Correspondence between Anthony Howard and a number of individuals and organisations including Richard Brooks, Ed Foley, Angela Gordon, Magnus Linklater, Nick Morrell, Blake Morrison, Donald Trelford, Neil Vann, and Will Wyatt. Also mentioned within these documents are Peter Hillmore, Roger Harrison, Robert Harris, Gavin Young, David Driver, and Anne Barr. These memos are primarily internal notes regarding operations, staff, and business issues.
Creator: The Observer Limited; Editor's Office; Anthony Howard
Includes letters and copy letters between Terry Kilmartin and Muggeridge on reviewing books and contractual matters.
Also includes: correspondence with Jean Leroy, Hilton Ambler, and Jacqueline Korn of David Higham Associates and John Thompson, Ken Obank, and Roger Harrison of The Observer; caricature of Muggeridge by 'Vicky'.
Creator: The Observer Limited; Terry Kilmartin
Files of negatives of the following individuals:
Box 1:
Hackenschmitt, Mr
Hackett, Denis (set by Tony McGrath)
Hackney, Rod
Hackney, Roy (architect)
Haffner, Sebastian
Haggas, Brian
Box 2:
Hagman, Larry (set by Jane Bown)
Hahn, Kurt
Haig, Alexander (set by Tony McGrath)
Haigh, John
Haigh, Randell (set by Tony McGrath)
Hailsham, Lord (including set by Tony McGrath)
Hain, Peter (including set by Tony McGrath and David Newell Smith)
Hainstock, David
Hale, Douglas
Hale, Kathleen
Hale, Richard
Hales, Anthony
Hales, Barry (set by Tony McGrath)
Haley, Alex
Haley, Gail (set by Neil Libbert)
Half Man Half Biscuit
Hall, Alfred (set by David Newell Smith)
Hall, Amanda (set by David Newell Smith)
Hall, Andy
Hall, Christopher
Hall, Dick
Hall, Ian (set by Tony McGrath)
Hall, Jerry
Hall, Neil (set by Neil Libbert)
Hall, Pat
Hall, Professor Peter (set by David Newell Smith)
Hall, Peter
Hall, Richard
Hall, Robert
Hall, Ruth (set by Neil Libbert)
Hall, Sally
Hall, Tony (set by David Newell Smith)
Halle, David
Hallett, Mike (snooker)
Hallgrimsson, Geir
Halliday, Stephen
Hallowes, Fred (set by David Newell Smith)
Hallowes, Odette (set by Tony McGrath)
Halls, Marjorie
Hallstein, Professor
Halpern, Ralph
Halpin, Kelvin
Halsey, David
Ham, Tom (set by Neil Libbert)
Box 3:
Hamilton, Duke of (estate) (set by David Newell Smith)
Hamilton, Adrian (including set by Jane Bown)
Hamilton, Ian (staff) (set by Jane Bown)
Hamilton, Judith (set by Neil Libbert)
Hamilton, Nigel
Hamilton, Richard (set by Tony McGrath)
Hamilton, Roger
Hamilton, William
Hamilton Finlay, Ian
Hamilton-Fairley, Sara & Geoffrey
Hamlyn, Paul (including set by Tony McGrath)
Hammersley, Jill
Hammet, Edward (set by Neil Libbert)
Hammond, Candace
Hammond, Mona (set by David Newell Smith)
Hammond, Tony
Hamp, Mary
Hampshire, Susan (set by Tony McGrath)
Hamwell, Richard
Hancock, Peter
Hancock, Tony
Handl, Irene (set by Neil Libbert)
Handley, Tony
Hanley, Jenny
Hanlon, Jim (set by Neil Libbert)
Hann, [Michael]
Hannen, Anthony
Hannen, Guy
Hannon, Patrick & Patricia
Hannover, Prince George of (set by Tony McGrath)
Hanson, David
Hanson, James (set by Neil Libbert)
Hanson, John (set by Neil Libbert)
Harding, Lord
Harding, William
Hardy, Faith
Hardy, Francoise (set by Jane Bown)
Hardy, John
Hardy, Robert
Hare, Sir John (set by David Newell Smith)
Hare, Michael
Harewood, Elizabeth (set by Neil Libbert)
Harewood, Lord (set by David Newell Smith)
Harker, Ronald
Harland, Peter (set by Tony McGrath)
Harlech, Brian (set by Tony McGrath)
Harlow, Chris
Harlow, Harold
Harman, Bill (set by Jane Bown)
Harman, Harriet (including set by Neil Libbert)
Harman, Robert
Harmer
Box 4:
Harper, Dr
Harper, Peter
Harper, Sarah
Harper, William
Harrington, Illtyd (set by Tony McGrath)
Harrington, Liza
Harris, Anita
Harris, Sir Arthur
Harris, Cassandra
Harris, Colin (set by David Newell Smith)
Harris, David
Harris, Edward & Geoffrey (set by Tony McGrath)
Harris, John
Harris, Kenneth (staff) (including sets by Neil Libbert & Tony McGrath)
Harris, Len
Harris, Phil (including set by Tony McGrath)
Harris, Raddi
Harris, Reg
Harris, Rob (Robert)
Harris, Rozanne
Harris, Sir Ronald
Harris, Vic
Harris-Mayes, Peter (set by Tony McGrath)
Harrison, Sir Cyril
Harrison, David
Harrison, Ernest
Harrison, Gabriel (set by David Newell Smith)
Harrison, Jack (set by David Newell Smith)
Harrison, Jeremy (set by Tony McGrath)
Harrison, Jessel (set by Neil Libbert)
Harrison, Roger (including set by Jane Bown)
Harrison, Ronald
Harrison, Stephen (set by Neil Libbert)
Harrison, Terry (set by Neil Libbert)
Hart, David
Hart, Gary
Hart, Guy
Hart, Jeff
Hart, Mrs Tudor (set by Tony McGrath)
Hartford-Davies, Robert (set by Tony McGrath)
Hartley, Des
Hartley, Fred (set by Neil Libbert)
Hartley, James
Hartley, Poul (set by Neil Libbert)
Harston, Jana
Hartwell, Lord
Harven, Emile de (set by Sally Soames)
Harvey, Audrey (set by David Newell Smith)
Harvey, John
Harvey, Nigel (set by David Newell Smith)
Harward, Clive
Harwood, Elizabeth (set by Tony McGrath)
Hasham, Mohammad
Haslam, Sir Robert
Hintlesham Festival
Box 5:
Hasler, Blondie
Hastings, Fr (set by Neil Libbert)
Hastings, Michael (set by Jane Bown)
Haslam, Ron
Haswell, James
Hateley, Mark
Hatford, Marquess of
Hatouni, Mona
Hattersley, Roy (including set by Tony McGrath)
Hatton Derek
Haughey, Charles (set by Tony McGrath)
Hauser, Herman
Hausler, Allen
Havard, Dr John
Havers, Sir Michael (bombing of)
Haviland, Mr (set by David Newell Smith)
Hawatmeh, Nayef & Habash, George
Hawarth, Jann
Hawes, Tony
Hawke, Bob
Hawkes, Nigel (staff)
Hawkey, Raymond (staff) (including sets by Jane Bown & Tony McGrath)
Hawkins, Jack
Hawkins, Professor Gerald (set by Neil Libbert)
Hawkins, Linda
Hawley, Grenville (set by Tony McGrath)
Haworth, David (staff) (including sets by David Newell Smith & Neil Libbert)
Hawtin, Michael (Hawtin Industries) (set by David Newell Smith)
Hayashi, Yasuko (set by Tony McGrath)
Haydar (Syrian ambassador) (set by Neil Libbert)
Hayden, Tom
Hayes & Morris (Crown Agents)
Hayes, Al
Hayes, Leslie (set by David Newell Smith)
Hayes, Nicholas
Hayes, Paddy
Hayfield, Frank (set by David Newell Smith)
Haynes, Jim (set by David Newell Smith)
Hayter, George
Hayward, Julie
Hayward, Lesley (set by David Newell Smith)
Hazan, James
Hazan, Marcella
Hazzard, Shirley
Head, Edith
Head, John
Heard, Andrea
Heal, Sue
Heedlam, Max
Box 6:
Haycox, Andrew
Healey, Dennis (some sets include Edna Healey) (including sets by Jane Bown, Tony McGrath & David Newell Smith)
Healey, Greeta
Healy, John F (bishop of Gibralter) (set by Tony McGrath)
Heaney, John
Heard, James
Hearn, Dr John
Hearn, Ted
Hearne, Gordon
Hearne, Graham
Heath, Adrian
Heath, Barrie
Heath, David
Heaven, Constance (set by Jane Bown)
Heath, Chris
Heath, Edward
Box 7:
Heath, Edward (continued)
Box 8:
Heaney, Seamus (set by David Newell Smith)
Heath, Len
Heather, Jim
Heaton, Frances
Hebblethwaite, Jeremy (set by Tony McGrath)
Hecht, Robert
Heenan, Cardinal
Heffer, Eric (set by David Newell Smith)
Heffner, Richard
Hegeler, Inge & Sten (set by David Newell Smith)
Heggie, Stephen (set by David Newell Smith)
Hegland DL (Vauxhall Motors) (set by David Newell Smith)
Heilbroner, Robert L
Heilpern, John (staff) (including set by Tony McGrath)
Heimbach, Warren
Heins, Johan
Held, Peter (set by David Newell Smith)
Heller, Robert
Heller, Mr W
Helpman, Robert (set by David Newell Smith)
Hemery, David
Hemmings, David
Hempel, Anouska
Hems, Colin
Henderson, Alan
Hendricks Barbara (set by Tony McGrath)
Henderson, Denys
Henderson, Gavin (set by David Newell Smith)
Henderson, Ian
Henderson, Margaret
Henderson, Dr William (set by Neil Libbert)
Henn, Georges
Hennessy, Patrick
Henriques, Professor (set by David Newell Smith)
Henry, Dr John
Henry, Wayne
Henshaw, Doreen
Henshaw, Geoffrey
Henze, Hans Werner (set by David Newell Smith)
Hepher, Michael (set by Neil Libbert)
Heppenstall, Reyner
Hepworth Barbara (set by David Newell Smith)
Herbert, Alfred
Herlitz, Esther (set by Tony McGrath)
Herman, Arthur Katz
Herman, Peter (set by Neil Libbert)
Heron, Patricia
Herrman, William (set by David Newell Smith)
Hersham, Bill (set by Tony McGrath)
Box 9:
Hearn, Ted (set by Neil Libbert)
Heron Blood Stock
Herriot, James
Hersch, Seymour (set by Jane Bown)
Herter, Christian
Hertford, Marquis of
Herwald, Emmanuel (set by Tony McGrath)
Herz, Joachim (set by Neil Libbert)
Heseltine, Michael (including set by Neil Libbert)
Hesketh, Lord
Hesketh, Dr Ross
Heslop, Neil
Hetherington, Canon
Hetherington, Janis
Heston, John
Hewitt & Macmillan (tennis) (set by Neil Libbert)
Hewitt Patricia
Hewlett, Richard (set by Tony McGrath)
Hey, John
Heydinger, Stuart (staff)
Heyerdahl, Thor (set by Jane Bown)
Heyes, Tom
Heywood, Mr (Turtle Wax Ltd.) (set by David Newell Smith)
Heywood, John (Hambros Bank)
Heywood, Tom
Heywood, Peter
Heyworth, Peter (staff) (including set by David Newell Smith)
Hiatt, Reverend Suzanne
Hibbard, Ron (set by Neil Libbert)
Hickman, Don (set by David Newell Smith)
Hickman, Jane
Hickman, Keith (set by Neil Libbert)
Hicks, David
Hicks, Kathy
Hicks, Wayland (set by Tony McGrath)
Higgins, Professor Guy
Higgins, Ronald (including set by Tony McGrath)
Higgs, Professor Peter
High, Geoffrey (set by Tony McGrath)
Highsmith, Patricia
Hilaire, Vince
Hiles, Jim (set by Neil Libbert)
Hill, Alan (set by Neil Libbert)
Hill, Benny (set by David Newell Smith)
Hill, Charles (set by Jane Bown)
Hill, Gordon
Hill, Graham
Hill, Samuel (set by Tony McGrath)
Hillfon, Hertha
Box 10:
Hill, Graham
Hill, Jimmy
Hill, Ken
Hill, Louis (set by David Newell Smith)
Hill, Robin
Hill, Stuart
Hill, William
Hill-Wood, Wilfred (set by David Newell Smith)
Hillel, Jeffery
Hiller, Norman (set by Tony McGrath)
Hillery, Dr Patrick (set by Tony McGrath)
Hillman, Judy (staff) (set by Tony McGrath)
Hillmore, Peter
Hills, Denis
Hills, Lawrence
Hills, Michael (set by David Newell Smith)
Hills, Roger
Hills, Ron
Hilton, Anthony (staff)
Hilton, John
Him, Georges (set by David Newell Smith)
Himes, Chester (set by Tony McGrath)
Himmelhoch, Ivan L
Hinckley Jnr, John
Hinde, Gerald
Hill, Lord
Hindawi (exhibits from trial)
Hinder, 'Charlie'
Hinder, Charles (set by Neil Libbert)
Hinduja, Dharam
Hines, Earl (set by Tony McGrath)
Hinton, Sir Christopher
Hinton, William (set by Neil Libbert)
Hinton, Lord
Hintzy, Jacques (set by Tony McGrath)
Hiro, Dilip (including set by David Newell Smith and Tony McGrath)
Hiron, Maureen
Hirsch, Etienne
Hirst, Albert
Hislop, Andrew
Hislop, John (staff)
Hiss, Alger (including set by Jane Bown)
Hitchcock, Alfred (including set by Tony McGrath)
Hitler
Hitchman, Janet
Hjert, Jerry (set by David Newell Smith)
Ho Chi Minh
Hoare, Christopher
Hobbs, Colonel Juan
Hobley, Brian (including set by David Newell Smith)
Box 11:
Hobson, John
Hobson, Valerie
Hobson, WR
Hockday, Margaret
Hochhauser, Victor & Lilian (including set by Neil Libbert)
Hocking, Roger
Hockney, David (including sets by David Newell Smith and Tony McGrath)
Hodder, John (staff)
Hoddins, H (set by Jane Bown)
Hodges, Henry
Hodges, Marjorie
Hodges, Nicholas
Hodgkinson Edward
Hodgson, Godfrey (staff)
Hodgson, James (set by Tony McGrath)
Hodgson, Sir Maurice
Hodgson, Robin
Hodson, Haro (staff)
Hodson, John
Hoffa, Jimmy
Hoffman, Peter
Hogarth, Mary (set by David Newell Smith)
Hogarth, William (including set by William Hogarth)
Hogarth, W (set by David Newell Smith)
Hogg, Douglas Martin
Hogg, Christopher
Hogg, Quintin
Hoggart, Professor (set by David Newell Smith)
Hoggart, Simon (staff)
Holden, Anthony (set by Neil Libbert)
Holden, Mrs David (set by Jane Bown)
Holden, Roberto
Holden-Brown, Derrick (including set by David Newell Smith)
Holdenfield, Jan (set by Tony McGrath)
Holder, Donald (set by Tony McGrath)
Holgate, Virginia
Holderness-Roddam, Jane
Holladay, Terry
Holland, Mary (staff)
Holliday, Richard
Hollingbery, MJ
Hollingworth, Clare
Hollis, John (set by Neil Libbert)
Hollis, Malcolm
Holloway, Lester
Hollowbread, John
Holmes, Richard
Holmes, Alan
Holmes, Geoffrey (set by Tony McGrath)
Holmes, Larry
Box 12:
Holmes, Terry
Holroyd, David
Holt, Geoffrey
Holt, Harold
Holt, Michael (set by David Newell Smith)
Holt, Mr (boat builder)
Holt, Thelma
Holt, John Alphaine
Home, Sir Alec Douglas (including set by Jane Bown)
Honer, John
Honeycombe, Gordon
Honeyghan, Lloyd
Hood, Stuart (set by David Newell Smith)
Hood, Ted (set by David Newell Smith)
Hooker, Ronald (Ron) (set by Tony McGrath)
Hooper, Anne
Hooper, Harry (set by David Newell Smith)
Hopcraft, Arthur (including set by David Newell Smith)
Hope, Bob
Hope, Francis (staff)
Hope Franklin, Dr John (set by David Newell Smith)
Hope, Mary (set by Tony McGrath)
Hopkin, Mary (set by Neil Libbert)
Hopkins, Scott
Hopkins-Green, Ruth
Hopkinson, David (including set by David Newell Smith and Neil Libbert)
Hoper, Mr (set by David Newell Smith)
Horia, Dan
Horn, Mr (set by Neil Libbert)
Hornby, Derek
Hornby, Edward
Horner, David
Hornik, Josef
Horobin, Sir Ian
Horowitz, Michael
Horrocks, Arthur
Horsfall, Harry
Horsman, Malcolm (set by David Newell Smith)
Horta, Jose Ramos
Box 13:
Hope, Colin
Horton, Robert
Horton-Fawkes, Mr
Hoseason, James (set by Neil Libbert)
Hoskyns, Carol (set by Tony McGrath)
Houghton, Mr & Mrs (David Newell Smith)
Houston, Bob (set by Tony McGrath)
Houey, John (set by Neil Libbert)
Howard, Anthony (staff)
Howard, AC (set by David Newell Smith)
Howard, George (set by Tony McGrath)
Howard, John
Howard, Keith
Howard, Lydia (set by Tony McGrath)
Howard, Michael
Howarth, Ron (set by Neil Libbert)
Howe, Geoffrey (some include Lady Howe) (including set by Tony McGrath)
Howe, Pym (set by Neil Libbert)
Howe, Sir Ronald
Howell, Bill
Howell, Dennis (including sets by Tony McGrath and Neil Libbert)
Howell, Georgina (staff) (set by David Newell Smith)
Howells, Val & Philip
Howerd, Frankie (including set by David Newell Smith and Neil Libbert)
Howes, Gordon (set by David Newell Smith)
Howie, Anne
Howitt, Anthony (set by Tony McGrath)
Howlett, Ian
Hoyland, John (set by Jane Bown)
Hubble, Phil
Hubert, Arthur
Huckle, George
Hucko, 'Peanuts' (set by David Newell Smith)
Huddleston, Bishop Trevor (set by David Newell Smith)
Hudson, Alan
Hudson Stephen
Hudson, Sue (set by Tony McGrath)
Hudson, Tom
Hughes, Colin
Box 14:
Huebner, Lee W
Hughes, Dennis (set by David Newell Smith)
Hughes, Hector
Hugff, Victor
Hughes, Howard (including set by Neil Libbert)
Hughes, Jannie
Hughes, Joan
Hughes, Malcolm (set by Neil Libbert)
Hughes, Nerys (set by Tony McGrath)
Hughes, Reginald
Hughes, Stephen (staff)
Hughes-Hallett, Sir Charles
Hugill, Barry
Hugman, Ben & Edward (set by Tony McGrath)
Hukin, Brian
Hull, General
Hull, John (including set by David Newell Smith)
Hull, Rod (set by Tony McGrath)
Hulme, Brian (set by David Newell Smith)
Human, Alan
Humbert
Humi, Julius
Humphrey, Bermard
Humphrey, Hubert (including set by Bill Millinship)
Humphreys, Alan (set by David Newell Smith)
Humphreys, Emry
Humphries, Alan John
Humphries, Barry (including set by David Newell Smith)
Humphries, John
Hundertwasser, Mr (set by David Newell Smith)
Hungwana, Mr (set by Jane Bown)
Hunlove, Nicholas (set by Neil Libbert)
Hunn, David (staff) (including set by Neil Libbert)
Hunoert Warner, Mr (set by David Newell Smith)
Hunt, Sir David
Hunt, Gilbert
Hunt, James
Hunt, Jeremy (staff) (set by Tony McGrath)
Hunt, Keith
Hunt, Lady (set by Tony McGrath)
Hunt, Peter
Hunt, Pramla le
Hunt, Sarah & Carole
Hunt, William
Hunte, James (set by Tony McGrath)
Hunte, Jo (set by Neil Libbert)
Hunter, Hilda (staff) (including set by Tony McGrath)
Hunter, Sir John
Hunter, Kelly
Box 15:
Hunter, Robert
Hurlea, Bjarne
Hurley, Mr (set by Neil Libbert)
Hurst, Edward (set by Tony McGrath)
Hurwitz, Naomi (set by Jane Bown)
Hussein, Mr
Hussein, Mrs Nyemah
Hussein, King
Hussein, Said Ahmed Al (set by Neil Libbert)
Huston, Anjelica (set by Tony McGrath)
Hutber, Patrick
Hutchins, Paul
Hutchings, Roger
Hutchinson, Alfred
Hutchinson, Sir Kenneth (set by David Newell Smith)
Hutchinson, JS (Chairman of British Oxygen) (set by David Newell Smith)
Hutchinson, Raymond
Hutchison, Ian
Huth, Angela
Hutt, Sarah-Jane
Hutton, Sir Leonard
Hutton, Robert (set by Neil Libbert)
Huxley
Huxley, Sir Andrew
Huxtable, Sally
Hyams, Harry
Hyde, Anthony 'Toby'
Hyde, Bill
Hyde, John
Hyde, Michael (set by Neil Libbert)
Hyde, Pauline
Hyde, Vic
Hyde-Thomson, Paul (set by Neil Libbert)
Hyman, David
Hyman, Joe (including sets by Tony McGrath and Neil Libbert)
Creator: The Observer Limited; Picture Desk; Observer Picture Library
Colour television documentary report produced by the BBC on negotiations between the trade unions and Observer management, with the views of the editor, journalists and leaders of the unions when the Observer was facing bankruptcy in mid-June 1975.
Documentary directed by Philip Geddes. Written and produced by BBC journalist Elwyn Parry Jones.
Made during 'hard economic times' in the quality newspaper market when the Observer was facing possible closure, wage cuts to staff and had requested 400 voluntary redundancies.
Contains footage of: the exterior of the Observer offices at Queen Victoria Street and the nearby area; the exterior of Printing House Square; David Astor and Donald Trelford conducting the weekly editorial conference; the interior of the offices and footage of staff at work including editorial staff, print workers and newspaper production staff; a chapel meeting of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ); an editorial meeting; a meeting between management and the union chapels committee; a management meeting; Astor meeting with a reporter from Newsweek Magazine; a meeting of union representatives; the empty printing rooms and news offices following industrial action; a special meeting of the chapel; and interviews with a range of Observer staff.
Interviews include: David Astor (Editor) on the state of the Observer versus other newspapers, negotiations with the unions, his response to the crisis and the outcome, and his retirement; John Clare (Labour Correspondent) on industrial crises and staff levels in national newspapers; Nigel Lloyd (Editor Colour Magazine) on union meetings; Keith Colquhoun (Managing Editor - Colour Magazine); Donald Trelford (Deputy Editor) on the Observer's survival of the crisis and redundancy; Ken Obank (Managing Editor) on optimism and the suspension of printing due to industrial action; Owen O'Brien (General Secretary of the National Society of Printers and Assistants (NATSOPA)) on jobs at risk and negotiations; Bert Hand (Imperial Father of Federated Chapels for the newspaper) on the actions of management and staffing levels over time, he goes through the changes to the working conditions with the unions; John Littlejohns (Finance Director) on the agreements with the unions; Bob Chesshyre (Father NUJ Chapel) on the future of the Observer and NUJ policy, and discussions over journalists pay; Terry Kilmartin (Literary Editor) on the role of Astor at the newspaper; Terry O'Rourke (Father Society of Graphical and Allied Trades (SOGAT) Chapel) on the refusal of printing staff to allow the BBC to film them at work; Jeremy Bugler (Deputy Father of the NUJ Chapel) on the absence of Astor during a crucial week in discussions with the unions; Ros Morris (Reporter) on negotiations with the unions; Peter Deeley (Reporter) on the management's success during negotiations and the concessions made by journalist, the different types of journalists and his criticisms of management of the newspaper; John Mitchell (Assistant Secretary London Machine Branch NATSOPA) on changes to redundancy agreements; Roger Harrison (Deputy General Manager) on redundancy terms and meetings with the unions; Diana Petry (Travel Writer) on leaving the newspaper and loyalty to the Observer; Mrs Smith (Technical Secretary) on leaving the paper; printing and editorial staff leaving the newspaper interviewed during their farewell parties; Colin Legum (Associate Editor) on delays to printing; SOGAT warehousemen on the argument between the unions and management; and Joe Filkin (London Branch Secretary SOGAT) on the breakdown in talks.
Topics covered in the documentary include: the relations with the trade unions; changes to how the newspaper has been produced; the purchase of Printing House Square which left the newspaper in debt; cuts to production staffing levels; history of the newspaper; past characters at the paper including Kenneth Tynan; the conflict between editorial and commercial success; foreign coverage at the newspaper; the response of union members to editorial articles; the BBC being asked to leave by printing press machine operators over fear of the response to the documentary being aired; the pay of journalists; unemployed casuals seeking work on Fleet Street; a meeting between management and the union respresentatives; the return of Astor from holiday; voluntary redundancies; the response of union members to management redundancy plans; journalists leaving the newspaper including Education Correspondent Peter Wilby and Diana Petry; clerical staff leaving the newspaper; farewell parties for those leaving; the unions' distrust of the media; a possible closure of production; the involvement of the Newspaper Publishers Association (NPA); delays to printing due to industrial action; the breakdown in talks between management and the unions; the withdrawal of labour; a statement on industrial action for the Sunday Times and Sunday Telegraph; the loss of an issue; the withdrawal of redundancy notices; the acceptance of new terms; savings made by the Observer; Astor's retirement as editor; and the future of the newspaper.
Duration: 1 hour 23 minutes 55 seconds. Starts at 44 seconds.
Creator: The Observer Limited, 1917-1993
Records of the Observer newspaper, mainly dating from 1920s onwards. Includes: board minutes and papers; correspondence and subject files of managing directors; financial papers; staff files; correspondence and papers of Observer editors David Astor and Donald Trelford; picture desk prints and negatives; printing, circulation and distribution statements and television adverts.
Few documents relating to the Observer's early years are known to have survived and the majority of those that have survived remain within private collections. For example, the archive of JL Garvin (editor of the Observer 1908 - 1942) is held by the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center at the University of Texas.
Administrative/Biographical history: As befits the oldest Sunday newspaper in the world, the history of the Observer is a volatile and varied one. The paper was founded in 1791 by WS Bourne on the simple premise that "the establishment of a Sunday newspaper would obtain him a rapid fortune"; within three years Bourne found himself £1,600 in debt. Though early editions of advertisements for the paper promised a paper "Unbiased by Prejudice - Uninfluenced by Party...Whose Principal is Independence", Bourne attempted to cut his losses and sell the title to the government. They declined.
In its first century, the Observer was in varying degrees a scurrilous gossip sheet, government propaganda rag and provocative thorn-in-the-side of the establishment. Throughout the nineteenth century, however, the paper's character changed and came to reflect the more sober morality of the age.
In 1820 proprietor William Innell Clement defied a government ban on reporting proceedings against the Cato Street conspirators, refused to appear in court and left a £500 fine unpaid. This victory for the freedom of the press became characteristic of the paper in future years, and was typical of the Observer as it developed a reputation for serious coverage of politics and literature.
Some glamour was restored to the title by Frederick Beer, who installed his wife Rachel (Siegfried Sassoon's aunt) as editor in 1891. Under her control the paper achieved one of its greatest exclusives: the admission by Count Esterhazy that he had forged the letters that condemned innocent Jewish officer Captain Dreyfus to Devil's Island. The story provoked an international outcry and led to the release and pardon of Dreyfus and court martial of Esterhazy. She was a remarkable woman - not content with running one national newspaper, she managed to combine editing the Observer with the same job at the Sunday Times.
When the Observer entered the twentieth century, the paper was owned for a brief time by Lord Northcliffe, who appointed JL Garvin to the editorship. Garvin was a maverick Tory who contrived to edit the paper almost exclusively via a special telephone line installed between the newspaper office and his luxurious house in Beaconsfield.
It was not until 1948 that the paper became genuinely free from political allegiance, when David Astor was made proprietor and editor. Astor turned the paper into a trust-owned non-party publication and helped to establish its reputation as the voice of post-war liberal Britain. During this period many famous writers were on the staff, including George Orwell, Conor Cruise O'Brien, and more infamously Kim Philby.
Between 1977 and 1993 the paper was owned by two large international companies, first Atlantic Richfield and then 'Tiny' Rowland's company Lonrho. A controversial period in the paper's history reached its climax with the bitter battle between Rowland and Mohamed Al Fayed for control of the department store Harrods. When the Department of Trade and Industry published a damning report into the conduct of Mr Fayed, editor Donald Trelford took the momentous decision to print a midweek edition of the paper.
The birth of the Independent and subsequently its sister title The Independent on Sunday increased the pressure on the Observer in what was an already crowded Sunday broadsheet market, and when it became clear that the paper was for sale a merger between the two Sunday titles was mooted. Faced with the acquisition of a natural ally by a major competitor, the Guardian Media Group acquired the Observer in 1993. As a result the Observer has been able to maintain its editorial independence, ensuring the continuation of the paper's long-standing tradition of liberal politics and independent journalism.
The Observer has continued its reputation for setting, rather than following the news agenda, breaking stories including exposing the cash-for-access scandal dubbed Lobbygate, and leading the way in covering of issues like GM foods and cloning.
Roger Alton, editor 1998-2007, defined the paper's stance in the context of a long and varied history: "The Observer is Britain's oldest Sunday newspaper and it has been making mischief, poking its nose where it shouldn't and reporting the best in arts, culture, politics, sport, business and skulduggery for over two hundred years. We aim to keep it that way and maintain its position as Britain's most exciting Sunday newspaper."
On 8 January 2006 The Observer relaunched in a Berliner format becoming the UK's only full colour Sunday newspaper, and in 2007 The Observer was named national newspaper of the year at the British Press Awards.
In January 2008 John Mulholland was appointed editor of the Observer, replacing Roger Alton who had edited the paper since 1998. At the end of 2008 The Observer moved from its home in Herbal Hill, Farringdon, to new offices shared with the Guardian in King's Cross.
Creator: Publishers of The Observer Limited, fl.1907-1910
Creator: The Observer Limited, 1917-1993
Creator: Guardian News & Media Limited, 1967-
Concerns various aspects of the management of the Observer. Relates to the appointment of a Chief Executive, Roger Harrison and clause 12 of the Service Agreement, addition to the board of the Observer; complaint regarding an article; illustration entitled 'Media Battlescape Launches, Targets, Markets, Rivals 1988-89', commercials relating to branding campaign, holiday offer featured in The Observer, Annual Return of the Company and a list of names, addresses and telephone numbers of Independent and Outside Directors.
Creator: The Observer Limited; Sir Derek Mitchell
Records relating to, or collected by the former managing director of The Observer newspaper, Tristan Jones. Including information on the history of the paper, and its former staff members.
Creator: The Observer Limited; Managing Director's Office; Tristan Jones
Records collected by Tristan Jones relating to the history of the Observer, including research notes and correspondence on past members of Observer staff; publications on the history of the Observer and enquries from members of the public.
Creator: The Observer Limited; Managing Director's Office; Tristan Jones
Records relating to the general history of The Observer newspaper, collected by Tristan Jones [1970s].
Creator: The Observer Limited; Managing Director's Office; Tristan Jones
Records relating to the history of The Observer newspaper, and its promotional material, including: newspaper cuttings; correspondence; photographs; a reprint of the article 'Ourselves'; various publications relating to the history of the paper; two copies of The Observer's colour magazine [1963]; a colour magazine commemorating the 175th birthday issue of the newspaper; a plastic bag; and Christmas cards.
Creator: The Observer Limited; Managing Director's Office; Tristan Jones