Sub-series 1 - General correspondence

Identity area

Reference code

OBS/1/2/2/3/1

Title

General correspondence

Date(s)

  • 1929-1987 (Creation)

Level of description

Sub-series

Extent and medium

88 folders

Context area

Archival history

Content and structure area

Scope and content

General correspondence of Tristan Jones and Roger Harrison and various individuals and organisations.

Includes correspondence with potential, current or former employees of the Observer, Observer Trustees, neighbouring businesses, tenants and agents, advertisers and advertising agents and local and international business acquaintances concerning: former important figures in the Observer's history (mostly by Tristan Jones); invitations and responses to events held by the Observer and other organisations; service agreements and contracts; membership information and invoices from associations and societies (including subscriptions to magazines and newsletters); sympathy letters to employees or relatives of employees on accidents and death, and in memoriam donations; legal matters including libel reports, summons, statements and correspondence with solicitors; published or advertising material of associations, contractors and consultants; reports or comments on the Observer and other papers prepared by consultants and employees and agreements and contracts with publishers for serial and other rights to books and publications.

Personnel records are not included in the correspondence but there are several copies of confirmation of employment, contracts and salary increase details probably sent to the Managing Director's office for his information. From 1974-1976 there are several copies of the "Engagement of new employee" form which provides basic details of those starting employment.

The material is written by John Berridge, Tristan Jones and Roger Harrison and also their colleagues, either directly discussing the individual or organisation in question or writing to that individual or organisation with a copy to management.

The material was filed by the offices of Tristan Jones and Roger Harrison. It can be assumed that Roger Harrison's office inherited much of the Tristan Jones' material which, in turn, was inherited from John Berridge, general manager before Jones. Very little of the material predates Tristan Jones' office as general manager.

The groups of letters range from a single memorandum to a large range of letters and related material.

This series appears to be incomplete.

Creator: The Observer Limited; Managing Director's Office; Roger Harrison

Accruals

System of arrangement

Alphabetically, chronologically

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Some of this material may be closed for Data Protection reasons.

Conditions governing reproduction

Language of material

    Script of material

      Access Status

      Open(part)

      Closed until

      Allied materials area

      Existence and location of originals

      Existence and location of copies

      Related units of description

      Related descriptions

      Notes area

      Alternative identifier(s)

      Access points

      Place access points

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      Description control area

      Status

      Catalogued

      Level of detail

      Language(s)

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          Sources

          Accession area