Gosse Family Tree and Biography
The earliest family member represented in the collection is Sir Edmund’s grandfather, Thomas Gosse (1765-1844), who was an engraver and itinerant portrait painter. We hold an article and a biography written by Raymond Lister, a friend of the family.
Thomas’s only son, Philip Henry Gosse (1810-1888), was a well-known natural historian and religious writer. We hold most of his works in first or early editions, various works about him, and some of his manuscript writings.
Philip Henry married Emily Gosse (1806-1857) in 1848. Emily was also a popular devotional religious writer. Some of her works, biographies about her, and a few of her diaries form part of the collection.
Ellen “Nellie” Gosse (1850-1929), wife of Sir Edmund Gosse, was an artist and writer. We hold a selection of her writings (printed), and one diary.All three of Edmund and Nellie Gosse’s children are present in the collection:
Their only son, Philip Henry George Gosse (1879-1959), was a writer and physician. He donated most of the material in the collection to the Brotherton Library in the 1950s. We hold all of his main works, some manuscript material, and several letters.
His sister, Emily Teresa “Tessa” Gosse, has contributed some reminiscences about her father, which we have in manuscript form.
Laura “Sylvia” Gosse (1881-1968) was an artist and painter, especially famous for her etchings. A number of exhibition catalogues and critical writings can be found in the collection, together with various original artworks, most of which were donated by her to the Brotherton Library.
