Series of correspondence relating to Nora Beloff. The majority of the correspondence (15 files) covers the period where Beloff worked for The Observer as Paris or Washington correspondent. This correspondence is written by Beloff herself and is mostly to her family who she refers to as 'Darlings' or more specifically to her parents. The first file of correspondence, 1941-1945, provides an insight into the start of her career as a journalist at Reuters in Paris. Letters from 1946-1947 cover a period when Beloff was working mostly freelance and indicate the unpredictable nature of journalists' contracts. From the end of 1947 the correspondence covers Beloff's work as Paris correspondent for The Observer but includes a period as Washington correspondent in 1949-1951. The files from 1959 and 1961 cover a more unstable period for Beloff in terms of location but she always remained a correspondent for The Observer and in 1961 spent a relatively brief time as their Washington correspondent again. These files of correspondence, as they are written to her family, provide not only an interesting insight into the nature of her relationships with her family but also an account of her feelings about her work, life style and acquaintances. Following these are two files of correspondence, which together cover 1953-1995, and are a mixture of correspondence written by and to Beloff. The character of the letters is more professional than the personal nature of the correspondence to her family. As such the letters give an impression of the style in which she worked and how she developed her contacts. The letters provide details of the later period of Beloff's life and the work she did including conferences, seminars, research and writing. The final file of correspondence is written by members of Beloff's family, mostly her brothers and sisters, to her parents. They provide a further perspective on relations between Beloff family members and there are several references to 'Nora' throughout.
Beloff; Nora (1919-1997); political reporterCorrespondence from Nora Beloff to her family. There is only one letter from 1941 which was written by Beloff to her mother from Washington where she appears to have been working for The Observer. The letters from 1944 run from September to December from Paris. It appears from the letters that Beloff began working at the British Embassy in Paris in December. In her earlier letters of 1944 from Paris she does refer to Reuters and it is possible she may have done some work for them before December 1944. The letters from December describe her arrival back in Paris for work at the British Embassy. Details are provided about work, living conditions and her social life. The letters from 1945 span across the year and provide a further insight to Beloff's life in Paris working for the British Embassy. Accounts of her social life and acquaintances provide details about the atmosphere in Paris at that time. From September of 1945 her letters express a desire to move into journalism and to work for Reuters. Her father seems to have expressed certain reservations about this move. By December of 1945 it is clear from the letters that Beloff had by then left the British Embassy and begun working as a journalist for Reuters but remained in Paris. The letters from December provide a detailed descriptions of her work and style of living as a journalist. At the end of this file are some letters without dates and also some letters which are incomplete.
Beloff; Nora (1919-1997); political reporterCorrespondence from Nora Beloff to her family covering the January to December of 1950. The letters are written from Washington where Beloff was working as Washington correspondent to The Observer. The letters provide detailed accounts of her social life and working environment in the US. As well as various trips further a field details of her work in Washington centre around the White House, the office, the state department and the Senate. In some of her letters Beloff does comment on her position as a female correspondent. Another feature of the letters are concerns about heightening tensions between America and Russia and the possible nuclear threat. In letters from as early as February Beloff discusses the possibility of her moving back to Paris but remaining as an Observer correspondent. For April there is a large body of correspondence and not all of it from Beloff. This correspondence gives an account of an accident involving Beloff on 8 April where Beloff's car was involved in a collision with a taxi. She was injured but sustained no serious permanent damage. Included in the letters is correspondence from Beloff's friends explaining the incident and giving reassurance to Beloff's family. The final letters from April give details of her convalescence at friends in California. Interesting is Beloff's continued concern with her work at this time, she plans her departure from California back to Washington on the presidential train so it can be timed it with Harry Truman's visit to the East Coast. From October in her letters Beloff appears to be finalising her plans to leave Washington and take up the position of Paris correspondent for The Observer early in 1951. However, the correspondence from late November indicates that Beloff's plans were altered due to the threat of war between the US and China for which it was felt necessary to have an experienced Washington correspondent such as Beloff in place. The initial plans were, therefore, adapted, with Beloff expecting to remain in Washington until the summer of 1951 when she would then take up the position of Paris correspondent.
Beloff; Nora (1919-1997); political reporterCorrespondence of Nora Beloff to her family covering the period January to December of 1954. The correspondence from January, February and March is written from Paris. From April to June the letters are written from Geneva where Beloff reports on an international conference for The Observer. Several references are made to meetings with Anthony Eden in the Geneva correspondence. Correspondence from October and November is from New York and Beloff appears to have done some work for The Observer in the US at this point. The letters from December are from Paris suggesting that her permanent position at The Observer was still that of Paris correspondent. At the end of the file are descriptions of 'Red Hills Farm' and 'Dyers' Hall'. It is not clear why they are found amongst these papers but Red Hills Farm was owned by Beloff's parents and is often referred to in her letters.
At the end of the file is one letter from 1955, October. Joined with this is a letter from Tristan Jones, a manager at The Observer, offering Beloff the chance to become a full member of The Observer staff rather then 'contributor'.
Photographs of Nora Beloff and her family. For most photographs details of the exact date or identity of those photographed are unknown.
Those thought to be in photographs include the following Beloffs: Nora, Helen, Jeremy, Max, John, Halla, Anne, Simon, Michael, Mary [Marie], and Renee and Ernst Chain.