Identity area
Reference code
Beaton/F/37
Unique identifier
Title
Date(s)
- 3 May 1934 (Creation)
Level of description
Item
Extent and medium
1p Headed note-paper for the German ocean liner SS Europa, built for the Nord Deutscher Lloyd line. 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
Manuscript loose-leaf diary entry in Beaton's hand. Writes that he will spend ten minutes of his last evening on his voyage back to England recounting his recent trip to America. He arrived in New York very late in the winter, since the death of his brother Reggie in October 1933 had upset plans, and arrived for the first time without any feeling of expectancy. Felt that this year must surely be an anti-climax after the last one. But as he settled into a daily pattern, the enjoyment returned to him. The weeks passed in which he took photographs for 'Vogue'. Miss Bigger was a godsend and if for some reason she was unable to show in, the day was lost. He and his friends also attended many parties. The weeks rushed by and he was never alone, even while he was sleeping - there wasn't much time for sleep anyway. After David and Michael left, he felt very ill and run-down, without the health and energy for the arrival of Peter Watson (1908-1956), which was very exciting for him, since he and Peter had not been together in America for a long time. The doctor gave him injections, which left him feeling miserable. And in the midst of all of the headaches and upsets, he received a further shock from the terrible news that Lilyan Tashman (1896-1934) had died, which distressed him greatly. And when, after a rough crossing, Peter arrived a day late, Beaton was still a wreck when he went down to the docks to welcome him. Recounts the details of a trip with Peter, first to the southern states, then on to Haiti and Jamaica. On returning to New York, Beaton was very busy. During the last week, he did seventy-six costumes for a production of 'Romeo and Juliet', photographed madly and successfully, then attended the Open Ball. With two days of sleep on the boat, he has recovered from the strain. And so it is goodbye and good wishes and fond messages of farewell - he is satisfied that much has been achieved, but also conscious of Peter's criticism of him, namely that he is spiky with people whom he dislikes. And so he resolves to try to place a lighter price on himself when he returns to England, so that he does not lose Peter's respect.