1930s Theatre and Books Notebook – The Cowe Family’s Cultural Log from Edinburgh
In November 1931, two gentlemen from Edinburgh—John Rodgers Cowe and Robert P. Cowe—embarked on a quietly fascinating personal project: the meticulous recording of their theatre outings and reading habits. Together, or perhaps individually, they began compiling a detailed notebook, carefully logging the national theatre productions they attended across the United Kingdom, alongside the dates of each visit and thoughtful lists of the books they were reading at the time.
The notebook itself offers little in the way of personal details about its authors beyond their names and 1931 addresses. Frustratingly, even diligent research into the lives of John and Robert Cowe has yet to yield any significant biographical information. Curiously, at some point in the record, John’s name was crossed out, an enigmatic gesture that adds a touch of intrigue to an already mysterious document.
While the pages do not reveal much about the men themselves, the content is a treasure trove for theatre enthusiasts and social historians alike. Their notations provide a snapshot of British cultural life in the early 1930s, a period when theatre was both a mainstream entertainment and an intellectual pursuit. Each entry gives a glimpse into the productions that shaped the era, as well as the personal literary tastes of the notebook’s creators.
Perhaps most tantalising of all is a brief note at the end, referencing a “next one”—implying that a subsequent volume once existed, or may still be waiting to be found. For now, the whereabouts of this sequel remain unknown, a lingering puzzle for archivists and collectors.
You can view selected pages from this original notebook in the gallery below.
