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Secondary material relating to Beaton's life and work, including exhibition programmes and an award.

Includes correspondence, diaries, notebooks, typescripts and one photograph.

Autograph letter signed to Mummie from Kweilin. They are still stuck due to ceaseless rain which prevents air travel. His clothes are not warm enough and it is a place of no interest, but he has enjoyed good Chinese food and went to the theatre where he enjoyed going backstage and seeing the costumes and remarkable make-up at close range. Has been taken around by a man who has lived in Shanghai and knows the area. Men are stuck there with nothing but their work, not even drink, except for rice alcohol which tastes of petrol and is mixed with fruit juice and served in teapots. Describes a visit to a Chinese restaurant. If the weather has not changed they will leave tomorrow by train. He would have seen nothing of the country if he had not come with the general as petrol is scarce. He is becoming accustomed to the poverty of China. If the war continues, England may experience the same. Feels very remote from the rest of the world. His travelling companions are very agreeable, but he would still like to get back to the fleshpots of Calcutta. On an extra sheet headed 'Later' he confirms that they will be leaving tomorrow. Though he's tried to get to factories with the camera for the Ministry of Information, the enforced stay has been frustrating. After tomorrow they travel by truck, and there may be less news from him, though he looks forward to hearing from home. He arrived in Chunking [sic] eight days ago and it seems an eternity. He hasn't found material for a book or photographs here as he did on his last trip.

Autograph letter signed to Mummie from Palm Beach. Undated, but dateable as 'The Little Glass Clock' opened in Princeton on 19 February 1956. Is flying back to New York with Mrs Guest after 4 days in Palm Beach. Has enjoyed it, particularly after the vulgarity of the Johnsons in Miami and tough weeks in New York. Has done a lot of work, as all the richest people in the USA are there vying with each other to get pictures from him. Has done a big portrait of Mrs Johnson and several drawings of Zizi Guest and is about to draw old Mrs Guest. Comments later that she didn't like his drawing, but they got on well. Later, has flown back to New York with Zizi Guest. Is going to Princeton tomorrow for the opening of 'Little Glass Clock', then on Thursday to Philadelphia for a last check up of 'Pygmalion' before New York. It is going to be a colossal success, with tickets booked up weeks in advance. Will be free to enjoy 10 quieter days before returning home. Will tell her about the Loel Guinness house, which has been completely reconverted, later.

Undated sketch of a dress on Ambassador Hotel, New York headed paper. Paper size matches that on letters sent in 1929. A short note describes the dress which he saw a debutante wearing. Asks if it would suit the unnamed recipient or perhaps Baba. Instructs the recipient: "You must get thin - don't eat anything but pineapples". In a postscript mentions that he hears that Charlotte Brown [now Charlotte Nast] is going to have a baby. [She had a son in 1930.]

Undated note. Likely date of mid-February 1931 inferred from content. Has arrived in Hollywood after very rushed journey as the plane was delayed and they nearly missed their train from El Paso to LA. Was glad to receive letters. Rooms are lovely and cheap and he's getting busy on the phone arranging photography. Peter will arrive in 2 or 3 days by train. Is delighted that his father has made a good business deal. Asks in a postscript if they could find Miss Joseph's address.

Autograph letter signed to Daddy, from the Waldorf-Astoria, New York. No year given, but date inferred from content. Shocked and sorry to hear of death of Uncle Dick. Spring has come after a terrible winter, the strike is over, and the papers say that Lloyd George says there will be war with Germany. Is horrified to hear of overdraft, as he did not think he had spent so much. Will ask Miss Joseph to check figures for running costs of car and Ashcombe weekends, as he cannot think how to reduce his expenses. His trip to Mexico was expensive, but much was funded by Mrs Williams and it provided material for his Vogue work. Makes excuses for himself having had flu and needing a break. Hopes to get some good jobs in addition to Vogue. Sends some American newspapers. Suggests that his mother goes to Ashcombe for a bit.

Autograph letter signed to Daddy and Mummie from the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York. Originally undated, but pencil date in a different hand suggests 27/3/36, which would fit with content. Work is taking a long time. Has been to an art school which is improving his work. Most exciting of the jobs he hopes to get is that Colonel de Basil wants him to do the decor for the Russian ballet. He would be the first Englishman to do so, though it may not happen. He has seen the new Lunt play against war [presumably 'The Idiot's Delight' by Robert Sherwood, which opened in March 1936] and has been to the ice carnival. Has had a long and pathetic letter from Sibyl Colefax. In a postscript notes that the cheque from R. Vreeland for 10 guineas is for cheque exchange.

Autograph letter signed to Mummie from the Hotel Sevilla Biltmore, Habana, Cuba. Undated, but after Beaton's move to Reddish House in 1947 and before his mother's death in 1963. Has been here for the weekend, and is in Cuba to photograph the Johnsons, which he is dreading as their apartment is unattractively decorated and badly lit for photography. Evie and Bob are taking him out to dinner with ghastly people, but he will escape the next day to Palm Beach where he will stay with the Winston Guests which will be amusing and relaxing. He flies back to New York on Sunday. They will have to make decisions about staff when he gets home. Eileen has kept him posted about changes at Reddish.

Autograph letter signed to Mummie from the Ambassador Hotel, New York. Has spent 3 days in Princeton where 'Little Glass Clock' opened. His set is very lovely and the costumes beautifully made, but the play is a bore and cannot have a successful run. He doesn't know why Aldrich and Myers chose it. They say they want to do his play next, but make no move. Then to Philadelphia again where the theatre was stampeded. He thinks the show [ie My Fair Lady] will be a smash hit on Broadway. Rex Harrison has improved enormously. Beaton will be able to live off the proceeds for some time to come and this will lead to more work. Has had lunch with Laurence Olivier, who wants him to do the costumes for the film of the Sleeping Prince. Has more pictures and portraits to do before he leaves. Has decided to return by sea. Has heard that Enid has been badgering John Gielgud so much that he has asked her not to come to the theatre. Has had all the news in a long letter from Maud. Wants to get on with painting on his return. Is sorry to hear of garden damage and trusts that the servant situation can be solved.