Identity area
Reference code
Beaton/F/20
Unique identifier
Title
Date(s)
- 24 March 1939 (Creation)
Level of description
Item
Extent and medium
2p 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
Typescript letter, in which Beaton writes that he has received a message from 'Vogue' magazine, quoting the latest slur made against him by the American newspaper and radio commentator, Walter Winchell (1897-1972) and advising Beaton that he should deny Winchell's allegation. In his column of the 21st March, Winchell states that Beaton sent an especially-bound copy of his work to Goebbels, a claim which is unfounded. Beaton is thoroughly sick of Winchell's unfairness and wonders what Lambert's reaction is: is there any sense in stirring the mud and pressing for legal action for damages? Beaton's publisher, Lippincott, backs the idea of retaliating. Adds that he will remain in Morocco until after Easter unless there is some cataclysm in the meantime.