Peter Opie early career, 1937-1948

File

MS. Opie 255

Held in our offsite storage facility

Personal papers, notes, correspondence and memorabilia relating to Peter Opie's early career, including:

Folder 1: Correspondence with literary agents and publishers. D.C. Benson Ltd, later D.C. Benson & Campbell Thomson Ltd, 1938-1948, including statements of royalties accounts and contract for a projected book 'Having Authority', 1943 (later published by Torchstream books as Having Held the Nettle); Michael Joseph Ltd, 1938-1939, including statements of royalties accounts and contract for I Want to Be a Success, 1938; Torchstream Books, 1945-1946; Wells Gardner, Darton & Co. Ltd, 1944-1947, including contract for The Case of Being a Young Man, 1944.
Folder 2: Correspondence with literary agencies, publishers, editors, journalists, and press cuttings and typewriting services, c.1937-1946, including Foyles Literary Luncheons, George Allen & Unwin Ltd, Lilliput Magazine (Kaye Webb), Mallison's Free-lancing Services, Alex McLachlan, Modern reading-Selected Writing (Reginald Moore).
Folder 3: Papers relating to military career, 1939-1941, including official forms and certificates, soldiers service and pay book, notes and correspondence, Army circulars, mess accounts, Army memorabilia such as writing paper. Also includes papers relating to the Royal Sussex Regiment War Memorial Fund and Regimental Association, 1945-1947.
Folder 4: Papers relating to work at the BBC, 1941-1942, mainly staff induction and training material, memoranda and circulars.
Folder 5: Papers relating to work for Todd Publishing Co. Ltd, 1944-1945, including a contract for a projected book (untitled), 1944.