Identity area
Reference code
Beaton/A/A2/14a/5
Unique identifier
Title
Date(s)
- 15 May 1947 (Circa. Letter dated 'May 15th'.) (Creation)
Level of description
Item
Extent and medium
3 p. ; 3 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
Reproaches Garbo for her lack of communication with him. Refers to the long hours he has to work at the studio of 'An Ideal Husband', as well as attending one or two theatrical parties. Complains that he become despondent about his play. Writes that he and Vivien Leigh travelled to France by boat because they are both scared to fly having had aeroplane accidents in the past. Explains that he is resting before the costume fittings for 'Anna Karenina' begin. Hopes to have time for personal shopping for items which he lists. Refers to his new home in the country.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
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Conditions of access and use area
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Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
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Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
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Alternative identifier(s)
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Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Leigh, Vivien (1913-1967) actress (Subject)