Elsie Oxenham
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Elsie Jeanette Dunkerley (25 November 1880 – 9 January 1960), was an English girls' story writer, who took the name Oxenham as her pseudonym when her first book, '' Goblin Island'', was published in 1907. Her
Abbey Series The Abbey Series of British novels by Elsie J. Oxenham comprises 38 titles which were published between 1914 and 1959. The first title, ''Girls of the Hamlet Club'' set the scene for the school aspects of the series, but it is the second title ...
of 38 titles are her best-known and best-loved books. In her lifetime she had 87 titles published and another two have since been published by her niece, who discovered the manuscripts in the early 1990s. She is considered a major figure among girls' story writers of the first half of the twentieth century, being one of the 'Big Three' with
Elinor Brent-Dyer Elinor M. Brent-Dyer (6 April 1894 – 20 September 1969) was an English writer of children's literature who wrote more than one hundred books during her lifetime, the most famous being the ''Chalet School'' series. Early life and education Br ...
and
Dorita Fairlie Bruce Dorita Fairlie Bruce (20 May 188521 September 1970) was a Scottish children's author who wrote the popular ''Dimsie'' series of books published between 1921 and 1941. Her books were second in popularity only to Angela Brazil's during the 1920s ...
.
Angela Brazil Angela Brazil (pronounced "brazzle") (30 November 186813 March 1947) was one of the first British writers of "modern School story, schoolgirls' stories", written from the characters' point of view and intended primarily as entertainment rather t ...
is as well-known - perhaps more so - but did not write her books in series about the same group of characters or set in the same place or school, as did the Big Three. Oxenham's books are widely collected and there are several Appreciation Societies: in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa; with a total membership of over six hundred, some of whom live in the US, Canada, India and The Netherlands although belonging to one or more of the societies mentioned.


Biography

Elsie Jeanette Dunkerley was born in
Southport Southport is a seaside resort, seaside town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. It lies on the West Lancashire Coastal Plain, West Lancashire coastal plain and the east coast of the Irish Sea, approximately north of ...
,
Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated ''Lancs'') is a ceremonial county in North West England. It is bordered by Cumbria to the north, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire to the east, Greater Manchester and Merseyside to the south, and the Irish Sea to ...
, England, in November 1880, to an English father and a Scottish mother. Before she was 2 years old the family moved to
Ealing Ealing () is a district in west London (sub-region), west London, England, west of Charing Cross in the London Borough of Ealing. It is the administrative centre of the borough and is identified as a major metropolitan centre in the London Pl ...
, West
London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
, where they lived for nearly forty years. She and her sisters went to private schools and attended Ealing
Congregational Church Congregationalism (also Congregational Churches or Congregationalist Churches) is a Reformed Christian (Calvinist) tradition of Protestant Christianity in which churches practice congregational government. Each congregation independently a ...
. The six Dunkerley children in order of age were: Elsie, Marjory (Maida), Roderic, Theodora (Theo), Erica and Hugo. The family lived in five different houses during their time in Ealing and moved to
Worthing Worthing ( ) is a seaside town and borough in West Sussex, England, at the foot of the South Downs, west of Brighton, and east of Chichester. With a population of 113,094 and an area of , the borough is the second largest component of the Br ...
,
Sussex Sussex (Help:IPA/English, /ˈsʌsɪks/; from the Old English ''Sūþseaxe''; lit. 'South Saxons'; 'Sussex') is an area within South East England that was historically a kingdom of Sussex, kingdom and, later, a Historic counties of England, ...
, in 1922. She took the surname Oxenham as her pen name when '' Goblin Island'' was published in 1907. Her father,
William Arthur Dunkerley William Arthur Dunkerley (12 November 1852 – 23 January 1941) was an English people, English journalist, novelist and poet. He was born in Manchester, spent a short time after his marriage in the US before moving to Ealing, West London, whe ...
, had used the pen-name "John Oxenham" for many years prior to this. During the London years, Elsie Oxenham became involved in the British Camp Fire Girls movement, and qualified as a Guardian - the leader of a group of Camp Fire Girls. She ran this Camp Fire Group for some 6 years, until the move to Sussex. One of the Camp Fire members was Margaret Bayne Todd - later Margaret, Lady Simey - who appears in ''Abbey Girls in Town'' and to whom that title was dedicated. It is thought that she was the 'original' on whom the characters of both Jenny-Wren and Littlejan were based. At some point during her time in London Oxenham joined the English Folk Dance Society (EFDS - it did not become the
English Folk Dance and Song Society The English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS, or pronounced 'EFF-diss') is an organisation that promotes English folk music and folk dance. EFDSS was formed in 1932 when two organisations merged: the Folk-Song Society and the English Folk Dan ...
FDSSuntil much later). She then discovered how 'badly' she had been doing the dances - and teaching them! - as related in ''The Abbey Girls Go Back to School'' (published 1922). Everything that the 'Writing Person'
er on-page persona ER or Er may refer to: People * Er (biblical person), the eldest son of Judah in the biblical book of Genesis * Nie Er (1912–1935), Chinese composer * Elliot Rodger (July 24, 1991 – May 23, 2014), English-American incel mass shooter * A ...
told Maidlin, Jen and Joy, in ''The New Abbey Girls'' (published 1923), about dancing, Grey Edward, and the Camp Fire had happened as described. After the family had moved to Worthing, Oxenham taught folk dancing in nearby villages and schools. She tried to start another Camp Fire but that was not a success as most of the girls of the right age were already
Girl Guides Girl Guides (or Girl Scouts in the United States and some other countries) are organisations within the Scout Movement originally and largely still for girls and women only. The Girl Guides began in 1910 with the formation of Girlguiding, The ...
. At first, the family all lived at Farncombe Road, Worthing, but after their mother died the four sisters moved out, living in pairs, Elsie with Maida, and Erica with Theo. None of the sisters married, but both brothers did. Elsie died in a local nursing Home in January 1960, a few days after Erica.


Books and series


Abbey Series

Oxenham is best known for her
Abbey Series The Abbey Series of British novels by Elsie J. Oxenham comprises 38 titles which were published between 1914 and 1959. The first title, ''Girls of the Hamlet Club'' set the scene for the school aspects of the series, but it is the second title ...
of 38 titles which chart the lives of the main characters from their mid-teens until their daughters reach a similar age. The Hamlet Club, formed in the first book in the series '' Girls of the Hamlet Club'', was set up to combat snobbery in the school. Underlying the club’s overt activities of folk-dancing and rambles was its motto 'To be or not to be', and its badge, the Whiteleaf Cross. These were both symbols of deeper meanings. The motto, deliberately using a quote from the
Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's natio ...
play ''
Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play. Set in Denmark, the play (the ...
'', is taken to mean to make the right choice, usually duty above self-interest, when it arises. Throughout the
Abbey Series The Abbey Series of British novels by Elsie J. Oxenham comprises 38 titles which were published between 1914 and 1959. The first title, ''Girls of the Hamlet Club'' set the scene for the school aspects of the series, but it is the second title ...
the various main characters come up against this choice and its consequences, and are shown growing and maturing through making difficult decisions. The badge, taken from a landmark local to the area in which the series is set, is also symbolic—as is any cross—of sacrifice. The Abbey of the series is almost a character in itself. Based on
Cleeve Abbey Cleeve Abbey is a medieval monastery located near the Washford River and village of Washford, in the English county of Somerset. It is a Grade I listed building and has been scheduled as an ancient monument. The abbey was founded in the late ...
in
Somerset Somerset ( , ), Archaism, archaically Somersetshire ( , , ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by the Bristol Channel, Gloucestershire, and Bristol to the north, Wiltshire to the east ...
, it first appears as a romantic ruin in the second of the series '' The Abbey Girls''. By the end of this book, the cousins Joan and Joy Shirley are living in Abinger Hall, in the gardens of which the Abbey is situated. Joy has been discovered to be the granddaughter of the late owner, Sir Antony Abinger, and the Hall is left to her, but Joan, who was not related to Sir Antony, has been left the Abbey "Because of erlove for it, and because erknowledge of it was so thorough." The Abbey and its influence pervades the whole series. Characters try to live up to the precepts of the early
Cistercian The Cistercians (), officially the Order of Cistercians (, abbreviated as OCist or SOCist), are a Catholic religious order of monks and nuns that branched off from the Benedictines and follow the Rule of Saint Benedict, as well as the contri ...
monks who lived there, and even when facing difficult situations abroad, find that the Abbey ethos helps them find the way through to the right decision. Oxenham depicted herself directly and indirectly in several places within the
Abbey series The Abbey Series of British novels by Elsie J. Oxenham comprises 38 titles which were published between 1914 and 1959. The first title, ''Girls of the Hamlet Club'' set the scene for the school aspects of the series, but it is the second title ...
. As "The Writing Person" she is depicting herself as she was in the early 1920s, over 40 years of age and going to the folk dance classes run by the English Folk Dance Society in
London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
. Once Mary-Dorothy Devine, first introduced in '' The Abbey Girls Again'', becomes a writer, statements she makes about the writing experience must logically be those of Oxenham herself. She talks of "finding" the books, and of "listening in to er ownprivate wireless". Some fifteen years later according to the internal chronology of the series, and nearly thirty years later in real time, Mary-Dorothy advises Rachel Ellerton, a younger writer who has been trying to get her adult fiction published, to try writing for children: This statement, from near the end of Oxenham's writing career, seems to convey Oxenham’s own writing credo. It is quoted in its entirety as one of the few insights Oxenham gives into her own reasons for writing. In her very first book, '' Goblin Island'', published nearly fifty years earlier, and written in the first person, Jean, the narrator, says, This would indicate that her own start in writing was similar; it is certainly known that she typed up the writings of her father,
John Oxenham John Oxenham ( "John Oxnam", died ) was the first non-Spanish European explorer to cross the Isthmus of Panama in 1575, climbing the coastal cordillera to get to the Pacific Ocean, then referred to by the Spanish as the ''Mar del Sur'' ('Souther ...
, a task later taken on by her sister Erica Dunkerley, who also used the pseudonym Oxenham for her published writings.


Themes and influences


Religion

Oxenham's religious background was in
Congregationalism Congregationalism (also Congregational Churches or Congregationalist Churches) is a Reformed Christian (Calvinist) tradition of Protestant Christianity in which churches practice congregational government. Each congregation independently a ...
. This gave a
Protestant Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...
ethos to her writing and her expressed opinions. Many of her characters go through difficult periods in their lives, and their religious beliefs help them through. Several of the books written in the 1920s and 1930s, particularly, include discussions between characters as to the meaning of life and the reasons behind events. These in-depth conversations tend to appear less frequently in the later books, but even as late as 1948, in '' A Fiddler for the Abbey'' Mary-Dorothy Devine, who has become "advisor-in-chief to the clan" talks to Rosalind Kane about the biblical concept of "rain falling on the just and the unjust" and the reasons behind the occurrence of both good and bad events.


Folk dancing

Folk dancing A folk dance is a dance that reflects the life of the people of a certain country or region. Not all ethnic dances are folk dances. For example, Ritual, ritual dances or dances of ritual origin are not considered to be folk dances. Ritual dances ...
is a strong influence in many of the books. From '' Girls of the Hamlet Club'' (1914) and '' At School with the Roundheads'' (1915) until '' The Girls of the Abbey School'' (1921), it was shown as a fairly easy thing for girls to do, and to teach each other. By the time of '' The Abbey Girls Go Back to School'' (1922) it is apparent that Oxenham herself had come into contact with the English Folk Dance Society and realised that the dances were not so simple after all. The books written from this time for the next six years or so, until '' Abbey Girls Win Through'' (1928) depict members of the EFDS hierarchy with affection and almost reverence. It seems that something happened to spoil this relationship, as after 1930 these characters do not appear in the books, and are hardly referred to again, certainly not in such glowing terms. The EFDS makes a brief appearance in '' An Abbey Champion'' (1946), but the personnel are no longer named. It may have been as simple as the move to
Worthing Worthing ( ) is a seaside town and borough in West Sussex, England, at the foot of the South Downs, west of Brighton, and east of Chichester. With a population of 113,094 and an area of , the borough is the second largest component of the Br ...
and the impossibility of maintaining as close a friendship at a distance of some sixty miles, but it has been conjectured that 'Madam' (Helen Kennedy North) and 'The Pixie' (Daisy Caroline Daking) may have objected to the way they were being portrayed. Oxenham never lost the love of folk dancing itself, however, and always shows it as a healthy form of exercise, and a way of lifting oneself out of depression.


Camp Fire

Camp Fire A campfire is a fire at a campsite. Campfire or Camp Fire may also refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Campfire'' (James Blundell album) (2017) * ''Campfire'' (Kasey Chambers album) (2018) * ''Campfire'' (Rend Collective album) (2012) * "Camp ...
plays a large part in several of Oxenham’s books published between 1917 and 1940. Oxenham was a Camp Fire Guardian when she lived in
Ealing Ealing () is a district in west London (sub-region), west London, England, west of Charing Cross in the London Borough of Ealing. It is the administrative centre of the borough and is identified as a major metropolitan centre in the London Pl ...
, but the attempt to form a group in
Sussex Sussex (Help:IPA/English, /ˈsʌsɪks/; from the Old English ''Sūþseaxe''; lit. 'South Saxons'; 'Sussex') is an area within South East England that was historically a kingdom of Sussex, kingdom and, later, a Historic counties of England, ...
failed. The Camp Fire ideals of Work, Health and Love–'Wohelo'–and the training for young girls in household tasks and cookery it provided, were integral to Oxenham's own philosophy, and underlie the plots of several books. From the Camp Fire as an integral part of a school in '' A School Camp Fire'' (1917) and '' The Crisis in Camp Keema'' (1928) to the lone Camp Fire Girl, Barbara Holt, in '' The Junior Captain'' (1923) and Maidlin becoming a Torchbearer in '' Maidlin Bears the Torch'' (1937), Camp Fire is always shown as a way of developing character. As Oxenham became less involved with the organisation, and came more into contact with the
Girl Guides Girl Guides (or Girl Scouts in the United States and some other countries) are organisations within the Scout Movement originally and largely still for girls and women only. The Girl Guides began in 1910 with the formation of Girlguiding, The ...
, the contrast between the two organisations and their aims are shown, and eventually the reality of the changed situation in England at the time meant that Guides were more often mentioned in her books than Camp Fire.


Legacy


Place in Children's Literature

Elsie J. Oxenham is considered by collectors of British Girls' Fiction to be one of the 'Big Three'; the other two being
Elinor Brent-Dyer Elinor M. Brent-Dyer (6 April 1894 – 20 September 1969) was an English writer of children's literature who wrote more than one hundred books during her lifetime, the most famous being the ''Chalet School'' series. Early life and education Br ...
and
Dorita Fairlie Bruce Dorita Fairlie Bruce (20 May 188521 September 1970) was a Scottish children's author who wrote the popular ''Dimsie'' series of books published between 1921 and 1941. Her books were second in popularity only to Angela Brazil's during the 1920s ...
. Although
Angela Brazil Angela Brazil (pronounced "brazzle") (30 November 186813 March 1947) was one of the first British writers of "modern School story, schoolgirls' stories", written from the characters' point of view and intended primarily as entertainment rather t ...
is the first name to come to mind for non-specialists, she did not create long series as the other three did, and in terms of collecting and interest Brazil is less popular than they are. Oxenham was not the most prolific of these three, as she had 87 titles published during her lifetime (and a further two were published by her niece, who discovered the manuscripts among Oxenham's papers in the 1990s) whereas Brent-Dyer published 100 books of various kinds. Nearly forty of Oxenham's books comprise the main
Abbey Series The Abbey Series of British novels by Elsie J. Oxenham comprises 38 titles which were published between 1914 and 1959. The first title, ''Girls of the Hamlet Club'' set the scene for the school aspects of the series, but it is the second title ...
, with another thirty or so in several connecting series and the remaining twenty - some in small series of their own, and some isolated titles - having no connection with the Abbey books at all. During the 1920s to the 1950s she had several short stories, and some longer serialised ones, published in Annuals such as the Girl's Own Annual,
British Girl's Annual British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...
, Little Folks and Hulton's Girls' Stories. Some of these stories were connected to the books - i.e. dealt with characters from one of her books or series - others became books, or sections of books, that were published a year or two later.


Reprinted titles

Collins reprinted most of the Oxenham titles that they had published in various of their publishing series, in particular the main titles in the
Abbey Series The Abbey Series of British novels by Elsie J. Oxenham comprises 38 titles which were published between 1914 and 1959. The first title, ''Girls of the Hamlet Club'' set the scene for the school aspects of the series, but it is the second title ...
which were produced in several different formats. Her other publishers did so less often, if at all, though a few titles had one or two reissues. This is why the non-Collins books are normally rarer - and consequently more expensive for the collector. Several books have more recently been reprinted by Girls Gone By Publishers, who republished a few of the early titles in the main
Abbey Series The Abbey Series of British novels by Elsie J. Oxenham comprises 38 titles which were published between 1914 and 1959. The first title, ''Girls of the Hamlet Club'' set the scene for the school aspects of the series, but it is the second title ...
. Elsie Oxenham's first book was '' Goblin Island'', published in 1907. This was reprinted in October 2007 by Girls Gone By Publishers as a centenary edition, with all the known illustrations from every edition, a new introduction, and a full publishing history. ''Goblin Island'' became the first in the so-called Scottish Sequence of six titles, four of which are set largely in Scotland: ''Goblin Island'' itself, set on 'Loch Avie', a fictionalised
Loch Lomond Loch Lomond (; ) is a freshwater Scottish loch which crosses the Highland Boundary Fault (HBF), often considered the boundary between the lowlands of Central Scotland and the Highlands.Tom Weir. ''The Scottish Lochs''. pp. 33-43. Published by ...
; ''Princess in Tatters'', set on 'Loch Ruel', which may be
Loch Fyne Loch Fyne (, ; meaning "Loch of the Vine/Wine"), is a sea loch off the Firth of Clyde and forms part of the coast of the Cowal, Cowal Peninsula. Located on the west coast of Argyll and Bute, west of Scotland. It extends inland from the Sound o ...
; ''A Holiday Queen'', set at 'Morven' on what appears to be
Loch Long Loch Long is a body of water in the council area of Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The sea loch extends from the Firth of Clyde at its southwestern end, to the Arrochar Alps at the head of the loch. It measures approximately in length, with a wi ...
; and ''Schoolgirls and Scouts'' set at 'Glenleny', which also seems to be on Loch Long, but a bit further up the loch. Of the other two in the series, ''Twins of Castle Charming'' - perhaps Oxenham's rarest title - is set largely in Switzerland, whereas ''Finding Her Family'' has some early scenes set in
Ealing Ealing () is a district in west London (sub-region), west London, England, west of Charing Cross in the London Borough of Ealing. It is the administrative centre of the borough and is identified as a major metropolitan centre in the London Pl ...
and mainly takes place in Saltburn. From 2012, the EJO Society has been reprinting the titles originally published by Chambers and Muller, thanks to permission granted by EJO's niece. '' Girls of the Hamlet Club'', '' Biddy's Secret'', '' Joy's New Adventure'', '' Rosaly's New School'', '' Abbey Champion'', '' Two Form Captains'', '' Maidlin to the Rescue'', '' Captain of the Fifth'', '' Fiddler for the Abbey'', '' The Junior Captain'', '' Guardians of the Abbey'', '' The School Without a Name'', '' Ven at Gregory's'' and '' Rosamund's Victory'', '' A School Camp Fire'', '' Rachel in the Abbey'', '' The Troubles of Tazy'', '' The Secrets of Vairy'', '' Elsa Puts Things Right'', '' The School of Ups and Downs'', '' Daring Doranne'', and '' Patience Joan, Outsider'' have already been published.


Appreciation societies


Elsie Jeanette Oxenham Appreciation Society (UK)

The UK EJO Society was founded in 1989 as a "postal meeting place" for all who collect the books of Elsie J. Oxenham and are interested in her work. Its magazine, ''The Abbey Chronicle'', is published three times a year and contains articles about the author, her books, the real places used as settings for the books, the originals of characters within the books, and reports of meetings held by members. One of the interests of collectors and EJO Society members is finding and visiting the original sites used by Oxenham in her books. As well as the
Buckinghamshire Buckinghamshire (, abbreviated ''Bucks'') is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England and one of the home counties. It is bordered by Northamptonshire to the north, Bedfordshire to the north-east, Hertfordshir ...
/
Oxfordshire Oxfordshire ( ; abbreviated ''Oxon'') is a ceremonial county in South East England. The county is bordered by Northamptonshire and Warwickshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the east, Berkshire to the south, and Wiltshire and Glouceste ...
area which is the background for ''Girls of the Hamlet Club'' and the village of
Washford Washford is a village on the Washford River in the civil parish of Old Cleeve, Somerset, England. The village is next to Cleeve Abbey, one of the best-preserved medieval monasteries in England. It centred in a valley close to the Bristol Ch ...
, Somerset where
Cleeve Abbey Cleeve Abbey is a medieval monastery located near the Washford River and village of Washford, in the English county of Somerset. It is a Grade I listed building and has been scheduled as an ancient monument. The abbey was founded in the late ...
is situated, Oxenham used parts of
Sussex Sussex (Help:IPA/English, /ˈsʌsɪks/; from the Old English ''Sūþseaxe''; lit. 'South Saxons'; 'Sussex') is an area within South East England that was historically a kingdom of Sussex, kingdom and, later, a Historic counties of England, ...
, Wales,
Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated ''Lancs'') is a ceremonial county in North West England. It is bordered by Cumbria to the north, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire to the east, Greater Manchester and Merseyside to the south, and the Irish Sea to ...
, the
English Lake District The Lake District, also known as ''the Lakes'' or ''Lakeland'', is a mountainous region and national park in Cumbria, North West England. It is famous for its landscape, including its lakes, coast, and mountains, and for its literary associati ...
and Scotland for the settings of several books. The UK Society holds a biennial meeting at Halsway Manor in the summer, which includes folk-dancing and tours of nearby
Cleeve Abbey Cleeve Abbey is a medieval monastery located near the Washford River and village of Washford, in the English county of Somerset. It is a Grade I listed building and has been scheduled as an ancient monument. The abbey was founded in the late ...
as if it were the fictional one. These places are not always depicted in the books exactly as the real sites; Oxenham was writing fiction, and given that she could move an abbey several hundred miles for her purposes, changing a few names and telescoping or stretching distances was also well within her remit.


Abbey Girls of Australia

The Australian society, The Abbey Girls of Australia, has been in existence since 1985; its motto is 'Bound in Friendship'. It produces a magazine, ''The Abbey Guardian''. There are official branches in several states of Australia. Regular meetings take place, and weekend 'Camps' are held every two or three years to gather people from further afield.
May Queen In the British Isles and parts of the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth, the May Queen or Queen of May is a personification of the May Day holiday of 1 May, and of Spring (season), springtime and the coming growing season. The May Queen is a ...
coronations are often held as part of the meetings and camps, but book discussions and general chats are more usual in the less formal meetings.


New Zealand

New Zealand's Society was founded at about the same time as the British one; its magazine is called ''The Abbey Gatehouse'' and the motto is 'Gate Open Be' - a quote from the Abbey books.There is a carved plaqu

on the gatehouse at Cleeve Abbe

which shows the Latin, 'Porta patens esto nulli claudens honesto', which Oxenham translates in several books as 'Gate open be, to honest folk all free.'
At the moment there is no web page available for the New Zealand Society.


Rest of the World

In both South Africa and North America there are groups who meet regularly, but they do not produce their own magazines. Members of the groups receive the magazines which do exist, normally each subscribing to one of the three, as well as magazines for other author interest societies, as a means of sharing them among the rest of the group.


Seat at Cleeve Abbey

In 1995 the EJO Societies worldwide held a collection to provide a seat at
Cleeve Abbey Cleeve Abbey is a medieval monastery located near the Washford River and village of Washford, in the English county of Somerset. It is a Grade I listed building and has been scheduled as an ancient monument. The abbey was founded in the late ...
as a recognition of the inspiration that the author received by her visits to the Abbey, and her collection of photographs of the site. In summer it is usually placed against the outer wall of the west range to overlook the gatehouse meadow. The plaque on the seat reads:
IN MEMORY OF
ELSIE JEANETTE OXENHAM (1880-1960)
WHOSE VISITS TO CLEEVE ABBEY
INSPIRED HER ABBEY BOOKS
GIVEN BY MEMBERS OF THE WORLD-WIDE
ELSIE OXENHAM SOCIETIES


References


Bibliography

* * * * * * * Mary Cadogan, 'Dunkerley, Elsie Jeanette (1880–1960)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 200

accessed 24 Feb 2007 (needs log-in)


External links

*
The Elsie J. Oxenham Society





Camp Fire
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oxenham, Elsie J. 1880 births 1960 deaths English children's writers British writers of young adult literature English people of Scottish descent 20th-century English novelists 20th-century English women writers English women novelists British women writers of young adult literature