TONKS, HORACE NORMAN VINCENT, 1891-1959.
Papers, 1923-1956.

MANUSCRIPT NUMBER 120

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CITATION:  Horace Norman Vincent Tonks Papers, MSS 120, Archives and Manuscripts Dept., Pitts Theology Library, Emory University.

The Right Reverend Horace Norman Vincent Tonks was born at Walsall, England, on 29 January 1891, the son of Henry and Emily Tonks. He married Alice Underwood in 1921. They had two daughters and three sons.

Tonks was educated at Walsall Grammar School and Lichfield Theological College.  His career as a clergyman in the Church of England spanned the years 1916 through 1956.   A few of his more significant appointments were as Vicar of Saint Sampson with Holy Trinity, Kings Court, York (1926-1935), Archdeacon of Grenada, British West Indies (1935-36), Bishop of the Windward Islands (1936-1949), and Rector of Leybourne, Mailing, Kent (1949-1956).

(biographical data taken from Who Was Who, 1951-1960)

This group of approximately 250 letters was collected and maintained by Bishop Tonks who collected autographs as a hobby.  A letter from A.G.H. Smart, Assistant Medical Adviser to the Colonial Secretary, Colonial Office, dated 24th September, 1941, indicates that on at least one occasion, Tonks was collecting autographs to sell for the purpose of raising money for the Red Cross.

The letters are in poor to average condition. Some have been damaged by rodents and insects. Many were previously pasted into an autograph scrap book before being removed. Frequently the front side of the letter was pasted down in order to display the autograph on the reverse side. The autographs range from government dignitaries and nobility to leaders of the Church of England. Many of the more difficult to read autographs have been identified.

The letters cover the chronological period from 1922-1956.  The bulk of the correspondence deals with matters related to Tonks' position as Bishop of the Windward Islands in the British West Indies (1936-1949) and his activities as Rector of Leybourne, Mailing, Kent in England (1949-1956).