John Osborne, 1929-1994
Papers, 1954-1994
Preliminary Inventory

50 boxes, 8 oversize boxes, 3 oversize folders (32.68 linear feet)

Note: This brief collection description is an accession record. The collection is not fully processed or cataloged; no biographical sketch, descriptions of series, or indexes are available.
Acquisition: Purchase, 1995
Access: Open for research
Processed by: Liz Murray, 1995
RLIN Record ID: None

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Table of Contents

Scope and Contents
Folder List

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Scope and Contents

John Osborne's work as a playwright, author, actor, producer, director, and contributor to numerous newspapers and periodicals is represented in this collection, which consists of holograph manuscripts and notebooks, typescripts, page and galley proofs, correspondence, newspaper and magazine articles, scrapbooks, posters, programs, and business documents. The material spans five decades beginning in the mid-1950s just prior to his important play, Look Back in Anger (1956). Credited with launching a dramatic renaissance in Britain, Osborne's literary style is known for its verbal pyrotechnics and repeated themes of anger, defeat, and disillusionment. Osborne's skill at sulphuric prose is also present in his correspondence where passionate beliefs are expressed with eloquent vitriol.

Osborne's three books, consisting of two autobiographies and a volume of collected prose; nearly all of his plays dating from his early Look Back in Anger to his last, Déjà Vu; significant correspondence; and journalism are well represented in this collection. Frequently, both holograph and typescript material are present for his books, plays, and other writings, providing continuity from conception to publication. The material is arranged in six series: Works, Correspondence, Information about J.O., Printed Material, Personal, and Works by Others.

In the first series, Osborne's works are arranged by title in the following categories: books; stage, screen, and television plays; adaptations and film; and articles, reviews, and other writings. In some cases holograph notebooks contain more than one title. These are alphabetized by the first title in the notebook. Likewise, some play scripts are combined or have undergone name changes over time. Osborne's adaptations include the works of Strindberg, Ibsen, Wilde, and De Vega. A holograph notebook of the Academy Award winning film, Tom Jones, is also present. The Articles, Reviews, and Other Writings section consists of Osborne's articles, columns, reviews, and letters to the editor written for numerous newspapers and periodicals. Identification of publication and date is provided whenever possible. As with his books and plays, holograph manuscripts and typescript drafts accompany the final piece. Many of these writings reappear in Osborne's volume of collected prose, Damn You, England.

The Correspondence series contains letters written to Osborne and some of his wives, Osborne's replies (usually typed carbons), postcards, telegrams, greeting cards, invitations, contracts and other agreements, and Osborne family genealogy. Osborne corresponded with colleagues, critics, friends, family, fans, and those with whom he had legal and business dealings. The correspondence was originally housed in 2-ring binders and one expanding file. Osborne retained both incoming and outgoing correspondence in the binders, arranged in approximate date order by subject (usually play titles) and by alphabetical division in the expanding file. Osborne frequently composed his responses on the back of the incoming correspondence. Much of his outgoing correspondence was prepared by his secretaries and sent in his absence. Drafts of many letters exist, typed and handwritten, as well as typed transcripts of telegrams.

While the original subjects of the 2-ring binders are maintained, the letters are rehoused in folders and arranged in alphabetical order. Osborne's subject titles are used, although some subject areas overlap or are duplicated. The correspondence is arranged in five subseries. The largest is Works (arranged by title), followed by Personal, including correspondence with his wives and family, the Osborne genealogy, and "household and domestic matters" at Osborne's London house on Chelsea Square. The subseries Business contains correspondence with agents, publishers, lawyers, theaters, and production companys regarding contracts, fees, and royalties. Osborne's category of "Fans, Friends, and Lunatics" describes the next subseries which includes several folders with similar titles.

The Miscellaneous/General subseries contains correspondence from Osborne's alphabetical expanding file. The purpose of this file is unclear since subject areas are mixed and the dates range from 1958-1992. The topics of censorship and rejected scripts are also included in this series.

In order to document the original groupings of the 2-ring binders, the following is a list of their contents:

	Agents and Publishers (General)--including Foreign Agents
	Chelsea Square:  Household, domestic matters
	English State Company
	Epitaph for George Dillon (and Dillon Productions), Look Back in
		Anger, The Entertainer
	Hedda Gabler; A Sense of Detachment
	Inadmissible Evidence
	J.O. fan letters and general enquiries; lunatics
	J.O. Personal, A-M
	J.O. Personal, N-Z
	J.O. Productions; Randle Productions; Holly Productions;
		National Westminster Bank (J.O. Private Account)
	J.O. Royalties, Performing Right Society, Fees
	J.O. T.V. Plays:  A Subject of Scandal and Concern, Very Like a
		Whale, The Right Prospectus, The Gift of Friendship, Ms or
		Jill and Jack, Little Lord Fauntleroy
	Luther; Plays for England:  The Blood of the Bambergs and Under
		Plain Cover
	Lytton Strachey (screenplay); The Hostage and Charge of the Light
		Brigade
	A Patriot For Me, May 1966
	Penelope Gilliatt; Nolan
	The Picture of Dorian Gray, A Place Calling Itself Rome, Watch It
		Come Down, The End of Me Old Cigar
	Royalties, Performing Right Society Royalties, Fees, Contracts, Agents
	Time Present and The Hotel in Amsterdam; West of Suez
	The World of Paul Slickey

A smaller series, Information about J.O., contains a miscellany of items including a list of published works (1957-73), astrological chart, and Osborne Productions receipt book dating from 1969-71. The Printed Material series contains a wealth of newspaper and magazine clippings, scrapbooks, and play programs. The Personal series includes bank statements, check stubs, posters, and photographs of Osborne, Penelope Gilliatt, Mary Ure, and stage productions of his plays. The last series, Works by Others, contains extracts from Robert Asprey's The Panther's Feast, Joe Orton's film script Up Against It, Tony Richardson's book Part of All sent to Helen Osborne for commentary, and a masters thesis by Dolly Beechman on Osborne's Look Back in Anger. Nearly two dozen of Osborne's published plays, some in foreign language, were transferred to the HRHRC book collection.

Generally, the collection is in good condition with few deteriorating elements, such as tape, present. The scrapbooks and newspaper clippings are in the most perilous condition, the majority being brown and brittle. Extreme caution should be used when handling this category of the collection.

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Folder List

Box	Folder	Description

Series I. Works, 1958-1994

Subseries A. Books

1		ALMOST A GENTLEMAN
	1		Holograph notebook, "Notes for Vol. II"
	2		Holograph notebook, "Memoirs. Vol. II"
	3-5		Holograph manuscript [folder 1-3 of 6]
		
2	1-3		Holograph manuscript [folder 4-6 of 6]
	4-5		Holograph and typescript fragments
		
3	1-3		Corrected typescript	
	4-6		Corrected typescript
		
4	1-6		Corrected typescript [folders 1-6 of 9]
		
5	1-3		Corrected typescript [folders 7-9 of 9]
	4-6		Setting copy

6	1-3		Page proofs
		A BETTER CLASS OF PERSON
	4-5		Tape transcriptions
	6		Notebook transcriptions

7	1-2		Incomplete typescript, carbon copy, May 1980
	3-4		Corrected typescript
	5		Miscellaneous pages relating to the demise of George Devine
	*		Bound typescript, October 1980 [*not foldered]

8	*		Bound corrected typescript, J.O. master copy, 
					March 21st [*not foldered]
	1		Page proofs, photocopy, 1981
	2		Corrected page proofs, Chapter 1
	3	DAMN YOU, ENGLAND, page proofs, photocopy, 1994
	*			[*oversize articles and copies removed to Box #51]

Subseries B. Stage, Screen, and Television Plays

9	1	ALMOST A VISION, rehearsal script
	2	THE CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE, first draft screen 
				play, Part II, Balaclava, March 15, 1965,
				Woodfall Films Ltd. bound copy
		CORIOLANUS 
	3		Holograph notebook, March 1966
	4		Holograph notebook, continued, Scene II
		DÉJÀVU
	5		Early sketches, holograph manuscript
	6		Act I, holograph notebook, November 29, 1988
	7		Act II, holograph notebook, November 29, 1988

10	1-2		Original edited typescript, December 9, 1988
	3		J.O. corrected bound copy, with holograph notes
					December 9, 1988
	4-5		Carbon copy typescript, with holograph insert 
					pages, December 9, 1988
		
11	1		Revised text for Faber and Faber edition
	2-3		Setting copy
	4		Page proofs (agent), 1990
	5		Page proofs (author), 1990
	6		Page proofs, performance edition, 1991
	7		Page proofs, Dramatic Publishing edition, 1992
	OS		Galleys, two corrected copies [removed to Box #52]

12		THE END OF ME OLD CIGAR
	1		Holograph notebook
	2-3		Bound version (4 copies), July 1974
	4	THE ENTERTAINER, acting edition, certified copy no. 2 
	5	FOR THE MEANTIME:  TIME PRESENT, THE HOTEL IN
				AMSTERDAM, CORIOLANUS, holograph
				notebook

13		THE GREAT BEAR OR MINETTE
	1		Book I, holograph notebook
	2		Book II, holograph notebook
	3-4	THE HOSTAGE, A DRAFT SCREENPLAY, corrected typescript
		INADMISSIBLE EVIDENCE
	5		Holograph notebook, 12/5/63
	6		Cont. from A, holograph notebook

14	1	LOOK BACK IN ANGER, seventh draft, screen play,
				August 20, 1958, copy no. 15
	2	LOOK BACK IN ANGER AND OTHER PLAYS, photocopy
				page proofs
	3	Introduction to LOOK BACK IN ANGER AND OTHER PLAYS
				Holograph ms. and corrected typescripts
		LUTHER
	4		Holograph notebook and ms. pages
	5		Holograph notebook
		MOLL FLANDERS
	6		Notes, 4/6/61, carbon typescript
	7		Notes, 4/11/61, corrected typescript 
	8		Screen play, corrected typescript, n.d.

15	1	MS OR JILL AND JACK, three bound copies
		NO FANCY SALARIES, NO QUEER FOLK OR AN ACTOR'S
				LIFE FOR ME
	2		Holograph manuscript and notebook
	3		Part II of an extract of autobiography for television, edited
					typescript outline and holograph notebook
	4		Part II of an extract of autobiography for television, edited
					typescript
	5		QUICK, QUICK, SLOW [title changed to NO FANCY 
					SALARIES...], Part One and Two, edited 
					typescript
	6		QUICK, QUICK, SLOW, Part One and Two, revised 
					carbon typescript
	7	NOTES FOR PLAY, NO. 7:  AN ARTIFICIAL COMEDY,
				holograph notebook

16	1	PANIC STATIONS, holograph notebook
		A PATRIOT FOR ME 
	2		With ENTERTAINER, holograph notebook
	3		Holograph notebook, July 18, 1964
	4		Scene II, continued, holograph notebook
	5	A PLACE CALLING ITSELF ROME, holograph notebook

17		PLAYS FOR ENGLAND
	1		Number One, holograph notebook
	2		Number Two, April 1962, holograph notebook
	3	A SENSE OF DETACHMENT, August 1971, holograph notebook
		SEPARATIONS, I, THE GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP
	4		Holograph notebook
	5		Holograph notebook, continued
	6	A SUBJECT OF SCANDAL AND CONCERN, holograph notebook
		
18	1	TIME PRESENT, holograph notebook
		TOO YOUNG TO FIGHT, TOO OLD TO FORGET
	2		Holograph notebook, September 1977
	3		Draft, TV screenplay, January 23, 1978, holograph manuscript
	4		First version, corrected typescript
	5		First draft, May 8, also dated Dec. 1979, typescript, two copies
	6		First draft, May 8, also dated Dec. 1979, corrected typescript
	7		Typesetting proofs, 5/2/85

19	1	TRY A LITTLE TENDERNESS, holograph notebooks
		WATCH IT COME DOWN
	2		Holograph notebook
	3		Bound copy
		WEST OF SUEZ
	4		Holograph notebook, February 1971
	5		With SEPARATIONS (1) and (2), DANCER, CORIOLANUS 
					(July), JUDAS, holograph notebook

20	1	WHAT ABOUT ME?, holograph notebook
		THE WORLD OF PAUL SLICKEY
	2		Introductory pages, typescript
	3		Bound typescript, Brandt & Brandt
	4-5	Miscellaneous holograph notebooks
	6	Miscellaneous manuscript fragments

Subseries C. Adaptations and Film

21	1	A BOND HONORED, from Lope de Vega, August 30,
				1965, holograph notebook
		THE FATHER, from August Strindberg
	2		Holograph manuscript and typescript, 7/19/88
	3		Corrected typescript
	4		Bound copy
	5		Published version, translated by Peter Watts
		HEDDA GABLER, from Henrik Ibsen
	6		Holograph manuscript, 4/14/70
	7	THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY, from Oscar Wilde, typescript

22	1	Strindberg's THE FATHER and Ibsen's HEDDA GABLER,
				corrected page proofs, Faber & Faber edition, 1989
	2	TOM JONES, holograph notebook

Subseries D. Articles, Reviews, and other Writings

23		THE SPECTATOR, articles and book reviews
	1		Books of the Year, 1986-93
	2		Book Reviews, 1986-88
	3		Book Reviews, 1989-92
	4		"Royalty and Royalties" June 5, 1993
	5-6	Edited typescripts of articles, n.d.
		
24	1-4	THE SPECTATOR, "Diary" column, 1985, 1992-94, and undated
		
25	1	List of articles and radio programs, 1956-76
		Typescripts of published and unpublished articles
	2		Albion's Seven Deadly Sins
	3		Anyone for Scum?
	4		Barry Humphries
	5		BBC article
	6		The Biggest A.Y.M. in the Business
	7		The Diddy Man
	8*		English Stage Company:  Fifteen Years [*oversize
					material removed to Oversize Flat File]
	9		The Epistle to the Philistines
	10		The Folly of Youth
	11		General election:  October 1974
	12		Honourable Men, Dishonourable Money
	13		The Impossibility of the Well Made Play
	14		Introduction to Swift's "A Modest Proposal" and
					"The Song of Soloman"
	15		Intellectuals & Just Causes
	16		A Letter to My Fellow Countrymen  ["Damn you, England" letter]
	17		Looking Back With Love on a Playful Spirit
	18		The Lord Thy God is an Angry God
	19		Months in the Country
	20		Music Hall
	21		A Night to Remember
	22		Rising Above It or All Very Family
	23		Sorry, It's Nobody
	24-25*		Theatre Critics [*oversize material removed to Box #53]

26	1		This Alien Blight
	2		This Monumental Swindle Called the Common Market
	3		To Serve is Perfect Freedom
	4		What is HEDDA GABLER About?
	5		Workers, Wives, and Women
	6	Untitled articles
	7-8*	Book reviews  [*oversize material removed to Box #53]
	9*	Book reviews, NEW [EVENING] STANDARD [*oversize 
				material removed to Box #53]
	10	Letters to the Editor, 1977-94
	11*	THE MAIL ON SUNDAY articles [*oversize material removed to Box #53]

27		Miscellaneous writings
	1		J.O. contribution to THE ANTI-BOOKLIST, 1981
	2		Conversation with Richard Findlater
	3		"Conversations" storyline for Regent Productions Ltd., Dec. 1991
	4		Forward, re: Jeffrey Bernard "Low Life"
	5		Notes on trip to L.A., 1985, for Memoirs
	6		Excerpt from AT THE ROYAL COURT  ed. by
					Richard Findlater (1981)
	7		Holograph ms. and typescripts re: Handel
	8		Holograph ms. and typescripts "Items"
	9		Ms. and typescript fragments

Series II. Correspondence, 1954-1993

Subseries A. Correspondence Arranged by Work

28	1	A BOND HONOURED, 1963-70
	2	DAMN YOU, ENGLAND, 1993
	3	DANGER (Radio Play), 1977-78
	4	THE END OF ME OLD CIGAR, 1974-76
	5-6	THE ENTERTAINER, 1958-75
	7	EPITAPH FOR GEORGE DILLON and Dillon Productions, 1958-75
		
29	1	THE GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP, 1971-75
	2	GROSS  (aborted collaboration with Michael Medwin), 1975-76
	3	HEDDA GABLER, 1970-75
		THE HOSTAGE  and CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE
	4		1966-72
	5		1965-77
	6-8	INADMISSIBLE EVIDENCE, 1964-69
	9	INDIAN MUTINY, 1974

30	1	LITTLE LORD FAUNTLEROY, 1974-75
	2-3	LOOK BACK IN ANGER, 1958-76
	4-5	LUTHER, 1960-76
	6	LYTTON STRACHEY, screen play, 1971-74
	7	MOLL FLANDERS, 1961-64
	8	MS OR JILL AND JACK

31		A PATRIOT FOR ME 
	1-2		September 1964-April 1966
	3-4		May 1966
	5	THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY, 1972-75
	6	A PLACE CALLING ITSELF ROME, 1972-76

32	1	PLAYS FOR ENGLAND, 1961-72
	2	THE RIGHT PROSPECTUS, 1969-74
	3	SECRET AGENT, 1974-75
	4-5	A SENSE OF DETACHMENT, 1972-75
	6	SIR CHARLES DILKE, film/screen play, 1967-74
	7	A SUBJECT OF SCANDAL AND CONCERN, 1959-71

33	1-2	TIME PRESENT AND THE HOTEL IN AMSTERDAM
	3	TOM JONES, 1961-64
	4	VERY LIKE A WHALE, 1969-70
	5	VIVIEN, film, 1989
	6	WATCH IT COME DOWN, 1974-76

34	1-2	WEST OF SUEZ, 1971-72
	3-6	THE WORLD OF PAUL SLICKEY, 1958-59

Subseries B. Personal Correspondence, 1954-90

35	1	A	1967-78
	2	B	1961-76
	3	C-J	1958-76
	4	K-Q	1961-76
	5	R-S	1964-78
	6	T-Z	1959-76

36		J.O. Family Letters
	1		General
	2		Nellie Beatrice
	3		Grandma Grove
	4		Aunt Queenie
	5		Jack and Bessie Grove
	6		Uncle Sidney
	7	Osborne Genealogy
		Bennett, Jill
	8-9		1967-79
	10		Divorce papers and 1990 article re: J.B.'s death

37		Chelsea Square (J.O.'s London house) 1965-78
	1		A-C
	2		D-Q
	3		R-Z
	4		Renovation by Henry Wise and Partners, 1967
	5-7	Gilliatt, Penelope, 1961-90

38	1-2	Gilliatt, Penelope and Nolan Osborne, 1967-76
	3	Lane, Pamela, 1954-86
	4	Osborne, Nolan, 1975-88
	5	Rickards, Jocelyn, 1960-87
	6	Ure, Mary, n.d.

Subseries C. Business Correspondence

39	1-2	Agents and Publishers (General) including foreign agents, 1974-77
	3		1970-74
		Contracts, royalties, fees, agents, Performing Right Society 
				Royalties, 1959-76
	4		A-J
	5		K-Z
		National Westminster Bank
	6		1973-76
	7		1964-72

40		English State Company
	1-5		1961-76
	6		1975-84

41	1	Fees, 1961-76
		John Osborne Productions
	2		1973-76
	3		1960-72
	4	Oscar Lewenstein Plays, Ltd., 1976
	5	Performing Right Society, 1960-75

42	1	Randle Productions, 1971 and Holly Productions, 1960-70
		Royalties
	2		1974-76
	3		1966-73
	4		1958-65

Subseries D. Fans, Friends, and Lunatics Correspondence

43	1-2	Fans and friends, 1965-82
		Fans, general enquiries, and lunatics
	3		1972-77
	4		1969-70
		Lunatics
	5		1966-76
	6		1957-65

Subseries E. General and Miscellaneous Correspondence

44		Correspondence from expanding file, 1958-92
	1		A - D
	2		F - L
	3		M - S
	4		T - Z
	5	Censorship of the Theatre, 1957-67
	6	Rejected scripts, 1967-70
	7	Oddments and campaigns

Series III. Information about J.O., 1969-1973

45	1	List of published works, 1957-73
	2	Astrological chart
	3	Osborne Productions receipt book, 8/69-2/71

Series IV. Printed Material, 1957-1992

		Magazine articles and newspaper clippings 
	4*		Reviews of J.O.'s works [*oversize material removed to 
					Box #53 and Oversize Flat File]
	5		Albert Finney in 'Luther' NEWSWEEK, 10/23/63
	6		THE ENTERTAINER, press reviews
	7		J. O. Interviews

46		Programs of domestic and foreign productions
	OS	Scrapbook No. 2, Dec. 1956-Sept. 1957 [removed to Box #54]
		Scrap album, 1956-1961  [removed to Box #55;
				oversize material removed to Oversize Flat File]
		Scrapbook No. 4, Oct. 1960-Nov. 1961 [removed to Box #56]
		Scrapbook No. 5, Nov. 1961-Oct. 1964 [removed to Box #57]

Series V. Personal, 1956-1994

47		Post Office Savings Bank Pass Book, 1956; Bank statements, Barclays,
				various accounts, 1988-1994
48-49		Check stubs for two checking accounts, 1987-1994 and 1988-1994
	OS	Photographs [removed to Box #58 and Oversize Flat File]
	OS	Posters [removed to Oversize Flat File]

Series VI. Works by Others

50	1	Asprey, Robert B., THE PANTHER'S FEAST  extracts,
				carbon typescript, 2 copies
	2	Beechman, Dolly, "A Study of the Play 'Look Back
				in Anger' by John Osborne."  M.S. Thesis,
				Temple University, March 1970, photocopy
	3	Orton, Joe, UP AGAINST IT (An original film script) typescript, n.d.
	4-7	Richardson, Tony, PART OF ALL, photocopy typescript,
				with correspondence between Helen Osborne
				and Tracey Scoffield of Faber and Faber;
				carbon typescript and holograph notes of H.O.'s
				commentary on the text

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John Osborne Papers Preliminary Inventory
(Last modified: 15 August 2000)

Reference queries to: reference@hrc.utexas.edu

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