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Papers of Hugo Young
Papers of Hugo Young
HJSY · Fonds · 1944-2003

Personal and professional papers of Hugo Young, British journalist and columnist and the Guardian's senior political commentator from 1984 to his death in 2003. Includes a series of notes of interviews and conversations conducted with significant individuals including politicians and senior civil servants, 1969-2003. Also includes personal and professional correspondence, research papers relating to two published books, 'One of Us' and 'This Blessed Plot', and papers relating to his role as chair of the Scott Trust.

Administrative/Biographical history: Born in Sheffield in 1938, Hugo Young was head boy at Ampleforth College in York and read law at Balliol College, Oxford. In 1961 he joined the Yorkshire Post in Leeds and in 1963, he spent a year as a Harkness fellow in the USA, followed by a year working as a congressional fellow.

After returning to the UK in 1965, Young joined The Sunday Times, becoming chief leader writer in his second year on the paper, a position which he kept until 1977. From 1973 to 1984, Young was also the paper's political editor, and established the Sunday column 'Inside politics'. From 1981 he additionally held the position of joint deputy editor. However, Young's relationship with the Sunday Times cooled when Rupert Murdoch took over the paper in 1981, and prompted Young to leave The Sunday Times for the Guardian in 1984.

Young continued to write a twice weekly political column for the Guardian until his death in 2003, and was widely acclaimed as one of the most influential figures in modern British journalism. Young was a strong proponent of Europe, and sharply expressed his disappointment with the British government's Europe-sceptical politics in his columns. Despite these differences, Young remained on good terms with British government officials, including Tony Blair and Margaret Thatcher, a critical biography of whom, 'One of Us', he published in 1989.

From 1989 Young was the chairman of the Scott Trust, owner of the Guardian, and helped the paper through important developments, including the purchase of the Observer.

Young married twice. His first wife, Helen Mason, with whom he had three daughters and a son, died in 1989. Young married American artist Lucy Waring in 1990. He died on September 22, 2003 at the age of 64 after an arduous battle against cancer.
Creator: DS/UK/122

 Young; Hugo John Smelter (1938-2003); journalist
Papers of Jean Stead
Papers of Jean Stead
JLS · Fonds · [1955]-2000

Correspondence, diaries, and papers kept by Jean Stead from her time at the Guardian.

Administrative/Biographical history: Jean Stead was born on 30 May 1926. She joined the Guardian as a permanent member of staff on 6 October 1963, serving as a reporter until November 1966 when she became deputy news editor to John Cole. In 1970 she became news editor and then assistant editor in 1974, a post held until 1978. From late 1978 to 1983 she was assistant editor, special features. In 1983 she became the Guardian's Scottish correspondent, reporting notably on the miners' strike, a post held until her retirement in 1988.

The miners' strike was the subject of her book 'Never the same again: women and the miners' strike' published in 1987.

 Stead; Jean Laura (1926-2016); journalist
Papers of John Perkin
JSP · Fonds · 1955-1997

Records collected by John Perkin in his role as editor of Guardian Weekly. This includes a written memoir, notes and reports issued to Guardian staff, newspaper cuttings, ephemera relating to Guardian anniversaries and events and a photograph.

Administrative/Biographical history: John Sydney Perkin was born in Macclesfield, Cheshire in 1929. He was educated at King's School in Macclesfield and won a state scholarship to Magdalen College, Oxford, where he was tutored by CS Lewis.

He trained as a journalist with Westminster Press, first at Barrow-in-Furness and then at the daily Yorkshire Observer in Bradford. In 1955 he joined the Manchester Guardian's foreign desk. In 1969 he was appointed editor of the Guardian Weekly. He retired as editor of the Weekly in 1993 but continued to work as Guardian crossword editor until c1996.

 Perkin; John Sydney (1929-2002); journalist
Papers of Laurence Scott
LPS · Fonds · 1872-1983

Collection includes papers relating to the Scott Trust, personal correspondence, photographs, publications and newspaper cuttings, and other items such as material relating to the Guardian centenary dinner, the passport of JR Scott and death certificates for CP Scott and ET Scott.

Administrative/Biographical history: LP Scott, son of JR Scott, was born in Manchester, and educated at Rugby and Trinity College, Cambridge. His first job was as sub-editor with the Financial News, followed by positions as personal assistant to the general manager of the News Chronicle, and circulation manager of the Star. He joined the Manchester Guardian and Evening News as editor in 1943. He acted as chairman from April 1949 to November 1973, and as managing director from September 1947 to October 1967. When Guardian Newspapers Limited (GNL) was established in 1967, he was appointed chairman.

 Scott; Laurence Prestwich (1909-1983); chairman of the Manchester Guardian & Evening News Ltd
Papers of Nora Beloff
NBE · Fonds · 1941-1995

Papers relating to the life, work and family of Nora Beloff who worked for The Observer for over thirty years, from 1947-1978. Beloff developed an international reputation and as The Observer's political correspondent she was the first female political correspondent for a major British Newspaper. The first files in the collection contain a large series of press cuttings and dispatches of articles written by Beloff not only for The Observer but various other publications. The principal material that provides a biographical as well as professional account of Beloff's life is the series of correspondence that dates from 1941-1995. Much of the correspondence is written by Beloff to her family and offers a personal account of her daily life as a correspondent of The Observer, events she attended and individuals she met. The earliest of the files provide an account of her initial move into journalism and her start at The Observer as Paris and then Washington correspondent. The later correspondence includes letters to Beloff as well as from her. They include correspondence with mostly professional contacts dealing with matters related to work but also include more personal details such as the ownership and maintenance of her home. Also included within the series of correspondence is a file of letters written by her family and this provides a further insight into Beloff's background. The collection includes a file of photographs of Beloff and her family but these rarely include any accompanying notes that explain the date, location or identity of those photographed. A further file contains legal documents relating to the action Beloff took against Private Eye in the early 1970s over a libellous article written about her. This demonstrates the unpopularity her determination to get things done her way could provoke amongst her colleagues. It was a leaked internal memo Beloff wrote to The Observer staff that was connected to the copyright aspect of her case against Private Eye. The collection also includes some papers from the French Resistance during the second world war, it is not clear how these came be in Beloff's possession but it is likely she acquired them during her time in Paris. The final file of the collection contains a miscellaneous assortment of papers. Some of these relate to The Observer and include documents relating to the pension scheme and David Astor whereas others relate more directly to Beloff such as the plan included of a possible autobiography.

Administrative/Biographical history: Nora Beloff was born on 24 January 1919, into a family of Russian Jews who settled in London shortly before the first world war. Her father started an export business in the City of London trading in chemicals and sundry products.

Beloff read history at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. She joined the Political Intelligence Department of the Foreign Office (1941-1944) and was then sent to the British Embassy in Paris, (1944-1945). She then worked as a reporter for the Reuters News Agency in Paris (1945-1946) as well as at The Economist (1946-1948). During this period Beloff also did some freelance work for the Guardian.

Beloff joined The Observer in late 1947 and worked initially as Paris correspondent and later went on to cover other roles including Washington, Moscow, and Brussels (1948-1978). In Paris she defied brutal intimidation to report French torture during the Algerian War. Other controversial or sensitive issues pursued by Beloff during her career include: exposing Trotskyist infiltration of the Labour party, reporting on persecution in Georgia following a trip to the Soviet Union; and fighting the trade union closed shop for journalists. Beloff succeeded Hugh Massingham to work as The Observer's political correspondent, becoming the first female political correspondent of a national newspaper (1964-1976). She then worked as a roving correspondent (1976-1978) and left The Observer in 1978. Following her retirement Beloff was engaged in research on international responsibilities for the conflict in former Yugoslavia and wrote several books.

Nora Beloff died on 12 February 1997.

 Beloff; Nora (1919-1997); political reporter
Papers of Richard Boston
RBO · Fonds · 1949-2010

The collection encompasses Richard Boston's life from his early education in the 1950s, to art college and university, to teaching abroad and his various posts at publications including Peace News, New Society and the Times Literary Supplement. Includes documents relating to his position as Guardian feature writer and his famous beer column, transcripts and research for various books, his editorial positions at Vole and Quarto, and standing as a European Parliamentary member. Also large volumes of correspondence, research documents, manuscripts and cuttings.

Administrative/Biographical history: Richard Boston, an English author and journalist, was renowned for approaching his work with a sense of fun and humour.

Educated at Stowe School, he went on to Regent Polytechnic to study art, then to read English at King's College, Cambridge, gaining an MA before going abroad to teach.

Richard's work in journalism initially saw him joining the staff of Peace News, followed by the position of books editor of New Society. He was also employed by the Times Literary Supplement, and wrote regularly for The Guardian as a columnist and feature writer. One of his most famous achievements was his weekly Guardian column on beer, where he pursued a campaign against big brewers and keg beer, whilst promoting the importance of small real-ale brewers. Together with the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) his campaign was a success. In 1977 he set up and edited The Vole, a country magazine regarding threats to the environment, which raised issues ahead of its time including sustainability and greenhouse gases. Vole lasted until 1981. He also took over editorship of the monthly literary magazine Quarto in 1979. In 1994 stood as member of European parliament, for the Boston Tea Party.

Published books include biographies The Admirable Urquhart (1975), and Osbert: a Portrait of Osbert Lancaster (1989) as well as further books The Press we Deserve (ed. 1969), An Anatomy of Laughter (1974), Beer and Skittles (1976), Baldness Be My Friend (1977), The Little Green Book (1979), CO Jone's Compendium of Practical Jokes (1982), and Starkness At Noon (1997).
Creator: Boston, Richard (1938-2006); journalist
Papers of Richard Scott
Papers of Richard Scott
RFS · Fonds · 1910-2002

The papers of Richard Scott include: a series of memoirs written by Richard Scott covering subjects such as Charles Prestwich Scott, Edward Taylor Scott, Richard Scott's work as a Guardian journalist and The Scott Trust; a series of photographs showing CP Scott and his staff, the Scott family at Christmas and CP Scott's funeral; a series of documents and correspondence relating to the management of the Guardian and The Scott Trust; a series of printed works including the Manchester Guardian centenary number, the centenary edition of the Guardian Weekly, Winston Churchill's book 'The World Crisis, 1911-1914' containing a letter of dedication to CP Scott, and the CP Scott memorial number; and portraits of Edward Taylor Scott and Laurence Prestwich Scott.

Administrative/Biographical history: Richard Scott, journalist and chairman of the Scott Trust, held a series of senior editorial posts on the Guardian newspaper.

The son of Edward Taylor Scott and grandson of Charles Prestwich Scott, both former editors of the Guardian newspaper. Educated at Gresham School, Norfolk and Christ’s College, Cambridge. After leaving school he began his career with the Legal Nations Union in London, writing brochures, pamphlets and memoranda for members. Following this he spent a year working for The Spectator before working for the British Council and the Foreign Office in the news department.

He first contributed to the Guardian in 1947. As diplomatic correspondent Richard Scott was involved in the Guardian’s reporting of the Suez crisis. He moved to America, as Washington correspondent, in 1963.

A member of the Scott Trust from 1948-1984 and chairman from 1956-1984. As a member of the Scott Trust he was involved in guiding the Guardian through a financial crisis and possible merger with The Times in the 1960s.

He was the last member of the Scott family to hold senior office in the paper.

 Scott; Richard Farquhar (1914-2011); journalist and Chairman of the Scott Trust
Papers of Tom Baistow
Papers of Tom Baistow
ETB · Fonds · 1930s -1990s

Papers relating to life and work of Tom Baistow.

The first section of the collection contains personal papers related to Baistow's working life including correspondence, notebooks, expenses, identification documents and professional contacts, providing an insight into a journalistic life of the mid-20th century.

Other papers have been divided into sections reflecting his journalistic career. His work for the News Chronicle from 1936 to 1960, when the newspaper closed, is shown through press cuttings of his articles, under his name and his pseudonym, Andrew Lawson. As NUJ father of the chapel his efforts to support his colleagues at the time of the newspaper's closure are recorded through correspondence, meeting papers and press cuttings.

His work for the Daily Herald from 1960 to 1965 is demonstrated through copy and press cuttings of his articles. Specific papers are related to his coverage of political crises in the Congo in 1961, including his copy and cables with the newspaper.

Baistow's work as journalist at the New Statesman, before his retirement, is shown through copy of his articles covering the period from 1965 to 1976.

Administrative/Biographical history: Enoch Thomas Baistow, known as Tom Baistow was born in Glasgow on 13 July 1914. During the First World War, he lived near Inverness where he learned to speak Gaelic. He emigrated with his family to Calgary in Canada in mid 1920s and in the late 1920s they returned to Glasgow.

He left school in 1928 and became a copyboy at the Scottish Daily Express where his father was a compositor. Then he became caption writer and started subbing, establishing himself in the newsroom. In 1931 he moved to the Daily Sketch in Manchester as 'splash' sub.

In 1936 Baistow moved to the News Chronicle as picture editor. The same year he visited Germany for the first time and became a 'secret' member of the Communist Party and Peace Pledge Union as well as the Labour Party and National Union of Journalists. In 1937 he met Mae Berg who became his wife within a year.

In 1939 he volunteered with his brother-in-law for the Navy but was told to await the call-up, so in 1940 he joined the army. He had basic training at Catterick, Yorkshire. Baistow came to senior officers notice by organising a strike about the poor quality of the food in the mess. His socialist views were also expressed in a competition to the question 'What kind of a society do you want after the war?' His officers, scared of his militant tendencies, sent him to Royal Military College at Sandhurst. There he edited a Forces newspaper. In 1941 his son Peter was born.

In 1942 Baistow joined the Royal Tank Regiment and he went to Egypt for the end of the North African campaign, Operation Torch, as a tank commander. He returned to Britain to prepare for the Operation Overlord and in 1944 he landed in Normandy on St Aubin beach near Arramanches. He lost many friends in those days, including the poet Keith Douglas. He was made a Captain in the and in 1945 fought in Belgium, Holland and Germany. He was with one of the first allied troops into the concentration camp at Belsen.

In 1946 Baistow returned to Manchester to his old job at the News Chronicle. In 1947 he moved to the News Chronicle in London as deputy features editor. The following year his daughter Karen was born. In 1948 Baistow started writing poetry in gaelic and ws broadcast on the BBC. He stood as Labour candidate in local elections.

During 1950s he worked as features editor and then foreign editor at the News Chronicle where he formed an 'infamous' lunch club (after being banned from the wine club El Vino). He late became special feature writer of the News Chronicle, covering industrial unrest in the car industry in the Midlands, housing, education, immigration - the whole of Britain's post war social development. Tom Baistow spent months covering the political crises in the Congo and in Rome for the Olympic games. He also wrote for The Tribune under the pseudonym of Ewan Pearson.

In October 1960 the News Chronicle closed down and he fought to secure best possible deal and new jobs for his colleagues. He joined the Daily Herald as special feature writer. During the 1960s, when the Daily Herald became the broadsheet The Sun, Baistow left and became deputy editor at the New Statesman. He was now frequently broadcasting on the BBC.

In 1976 he retired from the New Statesman and became part-time lecturer in the School of Journalism of the City University. In the 1980s and 1990s he contributed regularly to the letters, books and obituary columns of The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph, The Times and the New Statesman. Tom Baistow died on the 8 March 1999.

(Biographical details provided by the Baistow family).

 Baistow; Enoch Thomas (1914-1999); journalist
Papers of Vita Sackville-West
VSW · Fonds · 1956-1958

Collection consists of manuscript notebook containing drafts of Vita's 'In the Garden' articles. Also a file containing related correspondence and literature about plants

Administrative/Biographical history: Vita Sackville-West, only daughter of Victoria and Lionel Sackville-West, was born on 9 March 1892 at Knole in Kent. Vita spent much of her young life in Paris, contributing to her fluent knowledge of French. Between 1906 and 1910 Vita wrote eight novels and several plays, some of which were in French, and she continued writing throughout her life. In 1910 Vita met politician Harold George Nicholson and they married in 1913, they had two sons, Benedict and Nigel. Vita and Harold led an unconventional marriage and both were to have many passionate affairs with members of the same sex, however their marriage remained strong. Vita wrote in many genres and her numerous works include 'All Passion Spent', 1931; 'Pepita', 1937; 'A Joy of Gardening: A Selection for Americans', 1958; 'Knole and the Sackvilles', 1922; 'Passenger to Teheran', 1926'; 'In Your Garden', 1951. In 1947 Vita began a weekly column in The Observer called 'In Your Garden', where she was able to write about her keen knowledge of horticulture, and experiences from her garden at her Sissinghurst Castle. Vita wrote her gardening column for 15 years, and continued to write until her death in 1962.
Creator: Sackville-West, Vita (1892-1962); gardening correspondent
Papers of William Harman
WHA · Fonds · 1930-2001

Documents that relate to William Harman. They include a photograph, material for the Argus Press (printer of the Observer) and recollections written by Harman c2001.

Administrative/Biographical history: William (Bill) Harman joined the Argus Press Ltd, printers of the Observer, as a messenger in 1928 aged 14. He was trained as a compositor and became an overseer on The Observer composing floor. Harman served as a driver during the second world war and returned to work thereafter. He left the Observer in 1980.

 Harman; William (1916-2003); compositor for the Observer