Identity area
Reference code
Beaton/A/A2/14a/100
Unique identifier
Title
Date(s)
- 11 Mar. 1951 (Circa. Letter dated 'March 11th Sunday'.) (Creation)
Level of description
Item
Extent and medium
2 p. paper
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Photographer, artist, writer, and designer of scenery and costumes. Educated at Harrow and St John's College, Cambridge, 1922-5. Made his name as a photographer through portraits of the Sitwells. Employed by Vogue in London and New York. Published 'The Book of Beauty' (1930). Photographed the Duke of Windsor's wedding, 1937. War photographer, 1939-45. Designed 'Lady Windermere's Fan', 1945. Designed costumes for 'An Ideal Husband' and 'Anna Karenina', 1948. Worked on 'The School for Scandal', 1949, 'Quadrille' for Noel Coward, 1952, 'Turandot', 1961, and 'La Traviata', 1966. Designed costumes for 'My Fair Lady', 1956, and for the film version in Hollywood, 1963. His play 'The Gainsborough Girls', 1951 and 1959, was unsuccessful. Published 'The Glass of Fashion' (1954), and six volumes of diaries. Exhibited photographs at the National Portrait Gallery, 1968. Knighted 1972.
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Regrets that they were not together through his winter stay in New York. Fondly remembers seeing her at the beginning and end of his visit, especially their last night together. Refers to the star of light from her window. Hopes she will come to England in the summer.
Mentions his turret room in the Sherry Netherland hotel. Mentions his mother's ill health, and her companion. Writes about his garden. Describes unpacking and inspection of house on return from New York, and repacking for journey to London the next day. Refers to his activities and slow pace of life at Reddish. Describes the boat trip from New York. Writes that Ivor Novello died suddenly and Juliet was with him before he died. Asks for her change of address. Sends his love to Katie.