Item Detail
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Dagmar, Louise Victoria Alexandra, Duchess of Fife
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1867-1931
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MSS SC 674
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Guest Book
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Louise Victoria Alexandra Dagmar was born February 20, 1867 at Marlborough House, London to Edward VII and Queen Alexandria. She and her two sisters, Victoria and Maud, were educated by governesses. They grew up to be shy, reclusive children, and were referred to as 'the whispering Wales girls.' Louise married Alexander William George Duff, the sixth Earl of Fife, on July 27, 1889. They lived at Mar Lodge, near Braemar, and at Duff House, near Banff. They had two daughters and a stillborn son. Louise was declared princess royal in 1905, and her daughters were made princesses. Their family traveled to the Middle East in 1911. On the way their ship the Delhi ran aground near Morocco. They went on to Egypt, where the duke contracted pneumonia and died at Aswan on January 29, 1912. After his death, Louise became even more reclusive. She died January 4, 1931 at her house in Portman Square, London. Taken from: 'Louise, princess royal and duchess of Fife (18671931)' Oxford Dictionary of National Biography http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/34602/?back=,30376 Copyright 2004-2006.
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This collection consists of a guest book for Mar Lodge, the home of the Duke and Duchess of Fife. The guest book is a large bound volume with these words printed in gold on the cover: 'Visitors Book Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Fife.' Its pages are divided into columns for date, name, and address with large lines for the signatures. The first entry is dated August 15 (of 1889), and the last entry is dated May 21 (of 1896). Usually, only the day and month are recorded, but periodically the year is given. The book is filled with over 3,500 visitors' signatures, many of whom were of high social standing. These titles appear often in the signatures: Lord, Lady, General, Viscount, Countess, Earl, Captain, Colonel, Mr., Mrs., Miss, Admiral, Honorable, and Marquis. The Brazilian Minister and the Portuguese Minister also signed the book. Partway through the book, the heading changes to Duff House and then changes back to Mar Lodge.
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1822-1892