Friends of the National Libraries
The Friends of the National Libraries was founded in 1931. It is a voluntary organisation consisting mainly of individual members, with the purpose of helping libraries in the United Kingdom acquire books, manuscripts and archives. The Friends do this by giving grants for acquisitions by National Libraries; eliciting and channelling benefactions; and organising appeals and publicity.
Friends of the National Libraries
Support from the Friends has enabled the Gallery to acquire manuscripts, books and associated portraits of outstanding significance:
- Letters and papers relating to the Kit-cat club, 1689-1777, acquired in 1945
- Extra-illustrated set of the Dictionary of National Biography, from the collection of J.H. Macdonnell, acquired in 1966
- Manuscript ledger by George Romney, 1786-96, acquired in 1981
- The Brownlow album of mezzotint portraits after Lely and Van Dyck published by Alexander Browne, acquired in 1985
- Manuscript sketchbook by George Romney, c.1772, acquired in 1994
- Lady Ottoline Morrell Photograph Collection, acquired in 2003
OF 2
John Gerard
by William Rogers, after Unknown artist
published 1598
NPG D2756
Sir Peter Lely
published by Alexander Browne, after Sir Peter Lely
circa 1680-4
NPG D11398
King Charles I; King Charles II
published by Alexander Browne, after Sir Anthony Van Dyck
circa 1680-4 (circa 1632)
NPG D11399
Jane Austen
by Cassandra Austen
circa 1810
NPG 3630
James Abbott McNeill Whistler
after Sir William Newzam Prior Nicholson
1897
NPG D2895
Lady Ottoline Morrell
by Henry Walter ('H. Walter') Barnett
1902
NPG P1005
Lady Ottoline Morrell
by George Charles Beresford
4 June 1903
NPG P1006
Lady Ottoline Morrell
by George Charles Beresford
4 June 1903
NPG P1007
Lady Ottoline Morrell
by Baron Adolf de Meyer
1912
NPG P1008
Katherine Mansfield
by John Herbert Folker
1917
NPG P1009
OF 2
