Manuscripts

Selmer West collection relating to Christopher Isherwood bibliography

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Description: This collection includes a manuscript, correspondence, audio visual and ephemera relating to the writing and publication of Westby's Christopher Isherwood bibliography. There is an essay, in Swedish, by Ingmar Björkstén (HM 83269), a taped interview with Christopher Isherwood (HM 83270), letters by Christopher Isherwood (HM 83271, 83274-83275), Selmer Westby (HM 83272), California State College, Los Angeles (HM 83273, 83276), John Whitehead (83277) and Whitston Publishing Company (HM 83278). The material also includes ephemera: photocopies, printed material, B&W negatives, and clippings (HM 83279-83280).
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Production date: 1959-2000.
Call number: mssHM 83269-83280
Creator: Westby, Selmer(Opens in new tab)

Christopher Isherwood letters and postcards to Annie Avis, Emily Machell, Kathleen Bradshaw-Isherwood ; Richard Isherwood diary

Manuscripts

This material includes 7 letters and postcards written by Christopher Isherwood to his nanny, Annie Avis (1911-1933, HM 83257-83261, 83263-83264); 1 letter to his grandmother, Emily Machell-Smith (1921, Dec. 28, HM 83262); 1 postcard to his mother, Kathleen Bradshaw-Isherwood (1937, Mar. 22, HM 83265). Also included is a diary kept by Christopher Isherwood's brother, Richard Isherwood for the year 1956 (HM 83266); there is an inscription from Kathleen Bradshaw-Isherwood and various B&W photographs pasted into the volume, including photographs of Christopher Isherwood and Kathleen Bradshaw-Isherwood.

mssHM 83257-83266

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Robert Bohle interview with Christopher Isherwood : transcript

Manuscripts

This interview took place on April 18, 1971 at the California home of Christopher Isherwood. The material includes a typewritten, corrected transcript of the interview which contains corrections and comments by Isherwood (in pencil) and Bohle (in pen) (HM 83267); the transcript may not be complete as it begins on page 6. Also included is the original audiocassette of the interview and (4) compact disc copies (HM 83268 a-e).

mssHM 83267-83268

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Christopher Isherwood letters to Richard Isherwood

Manuscripts

Three autograph letters from Christopher Isherwood to his younger brother Richard Isherwood; the letters are written from Berlin, Sellin on Insel Rügen, and Mohrin in the early 1930s. HM 83232 describes the taking of the often-reproduced photograph of Isherwood, Stephen Spender and W.H. Auden. Also enclosed are three green cloth cases which originally housed the letters.

mssHM 83231-83233

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Collection of Christopher Isherwood ephemera

Manuscripts

Collection consists of 32 pieces of ephemera related to Christopher Isherwood's career; the items were not owned by Isherwood but rather gathered together by the dealer. The material includes printed theater programs and playbills, articles and book reviews, an invitation, a book plate, clippings, and postcards. The theater programs and playbills are for "Cabaret" (1967), "The Dog Beneath the Skin" (1936-1981), "I Am a Camera" (1951-1955), and "A Single Man" (1989). The articles and reviews are published in "The Atlantic" (1964), the literary journal "Tomorrow" (1951), and "Theatre Arts" (1947). All material is in excellent condition.

mssHM 83733-83747

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Christopher Isherwood photograph

Manuscripts

A B&W photograph of Christopher Isherwood; signed on verso by Orphanos.

mssHM 82996

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Christopher Isherwood letters to John B.L. Goodwin

Manuscripts

Three letters from Christopher Isherwood to the American author and poet, John B.L. Goodwin. HM 83696, autograph letter written from London, England (Sep. 18, 1961) ; HM 83697, typewritten letter written from Santa Monica, Calif. (Sep. 23, [1963]) ; HM 83698, also a typewritten letter from Santa Monica (Aug. 30, [1964]). The letters discuss mutual friends John Osborne, Somerset Maugham, Tony Richardson, and Don Bachardy; also Isherwood's current work: Down There on a Visit (1962), A Single Man (1964), the screenplay for The Loved One (1964), Ramakrishna and His Disciples (1965), and Goodwin's book, A View of Fuji (1963). All letters are in excellent condition; HM 83697 contains autograph notes in red ink on the bottom of the page.

mssHM 83696-83698

Selmer West collection relating to Christopher Isherwood bibliography

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Christopher Isherwood letters and postcards to Annie Avis, Emily Machell, Kathleen Bradshaw-Isherwood ; Richard Isherwood diary

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Collection of Christopher Isherwood ephemera

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Christopher Isherwood letters to John B.L. Goodwin