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University of Bradford >> Library >> Special Collections >> Edith Durham Balkan Collection
Mary Edith Durham was born in 1863 in London, daughter of a surgeon. Educated at Bedford College and at the Royal Academy of Arts, she worked as an artist and illustrator. However, in the late 1890s, after caring for her sick mother, she became ill and depressed and was prescribed travel. She headed for Montenegro, where she was captivated by Balkan life and culture. Thereafter she travelled extensively in the region and began to study its history, languages, customs and manners. She published several books, including "Through the lands of the Serb" (1904), "The Burden of the Balkans" (1905), and "High Albania" (1909). In particular, she passionately championed the cause of the Albanians, becoming Secretary of the Anglo-Albanian Society, launched in 1918. Ill-health ended her travels in 1921, but she continued to publish and was active on the Council of the Royal Anthropological Institute.
This Collection comprises two scrapbooks compiled by Durham during her time as Secretary of the Anglo-Albanian Society, containing cuttings from English and overseas press, letters and other documents relating to Albania and Yugoslavia (dates c.1919-1927).
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To use the Collection, please contact Special Collections staff.
Durham's correspondence, notebooks, journals, sketchbooks and papers are held by the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland (MSS 41-59).
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