Hector Bolitho, Papers, 1927-68

Inventory

Prepared for the WWW by Barbara Bass, March 11, 2002
2 slim document cases, .66 cu. ft., 11th floor

Biographical Sketch

Hector Bolitho (1897-1974) was a New Zealand native and the author of more than fifty books, largely nonfiction. He is best remembered as a biographer, especially for his tasteful treatment of the British royal family in Albert the Good and the Victorian Reign (1932); Albert, Prince Consort (1964); and The Reign of Queen Victoria (1948). One of his few novels, Judith Silver, also won critical acclaim in 1929. In addition to authoring books, Bolitho was a frequent contributor to magazines in England, the United States, Germany, Pakistan, and several other countries, and he lectured in the United States more than 100 times.

Scope and Content

This collection contains correspondence and manuscripts of Hector Bolitho. Also included are two scrapbooks and photographs. See individual item listings below for more details on contents. Additional information on the collection may be found in the Bibliographical File for Hector Bolitho and the manuscripts card catalogue. Materials are arranged chronologically.

Box 1

  1. Sir Alexander Nelson Hood, manuscripts.: 1924-1928 [11 letters and a postcard dated from 14 Dec. 1924 to 21 Feb. 1928 to Hector Bolitho]
  2. Millin, Sarah to H. Bolitho: Jan. 18, 1927
  3. Millin, Sarah to H. Bolitho: July 7, 1927
  4. Bolitho, Hector: Albert the Good [typescript, signed, with corrections throughout]: 1931
  5. Millin, Sarah Gertrude to Hector Bolitho: Sept. 12, 1932
  6. Markham, Violet R. to Hector Bolitho: May 20, 1935
  7. Markham, Violet R. to Hector Bolitho: May 24, 1935
  8. Sitwell, Edith to Hector Bolitho: Aug. 14, 1935
  9. Sitwell, Edith to Hector Bolitho: 1935
  10. Bolitho, Hector to A. L. Rowse: Mar. 5, 1945
  11. Rowse, A. L. to Hector Bolitho: Apr. 19, 1945
  12. Nicholls, N. O. to Hector Bolitho: Mar. 15, 1948
  13. Millin, S. G. to Hector Bolitho: June 17, 1955
  14. Bolitho: The Wine of Douro: 1956
  15. Bolitho: The First Royal Tour of Australia and New Zealand, manuscript, signed: 1968 [This account of Prince Alfred's tour was made from documents in the Archives of Windsor Castle. Accompanying the manuscript is a transcription of 15 letters, mostly from Lieu. A. B. Haig to Queen Victoria, describing the tour.]
  16. Bolitho: Mrs. Roosevelt, Queen Mary and Others: Some Notes from My Diary, manuscript: 1968 [The manuscript includes two original signed letters from Eleanor Roosevelt to Bolitho; photocopies of three signed letters from Winston Churchill to Franklin D. Roosevelt; brochures on Hyde Park and the Roosevelt Library; articles by Herbert Agar and Jo Grimand; and some photographs.]
  17. Rowse, A. L. to Hector Bolitho: Feb. 16, n.y.
  18. Victorian album: n.d. [Contents include poems, pictures of all kinds, and cards. Not all leaves have been used.]

Box 2

  1. List of contents of scrapbook [item 2, below]: 1932
  2. Letters--Prince Consort, Scrapbook: 1932 [contains letters, some from members of the Royal Family, regarding Bolitho's book Albert the Good; also included are some photographs]

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