Skip to main content

Archive of Kenneth Rose

 Collection

  • How to
    request

The archive comprises series of materials relating to Rose's family, education and early career; journals and diaries; correspondence; research files for publications and papers relating to lectures given by Rose; 'commonplace books' or general research files; inserts by Rose to books by other authors; Rose's newspaper columns and articles; photographs; and greetings cards, party invitations and related items.

Dates

  • Creation: 1653-2014

Extent

23.6 Linear metres (342 containers)

Language of Materials

  • English

Conditions Governing Access

Some material is closed.

Preferred Citation

Oxford, Bodleian Libraries [followed by shelfmark and folio or page reference, e.g. MS.11883/1].

Please see our help page for further guidance on citing archives and manuscripts.

Full range of shelfmarks:

MSS. 11883/1-341

Collection ID (for staff)

CMD ID 11883

Abstract

Correspondence and papers of Kenneth Vivian Rose (1924-2014), journalist and biographer.

Biographical / Historical

Kenneth Vivian Rose (1924–2014) was born in Bradford and educated at Repton School, Derbyshire. In 1942 he won a scholarship to New College, Oxford, where he read Modern History. During the war he served for a period with the Welsh Guards, returning to Oxford to resume his studies in 1945.

In 1946 Rose accepted a temporary post as a history master at Eton College. From 1948 to 1951, he worked for the British Council in Rome and Naples, and in 1952 he joined the The Daily Telegraph, to write the 'Peterborough' column. In 1961, as The Sunday Telegraph was established, he began writing the 'Albany at Large' column, which he continued until his retirement in 1997.

In addition to his writing for newspapers, Rose published a number of books, including biographies of George Nathaniel Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston, members of the Cecil family, Marquesses of Salisbury, King George V, and Victor Rothschild.

Rose was appointed as C.B.E. in 1997.

Further details are given in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.

Arrangement

The papers are arranged in series including materials relating to Rose's family, education and early career; journals and diaries; correspondence; research materials for publications; 'commonplace books' or general research files; newspaper columns and articles; and photographs.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Received as a bequest from the executors of Kenneth Rose in 2014.

Bibliography

Two volumes of the journals of Kenneth Rose have been published:
  • Thorpe, D.R. (ed.), Who's In, Who's Out: The Journals of Kenneth Rose, Volume One 1944-1979 (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2018)
  • Thorpe, D.R. (ed.), Who Loses, Who Wins: The Journals of Kenneth Rose, Volume Two 1979-2014 (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2019)
Title
Catalogue of the archive of Kenneth Rose
Status
Published
Author
Chrissie Webb
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Sponsor
Catalogued with the generous support of the estate of Kenneth Rose.
Edition statement
First edition.
Finding aid note
Cataloguing support provided by Carolyn Lewis and Frieda Hall Hickman.

Repository Details

Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository

Contact:
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom