Reference
  • 2003/194
Archive collection
  • British Empire & Commonwealth
Level of description
  • Collection
Date
  • 1905-1954
Description
  • This collection consists of photographs, scrapbooks, maps, documents and printed material relating to Frank Lugard Brayne's life. The scrapbooks were largely compiled by his wife, Iris Goodeve Brayne (1891-1961). The Braynes had 6 children, who feature in some of the photographs. This catalogue was produced with the support of the National Cataloguing Grants Programme for Archives.
Extent and medium
  • 6 boxes
Creator
Biographical history
  • Frank Lugard Brayne (1882-1952), who was a nephew of Sir Frederick Lugard, entered the Indian Civil Service in 1905 and served in the Punjab as Assistant Commissioner until 1914. During the First World War he served in France, Mesopotamia, Syria and Palestine with the 18th (King George's Own) Lancers and was Deputy Chief Political Officer at Aleppo from 1918-20. On his return to India, he was appointed Deputy Commissioner at Gurgaon where he remained until 1927. Here he inaugurated the Gurgaon Experiment or Village Uplift movement in an attempt to transform lives 'lived in the most unnecessary squalor, misery, suffering, degradation and disease'. Brayne believed that 'no improvement of agriculture is of any use whatever without uplift'. To spread his message, he used leaflets, posters, district gazettes, lectures and magic lantern shows. His energy and single-mindedness were admired and his work imitated in other areas, but he was criticised by some for neglecting his administrative duties. He continued his work at Jhelum from 1929 to 1931 and at Multan from 1932 to 1933 before extending these activities to the whole of the Punjab when he became Commissioner for Rural Reconstruction in 1933. During the Second World War Brayne held the position of Inspector of Amenities for Indian Troops, and he was concerned with the welfare education of Indian troops and their preparation for the post-war world. After the war Brayne retired, and continued to write, broadcast and lecture, most of his activities being directed to the cause of improving rural conditions throughout the world.
Access status
  • Open
Access conditions
  • None