Ethel

In addition to the academic works, the sale featured personal items, including a handwritten letter from Ethel Turing explaining the gift of her son's papers to Mr Routledge.

Lurie, 52, grew up in Santa Cruz, far from the neighborhood where McDaniel, Louise Beavers, Ethel Waters and other striving Black actors and business pioneers depicted in “The Great Mann” lived.

Ethel Caterham, who lives at a care home in Lightwater, Surrey, reached the milestone following the death of Brazilian nun Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas, aged 116 on Wednesday.

The letter stated that His Majesty was "heartened to learn about Ethel's fascinating personal history".

The title of the oldest living person will now pass to 115-year-old Ethel Caterham from Surrey in England.