Purchase, September 2005.
The collection is open for research.
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Department, University of Delaware Library,
MSS 620, Beverley Nichols papers, Special Collections, University of Delaware Library, Newark, Delaware.
Processed and encoded by Christopher La Casse, May 2010. Updated by Maureen Cech, October 2010.
Novelist, playwright, journalist, composer, and political activist John Beverley Nichols was born September 9, 1898, in Bristol, England. Nichols was a popular writer, best known for his sentimental and witty "musings on gardening, country life, and cats."
After an unsuccessful first term at Balliol College, Oxford, in 1917, Nichols joined the Army Labour Corps, a noncombat division. Transferred to Cambridge in 1918 to train officer cadets, he was made secretary to vice-chancellor of Cambridge University Dr. Arthur Everett Shipley and joined Shipley and the British Education Commission on a tour of United States colleges and universities. The Commission was charged with extending cooperation between English and American educational institutions. During this trip, Nichols finished what became his first novel,
Returning to Oxford in 1919, Nichols assumed the editorial responsibilities of the Oxford student newspaper,
Greatly affected by the war, Nichols became an outspoken pacifist and advocate for disarmament, giving speeches at rallies and appropriating the slogan "peace at any price." Themes reflecting this ideology are prominent in several of Nichols's literary pieces. His 1931 play production
Nichols's creative output is as varied generically as it is topically. Novels, juvenile fiction, short stories, plays, poetry, travel books, and musical revues all comprise Nichols's repertoire. Nichols served as a reporter and columnist for both London and American newspapers and magazines, including the
Perhaps Nichols’s most widely read work was his "garden literature," inspired by his country homes: Ellerdale Close in Hampstead, Thatch Cottage in Glatton, Sudbrook Cottage, and Merry Hall in Surrey. The style of his garden books is marked by long digressions incorporating memories and musings on politics. Nichols also published a popular fictionalized version of his own gardening experiences at Glatton titled
A prolific writer of creative non-fiction, Nichols published on a variety of topics in addition to politics and gardening, including religion, social satire, cats, parapsychology, and his own life. Nichols irreverently penned a memoir at twenty-five, titled
Beverley Nichols died in 1983 in Glatton, England.
The Beverley Nichols papers document the personal and professional activities of prolific twentieth-century English novelist, playwright, journalist, composer, and political activist Beverley Nichols. The collection comprises correspondence, diaries, scrapbooks, manuscripts, musical compositions, and photographs dating between 1911 and 1991. The collection is organized in seven series: I. Personal records; II. Correspondence; III. Works by Nichols; IV.
Series I. consists of personal records maintained by Beverley Nichols, divided into two subseries. The first subseries includes diaries and scrapbooks kept by Nichols documenting his personal life, professional accomplishments, and travels, and include correspondence, flyers, brochures, photographs, and clippings. One scrapbook was maintained by American fan Ray Harris, whom Nichols met on his 1918 lecture tour of the United States and later employed while working as the editor of
Series II. consists of two groupings: outgoing correspondence from and incoming correspondence to Beverley Nichols, reflecting the arrangement of the series as received by the University of Delaware Library. The first grouping consists of outgoing correspondence, arranged alphabetically by correspondent's surname; one file has been created for letters collectively addressed to members of Nichols's family. Significant correspondents include Nichols's close friend and confidante Cornelia Thorne and members of his family, with whom he shared details of his travels in Greece, Australia, the United States, and France. The second grouping is comprised of incoming correspondence, sub-arranged alphabetically by the surname of the correspondent or by the first letter of a business's name and then chronologically. Significant correspondents include English writer Rebecca West; English photographer and designer Cecil Beaton; English poet John Betjeman; Winston S. Churchill, grandson of Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill; and English author W. Somerset Maugham. Miscellaneous correspondence includes a circa 1922 letter from English travel writer Freya Stark to Jean Connolly, the wife of English literary critic Cyril Connolly, and one letter responding to Nichols biographer Bryan Connon's newspaper advertisement for information concerning Nichols, which includes a photocopy of a 1981 letter from Nichols to a Mrs. Dele concerning Nichols's battle with cancer toward the end of his life.
Series III. consists of materials contributing toward the publication of works by Beverley Nichols and is divided into three subseries. The first subseries comprises manuscripts of published and unpublished dramatic works, novels, short stories, speeches, prose pieces, sketches, musical verse, and poetry, as well as some of Nichols's notes about his works. Nichols's involvement with social and political movements such as disarmament are also represented. The manuscripts are arranged alphabetically by title. Project folders often contain multiple drafts: where possible discrete drafts have been identified; however, no attempt was made to arrange the drafts chronologically. Titles applied to project folders during processing appear in square brackets. One folder contains untitled and/or otherwise unidentified manuscript material, some of which are fragments. The second subseries contains materials related to Nichols's musical compositions, which includes scores and manuscript material. The third subseries consists of materials contributing to the production of Nichols's published works arranged into two groupings: illustrations and proofs. Included in the series are illustrations for two of Nichols's garden works,
Series IV. consists of a typescript of Bryan Connon’s biography of Nichols
Series V. comprises photographs and artwork that document Nichols's personal and professional activities, arranged into loose groupings of portraits, professional activities, Nichols's gardens and homes, and miscellaneous, in rough chronological order. Though the bulk of the photographs were taken on his various estates and in English gardens, the earliest portraits present Nichols in his Army uniform shortly after World War I. Various candid photographs capture Nichols giving speeches, playing cards, playing piano, signing books, sitting with his cats, and attending the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. The artwork in this series consists of two pencil drawings by artist Harly Trott of Nichols posing in the nude. Dates provided during processing appear in square brackets.
Series VI. consists of a variety of printed matter collected by Beverley Nichols, including programs, invitations, clippings, and catalogs. Materials are arranged in rough chronological order.
Series VII. is a small series consisting of one seven-inch reel-to-reel audio tape, the contents of which are unknown at this time.
Two monographs that were received with the collection,
Consists of personal records maintained by Beverley Nichols, divided into two subseries. The first subseries includes diaries and scrapbooks kept by Nichols documenting his personal life, professional accomplishments, and travels, and include correspondence, flyers, brochures, photographs, and clippings. One scrapbook was maintained by American fan Ray Harris, whom Nichols met on his 1918 lecture tour of the United States and later employed while working as the editor of
This subseries includes diaries and scrapbooks kept by Nichols documenting his personal life, professional accomplishments, and travels, and include correspondence, flyers, brochures, photographs, and clippings. One scrapbook was maintained by American fan Ray Harris, whom Nichols met on his 1918 lecture tour of the United States and later employed when working as the editor of
Documents Nichols's service on the British Education Mission, a committee of English educators who toured 40 of the leading colleges and universities in the United States from October to November 1918 "to confer on future relations of English and American universities." Nichols served as the secretary to vice-chancellor of Cambridge University, Dr. Arthur Everett Shipley. The scrapbook contains photographs, menus, seating charts, clippings, tintypes, and a maple leaf that had fallen on George Washington's tomb. The scrapbook records not only Nichols's service on this transatlantic endeavor, his opinion of American journalism, and visits to many of the United State's major cities, but it also chronicles the tail-end of World War I, Nichols having been in the United States when armistice was declared in November 1918.
Contains clippings of articles by and about Nichols documenting his creative, political, and critical activities while a student at Oxford. Nichols served as the president of the Oxford Union Society, a debate club. Also included are Nichols's notes that record phrases, conversations, and plots of novels.
The second subseries consists of appointment books that document Nichols's daily activities and financial material. The twenty-five appointment books span the years from 1932 to 1981; the bulk of the books cover 1932 to 1942. The financial material include royalty statements, tax documents, and stock receipts. Materials are arranged chronologically.
Series II. consists of two groupings: outgoing correspondence from and incoming correspondence to Beverley Nichols, reflecting the arrangement of the series as received by the University of Delaware Library. The first grouping consists of outgoing correspondence, arranged alphabetically by correspondent's surname; one file has been created for letters collectively addressed to members of Nichols's family. Significant correspondents include Nichols's close friend and confidante Cornelia Thorne and members of his family, with whom he shared details of his travels in Greece, Australia, the United States, and France. The second grouping is comprised of incoming correspondence, sub-arranged alphabetically by the surname of the correspondent or by the first letter of a business's name and then chronologically. Significant correspondents include English writer Rebecca West; English photographer and designer Cecil Beaton; English poet John Betjeman; Winston S. Churchill, grandson of Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill; and English author W. Somerset Maugham. Miscellaneous correspondence includes a circa 1922 letter from English travel writer Freya Stark to Jean Connolly, the wife of English literary critic Cyril Connolly, and one letter responding to Nichols biographer Bryan Connon's newspaper advertisement for information concerning Nichols, which includes a photocopy of a 1981 letter from Nichols to a Mrs. Dele concerning Nichols's battle with cancer toward the end of his life.
Correspondents found in this file: Christabel Aberconway, Betty Askwith, Cecil Beaton, A.C. Benson, Theodora Benson, John Betjeman, David Bowes-Lyon.
Correspondents found in this file: Chatto and Windus, Winston S. Churchill, Kenneth Clark, Noel Coward, Fleur Cowles, A.G. Diamond, Daisy Fellowes, Lynn Fontanne, John Gielgud
Correspondents found in this file: Christopher Hassall, A.P. Herbert, Meig Herridge, Lord Kinross, Micheál Mac Liammóir, Marina, Duchess of Kent, W. Somerset Maugham, Oliver Messel, Paul Nichols, Cecil Roberts, A.L. Rowse
Correspondents found in this file: C.P. Snow, Sophia, Queen of Greece, G.B. Stern, Rt. Hon. Jeremy Thorpe, Violet Trefusis, Rebecca West, Emlyn Williams, Godfrey Winn, Cecil Woolf
Series III. consists of materials contributing toward the publication of works by Beverley Nichols and is divided into three subseries. The first subseries comprises manuscripts of published and unpublished dramatic works, novels, short stories, speeches, prose pieces, sketches, musical verse, and poetry, as well as some of Nichols's notes about his works. Nichols's involvement with social and political movements such as disarmament are also represented. The manuscripts are arranged alphabetically by title. Project folders often contain multiple drafts: where possible discrete drafts have been identified; however, no attempt was made to arrange the drafts chronologically. Titles applied to project folders during processing appear in square brackets. One folder contains untitled and/or otherwise unidentified manuscript material, some of which are fragments. The second subseries contains materials related to Nichols's musical compositions, which includes scores and manuscript material. The third subseries consists of materials contributing to the production of Nichols's published works arranged into two groupings: illustrations and proofs. Included in the series are illustrations for two of Nichols's garden works,
This subseries comprises manuscripts of published and unpublished dramatic works, novels, short stories, speeches, prose pieces, sketches, musical verse, and poetry, as well as some of Nichols's notes about his works. Nichols's involvement with social and political movements such as disarmament are also represented. The manuscripts are arranged alphabetically by title. Project folders often contain multiple drafts: where possible discrete drafts were identified; however, no attempt was made to arrange the drafts chronologically. Titles applied to project folders during processing appearing square brackets. One folder contains untitled and/or otherwise unidentified manuscript material, some of which are fragments.
Last half of manuscript of
Typescript of Stevenson's poem with some autograph revisions, presumably by Nichols.
Chapter presumed to have been removed from
Photocopy of typescript.
Carbon typescript of the play,
Ten leaves apparently removed from an original manuscript of cooking and household recipes, circa 1698; part of a manuscript book found by Nichols in his home circa 1930 and subsequently published together as
Chapter presumed to have been removed from
Carbon typescript of the screenplay,
Publicity Club speech on the topic "Can advertising help in the abolition of war?" Includes additions and revisions for the second delivery of the speech to a disarmament rally at Albert Hall, November 15, 1932, organized by the League of Nations Union, where Nichols used the slogan "Peace at Any Price," the advertising slogan devised by Nichols for the campaign (see Connon's
Carbon typescript of play in three acts
Speech dedicated to English prime minister H. H. Asquith, who served from 1908-1916 and played a critical role in leading the nation to war in 1914.
Possibly related to the piece of the same name published in
Includes mixed manuscript and typescript of
This subseries contains materials related to Nichols's musical compositions, which includes scores and manuscript material.
Also published in
Manuscript score and lyrics of a never-produced musical version for television of Nichols's children’s book
This subseries consists of materials contributing to the production of Nichols's published works arranged into two groupings: illustrations and proofs. Included in the series are illustrations for two of Nichols's garden works,
22 illustrations marked for layout.
23 illustrations by William McLaren marked for layout.
This series consists of a typescript of Bryan Connon’s biography of Nichols
Series V. comprises photographs and artwork that document Nichols's personal and professional activities, arranged into loose groupings of portraits, professional activities, Nichols's gardens and homes, and miscellaneous, in rough chronological order. Though the bulk of the photographs were taken on his various estates and in English gardens, the earliest portraits present Nichols in his Army uniform shortly after World War I. Various candid photographs capture Nichols giving speeches, playing cards, playing piano, signing books, sitting with his cats, and attending the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. The artwork in this series consists of two pencil drawings by artist Harly Trott of Nichols posing in the nude. Dates provided during processing appear in square brackets.
Black and white portraits of Nichols as a young man. Three are mounted on board. All are signed by the photographers
Black and white portraits of Nichols as a young man mounted onto boards and paper. One bears the label "Pirie MacDonald Photographer-of-men New York."
Black and white photographs of Nichols with Sir Henry Jones, Sir Henry ____; Dr. A. E. Shipley, ScD. FRS. V. C. of Cambridge, Prof. John _____; and Rev. E. M. Walker, Queen's College Oxford. Nichols appears in military uniform. Black and white photograph of Nichols in civilian attire with S. R. Sidebottom, J. Victor Evans, C. B. Ramage, R. M. Lindsay, William Gib, N. A. Beechman, Rt. Hon. Winston S. Churchill, W. H. [Noberly] M. A. , D. P. M. Fyfe.
Black and white studio portraits of Nichols in photographer's covers. One by Pearl Freeman, one by Raphael.
Black and white portraits of Nichols as a young man. There are several of Nichols on a boat in different poses, and multiple versions of Nichols posed with his arms folded across his chest.
Black and white portraits of Nichols as a young man including poses with two black cats, in gardens. There is a run of five negatives with one print of Nichols in pajamas in a bed and on a balcony. Two photographs on Nichols with a black dog, possibly "Whoops". Most are formal portraits, but three are a series of Nichols in a forest.
Black and white portraits of Nichols as an older man.. Includes photographs of Nichols posing with a suitcase displaying "Go Back to Britain, Beverly" stickers. Two negatives and one print of Nichols in a hospital bed with a nurse taking his pulse. Six passport photographs in three poses. Five images by the Hugh White Studios. One of Nichols in St. Marks Square, Venice, Italy. One of Nichols with a large bunch of bananas over his shoulder. Most are formal portraits, and some include cats.
Photographs related to Nichols's professional activities in theater, including Nichols having his palm read, Nichols with British actress Greer Garson as Irene in
Black and white portraits of Nichols taken at Glatton with an unidentified man and woman.
Black and white interior, gardens, and exterior construction photographs. Also included are portraits of Nichols in the garden.
Black and white photographs of the interior, exterior and garden at Glatton. Also included is a postcard map of Glatton. Several of the photographs include Nichols in the garden.
Black and white photographs of Nichols, Walpole, Lord Berners, Cyril Butcher, and others including cats and dogs at Glatton, traveling, and at a beach.
Black and white images of Nichols and others at Glatton and traveling. Included are images in and of the gardens and of "Whoops" the dog.
Contact sheets and portraits of Nichols at Merry Hall.
Black and white photographs of interiors, exteriors, gardens, and cats. Includes 35MM slides of roses. Also included are photographs from a 1952 party with guests including Hermione Gingold and Nichols's niece Jill.
Black and white images of Nichols, Rebecca West and others at a villa and chateau. One book of negatives, two contact strips and some loose negatives with prints are also included.
Black and white and color images of Sudbrook Cottage, gardens, people, and cats. Images include cats in the garden, Arthur Gaskin, and open day, a Queen Anne garden urn, a bureau, the patio, a woman with dogs and children, a BBC interview, an art print, a chandelier, a party and groups of people. A book of negatives showing cats and the garden is also included.
Black and white and color images of Sudbrook Cottage, gardens, people and cats. Images include Nichols in the gardens, an outdoor party, "Emleigh in 1980," a sign for Sudbrook Cottage as part of the National Gardens Scheme, contact strips, slides, and negatives.
Three prints and four photocopies of the same image of Nichols standing by the Thatched Cottage's gate with a black dog, possibly "Whoops," and a man with a horse-drawn cart.
Black and white photographs of Glatton interiors, gardens, and "Priory Stores." Three images are labeled "Sitting Room," "Dining Room," and "Study" of the Thatched Cottage mounted on cardboard; were originally one composite piece.
Black and white photographs of two cats with an envelope labeled "Hugo & Leo." Possibly at Sudbrook Cottage.
Photographs feature a variety of subjects including group photographs, candids, architectural details, home interiors, and slides of gardens. Noted subjects include Rebecca West, Monica Dickens, Mrs. John Nichols, Nichols with British Ambassador in 1928 at the White House, David Peel and Hector Bolitho, Cecil Beaton, Gladys Cooper, and a 1948 trip to Washington, D. C.
Two pencil sketches of Nichols by Harly Trott mounted on board.
This series consists of a variety of printed matter collected by Beverley Nichols, including programs, invitations, clippings, and catalogs. Materials are arranged in rough chronological order.
Printed on stationary from the Hammond Museum, North Salem, New York. According to Nichols's preface in
Text is in French.
Pages removed from a fine arts catalog featuring eighteenth-century painter William James from London-based dealer E. Stacey-Marks, Ltd.
This small series consists of one seven-inch reel-to-reel audio tape, the contents of which are unknown at this time.