Identity area
Reference code
Beaton/A/A2/14a/35
Unique identifier
Title
Date(s)
- 8 July 1948 (Circa. Letter dated 'Thursday afternoon July 10th?'.) (Creation)
Level of description
Item
Extent and medium
4 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
Details two stays in London. The first including attending Bebe's [Christian Berard] new ballet, and visiting an abandoned house which once belonged to Alma Tadema. The second including going to parties, and having dinner with Helen Hayes and Beaton's sister. Describes his activities once back at Reddish, including writing and judging a flower arranging competition at a local fete. Sends news that his friend, Emerald Cunard is dying. Asks Garbo a list of questions. Postscript: Reports that Alexander Korda wants to employ him for two films.