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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: 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

Background imageSweeny Collection: Duchess of Argylls ball for her debutante daughter

Duchess of Argylls ball for her debutante daughter
A spread from The Tatler reporting on the lavish ball held at Claridges by the Duchess of Argyll for her daughter, Miss Frances Sweeny

Background imageSweeny Collection: Mrs & Mrs Sweeny at an Ascot House Party

Mrs & Mrs Sweeny at an Ascot House Party
A group present at the Old Malt House in Bracknell, for an Ascot house party hosted by Mr and Mrs William Garthwaite. The group shows, from left, Mrs Charles Sweeny

Background imageSweeny Collection: Mr & Mrs Sweeny kiss each other goodbye

Mr & Mrs Sweeny kiss each other goodbye
Mrs Charles Sweeny, formerly Miss Margaret Whigham and later Duchess of Argyll (1912-1993) pictured kissing her husband Charles Sweeny goodbye before being presented on her marriage at the third

Background imageSweeny Collection: Mrs Charles Sweeny watching her husband play golf

Mrs Charles Sweeny watching her husband play golf
Mrs Charles Sweeny, formerly Miss Margaret Whigham and later the Duchess of Argyll (1912 - 1993), seen watching her husband

Background imageSweeny Collection: Sir Robert Throckmorton and Miss Margaret Whigham

Sir Robert Throckmorton and Miss Margaret Whigham
Miss Margaret Whigham (1912 - 1993), later Mrs Charles Sweeny and then Duchess of Argyll, pictured at the Dinner of a Hundred Hosts at the Park Lane Hotel during the London Season of 1932

Background imageSweeny Collection: Mr and Mrs Charles Sweeny at premiere of Flying Fortress

Mr and Mrs Charles Sweeny at premiere of Flying Fortress
Society golden couple, Mr and Mrs Charles Sweeny attending the film premiere of Flying Fortress and pictured with Wing Officer Statter and Brigadier-General McClelland

Background imageSweeny Collection: Mrs Charles Sweeny at Ascot

Mrs Charles Sweeny at Ascot
Mrs Charles Sweeny (middle), accompanied by Mr and Mrs Stephen Laddie Sanford (he was an American polo player) at Royal Ascot, 1938

Background imageSweeny Collection: Mr and Mrs Charles Sweeny at Ascot

Mr and Mrs Charles Sweeny at Ascot
The Hon. Mrs Esmond Harmsworth in the paddock at Ascot on Gold Cup Day, wearing black, with two silver foxes. Behind her are Mrs and Mrs Charles Sweeny, she in pink and brown

Background imageSweeny Collection: Sidelights on personality - Mrs Charles Sweeny

Sidelights on personality - Mrs Charles Sweeny
Unusual portrait of socialite Mrs Charles Sweeny, the former deb of the year Margaret Whigham and later the notorious Duchess of Argyll

Background imageSweeny Collection: Mrs Charles Sweeny by M. Baynon Copeland

Mrs Charles Sweeny by M. Baynon Copeland
Mrs Charles Sweeny (1912-1993), formerly Miss Margaret Whigham and later the Duchess of Argyll, painted by M. Baynon Copeland (the American artist Mrs R. C)

Background imageSweeny Collection: Mr & Mrs Charles Sweeny at the Dorchester

Mr & Mrs Charles Sweeny at the Dorchester
Mr and Mrs Charles Sweeny attending the American Societys Luncheon at the Dorchester in July 1941. Mrs Sweeny, the beautiful daughter of Mr and Mrs George Hay Whigham

Background imageSweeny Collection: Mrs Charles Sweeny & Lt. Hoguet, US Navy

Mrs Charles Sweeny & Lt. Hoguet, US Navy
Mrs Charles Sweeny (1912-1993), formerly Miss Margaret Whigham and later, on her second marriage, the Duchess of Argyll, pictured at a Ball in aid of Queen Charlottes Hospital

Background imageSweeny Collection: Mrs Charles Sweeny at Le Touquet

Mrs Charles Sweeny at Le Touquet
Lord Castlerosse, Lady Milton, Mrs Charles Sweeny (formerly Miss Margaret Whigham, later the Duchess of Argyll), Lady Helena Fitzwilliam and the American golfer Mr Charles Sweeny at Le Touquet

Background imageSweeny Collection: Number Engaged by Pat Charles

Number Engaged by Pat Charles
An impression by Pat Charles of the latest fiances and fiancees to announce their engagement in 1932, all interconnected by telephone lines

Background imageSweeny Collection: Miss Whigham & Mr Sweeny announce engagement

Miss Whigham & Mr Sweeny announce engagement
Miss Margaret Whigham and Mr Charles Sweeny, American amateur golfer, pictured following the announcement of their engagement having been denying it up to the last moment

Background imageSweeny Collection: Mrs Wrenn Dupont & Mrs Charles Sweeny at Le Touquet

Mrs Wrenn Dupont & Mrs Charles Sweeny at Le Touquet
Mrs Wrenn Dupont and Mrs Charles Sweeny (formerly Miss Margaret Whigham and later the Duchess of Argyll) pictured looking very neat, the former in golf playing gear

Background imageSweeny Collection: Mrs Esmond Harmsworth & Mr & Mrs Sweeny at Ascot

Mrs Esmond Harmsworth & Mr & Mrs Sweeny at Ascot
The Hon. Mrs Esmond Harmsworth in the paddock at Ascot on Gold Cup Day, wearing black with two silver foxes (bit excessive in June)

Background imageSweeny Collection: The Sweeny Family at home, 1938

The Sweeny Family at home, 1938
A series of photographs showing a different domestic side to the glamorous Mr and Mrs Charles Sweeny, pictured at home with their baby daughter Frances (born 1937, later became Frances Manners)

Background imageSweeny Collection: Sayings of Much-Recorded People by Eddie Tatham

Sayings of Much-Recorded People by Eddie Tatham
Spread from The Bystander 1932 showing some of the scions of 1930s society, and revealing some unrecorded sayings of much-recorded people

Background imageSweeny Collection: Miss Margaret Whigham seeks sylvan solitude

Miss Margaret Whigham seeks sylvan solitude
Exhausted from her relentless socialising (and appearances in society magazines like The Bystander!), Miss Margaret Whigham (1912-1993), later Mrs Charles Sweeny, then Duchess of Argyll

Background imageSweeny Collection: Mr Charles Birkin and Miss Margaret Whigham

Mr Charles Birkin and Miss Margaret Whigham
Miss Margaret Whigham (1912 - 1993), later Mrs Charles Sweeny and then Duchess of Argyll, pictured at the first night of the new revue

Background imageSweeny Collection: Sitters to John Laverys Their Majesties Court

Sitters to John Laverys Their Majesties Court
Three of the many sitters included in Their Majesties Court by John Lavery, a painting now lost. The three ladies, painted in their court dress and shown in photograph are, from left

Background imageSweeny Collection: Margaret Whigham on front cover of the Sketch

Margaret Whigham on front cover of the Sketch
Miss Margaret Whigham drawn by society portraitist, Olive Snell on the front cover of The Sketch in 1930, the year of her coming out as a debutante

Background imageSweeny Collection: Charles and Robert Sweeny

Charles and Robert Sweeny
American brothers Charles (right) and Robert Sweeny, given their golf Blues for Oxford University. Charles Sweeny married Margaret Whigham, later the Duchess of Argyll. Date: 1931

Background imageSweeny Collection: Mrs Charles Sweeny with Mr Eustace Storey

Mrs Charles Sweeny with Mr Eustace Storey
Mrs Charles Sweeny, formerly Miss Margaret Whigham and later the infamous Duchess of Argyll (1912 - 1993) pictured at the Golf Ball with Mr Eustace Storey



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