Christopher Isherwood was born in England in 1904, came to the U.S. in 1939 and lived in Santa Monica from then until his death in 1986. He is probably best known for The Berlin Stories, stories that fictionalize his life in pre-World War II Berlin and that were adapted as the stage play I Am a Camera and the popular musical Cabaret.

The Huntington Library made headlines in May of 1999 with the announcement of the acquisition of Christopher Isherwood's complete archive, received from Don Bachardy. The collection contains literary drafts, diaries and journals, photographs, audio and videotapes, and letters from many authors, including W. H. Auden, Truman Capote, E. M. Forster, Somerset Maugham, Stephen Spender, Gore Vidal and Tennessee Williams.

For fans of Isherwood, original materials from the archive will be on display when The Huntington presents a major exhibition on Isherwood's life and works in 2004, to commemorate the 100^th anniversary of his birth. In conjunction with the exhibition, there will be lectures and symposia discussing this influential author.

Much of the collection is cataloged and available for scholarly research. The two portions remaining to be processed are the letters and poems of W.H. Auden, most of the photographs, and the audio and videotapes.  Qualified scholars with a specific research project involving this archive may contact the Curator of the collection, Sara S. Hodson at shodson@huntington.org for further information.

On December 2, 2000, the first symposium was held, entitled “Christopher Isherwood: Private Faces.”   Through personal reminiscence, photographs, diaries, and scholarly analysis, the conference illuminated Isherwood’s private identity and its relation to his public works. Participants included: Don Bachardy, Christopher Hitchens, Peter Parker, Katherine Bucknell, Edward Mendelson, Edmund White, and Humphrey Spender.