Darwin family album returns to Newnham Grange

Darwin family member Charles Littleton has kindly presented a photograph album to the College which includes pictures of his mother, Cecily Darwin Littleton, as a child at Newnham Grange – now Darwin College.

Born in 1926, Cecily, who died last year at the age of 95, was the great-granddaughter of Charles Darwin, and the granddaughter of Sir George, Plumian Professor of Astronomy at Cambridge, who purchased the house in 1885. Cecily’s father, the physicist Sir Charles Galton Darwin, was born in the house in 1887, and died here on New Year’s Eve 1962/3. Her mother, Katharine Pember, was a mathematician.

Cecily studied Chemistry at Somerville College, Oxford, where she specialised in x-ray crystallography, before moving to Philadelphia as a Research Fellow at the Institute of Cancer Research. She married John Littleton in 1951, and spent the rest of her life in Pennsylvania. While raising her four children she maintained lifelong scientific interests, including using early computers to support astronomical research at Haverford College in the 1960s.

Her son Charles joined the Master and College members for tea after presenting the album, which is now held in the Darwin College archive.

Darwin family contributions to Cambridge Philosophical Society donated to College

Dr Claire Barlow, President of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, has presented the Master with copies of CPS journals including contributions by Darwin family members from the 19th and 20th centuries. These include articles by three of Charles Darwin’s sons: George, Francis and Horace. Sir George Howard Darwin (1845-1912) was CPS President twice between 1890-1892 and 1910-1912, while his brother, the botanist Francis Darwin, took the role between 1896 and 1898. George Howard Darwin’s son Charles Galton Darwin also contributed articles to the journals.

The Cambridge Philosophical Society holds a vast archive of material dating back to its foundation in 1819, including the journals which began in 1822. Darwin Fellow Dr Edwin Rose, an AHRC Early Career Research Fellow from the Department of History and Philosophy of Science oversaw the collection of the journals from the CPS archive. Dr Rose said:

“It is a delight to see the donation of such important articles to Darwin College. These papers embody some the most significant work of George Howard Darwin and Charles Galton Darwin, two generations of the Darwin family of Newnham Grange, the property that became Darwin College in the mid-1960s. They also represent the broader scientific contributions of the Darwin family of Cambridge and their close relationship with the Cambridge Philosophical Society—something continued by Darwin College to this day.”

The Cambridge Philosophical Society has enjoyed a close connection with the Darwin family since its foundation. Two of its founders, John Stevens Henslow and Adam Sedgwick were mentors of Charles Darwin, while John Stevens Henslow’s personal friendship with Darwin helped to inspire his passion for natural history. He also promoted Darwin’s work as he developed his theory of evolution.

The 15 offprints and journal extracts donated to the College are drawn from come from the publications Transactions and Proceedings and cover a variety of subjects in the biological, physical and mathematical sciences.

A sustainability and materials engineer and Fellow Emerita of Newnham College, Dr Claire Barlow is herself a direct descendent of Charles Darwin.

Development Office news

We were delighted this year to welcome Fiona Duffy as Director of Development and Alumni Relations.

Fiona joined Darwin last year, working with the Development Office in a consultancy capacity. Following the departure of Sam Venn, she fulfilled the role of Interim Development Director before, after an extensive recruitment process, being appointed to the position permanently.

The Master, Dr Mike Rands, said:

“Fiona brings a wealth of experience to Darwin. Most recently, she was Director of Development at Murray Edwards College where she led a successful fundraising campaign. Prior to that she worked in development roles at University College, London and the London School of Economics as well as The Imperial War Museum. As we enter into our 60th anniversary year, I look forward to working with Fiona, Hannah and a new Development Team to enhance our fundraising and alumni relations activities.”

Fiona said:

“I’m delighted to be appointed at a very important moment, as we anticipate the 60th anniversary of Darwin College. The support of alumni and donors, with time and expertise as well as philanthropy, will be fundamental to the success of the College in the coming decades. I look forward a great deal to meeting alumni around the world as well as in College and working together towards these ambitious goals.”

Karina Malets joined the Development Office in October as Research and Donor Relations Manager. 

Originally from Ukraine, Karina has recently completed an MPhil in Development Studies at Clare Hall, where she subsequently worked in a temporary role in the Development Office. She previously worked for the American Embassy in Kyiv, whose removal to Warsaw she managed following the invasion. 

Karina will work with Fiona and Hannah to promote the College's fundraising ambitions and our relationship with our supporters. We are delighted to have her on board.