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Sweeny Collection

Background imageSweeny Collection: Mrs Whighams Ascot Party

Mrs Whighams Ascot Party
A group at a house party held by Mrs George Hay Whigham at her home at Ascot, during Ascot Week. From left, Mr, C. Moore, Miss Margaret Whigham (Mrs Whighams daughter, later the Duchess of Argyll)

Background imageSweeny Collection: Mrs Charles Sweeny as Astrae the Star-Maiden

Mrs Charles Sweeny as Astrae the Star-Maiden
Mrs Charles Sweeny, formerly Miss Margaret Whigham and later the Duchess of Argyll (1912 - 1993), pictured as Astrae, the Star-Maiden for the Olympian Party at Claridges on 5 March 1935 in aid of

Background imageSweeny Collection: Mrs and Mrs Charles Sweeny at The Embassy Club

Mrs and Mrs Charles Sweeny at The Embassy Club
Mr and Mrs Charles Sweeny (Mrs Charles Sweeny was formerly Miss Margaret Whigham and later the infamous Duchess of Argyll)

Background imageSweeny Collection: Mrs Charles Sweeny contemplating her portrait

Mrs Charles Sweeny contemplating her portrait
Mrs Charles Sweeny (1912 - 1993), formerly Miss Margaret Whigham and later the Duchess of Argyll, pictured looking at her own portrait in an exhibition of work by the portraitist Molly Bishop at

Background imageSweeny Collection: Margaret Whigham & Charles Sweeny engagement at The Embassy

Margaret Whigham & Charles Sweeny engagement at The Embassy
Miss Margaret Whigham and Mr Charles Sweeny at a party at the Embassy Club to celebrate their engagement in December 1932

Background imageSweeny Collection: Margaret Whigham as The Precious One at the Gay Party

Margaret Whigham as The Precious One at the Gay Party
Miss Margaret Whigham, celebrated debutante and it girl, later Mrs Charles Sweeny and then the Duchess of Argyll, whose divorce case in 1963 scandalised the country

Background imageSweeny Collection: Confessions by Camera, Ms Charles Sweeny

Confessions by Camera, Ms Charles Sweeny
Page from The Sketch, part of a series entitled, Confessions by Camera. This one features Mrs Charles Sweeny, former deb of the year and it girl

Background imageSweeny Collection: Margaret Whigham & Mrs Colclough, Best of Everything Ball

Margaret Whigham & Mrs Colclough, Best of Everything Ball
Miss Margaret Whigham and Mrs Colclough displaying British gloves, stockings and scarves at the Best of Everything Dinner

Background imageSweeny Collection: Margaret Whigham at the British Porcelain Ball

Margaret Whigham at the British Porcelain Ball
Margaret Whigham (1912 - 1993), British society figure, debutante of the year in 1930. Later Mrs Charles Sweeny, after marrying the American golfer, and then Duchess of Argyll

Background imageSweeny Collection: Margaret Whigham with poodles Gabi & Suki by Madame Yevonde

Margaret Whigham with poodles Gabi & Suki by Madame Yevonde
Margaret Whigham (1912 - 1993), British society figure, debutante of the year in 1930. Later Mrs Charles Sweeny, after marrying the American golfer, and then Duchess of Argyll

Background imageSweeny Collection: Mrs Charles Sweeny & Lady Dunn at Sandwich

Mrs Charles Sweeny & Lady Dunn at Sandwich
Mrs Charles Sweeny, looking as chic as ever, with Lady Dunn (rocking a rather fabulous jumpsuit) and her daughter, Countess John de Bendern at Whites Club golf tournament at Sandwich

Background imageSweeny Collection: Margaret Whigham, Jeanne Stourton at Vacanis matinee

Margaret Whigham, Jeanne Stourton at Vacanis matinee
A group dressed as lawn tennis girls of the 1880s for the charity matinee performance at the Pavilion Theatre of pupils of Madame Vacanis dancing school

Background imageSweeny Collection: Society at the Cataract Hotel, Assuan (Aswan), Egypt

Society at the Cataract Hotel, Assuan (Aswan), Egypt
Group of well-known people at the Cataract Hotel in Aswan, near the huge dam. Pictured are Sir Oliver Duncan (in white hat), Delia de Bagno, the Marquess of Huntly, Lady Joan Villiers

Background imageSweeny Collection: Mrs Charles Sweeny & Miss Jeanne Stourton at Maggy Rouff

Mrs Charles Sweeny & Miss Jeanne Stourton at Maggy Rouff
Miss Jeanne Stourton seated next to Mrs Charles Sweeny (formerly Miss Margaret Whigham, later the Duchess of Argyll), who she closely resembled, at a Maggy Rouff dress show in 1937

Background imageSweeny Collection: Mrs Charles Sweeny and daughter

Mrs Charles Sweeny and daughter
Mrs Charles Sweeny, formerly Miss Margaret Whigham and later, on her second marriage, Duchess of Argyll, pictured with her daughter Frances

Background imageSweeny Collection: Margaret Whigham at Ascot with her boater and ruches muff

Margaret Whigham at Ascot with her boater and ruches muff
Celebrated society it girl, Miss Margaret Whigham, later Mrs Charles Sweeny and then the infamous Duchess of Argyll pictured at Ascot in June 1931 wearing an unusual boater style hat

Background imageSweeny Collection: Miss Margaret Whigham and her parents

Miss Margaret Whigham and her parents
Miss Margaret Whigham, later Mrs Charles Sweeny and then Duchess of Argyll, pictured with her parents Mr and Mrs George Hay Whigham at a a ball they held at their house, Queens Hill

Background imageSweeny Collection: Mr & Mrs Charles Sweeny

Mr & Mrs Charles Sweeny
Mr Charles Sweeny with his wife, the former Miss Margaret Whigham (later Duchess of Argyll), seen at the opening night of the Cafe de Paris

Background imageSweeny Collection: Mr and Mrs Charles Sweeny, lunching in London

Mr and Mrs Charles Sweeny, lunching in London
Wartime snapshot of Mr and Mrs Charles Sweeny, lunching in London, with pilot officer Sir Anthony Weldon, BT RAF. From an article, Black out Night out by Edith Shackleton. Date: 1939

Background imageSweeny Collection: Charles and Margaret Sweeny

Charles and Margaret Sweeny
American golfer Charles Sweeny (1909-1993) and his wife Margaret, previously Margaret Whigham and later Duchess of Argyll (1912-1993). Date: 1939

Background imageSweeny Collection: Margaret Whigham flower arranging in Selfridges window

Margaret Whigham flower arranging in Selfridges window
Miss Margaret Whigham settling an argument how a florists window should look by very publicly dressing the window of Selfridges flower shop in October 1932

Background imageSweeny Collection: Society Returns to the Bicycle by Hynes

Society Returns to the Bicycle by Hynes
Fantastic caricatures of some of the most famous faces in 1930s British society, all furiously peddling away on bicycles. Back row from left: Sir Henry Birkin

Background imageSweeny Collection: Miss Margaret Whigham and Lord Selby

Miss Margaret Whigham and Lord Selby
Margaret Whigham (1912 - 1993), British society figure, debutante of the year in 1930. Later Mrs Charles Sweeny, after marrying the American golfer, and then Duchess of Argyll

Background imageSweeny Collection: Miss Margaret Whigham with her harp

Miss Margaret Whigham with her harp
Margaret Whigham (1912 - 1993), British society figure, debutante of the year in 1930. Later Mrs Charles Sweeny, after marrying the American golfer, and then Duchess of Argyll

Background imageSweeny Collection: The future Lady Warwick, Miss Margaret Whigham

The future Lady Warwick, Miss Margaret Whigham
Portrait of Margaret Whigham, later Mrs Charles Sweeny, and then the Duchess of Argyll, pictured in The Tatler at the time of her engagement to the Earl of Warwick

Background imageSweeny Collection: Margaret Whigham with Marquess of Donegall at St. Moritz

Margaret Whigham with Marquess of Donegall at St. Moritz
Miss Margaret Whigham, later Mrs Charles Sweeny and then Duchess of Argyll, pictured at St. Moritz with the Marquess of Donegall (Edward Chichester) in the year she was presented at court. 1930

Background imageSweeny Collection: Margaret Whigham and Lord Selby

Margaret Whigham and Lord Selby
Miss Margaret Whigham, later Mrs Charles Sweeny and then Duchess of Argyll, pictured with Lord Selby at Mrs. Woolley-Harts house-warming party in June 1931. Date: 1931

Background imageSweeny Collection: Margaret Whigham at the Famous Beauties Ball

Margaret Whigham at the Famous Beauties Ball
Miss Margaret Whigham, later Mrs Charles Sweeny and then Duchess of Argyll, pictured with her pet poodle dressed up a Perdita/Mrs Robinson at the Famous Beauties Ball at the Dorchester on 25 June

Background imageSweeny Collection: Sketch - Engagement of Margaret Whigham & Earl of Warwick

Sketch - Engagement of Margaret Whigham & Earl of Warwick
Front cover of The Sketch magazine reporting on the engagement of popular debutante, Margaret Whigham ( the most talked-of, photographed, and paragraphed debutante ) to the Earl of Warwick

Background imageSweeny Collection: Miss Margaret Whigham and Mr Pemberton

Miss Margaret Whigham and Mr Pemberton
Miss Margaret Whigham, later Mrs Charles Sweeney and then Duchess of Argyll, pictured at a party held at her parents house, Queens Hill at Ascot in July 1931 with Mr Pemberton. Date: 1931

Background imageSweeny Collection: A Day in the Life of the Debutante - Miss Margaret Whigham

A Day in the Life of the Debutante - Miss Margaret Whigham
A scene from a number of tableaux staged at the London Hippodrome in May 1931 in aid of the Highway Club for Boys and Girls in the east end of London - it was attended by the Duchess of York

Background imageSweeny Collection: Mrs Charles Sweeny, later Duchess of Argyll

Mrs Charles Sweeny, later Duchess of Argyll
Mrs Charles Sweeny (formerly Margaret Whigham, later the Duchess of Argyll) photographed for a Bystander spread on London Faces

Background imageSweeny Collection: Mrs Charles Sweeny with Prince Bernhard of Netherlands

Mrs Charles Sweeny with Prince Bernhard of Netherlands
Socialite Mrs Charles Sweeny, formerly Miss Margaret Whigham and later the infamous Duchess of Argyll (1912-1993), pictured with Prince Bernard of the Netherlands (1911-2004)

Background imageSweeny Collection: Mr & Mrs Charles Sweeny at Le Touquet

Mr & Mrs Charles Sweeny at Le Touquet
Mr and Mrs Charles Sweeny pictured in Le Touquet at the annual Bucks Club golf expedition. Mrs Sweeny was the former Miss Margaret Whigham, Deb of the Year in 1930, and on her second marriage

Background imageSweeny Collection: Duke & Duchess of Argyll at the Royal Academy

Duke & Duchess of Argyll at the Royal Academy
Ian Campbell, 11th Duke of Argyll, together with his third wife, the former Miss Margaret Whigham and Mrs Charles Sweeny, pictured standing by a portrait of Lord John Campbell, later the 7th Duke

Background imageSweeny Collection: The Aga Khan with Margaret Whigham & Mr Waddington

The Aga Khan with Margaret Whigham & Mr Waddington
Miss Margaret Whigham (1912-1993), later Mrs Charles Sweeny and then Margaret Campbell, Duchess of Argyll, pictured in 1931 at the autumn race meeting at Newbury with H.H

Background imageSweeny Collection: Society ladies at the Jewels of Empire Ball

Society ladies at the Jewels of Empire Ball
Three of the ladies at the Jewels of Empire Ball, held in June 1935 at the Grosvenor House Hotel. Over 3 million pounds worth of jewels were worn in the shape of bracelets, tiaras, necklaces

Background imageSweeny Collection: Engagement party of Margaret Whigham & Charles Sweeny

Engagement party of Margaret Whigham & Charles Sweeny
A group at the engagement party of socialite Miss Margaret Whigham and American golfer, Charles Sweeny at the Embassy Club in London

Background imageSweeny Collection: Mrs Charles Sweeny

Mrs Charles Sweeny
Margaret Whigham (1912-1993), British society figure, debutante of the year in 1930. Later Mrs Charles Sweeney, after marrying the American golfer, and then Duchess of Argyll

Background imageSweeny Collection: Wedding of Margaret Whigham and Charles Sweeny

Wedding of Margaret Whigham and Charles Sweeny
The society wedding of the year in 1933; that of society beauty and media darling, Miss Margaret Whigham, later Duchess of Argyll, to Mr Charles Sweeny

Background imageSweeny Collection: Bystander front cover featuring Miss Margaret Whigham

Bystander front cover featuring Miss Margaret Whigham
Margaret Whigham (1912 - 1993), British society figure, debutante of the year in 1930. Later Mrs Charles Sweeny, after marrying the American golfer, and then Duchess of Argyll

Background imageSweeny Collection: Group photo, British officers, East Africa, WW1

Group photo, British officers, East Africa, WW1
Group photo, British officers, in East Africa during WW1. From left, front row: R E Herring, Dr Jewell and Major Sweeny, all of whom were awarded the MC. 1917

Background imageSweeny Collection: The Season by Charles Graves

The Season by Charles Graves
Article in The Sphere by Charles Graves explaining the London Season from the viewpoint of the debutante. The article is illustrated by photographs of well-known debs including Rose Bingham

Background imageSweeny Collection: Sphere cover - wedding of Charles Sweeny & Margaret Whigham

Sphere cover - wedding of Charles Sweeny & Margaret Whigham
Front cover of The Sphere magazine featuring society wedding of the year in 1933; that of society beauty and media darling, Miss Margaret Whigham, later Duchess of Argyll, to Mr Charles Sweeny

Background imageSweeny Collection: Mrs Charles Sweeny with her parents

Mrs Charles Sweeny with her parents
Mrs Charles Sweeny (1912-1993), formerly Miss Margaret Whigham, and later, on her second marriage, the Duchess of Argyll, pictured with her parents

Background imageSweeny Collection: Mr & Mrs Charles Sweeny at sons christening

Mr & Mrs Charles Sweeny at sons christening
Mr and Mrs Charles Sweeny at the christening of their younger child, Brian at Brompton Oratory on 7 May 1940 with their daughter, Frances (later Duchess of Rutland)

Background imageSweeny Collection: Mrs Charles Sweeny in American Red Cross uniform

Mrs Charles Sweeny in American Red Cross uniform
Mrs Charles Sweeny (1912-1993), formerly Miss Margaret Whigham and later Margaret, Duchess of Argyll, pictured in American Red Cross uniform to illustrate an autobiographical feature about her in The



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