Includes correspondence between Terry Kilmartin and David Astor and the following individuals or their representatives: Iris Murdoch, Sir Leon Bagrit, Iain Macleod, Evelyn Waugh, Peter Brook, Richard Crossman, Vera Nabokov (on behalf of Vladimir Nabokov), T Balogh, Benjamin Britten, John Lennon, Laurence Olivier, Jo Grimond, Lord Bowden, Peter Medawar, Sir Hugh Casson, Harold MacMillan, Harold Pinter, the Duke of Edinburgh, EM Forster, Arthur Koestler, Kingsley Amis, Lord Annan, Sir Hugh Carleton Greene, Lord Butler of Saffron Warren, Graham Greene, Harold Wilson, AJ Ayer, WH Auden, Sir Kenneth Clark, Lord Devlin, Professor PMS Blackett, Solly Zuckerman, Edward Boyle, Peter Ustinov, Robert Graves, [Angus Wilson], Muriel Spark, JK Galbraith, Alan Bennett, John Betjeman, John Bird, Sir Maurice Bowra, Truman Capote, Colin Davis, Dame Margot Fonteyn, Christopher Isherwood, Katharine [Whitehorn], JB Priestley, Mary [McCarthy], Edmund Wilson, Sir Isaiah Berlin, Professor Fred Hoyle, Arthur Schlesinger Jr, Penelope Mortimer, John Osborne, Kenneth Tynan, Karl Miller, Malcolm Muggeridge, [Conor] Cruise O'Brien, Dr Alex Comfort.
Also includes lists of people asked.
Creator: The Observer Limited; Terry Kilmartin
Contains correspondence with readers relating to Katharine Whitehorn's columns in the Observer Weekend Review section; and research notes on a wide range of subjects relating to articles she wrote for the Observer.
Creator: The Observer Limited; Katherine Whitehorn
Collection of readers' letters received in response to Katharine Whitehorn's columns in the Observer Weekend Review section divided by subject and year. Includes some responses from Katharine Whitehorn to these letters.
Creator: The Observer Limited; Katherine Whitehorn
'Slut' letters 1964
Readers' responses to her famous column 'Sisters under the coat' published in the Observer on 29 December 1963 about 'sluts' and untidy behaviour of women, and a follow-up article 'Pages from a slut's handbook' on 15 March 1964. Some of Whitehorn's replies included.
Banks 1965
Mainly readers' letters in reaction to her column in the Observer on the banks' treatment of customers and especially women ('no credit to them' 27 June 1965).
Some of Whitehorn's replies included.
Abortion 1966
Readers' letters regarding abortion and contraception which where topics in the Observer Weekend Review on 12 May 1966. Includes some of Whitehorn's replies. Also includes background material on abortions and changes in law from the Abortion Law Reform Association (ALRA) and other institutions.
Retirement 1972
Readers' responses to an article on how people cope with retirement.
Creator: The Observer Limited; Katherine Whitehorn
Letters 1964-1967
Mainly readers's letters in reaction to her columns in the Observer on topics such as a mission hospital in Peshawar, Pakistan, living without sex, banning the Concord, the English language and grammar, and 'Grass widows'.
Letters March 1978 to February 1979
Mainly readers's letters in reaction to her columns in the Observer on topics such as skateboarding, child murder, equality, spring mattresses, sixth form colleges, electoral reform, retirement, health issues and hospitals, complaints by many gay activists about the use of the word 'pouffe' and letters regarding her various books. Some readers ask for advice on familiy, health and general living issues. Whitehorn's replies have not been kept. Also includes invitations to events, suggestions for and submission of articles.
Letters June to December 1980
Mainly readers's letters in reaction to her columns in the Observer on topics such as working mothers, tax credits, unisex hairstyling salons, the women's movement, Oxford students. Some letters are addressed to Adam Raphael about his article on working wives and tax allowances in December 1980. Also includes invitations to events and suggestions for articles.
Letters January to December 1981
Mainly readers's letters in reaction to her columns in the Observer on topics such as living with severely handicapped children, the health system, caring for elderly relatives, sedating babies, film ratings, video recorders, management of pain, new divorce laws, technocrats, the government's plans for charging foreign visitors for health treatment, divorcees' pensions, shorter books, and euthanasia.
Also includes invitations to events and to give speeches.
Letters September 1982 to March 1983
Mainly readers's letters in reactions to her columns in the Observer on topics such as middle-aged women, set dancing, bringing up children, faith, boating, causes of offence, finding socks, hypermarkets, and violence.
Also includes suggestions for articles, submissions and invitations to events and to give speeches.
Letters March 1983 to December 1983
Mainly readers's letters in reaction to her columns in the Observer on topics such as homosexuality, Observer people, voluntary workers, marital minority, women in top positions, trade unions, air travelling, cars, India, homecare services, paedophilia, incest, secretaries and stereotypes, crime bill, teachers, and cohabiting.
Also includes suggestions for articles, submissions and invitations to events and to give speeches, congratulations on her appointment to rector of St Andrew's University, copy of a speech delivered by Katharine Whitehorn at the India International Centre in 1983 entitled 'The Press in Britain'.
Letters September 1983 to January 1984
Mainly readers's letters in reaction to her columns in the Observer on topics such as divorce, NHS, holistic medicine, Quakers, unemployment, the Parkinson affair, Bruce Kent, child abuse, design of household appliances, and the use of euphemisms.
Also includes suggestions for articles, submissions and invitations to events and to give speeches, congratulations on her appointment to the Board of the Nationwide Building Society.
Letters March 1985 to August 1985
Mainly readers's letters in reaction to her columns in the Observer on topics such as unemployment, taking drugs and medicines, overprotective parents, caring for the elderly, diet, Uri Geller, the welfare state, means test, fathers, and traffic wardens.
Also includes suggestions for articles, submissions and invitations to events and to give speeches, congratulations on her honorary doctorate from St. Andrew's university.
Letters September 1985 to December 1985
Mainly readers's letters in reaction to her columns in the Observer on topics such as architecture, Equal Opportunities Commission, animal testing, demand for more public seating, balance in broadcasting, taxes, hooliganism, race relations, alternative medicine, pharmacists, and smiling.
Also includes suggestions for articles, submissions and invitations to events and to give speeches, letter from Mary Stott.
Letters January 1986 to July 1986
Mainly readers's letters in reaction to her columns in the Observer on topics such as science, the paranormal, Uri Geller, the modern office, G.K. Chesterton, health, the British Medical Association (BMA), gender relations, alternative medicines, ecology, monarchy, pensions, civil service, children leaving home, early retirement, the BBC, filing, and smoking.
Also includes suggestions for articles, submissions and invitations to events and to give speeches.
Letters November 1986 to March 1987
Mainly readers's letters in reaction to her columns in the Observer on topics such as AIDS and homosexuality, the financial world, single sex and co-education, life-styles of academics, kitchens and comfort, and architecture.
Also includes suggestions for articles, submissions and invitations to events and to give speeches.
Letters March 1987 to September 1987
Mainly readers's letters in reaction to her columns in the Observer on topics such as self-catering, maps, holidays, on being a secretary, social security benefits, sex discrimination, literary agents, social equity, the world's most influential women, maps, care for the elderly, debt, worms, executive dressing, unemployment, competition, alcoholism, and accidents.
Also includes suggestions for articles, submissions and invitations to events and to give speeches.
Creator: The Observer Limited; Katherine Whitehorn
Katharine Whitehorn's research files for articles published in the Observer on the following subjects:
National Health Service, abortion and birth control c1969-1979
Research on various medical issues including the NHS, abortion and birth control.
Includes: printed background material, notes, press cuttings, and correspondence.
Rape 1974
Research for an article on the increase of rape cases.
Includes: printed background material, correspondence, drafts of articles, readers' letters and some responses, notes and notebooks, and press cuttings.
State and deterioration of the National Health Service, 1975
Research for articles on the state and the deterioration of the National Health Service (NHS) including international comparisons, with a special focus on women's health.
Includes: printed background literature, some readers' letters, general letters regarding her research, handwritten notes, draft articles and speeches by Whitehorn, press cuttings, and material from the First International Congress on Patient Counselling 1976.
Age Gap - You Magazine 1975
Research for an article on married couples where the wife is older than the husband.
Includes: reports from volunteers on the question of marital age gap, and completed questionnaires on readers' background for participants in age gap research.
Italian health service 1980
Material surrounding Whitehorn's research on the Italian health service and her trip to the country in 1980.
Includes: notes and notebooks, printed research material, correspondence and introductory letters to Italian officials, drafts of articles on the Italian health system and on impressions from her short stay in Rome.
Growing old in groups 1982
A community living project for older people based in London mentioned in an article in the Observer by Katherine Whitehouse in 1982.
Includes letters from potential participants and correspondence with organisers such as Mary Stott.
Asbestos 1984
Research for articles on Asbestos hazards especially in Glasgow.
Includes readers' letters and published background material.
Creator: The Observer Limited; Katherine Whitehorn
Promotional film for the Observer shown to prospective advertisers following changes to the format of the newspaper.
Features commentary from Donald Trelford, Nicholas Morrell and Reg Sudbury. Also features background music.
Contains footage of: the interior of an airplane cockpit; the exterior and interior of the Observer offices at St Andrews Hill; staff at work.
Topics covered in the film: the history of the paper; the need for the newspaper to makes changes ('Newspapers change or they die'); maintaining the independence of the paper; sales figures and profits being made; the evolution of the newspaper; the launch of a separate business section; the launch of a separate sports section; notable journalists; cartoonist Trog; new sections of the Observer magazine including a new business publication Extra Observer on Monday, a practical guide to family finances; special features including the Observer guide to European cookery by Jane Grigson; target audiences and the opportunities for advertisers; the expanded business section; the benefits of positioning advertising next to sports writing; the new format; the challenges facing the Observer in 1982 and competition with other newspapers; advertising the new Observer on television; a national poster and magazine advertising campaign; and an invitation for comments from advertisers on their reaction to the new format.
The film also mentions and shows images of editorial staff including: Business editor William Keegan and new business pages recruits Melvyn Marckus, Iain Carson and John Davis; Katharine Whitehorn and her Sunday Plus column; Paul Levy, food and wine expert; sports writers Peter Corrigan, Hugh McIllvanney, Christopher Brasher, Peter Dobereiner, Judy Welsh, Glenn Thomas and photographer Eamonn McCabe.
Duration: 14 minutes 19 seconds. Starts at 48 seconds.
Creator: The Observer Limited, 1917-1993
Creator: VISNEWS broadcast facilities
a) Observer promotional film aimed at potential advertisers. Discusses the Observer product.
Presented by Clive James. With background music.
Includes commentary from the following staff: Katharine Whitehorn; Hugh McIllvanney; Donald Trelford; Adam Raphael; Anthony Howard; Simon Hoggart; Tony McGrath and Melvyn Marckus.
Topics covered include: what makes the Observer different; the history of the newspaper; readership; the editorial independence of the paper; George Orwell; 'Save our Countryside', an environmental campaign; secrecy; cartoonist Mark Boxer; the business section; the Observer colour magazine; prizes for photography; female employees; regional advertising; pop-up adverts, scratch and sniff adverts; special offers sponsorship; the Observer character; the photography of Jane Bown and Eamonn McCabe; environment correspondent Geoffrey Lean; Sue Baker's motor writing; the review section; television critic Julian Barnes; and circulation.
Contains footage of: James buying the paper from a newspaper stand; James in the Observer offices at St Andrews Hill; an editorial conference chaired by Trelford; an early Observer poster; photographs by McGrath from Ethiopia; picture editors at work.
Duration: 12 minutes 10 seconds.
b) Duplicate of version (a) on a spearate .mov file and with poorer sound quality and a duration of: 12 minutes 20 seconds.
Creator: The Observer Limited, 1917-1993
Creator: Tele-cine Ltd
Creator: Griffin
Interview with Alan Watkins, journalist for the Observer. Conducted by Jo Pugh on 23 November 2001.
Summary contents of interview (with rough timings):
Disc 1:
Track 1
00.25 Started work at the Observer in 1976, after previously working at the New Statesman and the Spectator
01.04 Discussions with Donald Trelford and John Cole before joining the Observer
02.00 Worked on the political column and political news sections
02.50 Began work in the Times building, St Andrews Hil, London
03.30 Effect of move from Tudor Street offices
04.00 The working week at the Observer
05.30 Introduction of 'intermedia techonology' in 1980s
06.10 Women working at the Observer. Remembers Katharine Whitehorn, Miriam Gross and other female colleagues
06.55 Friendly with Terry Kilmartin, the inventor of the broadsheet literary page
07.29 David Astor left the Observer before he arrived
08.20 Moved to Battersea offices in 1988
08.30 His involvement in the libel case with Michael Meacher MP
11.35 *
19.15 Discussion of staff including Trelford and Tony Howard
19.36 *
19.45 Had worked with Howard at the New Statesmen
20.12*
21.01 Never became a newspaper editor
21.39 Discussion of newspaper trade unions
22.15 Discussion of Battersea offices
23.40 Changes at the Observer during this period
25.10 Poor quality of pubs in Battersea
25.55 Observer bought by the Guardian in 1993
25.59 Began work at the Independent on Sunday after 17 years service at the Observer
26.30 Leaving the Observer
27.20 Discussion of pay
27.35 Succession of Jonathan Fenby as editor of the Observer
28.20 Continues discussion of pay rises
29.00 *
30.20 Accepted role at the Independent
31.15 Leaving the Observer
37.20 *
41.05 Reputation of the Observer constrasted with the Guardian
41.30 Contrasting the Guardian and the Times
43.05 Love affair between Colin Welch and Kate Wharton, wife of Michael Wharton, who wrote for the Telegraph under the pseudonym Peter Simple
43.56 What he thinks of the Observer today
44.30 Relations between Andrew Rawnsley and Andrew Jaspen
Interview with Katharine Whitehorn, columnist for the Observer. Conducted by Sarah Ryle on 8 August 2001. Also includes a data sheet containing biographical details about the subject and information about the recording and notes made by Sarah Ryle.
Summary contents of interview (with rough timings):
Disc 1:
Track 1
00.20 Introduction
01.00 Introduction of a women's page at the Observer
02.00 Offered role whilst working at the Spectator on her own column. Initially turned down role.
02.35 Took up role of fashion writer
02.50 Had previously covered Paris fashion week for Picture Post
03.20 Decision to change direction of fashion section
04.50 Success of fashion section with readers
05.00 Upset of advertisers over her writing
05.40 *
06.25 Remembers Anne Scott James at the Daily Express
06.55 Strength of women's writing
08.20 Legacy of George Seddon
08.35 *
10.50 Older figures at the Observer
10.58 Remembers Terry Kilmartin's book reviews
11.25 Interest in reader traffic figures
11.30 Remembers departure of Women's editor, Beryl McAlhone
13.20 The Observer the first paper to go into sections
13.35 The Observer 'Daylight' section
14.10 Climate of intellectual discussion at the Observer
14.50 Lack of hierarchy and access to David Astor
17.00 Incident when writing economic coverage
17.59 *
18.30 Felt the personal intruded on the professional
19.30 Newspapers editors as managers
19.45 Remembers Tristan Jones
20.10 *
20.49 Husband, Gavin Lyall, working at the Sunday Times in 1960s
21.15 Lyall offered work at the Observer
21.30 Differences between the Observer and the Sunday Times
22.45 Discussion of Donald Trelford
23.44 Remembers Kenneth Obank and his determination to print Nikita Khruschev's speech denouncing Joseph Stalin
25.00 Departure of Astor
25.39 Grammar in the newspaper
26.35 How the Guardian viewed the Observer
26.44 Drinking at the Observer
27.30 Use of hotels and taxis when covering news stories
28.30 Astor years and uniqueness of the Observer at this time
29.10 Stand against self censorship
29.48 Simon Jenkins on self censorship whilst editor at the Times
30.00 Remembers Seddon
30.30 Brief stint in editing
31.15 Invited editors wives to lunch to measure their views of the women's page
33.45 Decision to stop working on the fashion column
34.20 Began her own general column
35.00 The history of women's journalism
36.00 Opinions on lifestyle columns
38.45 Felicity Green and the feminisation of Fleet Street
39.20 The place of women's pages in newspapers today
40.00 How women's pages dealt with personal effects of news
42.00 How she wanted to change fashion coverage to make it personal
43.00 Fashion today
Track 2
Test
Disc 2:
Track 1
00.25 Personalities at the Observer including Kate Trelford
02.00 Donald Trelford's relationship with Kate Trelford
04.00 Disapproval of city pages
05.25 Invited to dinner with Trelford and Lajos Lederer
07.10 *
07.55 Trelford's effect on the newspaper
08.30 Trelford's visit to Rhodesia
09.40 Failure of the midweek edition
10.10 Strength of the women's pages
10.35 Non-news features considered less important
11.15 Strength of the Guardian weekend magazine
11.35 Importance of women's input
15.00 The working week at a weekend newspaper
16.20 Takeover by the Guardian and its effect on the structure of the working week
16.40 Remembers Patrick O'Donovan and John Gale
17.40 John Naughton taking over Clive James as television critic
18.00 Her and Naughton leaving the newspaper
19.00 Dislike of actions of Jocelyn Targett
20.20 Opinion of Edie Riley on valedictory article headline
20.45 Response of Will Hutton to appointment of Roger Alton as editor
21.40 Joining Saga magazine after leaving the Observer
22.30 Observer circulation and the approach of Targett
24.00 Need for the Observer to stand by its core values
25.40 Visit to China with Margaret Thatcher
27.20 The future of the Observer
28.30 Remembers the ideas of Adrian Hamilton
29.00 The Observer as the contrary voice
29.40 The Observer stand against the private finance initiative
30.05 Socialising with Observer staff
31.20 Leaving parties including Gritta Weil leaving
32.15 Attempts of Anthony Howard to maintain the standards of the newspaper
32.40 Working from home