Fonds ETN - Eaton Collection

Identity area

Reference code

ETN

Title

Eaton Collection

Date(s)

  • 1441-2013 (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

Approximately 7.78 cubic metres.

Context area

Name of creator

Eaton family; 1441-2013; Norwich and Eaton, Norfolk
(1441-2013)

Biographical history

According to family notes (see ETN 6/17/17), the Eaton family originally came from the area around Diss. George Eaton, (1702-1771) owned and farmed land in Palgrave, Suffolk, and Shelfanger in Norfolk. The second son of George Eaton,also known as George Eaton (1731-1796) of Diss, was a manufacturer, possibly of linen. His son, Thomas Eaton (1766-1831) was baptized in Diss, but later settled in Norwich. Following his apprenticeship to Jonathan Cozens, a grocer, Thomas Eaton became a silk mercer. In 1795, he entered into partnership with R. Brownsmith, silk mercer, and later became sole proprietor of The Indian Queen on Gentleman's Walk in Norwich. Thereafter, generations of the Eaton family who are documented in the archive, have lived in Norwich, later moving to the parish of Eaton, where members of the family still reside. The Eaton family archive was created and collected over several generations and handed down the family, finally coming into the possession of Tom Eaton who added his own personal and official papers to the collection prior to deposit with the Norfolk Record Office (NRO).

Repository

Archival history

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

The material was received in several accessions from 8 August 1959 to 20 June 2016. Eaton accessions received by the Norfolk Record Office as follows:

08/09/1959 numbered ETN 1/4/11, 14, 26, 42-44.

17/09/1959 numbered ETN 1/4/9, 15, 37-38, 41.

21/08/1959 numbered ETN 1/4/6-8, 10, 12-13, 16, 18-25, 27-31, 33-36, 39-40.

22/04/1963 numbered ETN 6/16/2.

01/07/1966 numbered ETN 1/4/4-5.

02/02/1967 numbered ETN 4/1/1-3; ETN 4/2/74-75; ETN 6/5/43; and ETN 6/20/1-4.

14/02/1967 numbered ETN 2/3; ETN 3/1/1-3; ETN 3/2/1-4; ETN 3/9/1-2; and ETN 4/2/72.

03/04/1967 numbered ETN 4/1/4/1-5.

27/01/1969 numbered ETN 8/1/18-41; and ETN 11/2/6 .

04/02/1971 numbered ETN 1/1/117; ETN 3/6/1-15; ETN 4/2/1-11, 14-71, 73; ETN 4/3/1-23; ETN 4/4/1-10; ETN 4/5/1-3; ETN 4/6/1-5; ETN 4/14/2-7, 10-13; ETN 5/1/1, 15-17; ETN 5/2/1-6; ETN 6/1/1-77; ETN 6/3/1; ETN 6/5/1-3, 19, 23-30, 32, 37-39, 41, 44; ETN 6/6/9; ETN 6/7/1-5; ETN 6/8/4; ETN 6/13/1-2; ETN 6/14/1; ETN 6/18/1; ETN 6/19/1; ETN 7/1/2-3; ETN 10/1; ETN 11/1/3; ETN 11/6/1, 4-7; and ETN 11/11/1-3, 7-8.

14/10/1971 numbered ETN 1/22/1.

22/02/1971 numbered ETN 3/7/1-27; ETN 5/1/2-14; ETN 6/6/1-7, 10-16, 19; ETN 6/12/46; ETN 6/15/5; ETN 6/18/7; ETN 11/2/1; ETN 11/3/11; and ETN 11/13.

07/04/1972 numbered ETN 1/1/115, 138-139; ETN 1/2/1-2; ETN 1/4/46-47; ETN 1/5/1-4, 11-14, 16, 19, 21-22; ETN1/7/1, 4-5; ETN 1/16/11; ETN 1/20/2-4, 18, 24-27; ETN 1/25/1-2, 6, 11, 15; ETN 2/4/1-2; ETN 2/6; ETN 3/1/4; ETN 3/9/4, 6; ETN 4/1/5; ETN 4/7/1, 4-13; ETN 4/8/1-3; ETN 4/9/1-5; ETN 4/10/1-9; ETN 4/12/1-3, 6; ETN 4/13/3, 25; ETN 4/14/1, 9, 14; ETN 6/5/5-12, 14-18, 31, 33-35, 42, 46-48; ETN 6/12/36; ETN6/17/1, 4-13, 15-16, 18-19; ETN 6/18/5; ETN 6/19/2-6, 8-9; ETN 6/21/5, 7, 9; ETN 8/3; ETN 9/1-4; ETN 11/1/1; ETN 11/2/2; ETN 11/3/1-3, 7-8, 10; ETN 11/5/1; ETN 11/8/1-3; ETN 11/9/1-2; ETN 11/10/3; and ETN 11/12.

09/06/1972 numbered ETN 1/1/60.

25/04/1973 numbered ETN 1/1/122; ETN 6/3/2-7; ETN 7/1/5; and ETN 11/3/12.

09/07/1974 numbered ETN 1/1/94, 133, 144-145; ETN 1/2/3; ETN 1/4/45; ETN 1/5/7, 15, 18; ETN 1/6/26, 31-37; ETN 1/7/7, 15; ETN 1/9/7; ETN 1/11/2; ETN 1/13/4; ETN 1/15/6; ETN 1/20/29; ETN 1/22/5; ETN 1/26/5, 7-8, 17; ETN 6/5/4; and ETN 7/1/4, 6.

14/07/1976 numbered ETN 1/17/3, 17-18, 20-22.

15/09/1977 numbered ETN 1/1/64; ETN 1/5/6, 8-10, 23-24; ETN 1/7/2-3, 6, 8-14, 16; ETN 1/8/1; ETN 1/9/1-6; ETN 1/10/1-3; ETN 1/11/1, 3-5, 7-18; ETN 1/12/1-3; ETN 1/13/1-3; ETN 1/14/1; ETN 1/15/1, 3-5, 7; ETN 1/16/1; and ETN 1/19/1-8.

01/03/1978 numbered ETN 1/22/2.

26/06/1978 numbered ETN 1/17/1, 23.

27/06/1978 numbered ETN 1/17/13, 25, 27, 32-35, 37-38, 43-44.

13/03/1979 numbered ETN 3/1/5; ETN 4/2/12-13; ETN 6/5/20-22, 40; and ETN 11/2/3.

20/03/1979 numbered ETN 1/5/5; ETN 1/11/6; ETN 1/15/2; ETN 1/17/2, 19; and ETN 1/19/9.

24/01/1980 numbered ETN 1/1/142; ETN 1/4/17, 32; ETN 1/22/3-4, 6; ETN 3/8/1-8; ETN 3/9/5; ETN 4/14/8; ETN 6/4/1; ETN 6/5/36, 45; ETN 6/13/3-10, 12; ETN 6/15/1, 3-4; ETN 6/17/2-3, 14; ETN 6/21/3, 13; and ETN 11/1/2, 6, 8-16.

12/05/1980 numbered ETN 1/1/88.

26) 11/09/1980 numbered ETN 1/4/48.

02/09/1981 numbered ETN 1/17/5-8.

06/08/1985 numbered ETN 1/17/9-10, 12, 24.

07/01/1988 numbered ETN 1/8/2; ETN 1/16/2-9; ETN 1/17/11, 14-16; ETN 1/18/1; and ETN 1/25/3.

ACC 1998/196 numbered ETN 6/17/17, 20; ETN 6/18/6, 8-14; and ETN 10/2-4.

ACC 1998/197 numbered ETN 1/1/129; and ETN 3/9/3.

ACC 1998/198 numbered ETN 1/1/137; ETN 1/20/1; ETN 3/5/3; ETN 4/11/1; and ETN 6/18/2.

ACC 1999/115 numbered ETN 1/22/8.

ACC 2000/18 numbered ETN 1/1/151.

ACC 2000/52 numbered ETN 1/1/104; ETN 1/3/6-11; ETN 1/8/4; ETN 1/9/8; ETN 1/16/12, 14-16; and ETN 1/17/36.

ACC 2000/53 numbered ETN 1/1/66, 110, 131; 1/2/4-5; ETN 1/3/1, 3; ETN 1/5/17, 20; ETN 1/7/17-19; ETN 1/8/5; ETN 1/17/26, 30-31, 39; ETN 1/20/17, 19, 23; ETN 1/22/11; ETN 1/26/14; ETN 2/1-2; ETN 3/2/5; ETN 3/3/1-4; ETN 3/4/1-3; ETN 3/5/4-8; ETN 3/9/7; ETN 4/11/2-5; ETN 4/13/2, 4; ETN 6/8/1-3, 5-8; ETN 6/10/1-8; ETN 6/12/32-33, 37; ETN 6/15/2; ETN 6/16/1, 3-8, 10; ETN 6/19/7; ETN 8/2/1-7; ETN 11/2/5; ETN 11/3/4-6; ETN 11/4/1-2; and ETN 11/14.

ACC 2000/156 numbered ETN 1/1/103.

ACC 2000/223 numbered ETN 11/1/7.

ACC 2000/247 numbered ETN 1/17/28.

ACC 2001/290 numbered ETN 1/23/12-19, 25-27, 29-31.

ACC 2001/301 numbered ETN 1/23/1-11, 20-24, 28.

ACC 2002/103 numbered ETN 1/1/124.

ACC 2002/229 numbered ETN 1/1/74, 116, 136; ETN 1/20/7-15; ETN 1/26/1-4; ETN 4/14/15; ETN 6/5/13; ETN 6/6/17-18; ETN 6/9/1-6; ETN 6/11/3; ETN 6/12/1-14, 16-20, 22-31, 34-35, 38-40, 43-45, 47; ETN 6/14/2-3; ETN 6/15/6; ETN 6/21/1-2, 4, 6, 8, 10-11; ETN 7/1/1; ETN 7/2/1-9; ETN 7/3/2-3; ETN 11/3/9; and ETN 11/6/3, 10.

ACC 2002/240 numbered ETN 1/1/1-3, 5-6, 29, 63, 83-84, 93, 120, 127, 143, 148; ETN 1/3/5, 13; ETN 1/6/1-25, 38; ETN 1/8/3; ETN 1/15/8-9; ETN 1/17/4, 42, 45; ETN 1/20/6, 20; ETN 1/25/4; ETN 1/26/9, 12-13, 16; ETN 6/4/2; and ETN 6/12/41-42.

ACC 2002/261 numbered ETN 1/1/125, 135; and ETN 1/17/40-41.

ACC 2003/90 numbered ETN 1/6/28-29; ETN 1/22/10; ETN 1/26/10; ETN 2/5; ETN 3/5/1-2; ETN 4/7/2-3; ETN 4/8/4; ETN 4/12/4-5; ETN 4/13/1, 5-24; ETN 6/11/1-2; ETN 6/18/3-4; ETN 11/5/2-3; ETN 11/6/2, 9; ETN 11/7/1-2; ETN 11/8/4; ETN 11/10/1; and ETN 11/11/4-6.

ACC 2003/108 numbered ETN 1/16/13; and ETN 11/8/5-6.

ACC 2004/107 numbered ETN 1/3/2.

ACC 2005/177 numbered ETN 1/1/30-55, 57-59, 61, 67-72, 76-82, 87, 89-92, 95-99, 101-102, 105-109, 111, 118-119, 121, 123, 128, 132, 134, 140-141, 149-150, 152; ETN 1/3/4; ETN 1/4/1; ETN 1/6/30; ETN 1/14/2-5; ETN 1/17/29; ETN 1/18/2; ETN 1/19/10; ETN 1/20/5, 21-22; ETN 1/21/1-2; ETN 1/22/7, 9; ETN 1/24/1-3; ETN 6/2/1-5; ETN 6/6/8; ETN 6/11/4-11; ETN 6/12/15, 21; ETN 6/21/12; and ETN 11/1/5.

ACC 2006/53 numbered ETN 7/3/1.

ACC 2006/103 numbered ETN 1/6/27.

ACC 2007/300 numbered ETN 1/1/154.

ACC 2009/250 numbered ETN 1/1/126, 130, 146-147; ETN 1/4/2-3; ETN 1/6/39-40; ETN 1/20/28; ETN 6/13/11; ETN 11/6/8; and ETN 11/10/2.

ACC 2011/213 numbered ETN 1/1/73, 100, 112-114, 153.

ACC 2011/317 numbered ETN 1/3/12.

ACC 2012/95 numbered ETN 1/1/155-156; ETN 6/16/9; ETN 13/1/1-4, 6; and ETN 13/2.

ACC/UN 424 numbered ETN 3/2/6/1-22.

ACC 2015/65 numbered ETN 6/22/1-4.

ACC 2001/65 numbered ETN 1/1/157-158.

ACC 2016/51 numbered ETN 15/1-12.

ACC 2016/92 numbered ETN 1/17/46.

Main catalogue completed on 24 August 2012 (BK). Updated with additional accessions on 9 July 2015 (ACC 2015/65) and catalogued on 16 July 2015 (BK); 10 May 2016 (ACC 2016/51) and catalogued on 10 May 2016 (IP); 20/06/2016 (ACC 2016/92) and catalogued on 20/06/2016 (JD).

Content and structure area

Scope and content

The collection contains the personal and offical papers of Thomas (Tom) Eaton (1918-2010), collected and created through the course of his life; and a large and significant Eaton family archive.

The papers of Tom Eaton relate to many aspects of his life including his education, professional career as a solicitor, military service and his involvement with The Royal Norfolk Regiment, as well as documenting his role in political, civic, municipal and charitable affairs.

The family archive comprises records which were created and collected by prominent Eaton family members and ulitmately passed to Tom Eaton. The records detail the history of the Eaton family and their activities, as well as providing an important insight into the wider history of Norwich and that of the county of Norfolk.

The collection variously includes deeds, estate maps and plans, correspondence, journals, herbarium, genealogical records, photographs, paintings, sketches, and other works of art, scrapbooks, and sound recordings.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

The personal and official papers of Tom Eaton are largely arranged to reflect the activities of their creator. These papers have been listed first in the catalogue under sub-fonds 1.

The family papers include documents which were created and collected by prominent members of the Eaton family and passed down the generations. Where possible, these records have been arranged chronologically by family member to reflect this structure and to show how the archive evolved. These papers have been listed in the catalogue under sub-fonds 2-10.

In some cases it has has not been possible to arrange records by individual family member or creator, some records and record series have been collected and compiled by multiple creators over several generations, and in other cases the provenance and original order of the records is not discernible. For this reason, sub-fonds 11 entitled 'Other Eaton family papers', has been employed.

Sub-fonds 12 includes access copies of specific documents held in the Eaton Collection which are vulnerable or fragile and cannot be produced for public consultation, for example, photographs and works of art.

Sub-fonds 13 consists of documents created and collected by Robin Eaton. These records were deposited with the Norfolk Record Office after the main catalogue was structured and each document had been numbered. For this reason, these records appear out of sequence as they could not be added to the main catalogue using the existing chronological arrangement applied to other family members.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Access restricted to some items in the collection. Please see series or piece level catalogue entries for further information.

Most photographic material held within the Eaton Collection is stored within special environmental conditions and needs to be acclimatized for 24 hours before material can be produced for consultation. If you wish to view any of the items which are stored in special conditions, please order them at least 24 hours in advance. For example, if you intend to look at these items at 10.00 a.m. on Friday, the material will need to be ordered by 10.00 a.m. on Thursday. Items required for consultation on a Monday, will need to be ordered by Friday of the previous week. Please see individual piece level catalogue entries for when this applies.

Conditions governing reproduction

Language of material

Script of material

Language and script notes

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

For other records held by the Norfolk Record Office relating to Tom Eaton's activities with the Memorial Trust of the 2nd Air Division United States Army Air Force (USAAF), see SO 247.

For records relating to Frederic Eaton, father of Tom Eaton, which include miscellaneous freemasonry correspondence, notebooks and other papers, see MC 719/1-42, 792 x 8.

For records relating to East Bradenham Rectory and school, c 1848-1851, which were deposited by Tom Eaton on 9 January 1969, see MC 868.

For a minute book of Norwich Parliamentary Debating Society, 1887-1892 (1 volume), which was deposited by Tom Eaton on 26 January 1971, see SO 32/1.

For a recorded interview of Tom Eaton by Dr John Alban, County Archivist, Norfolk Record Office, on 17 June 2004, with related papers, see AUD 4/1.

The Norfolk Heritage Centre holds a collection of early photographs by Thomas Damant Eaton and other associated photographers which were donated by the Eaton family. The collection consists of 220 separate items which include three albums, mounted prints, loose unmounted prints and daguerrotypes. Enquiries should be made to the following; The Norfolk Heritage Centre, Millennium Library, The Forum , Millennium Plain, Norwich, NR2 1 AW, Telephone: 01603 774740. Some of the photographs in this collection can be accessed online at <www.picturenorfolk.gov.uk> (accessed 7 November 2012).

The Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum collections contain some related material, mainly papers relating to Tom Eaton's military service which were originally deposited with the Norfolk Record Office on 4 February 1971. These papers were transferred to the Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum on the request of Tom Eaton on 20 March 2003. Microfilm copies of this material can be accessed in the microform section of the Norfolk Record Office public searchroom. Please see ETN 1/3 and the 'related material' field for further information and access arrangements. The Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum also has custody of two video recordings entitled 'Changi Remembered', a service of remembrance conducted by Vince Jones at Repps with Bastwick Church on 27 August 1995, and 'Eastern Promises', an Anglia TV Remembrance Sunday programme, 10 November 2002, in which Tom Eaton appeared. Both recordings were deposited with the Norfolk Record Office by Tom Eaton on 5 November 2003 and formed part of accession ACC 2003/108. They were transferred to the museum on 10 December 2003. Enquiries should be made to the following; Kate Thaxton (Curator), Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum, Shirehall, Market Avenue, Norwich, NR1 3JQ, Telephone: 01603 493649.

The Nelson Museum holds a portrait of Captain John Barker donated by the Eaton family. Captain John Barker is referred to in the Eaton Collection. Enquiries regarding the portrait should be made to the following; Nelson Museum, 26 South Quay, Great Yarmouth, NR30 2RG, Telephone: 01493 850698.

Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery, hold works of art and objects deposited by the Eaton family which relate to the archive. Enquiries should be made to the following; Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery, Shirehall, Market Avenue, Norwich, NR1 3JQ, Telephone: 01603 493625.

The Time and Tide Museum of Great Yarmouth Life, hold works of art deposited by the Eaton family which relate to the archive. Enquiries should be made to the following; Time and Tide Museum of Great Yarmouth Life, Blackfriars Road, Great Yarmouth, NR30 3BX, Telephone: 01493 743930.

The Costume and Textile Collection which is held at the Shirehall Study Centre, has custody of two fans; one originally belonging to Mary Eaton (née Damant), wife of Thomas Eaton, silk mercer of Norwich, and the other of Lydia Eaton (née Ray), wife of Thomas Damant Eaton. These objects were deposited with the Norfolk Record Office on 16 January 2003 and formed part of ACC 2002/240. They were transferred to the study centre on 23 October 2003. Enquiries should be made to the following; Costume and Textile Collection, Shirehall Study Centre, Shirehall, Market Avenue, Norwich, NR1 3JQ, Telephone: 01603 493625. Please note that two weeks notice will be required to access items held in the costume and textile collection.

The East Anglian Film Archive (EAFA) has custody of two video recordings showing Tom Eaton's address to the 2nd Air Division Association reunion in California, 1997; and the service of remembrance and thanksgiving on the 50th aaniversary of VE Day, held at St Peter Mancroft church, Norwich, in 1995. Both of the recordings were deposited with the Norfolk Record Office by Tom Eaton on 16 January 2003 and formed part of ACC 2002/240. Both recordings were transferred to EAFA on 15 October 2003. EAFA also has custody of two further video recordings, entitled 'UEA Graduation, 1995', and a recording of the memorial service for D.C. Condon, Manager of the Theatre Royal Norwich, 1991. Both recordings were deposited with the Norfolk Record Office by Tom Eaton on 5 November 2003 and formed part of ACC 2003/108. They were transferred to EAFA on 22 January 2004. Enquiries should be made to the following; The East Anglian Film Archive, The Archive Centre, County Hall, Martineau Lane, Norwich, NR1 2DQ, Telephone: 01603 592 664.

The Cathedral Library in Norwich, has custody of the Eaton family 'Bible and Apocrypha' (Baskett, Oxford, 1716). The bible was originally deposited with the Norfolk Record Office by Tom Eaton on 16 January 2003 and formed part of ACC 2002/240. It was transferred to the Cathedral Library on 5 February 2003. Any enquiries should be made to the Cathedral Librarian by telephone on 01603 223873. Please note that the first page of the bible containing notes, mainly birth dates of Eaton family members by Thomas Damant Eaton, 22 November 1826, has been microfilmed, and is available to consult in the Norfolk Record Office public searchroom. Please see the last page of microfilm MF/RO 632/1.

For early postal covers (British and overseas) 1840-1958 (2 albums); an album of postcards sent to, and collected by, Frederick Eaton, 1900-1914; and an album of postcards originally belonging to Aunt Fiske and collected during her European travels in the 1880s, with postal covers 1800-1868, not yet catalogued, please request ACC 2015/65.

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

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Description control area

Rules and/or conventions used

Status

Catalogued

Sources

Accession area

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