91/18

MS Shelf: 
CAT
MS Date: 
1900 - 1910
MS Extent: 
2 files
MS Bibliography: 

Information given to Mrs Joan Simpson, KCAL, by Mrs Doris Catlett (nee Jordan), daughter-in-law of WJC, in October 1987

MS File list: 
Available at KCAL
MS Historical note: 

William James Catlett, born in Finchley, near London, in 1883, came on his own to Durbanat the age of 13 (about 1896). He returned to England some years later upon the death of his father and then came back to Durban accompanied by his mother, Anne Mary Catlett, who married a member of the Stone family. He married Wilhelmina Paulina Volker in March 1909 and they had 3 children. After the death (in childbirth?) of his first wife, Catlett married Violet Jane Eales. Catlett had a brother, Vincent F Catlett, who also came to South Africa and was killed in Flanders during World War 1.
William Catlett worked for the railways all his life, first with the Natal Government Railways then the South African Railways until his retirement. He was foreman at various small Natal railway stations eg Harts Hill, Meduna, St Ives, Willowford. He was a gifted amateur photographer and the two small albums are fine examples of his work.

MS Title: 
William James Catlett papers
MS Scope and Content: 

The collection comprises two files containing photocopies of William James Catlett's birth and marriage certificates plus two early photograph albums containing a selection of photographs of early Durban including the harbour and the Point, visits of Joseph Chamberlain (c1902) and the Duke of Connaught (1910). Of particular interest are his photographs of small country railway stations in Natal, c1900-1910. There is also a photograph of William Catlett in the uniform [of a ticket collector?] of the Natal Government Railways.

MS Provenance: 
Donation
MS Local system number: 
KCAL309412
MS Physical description: 
typescript, photocopies, photographs (2 small albums)

Manuscript Inventory:

INSPIRING GREATNESS