What's in a name?

In 1896, Lady Valerie Meux, of Theobalds Park, Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, decided to send copies of two privately printed books, sponsored and financed by her, to The Buffalo Historical Society, based in the city of Buffalo in the U.S. state of New York. Buffalo is in western New York on the eastern shore of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River on the Canada–United States border.

She even sent a photograph of herself along with these apparently unsolicited gifts.

Why?

Of all the important and august institutions in the United States, why did she chose The Buffalo Historical Society? This has always intrigued me. There is no obvious connection between her and Buffalo. The Buffalo History Museum, as the Society is now known, is also unaware of any connection, although it still has Lady Meux’s photograph in its archive.

Were these books relevant to the history of the city and people of Buffalo?

No.

So what were the books?

In August 1896, Lady Meux sent the Society The Life and Exploits of Alexander the Great (two volumes), written by E. A. Wallis Budge, keeper of Egyptian and Assyrian antiquities at the British Museum. It was No 140 of 250 copies.

And then, in November, a second edition copy of Some Account of the Collection of Egyptian Antiquities in the possession of Lady Meux of Theobald’s Park, Waltham Cross, arrived. It was again written by Budge and detailed antiquities acquired by Lady Meux in Egypt, plus other Egyptian treasures. Five hundred copies had been printed. This was No 46.

The first edition had been published in 1893 by Harrison & Sons, London. Only 200 copies were printed.

Lady Meux wrote - more likely dictated - two letters to the Society to the president of the Society.

The first:

‘Theobald’s Park,

Waltham Cross,

Herts.

Lady Meux presents her compliments to Mr. Andrew Langdon and begs to say she has sent “The Life of Alexander the Great” in two volumes to the “Buffalo Historical Society,” and begs an acknowledgment for the same to the above address.’

Another letter followed:

‘To the President of the Buffalo Historical Society:

Dear Sir - In reply to your letter, the large edition of “Alexander the Great” I have brought out for private circulation and is not (for) sale: but I shall have much pleasure in presenting to the “Buffalo Historical Society” a copy. Kindly let me know if you have any agents in London. to who I could send it, so that they could forward it.

V. B. Meux

(Lady Meux)

Theobald Park,

Waltham Cross,

Herts, July 1896.’

The gifts were reported in the Buffalo Courier (Thursday, September 3, 1896, p55) saying the books were the only copies in the United States. In thanks, Lady Meux was elected to honorary membership of the The Buffalo Historical Society.

But maybe there was a connection, admittedly, it is highly speculative, but here goes.

Andrew Langdon, President of the Buffalo Historical Society

The books were sent to the Andrew Langdon, Businessman and President of the Buffalo Historical Society from 1894-1909. After 1909, he was Honorary President.

Remember the name Langdon.

Businessman Langdon was born in 1835 in New Marlborough, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, and died in 1919 in Buffalo. He is buried in Forest Lawn, Buffalo.

Langdon started out in mining in Washington. Later he owned and operated two mines - Enterprise and Grassy Island - in Pennsylvania. He moved to Buffalo in 1881, becoming president of the Buffalo General Electric Company, president of the Empire State Savings Bank and vice-president of the Board of Park Commissioners. In 1890, he sold his mines and retired. (The Buffalo News, Wednesday, November 12, 1919, p2; Buffalo Courier Express, Sunday, November 16, 1919, p60).

So what could be the connection with Lady Meux?

Lady Valerie Susie Bruce Meux was born on 27 February 1852, in the hamlet of Crockernwell, Drewsteighton, Devon, England. Her family name was Langdon (father William Langdon, mother Lydia Jane). She was baptised Susan.

Andrew Langdon.

Susan Langdon.

Could they be in any way related? Or is that just a coincidence?

Is it a plausible explanation that Lady Meux believed she shared a family connection, real or imagined, with Andrew Langdon? Perhaps she was not choosing Buffalo. She was choosing Langdon.

Lady Meux routinely used her wealth to insert herself into circles where she had no natural place: military officers, African explorers, antiquarians, scholars. Sending rare books to a distant American historical society fits her established pattern. She liked to be noticed.

The Langdon surname is not rare, but it is strongly associated with Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, and Dorset. Did New England Langdons descend from 17th-century emigrants from England’s West Country?

I think it is entirely plausible that Lady Meux believed there was a connection; or had been told there was a connection; or was trying to establish one; or simply enjoyed the coincidence and acted on it.

She was impulsive enough to do exactly that.

Sending a photograph of herself — unsolicited — is not normal scholarly behaviour. It is normal Valerie Meux behaviour. It suggests she wanted to be recognised; she wanted to be remembered; she wanted her image preserved in an American institution.

So what do you think? Any thoughts would be highly appreciated.

Some Account of the Collection of Egyptian Antiquities in the possession of Lady Meux of Theobald’s Park, Waltham Cross was printed in 1893 by Harrison & Sons, London. My copy is No 24. It is signed by Lady Meux. The inscription reads: “To John Corlett Esq. With kind regards from Lady Meux. 1893.” John Corlett (1841-1915) was both editor and proprietor of The Sporting Times, a British weekly newspaper, also known as the Pink Un because it was printed on salmon-coloured paper. It was founded in 1865 and lasted until 1932 and primarily covered sport, in particular horse racing, but would also print what would today be called show business news and celebrity gossip.