an account of travel in Europe, particularly Italy, during the political unrest there in 1820 and 1821.