Special Collections Department
Sir Gerald Barry
Correspondence
Manuscript Collection Number: 302
Accessioned: Purchase, April 1993
Extent: ca. 580 items (1 linear ft.)
Content: Letters, clippings, galley proofs, pamphlets, photographs, speeches, reviews, lists, and reports.
Access: The collection is open for research.
Processed: July 1994, by Anita A. Wellner
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Special Collections, University of Delaware Library
Newark, Delaware 19717-5267
(302) 831-2229
Table of Contents
Biographical Note
Following the war, Barry became a journalist, writing lead articles for the Daily Express until 1921, when he began working for the Saturday Review. By 1925 Barry had become the editor of the Saturday Review, contributing a popular column which focused on his interests in politics, literature, and the arts. He remained editor until February 28, 1930, when he resigned, following a disagreement with the owner of the Saturday Review.
Within two weeks after his resignation, Barry, and the editorial staff who had followed him from the Saturday Review, had created the Week-end Review, publishing the first issue on March 14, 1930. The Week-end Review of Politics, Books, the Theatre, Art, and Music had a successful run of four years, before encountering financial difficulties which necessitated its merger with the New Statesman in 1934.
Barry also edited two books with connections to the Week-end Review, namely A Week-end Calendar (1932) and This England (1934). This England consisted of extracts from Barry's popular column of the same title, to which readers had sent absurdities which they garnered from publications by the English Press.
In 1934 Barry joined the staff of the News Chronicle as the features editor, becoming the managing editor in 1936, and serving through 1947. In 1948 he accepted a position as the salaried Director-General of the 1951 Festival of Britain. The success of the Festival of Britain was one of his most recognized achievements and contributed to his selection for knighthood in 1951.
After 1951, Barry served in a number of appointments, including advisor on public policy to the National Farmers' Union, consultant to the London County Council on the development of the Crystal Palace and park, chairman of the Barbican Committee, chairman of a theatre censorship reform committee, and beginning in 1958, editor in charge of Granada Television's plans for educational broadcasting. He was also chairman of International Literary Management (ILM) for which he recruited writers.
In 1955, Barry returned temporarily to the News Chronicle as its literary editor and during the same period wrote lead articles for the Sunday Times. In 1965 he edited, together with J. Bronowski, James Fisher, and Sir Julian Huxley, a dictionary titled Health and Wealth.
Sir Gerald Barry died in London, on November 21, 1968. A plaque commemorating his life was unveiled outside the Royal Festival Hall in 1971.
Sources:
Nicholls, C.S. and E.T. Williams (eds.) The Dictionary of National Biography 1961-1970. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1981. pp. 75-76.
Scope and Content Note
The letters are written by a wide variety of Sir Gerald Barry's friends and professional contacts. In most instances carbon copies of Barry's responses are included with the letters.
Correspondents include numerous literary notables, such as L. P. Hartley, Arnold Bennett, Maurice Baring, Stephen Spender, Max Beerbohm, John Lehmann, Beverly Nichols, Humbert Wolfe, John Buchan, R. C. Sherriff, Hugh Walpole, C. P. Snow, and Virginia Woolfe. Some of the correspondents wrote to Barry concerning their contributions to the Saturday Review or to the Week-End Review. Others, such as Virginia Woolf and John Buchan, wrote to decline Barry's requests for articles or reviews.
Many of the letters, written during the 1930s, express the correspondent's enthusiasm for Barry's editorship. Consequently, in 1934, many contributors wrote to convey their disappointment and remorse over the merger of the Week-End Review and the New Statesman.
Since the letters span most of Sir Barry's career, they reflect not only his work at the Saturday Review and editorship of the Week-End Review, but also his chairmanship of International Literary Management, his direction of Granada Television's plans for educational broadcasting, and his administration of the Festival of Britain.
Letters from the 1940s and 1950s describe arrangements for educational broadcasts for Granada Television; details for "Special Enquiry," a BBC series edited by Barry; early plans for the Festival of Britain, and contributions to News Chronicle. The correspondents also discuss speaking engagements (by Barry and others), appointments, travel plans, British politics, journalism, architecture, British economy and trade, and Barry's editorials.
Included among the professional correspondence are letters which discuss personal matters, including lunch and dinner engagements, visits to and from friends, concerns about Barry's health or the health of other friends, and his vacation and travel plans. A significant number of these letters also express the correspondent's appreciation for Sir Barry's congratulations, which he conveyed to them following their receipt of various British awards, including knighthood.
In addition to correspondence, the collection includes poems written by Marion Peacock, Stark Young, and Edmund Seagrave; a copy of Barry's tribute to Sir James Turner; critiques of "Special Enquiry" and a book by Stephen Potter (represented by International Literary Management); a draft of J.B.S. Haldane's essay, "Lord Birkenhead Improves His Mind;" excerpts from a speech by Michael Stewart; Barry's synopsis and proposal for The Week-End Book; a booklet titled Farnley Hall (1962); and Powys Evans's pamphlet, Some Words of Six Leading Statesmen...(Cayme Press, 1926). Also included are a curriculum vitae for composer Richard Arnell, several clippings, a proof of an editorial by Scott Goddard, and a photograph of an award.
Arrangement Note
The final folder in this collection contains letters written by unidentified persons.
Items such as proofs, clippings, articles, and other material are located with the letters in which they were originally enclosed or in alphabetical order by author when no correspondence related to the item is present.
Contents List
1 F1 Adams - Atholl
Adams, Mary
Agate, James, 1877-1947.
Alexander, H. G.
Allan, Robert A.
Allen of Hartwood
Andrade, E. N. (Edward Neville da Costa), 1887-1971.
Andrews, Eamonn
Arnell, Richard, 1917-
Ashby, Eric, 1904-
Atholl, Katharine Majory Stewart-Murray, Duchess of,
1874-1960.
Atholl, W. W.
F2 Baker - Banter
Baker, Stanley
Baldwin, Stanley Baldwin, Earl, 1867-1947.
Balfour, Honor
Balfour, John, Sir
Banter, A. Beverley
F3 Baring, Maurice, 1874-1945.
F4 Barker - Beaumont
Barker, Curen (?)
Barman, T. G.
Baron, Stanley
Bart, Lionel
Bartlett, Vernon, 1894-
Beaumont, Timothy Wentworth
F5 Beerbohm, Max, Sir, 1872-1956.
F6 Behan - Bell
Behan, John
Bell, Doyne, Dr.
F7 Bennett, Arnold, 1867-1931.
F8 Bennidy - Boothby
Bennidy, W.
Bernard, Oliver
Bessborough
Betts, Ernst, 1896-
Black, Misha, Sir, 1910-1977.
Bladett, B.
Bladle, Gould
Bone, James, 1872-
Bonher Certer, Violet
Boothby, Robert, Lord
1 F9 Boura - Bryant
Boura, C.
Boulting, John
Bridges-Adams, William, 1889-1965.
Briggs, Asa, 1921-
Moir, Guthrie
Brown, Ivor John Carnegie, 1891-
Brittain, Harry, Sir, 1873-1974.
Brook, Peter
Browne, E. Martin (Elliott Martin), 1900-
Bruce-Porter, Bruce, Sir
Bryan, Dora
Bryant, Arthur, Sir, 1899-
F10 Buchan, John, 1875-1940.
F11 Buchanan - Burton
Buchanan, George, 1904-
Budden, Frank
Burton, Basil
F12 Caccia - Caplet
Caccia, Harold
Cadbury, Laurence J.
Russell, Lilian
Camacho, J. A. (George)
Cameron, James
Cammaerts, Francis C. A.
Campbell, Jock A., Sir
Camrose, William Ewert Berry, Viscount, 1879-
Caplet (?), Marcus
F13 Casson - Cotes
Casson, Hugh Maxwell, Sir, 1910-
Castle, Barbara, 1911-
Cecil, Hugh (Hugh P.)
Chapman, Brian
Christie, John
Clark, Kenneth, 1903-
Clegg, Hugh Armstrong
Cochran, Charles B.
Collins, Norman, 1907-
Connor, William
Cooke, Cecil
Cooke, Colin R.
Cotes, Peter
1 F14 Cox - Curtis
Cox, Geoffrey
Cox, Ian H. (Ian Herbert), 1910-
Cripps, Stafford, Sir
Crankshaw, Edward
Crowther, Geoffrey, Sir, 1907-
Cruikshank, Robin J.
Goddard, Scott
Cudlipp, Percy
Cummings, Arthur J.
Curtis, Michael, 1923-
F15 D'aberon - Dupree
D'aberon
Daintrey, Adrian
Daniel, Glyn Edmund
Darwin, Robin
Dawson, Geoffrey
Day, Robin, Sir, 1923-
de Guingand, Francis Wilfred, Sir, 1900-
Dent, Alan
Dolmetsch, Arnold, 1858-1940.
Don, Alan C.
Driberg, Tom, Baron Bradwell
Dunelly, Bernard
Dupree, Tom (?)
F16 Eden - Evans
Eden, Anthony, Earl of Avon, 1897-
Elliott, John, Sir
Elliot, Walter
Elmhirst, Leonard K.
Ernle, Rowland Edmund Prothero, Baron, 1851-1937.
Erroll, Frederick
Evans, B. Ifor (Benjamin Ifor), 1899-
Evans, Powys
Evans, Trevor, Sir, 1903-
2 F17 Fenwick - Freud
Fenwick, Trevor
Fernald, John, 1905-
Fisher, James, 1912-
Fitter, Richard Sidney Richmond
Fonteyn, Margot, Dame, 1919-
Forbes, Mansfield
Forbes-Robertson, Johnston, Sir, 1853-1937.
Foyle, Christina
Fraser, Robert, Sir
Fraser, Ronald, Sir, 1888-
Frazer, Michael
Freud, Clement
F18 Garnett - Gollancz
Garnett, Robert Singleton, 1866-1932.
Gardiner, Gerald, 1900-
Gibberd, Frederick
Gielgud, Val Henry, 1900-
Gillard, Frank
Glenister, John
Gollancz, Victor, 1893-1967.
F19 Granville-Barker - Grisewood
Granville-Barker, Harley, 1877-1946.
Gray, James, Sir, 1891-1975.
Gribble, Philip
Thompson, Nicholas I.
Wolfers, John
Grimmond, Jo
Grisewood, Harman, 1906-
F20 Haldane - Hart-Davis
Haldane, J. B. S. (John Burton Sanderson), 1892-1964.
Hale, Lionel, 1909-
Cathie, I. A. B.
Page, D.
Armstrong, Martin
Haley, William John, Sir, 1901-
Hall, Peter
Hart, William O.
Hart-Davis, Rupert, 1907-
F21 Hartley, L. P. (Leslie Poles), 1895-1972.
2 F22 Hawkes - Hopkins
Hawkes, Jacquetta Hopkins, 1910-
Heal, Anthony
Herbert, Alan Patrick, 1890-
Herbert, Mervyn
Hewat, Tim
Rolph, C. H. (Cecil Hewitt), 1901-
Hoare, Samuel
Holford, William, Sir
Hollowood, A. Bernard, 1910-
Hooper, Frederic
Hopkins, Gerard, 1892-
F23 Horder - Huxley
Horder, Lord
Hore-Belisha, Leslie
Horton-Fawkes, Le G. G. W.
Hoyle, Fred, Sir
Hussey, Christopher
Hussey, Dyneley, 1893-1972.
Huxley, Gervas
F24 Inglis - Ismay
Inglis, Brian, 1916-
Ismay, Hastings Lionel Ismay, Baron, 1887-1965.
F25 James - Knox
James, Philip Brutton, 1901-
Jeffares, A. Norman (Alexander Norman), 1920-
Jenkins, Roy
Johnson, Celia, 1908-
Judson, Philip
Keely, E. P.
Knox, E. V. (Edmund Valpy), 1881-1971.
F26 Lane - Lee
Lane, Allen, Sir
Lasdun, Denys
Laski, Harold Joseph, 1893-1950.
Laski, Marghanita, 1915-
Lee, Jennie, 1904-
Lee, Laurie
F27 Lehmann, John, 1907-
2 F28 Linklater - Lynd
Linklater, Eric, 1899-
Littlewood, Joan
Roberts, Denys Kilham
Liverpool, Albert
Lloyd-George, Gwilym
Longford, Lord
Lusty, Robert, Sir, 1909-
Lynd, Robert, 1879-1949.
F29 Macmillan - McLaren
Macmillan
Martin, D. C.
Kneebone, Peter
Martin, Kingsley, 1897-1969.
Masefield, John, 1878-1967.
Massey, Harrie Stewart Wilson, Sir
Maud, John, Sir
McCarthy, Ralph
McLaren, Moray
F30 Mercer - Murrow
Mercer, G. E.
Middleton, Drew, 1913-
Milne, David, Sir, 1896-
Monckton, Walter
Montagu, Ivor Goldsmid Samuel, 1904-
Moorehead, Alan, 1910-
Morris, Claud
Morrison, Herbert Stanley, 1888-
Mortimer, Raymond, 1895-
Morton, Johnny
Muggeridge, Malcolm, 1903-
Muir, Ramsay, 1872-1941.
Muirhead, Thorburn
Murray, David
Murray, John
Murrow, Edward R.
3 F31 Nathan - Newton
Nathan, Lord
Nevinson, C. R. W. (Christopher Richard Wynne), 1889-
1946.
Newton, Eric, 1893-1956.
F32 Nichols, Beverley, 1899-
3 F33 Nicholson - Oxford
Nicholson, Edward Max
Norton, Clifford
Ormsby-Gore
Oxford, Mar (?)
F34 Parry - Petrie
Parry, Edward Abbott, Sir, 1863-1943.
Patch, Blanche Eliza, 1878-
Peacock, Marion
Perry, Eustace
Petrie, Charles, Sir, 1895-
F35 Piper, John, 1903-
F36 Playfair - Powell
Playfair, Nigel
Plummer, Leslie, Sir
Pollock, Gay C.
Pope, Olive
Reynolds, Jacqueline
Potter, Stephen
Powell, Anthony, 1905-
F37 Randall - Reinhardt
Randall, Alec
Ray, Cyril, 1908-
Rees-Mogg, William, 1928-
Reilly, Paul
Reinhardt, Max, 1873-1943.
F38 Richards - Ryan
Richards, J. M. (James Maude), Sir, 1907-
Roberts, Brian R.
Robson, Flora, Dame, 1902-
Roskill, Oliver W.
Rotha, Paul, 1907-
Swallow, Norman
Bennett, Holland
Barnes, George
de Lotbiniere, Anthony
Campey, George
Dembovitz, Nathan
Rothwell, Bruce
Royde-Smith, Naomi Gwladys
Russell, Gordon, Sir
Ryan, A. P.
3 F39 Sainsbury - Sheppard
Sainsbury, A. Pomeroy
Saint-Denis, Suria
St. John-Stevens, Norman
MacFarlane, J. E. C.
Salter, Arthur Salter, Baron, 1881-
Salisbury
Samuel, Herbert Louis Samuel, Viscount, 1870-1963.
Sargent, Malcolm, Sir, 1895-1967.
Scott, Charles Prestwich, 1846-1932.
Segrave, Edmond
Shaw, Glen Byam
Sheppard, Hugh Richard Lawrie, 1880-1937.
F40 Sherriff, R. C. (Robert Cedric), 1896-1975.
F41 Simon - Spence
Simon, John
Skevington, Gerard
Johnson, Pamela Hansford, 1912- (Lady Snow)
Snow, C. P. (Charles Percy), 1905-1980.
Sowersby, A. G.
Sparrow, John Hanbury Angus, 1906-
Spears, Edward Louis, Sir, 1886-1974.
Spence, Basil, Sir, 1907-
F42 Spender, Stephen, 1909-
F43 Steed - Symons
Steed, Henry Wickham, 1871-
Summerson, John Newenham, Sir, 1904-
Swinbury (?), George
Symons, Arthur, 1865-1945.
F44 Tallent - Turner
Tallent, Stephen
Thistleton, Francis
Thomas, Alan
Thomas, Miles, Sir
Topolski, Feliks, 1907-
Tubbs, Ralph
Turner, James, Sir
3 F45 Walpole - Williamson
Walpole, Hugh, Sir, 1884-1941.
Webster, David
Reinhardt, Max, 1873-1943.
Weisz, Vicky
Wheeler, Charles, Sir
Williams, Francis, 1903-
Williams-Ellis, Clough
Williams, Evelyn (Evelyn A.)
Ross, Williamson, Hugh, 1901-1978.
F46 Wolfe, Humbert, 1885-1940.
F47 Wolfit, Donald, 1902-1968.
F48 Woolf, Virginia, 1882-1941.
F49 Young - Zuckerman
Young, Stark
Thompson, Nicholas I.
Zuckerman, Solly Zuckerman, Baron, 1904-
F50 Unidentified
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