DM1819
Sir Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
This collection was deposited in March 1998, and is the contents of three filing cabinets originally housed in
Sir Allen Lane’s office at Penguin headquarters.
Box 1
DM1819/1/1
Staff management, 1937-1965:
1937-1965
Correspondence between Sir Peter Chalmers Mitchell and Penguin Books
Ltd. (Allen Lane, Eunice Frost), 30 April 1937-5 September 1938. Includes
request to Mitchell to join the Pelican editorial committee; publication of
Mitchell’s The Childhood of Animals (Pelican, A65); discussion of titles to
include in the Pelican series; Mitchell’s suggestion that Penguin should
publish a collection of extracts from Hitler’s Mein Kampf and later
speeches, with statements from other Nazi leaders; decision to publish the
Duchess of Atholl’s Searchlight on Spain (Penguin Special S4).
Draft contact between Penguin Books Ltd. and D. Kilham Roberts, n.d.
[c.1938].
General report [by Richard Lane for John Lane?], n.d. [c.1939/1940].
Gives account of what has happened to the business during the last year,
including the formation of the Pelican Committee and plans for the series;
the yellow Miscellaneous Penguin series; relations with publishers, authors
and agents; the quality and availability of paper; the discontinuation of the
staff bonus scheme; the issue of staff joining territorial units; new
machinery in the Accounts Department; the need for improved cooperation
between the office and the travelers; staff changes in the Production
Department (E.P.Y [Edward Young] is in charge of Progress, layout, jacket
design, design for advertising pieces; Maynard deals with reprints,
collecting blurbs and proof reading; Schurr maintains press relations,
reading new material, especially Specials for the press; Miss Carter deals
with press cuttings and correspondence and answers routine editorial
correspondence for Miss Frost); Joubert has been dismissed from the Export
Department; the old Bedford van has been replaced by an Austin van; a
series of burgularies; auditors; the need for business lunches and
entertaining clients; Penguin Guides series; trouble with “the colour books”;
USA; bookcases being a non-profit line that should be discontinued; the
expense of producing Penguins Progress and the need to reduce publicity
expenditure to this, the yellow lists, posters and the occasional stands; and
that the “Penguin Club” should be stopped.
Report [by Richard Lane] to [Allen Lane] on what Penguin’s policy should
be for the next few years, 27 November 1945. Mentions the problems
facing Penguin, including the death of John Lane; the business in South
America, New York, Egypt, India, Australia, New Zealand and South
Africa; Allen Lane’s long absences from the office, his integral role in the
firm, and his need to be more organized; taking on too many long-term
commitments (the Pelican History of Art, Chopping’s Flower Project,
Classics, illustrated atlases, publishing in foreign countries and languages,
architectural guides, Pevsner’s itineraries and colour books, the fashion
magazine, photographic quarterly).
Part of a letter [from Richard Lane to Allen Lane] concerning issues at
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
1
Penguin, n.d. [5 August 1947]. Mentions Jan Tschichold’s very poor
English and his redesign of a cover for the prints and the Powers-Samas
stationery and suggests that he is made head of the Production Department;
MacLean has upset quite a lot of the Puffin printers; sales of Penguin books
in Australia, Denmark and Brazil; Glover’s blurbs; the need to define
accurately everyone’s position in the firm, particularly in the Production
and Editorial Departments; the need for Allen and Richard to perform their
role as directors and not to get distracted by non-important work; would like
to concentrate on producing bound edition of our best Pelicans and throw
away the Things we See series; would like to drop Bonnier’s Italian Atlas;
recommends publishing all of George Bernard Shaw’s plays; thinks they
should invest in binding equipment.
Memorandum from A.S.B. Glover to J.O, J.T, E.F, J.P, 27 September
[1947]. Allen Lane would like the price on Pelican and Penguin covers to
be centred under the bird device and the words ‘complete and unabridged’
on all Pelicans and Penguins where appropriate; and the titles of books
advertised in end pages to be printed in a larger type.
Letter from A.S.B. Glover to Allen Lane, 1 June 1951. Glover is concerned
that due to the recent introduction of a group of young people “of a
somewhat higher educational and cultural status than of old” (mentions
David Herbert, Collings, Watts, Lechmere, Quigly, Jane McCracken,
Whitelaw) that they need to consider their career progression, involving
them more with decision making and letting them know what is going on
within the firm (mentions Mr Gale’s joining the firm), and using them as a
sample section of the “Penguin-conscious general population” because
“they represent the very class to whom we are trying to appeal: the
intelligent younger generation”.
Letter from A.S.B. Glover to Allen Lane, 27 October 1951. Glover relays
to Lane some thoughts on the current situation at Penguin Books Ltd.
Mentions that the younger staff feel left out (mentions Miss Watts going to
work for the BBC) due to the strong personalities and “urge for power” of
Eunice Frost, John Overton and Hans Schmoller and that none of them are
“very tactful or psychologically penetrating in their method of dealing with
other people, particularly their subordinates”; working hours and holidays
and that junior editorial and production staff are working longer hours than
in other publishing houses; the annual Portman Square exhibition; the
expense of producing Penguin’s Progress and that it needs to address a
wider audience (adding that Allen Lane, Bill Williams, Eunice Frost, Alan
Glover and Hans Schmoller should start each day by saying collectively:
“Please, God, let us always remember that we are not really representative
human beings”); proposes that Lane should write a report for inclusion in
each issue of ‘Penguin Home Notes; suggests that all staff meetings should
be held on the same day.
Memorandum [from the ‘front office’ staff] on staff arrangements, 5
December 1954. States that following unsuccessful attempts to replace
Miss Swan that there needs to be an improvement in working conditions for
the ‘front office’ staff in the areas of hours of work, holidays and pay. He
adds “these conditions are, unavoidably getting more widely known outside
the firm; and they create the impression that Penguins are produced by
sweated labour. This accusation, when made, is very difficult honestly to
rebut.” Includes a table giving the hours worked and holiday allowance at
Oxford University Press, Routledge, Faber, Collins, Chatto, Hart-Davies
and Cassell.
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
2
Two letters from A.S.B. Glover to Allen Lane, 26 and 30 March 1958.
Glover offers his resignation following Curtis’s appointment to Junior
Pelicans without Glover having been consulted.
A transcript of the orations given for Sir Alan Lascelles, M. Jean Monnet,
General Lauris Norstad, Professor Bernhard Bischoff, Oskar Kokoschka
and Sir Allen Lane at the honorary degree ceremony held at the University
of Oxford on 26 June 1963.
A.G.’s report on trip to Australia, 25 March 1965.
DM1819/1/2
General correspondence with Allen Lane, 1949-1971:
1949-1971
Correspondence between Allen Lane and Professor Aubrey Lewis
concerning helping David Glass on a sociology series and Dr H.J. Eysenck
on a psychology series, 5 July-12 August 1949.
Letter from the Joint General Manager, Martin’s Bank Ltd. to Sir Allen
Lane concerning Lane’s picture in ‘Man of the Month’, 30 August 1954.
Letter from Eleanor Graham to Allen Lane at the end of her twenty years
editorship of the Puffin series, 5 December 1960. Graham recounts words
of praise she received for Puffin books at the Children’s Book Fair and sets
out her creed that “Every book provided for them should have the
authenticity and integrity to give them something worth keeping. And
specially should they offer a true picture of ordinary life as it is lived, as
they will encounter it, with true and reliable pictures of adults as well as of
children – a reliable picture of what the fairy tales call ‘the way of the
world’”.
Correspondence between ‘Jack’ (B. Sercombe Smith) and Allen Lane, 2, 3
February 1961. Smith heard Lane’s radio interview on the Home Service
and remembered the early days of Penguin when they met to discuss titles.
Lane agrees with Smith’s decision not to send Christmas cards but adds that
he hopes to continue sending Christmas books.
Correspondence between Nicholas Sandys and Allen Lane concerning
sailing, 20 February-1 March 1961.
Correspondence between Alicia Markova (Sunday Ballet Club) and Sir
Allen Lane concerning a donation to the Sunday Ballet Club, 4-13 October
1961.
Correspondence concerning a lunch at the Garrick Club organized by Sir
Allen Lane to celebrate Martin Secker’s 83rd birthday, 2 April-16 June
1965. Correspondents include John Betjeman, Rupert Hart-Davis, Sir
Compton Mackenzie, V.S. Pritchett, Martin Secker, Frank Swinnerton and
Stanley Unwin.
Correspondence between L.J. Walton (Martins Bank Ltd.) and Sir Allen
Lane concerning an article by Doina Thomas in Management Today about
“the recent shake-up”, 11-18 August 1967. Lane states that things have
now settled down and that morale has improved. Mentions that the
Churchills’ book on the Six-Day War has sold out its first printing of
75,000 copies on publication.
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
3
Letter from John Thompson (editor, The Observer) to Sir Allen Lane, 22
February 1968. Thompson informs Lane that he has been nominated by
The Observer as one of the most influential people in Britain and asks for
the names of the ten people considers exert the most influence on the
quality of contemporary life in Britain. Attached is a copy of Lane’s list
which includes the names of Lord Sieff, Sir Robin Darwin, Sir Gordon
Russell, Nikolaus Pevsner, Sir Hugh Casson [crossed out], Alec Issigonis,
Malcolm Muggeridge, Richard Hoggart, The Royal Shakespeare Company,
The Beatles, and the inventor of the mini skirt.
Correspondence between Mrs May E. West and Sir Allen Lane concerning
her family printing works in Mitcham, 20-30 January 1969.
Letter from ‘T.K’ [Tanya Schmoller] to ‘Dear Penguins’ on her retirement,
1 May 1971.
DM1819/1/3
Penguin Illustrated Classics [C]:
[First ten titles issued in May 1938. The editor was G.B. Harrison and the
art editor was Robert Gibbings.]
1938
Correspondence between Robert Gibbings and Edward Young, John Lane
and Allen Lane (Penguin Books Ltd.), concerning the first ten volumes of
the Penguin Illustrated Classics series, 8 January 1938-31 December 1938.
Gibbings also mentions Blue Angels and Whales [Pelican Special S16],
proposed trips to the Red Sea and the Great Barrier reef, a humorous
suggestion for a book about the Great Barrier reef entitled Blue Sharks and
Shrimps, and Pride and Prejudice (C1).
Also includes letters of acceptance to a launch party on 18 May 1938 to
meet the artists of the Penguin Illustrated Classics, with letters of
acceptance from J. Anthony Betts (School of Arts, University of Reading),
John R. Biggs, Helen Binyon, W. Horsfall Carter, Tom Clarke (University
of London King’s College), W.N. Connor (The Daily Mirror),
Alfred Fairbank, R. Fishenden, Eleanor Graham, Dr. G.B. Harrison, Blair
Hughes-Stanton, H.N. Heywood (Allied Newspapers Ltd.), Eric King, Clare
Leighton, Agnes Miller Parker (with a sketch of penguins on the envelope),
Professor Eileen Parver, Mr & Mrs Prescott, Herbert Read, Mr & Mrs
Edmond Seagrave, Mr & Mrs James Shand (Shenval Press), Leon
Underwood, Beatrice Warde, and Mr W.E. Williams (The British Institute
of Adult Education).
(42 docs)
DM1819/1/4
A.S.B. Glover, 1946-1966:
1946-1966
Correspondence and memorandums from A.S.B. Glover, 1946-1966.
Includes reference to the proposed publication in the USA of Homer’s
Odyssey, 1946; possible titles for inclusion in the Classics and other series
and reprints; regularization of the use of the words ‘new edition’ and
‘reprint’, 1950; bound editions, 1952; proposed publication in the USA of
E.V. Rieu’s The Four Gospels, 1953; commissioning Kenneth Allott for An
Anthology of English Prose, 1953; the West African series, 1953; estimate
of costs of Noel Carrington’s Zoo Penguins scheme, 1956; the Universal
Copyright Convention and the use of the copyright symbol on every
Penguin book published after 27 September 1957; the closure of Penguin’s
Southport depot, 1957; a discussion about the colour of the jacket for a
translation from Buddhist scriptions, 1957; surprise following the marriage
of Eunice Frost to Harry Kemp, 1957; publication of The Penguin Book of
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
4
New Zealand Verse and The Penguin Book of Australian Verse, 1957; the
preparation of roughs by Miss Wilson for a proposed new standardized
Puffin cover and Eleanor Graham’s concern that it had been decided that
she should no longer have a hand in illustrations and production of Puffin,
1958; B.L. Joseph’s draft introduction to Elizabethan Acting; whether to
publish Lady Chatterley’s Lover in expurgated or unexpurgated form, 1959;
a letter from Janet Glover following Alan Glover’s death, 1966.
Other correspondents include Allen Curnow, Eunice Frost, R. Gilmour,
Janet Glover, Vanessa Jebb (Messrs. Andre Deutsch), Bertram Joseph,
Allen Lane, F.G. Lord (Penguin’s Southport Depot), P. Metcalf, John
O’Donnell (High King of Ireland, Prince of Tirconnall, Eire and the Isles,
High King of Ireland, Spain, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany, Egypt,
Islands in the Mediterranean and Scythia), Robert E. Patterson, H.F.
Paroissien, E.V. Rieu, Hans Schmoller, Mrs Barry Stevens, John
Thompson, Victor Weybright (Penguin Books Inc.).
Includes a memorandum on Penguin house style (quotation marks, use of
hyphens, ligatured letters, spelling, Italian and Spanish ‘yes’, foreign
names, dates, legibility), 23 October 1958; a memorandum on Penguin
house style for bibliographical references in footnotes and book lists, and
the use of roman and Arabic numbers, n.d.; A.S.B. Glover’s report on the
translation of the New Testament submitted by Norman Anderson.
DM1819/1/5
Penguin Inc., USA: ‘America 1958’:
1958
Correspondence between Harry Paroissien and Allen Lane concerning
Penguin in America.
Box 2
DM1819/2/1
‘Education’:
1964
Two memoranda concerning the Penguin Primary Project, n.d.; and Penguin
educational publishing up to 1970, 1964.
DM1819/2/2
‘Penguin Books in America: early years’:
June 1946
Copy letter from Victor Weybright to Allen Lane and Richard Lane, and
Eunice Frost concerning Penguin operations in the USA, including list of
proposed books.
DM1819/2/3
Penguin Inc., USA: ‘America 1956’:
1956
Correspondence between Harry Paroissien and Allen Lane concerning
Penguin in America.
DM1819/2/4
Penguin Inc., USA: ‘America 1957’:
1957
Correspondence between Harry Paroissien and Allen Lane concerning
Penguin in America.
DM1819/2/5
Penguin Inc., USA: ‘America 1959’:
1959
Correspondence between Harry Paroissien and Allen Lane concerning
Penguin in America.
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
5
Box 3
DM1819/3/1
‘George Bernard Shaw’:
1938-1957
Correspondence from Penguin to George Bernard Shaw and others
concerning rights and publication of Shaw’s books, 1941-1957.
Correspondence with Feliks Topolski concerning illustrations for 90th
birthday editions of Shaw’s work, 1938-47.
DM1819/3/2
‘Sir Allen’s Letters’:
1941-1971
Correspondence between Allen Lane and Denys Kilham Roberts, 7
February 1941-10 December 1952. Concerning Penguin Parade, Donne to
Dryden anthology, Straw in the Hair, a scheme for a Penguin Review
(incorporating Penguin Parade and Penguin New Writing), publishing
Rosamond Lehmann’s works in America, a proposed book for the Forces,
publishing Conan Doyle, The Centuries’ Poetry, and Bridges to the Present
Day.
Correspondence between Max Reinhardt (Managing Director, The Bodley
Head) and Eunice Frost and Anthony Godwin (Penguin Books Ltd.), 16
December 1958-12 January 1961. Concerning The Bodley Head’s plans to
republish Ulysses, with promises to save it for Penguin’s 50th anniversary,
and Crosbie Garstin’s Owl’s House, High Noon and The West Wind.
Correspondence between Prof. James G. Nelson (University of Wisconsin)
and Mrs. Hans Schmoller (Penguin Books Ltd.), 9-17 May 1970. Nelson
requests permission to quote from John Lane’s letters in his forthcoming
book, The Early Nineties: A View from the Bodley Head.
Correspondence between Sir Robert Aitken (Vice-Chancellor, University of
Birmingham) and Allen Lane, 8-10 May 1963. Aitken asks Lane to accept
the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from the University of Birmingham
on 24 April 1964.
English translation of the address made at a ceremony held on 26 June 1963
at the University of Oxford when Sir Allen Lane was awarded an Honorary
Degree of Doctor of Letters, with covering letter and copy of the address in
Latin.
Correspondence between Sir John Wolfenden (Vice-Chancellor, University
of Reading) and Sir Allen Lane, 26 September-3 October 1963. Wolfenden
asks Lane to accept the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters from the
University of Reading on 15 May 1964.
Correspondence between A.H. Reynolds (Management Consultant) and Sir
Allen Lane (Windsor Hospital), 12-15 March 1960. Concerning Reynolds’
proposal to add Geoffrey Crowther to Penguin’s management committee in
order to remedy the unhappy atmosphere at Penguin. Lane proposes adding
two people to cover export and publicity, and adds that following his time
in hospital he will not be returning to the office for two or three months.
Correspondence between Aidan Crawley (M.P.) and Sir Allen Lane, 20
October-23 November 1966. Crawley asks Lane to join a Syndicate to bid
for a licence to run a commercial television station. Lane declines the offer.
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
6
Letter from Sir Allen Lane to Eunice Frost, 25 November 1953. Lane
informs Frost that he is having a lovely time in Copenhagen. He mentions
his plans to publish an atlas for Penguin’s 21st anniversary, republishing A
Pocket Library of Great Art, Ruth Moore’s Man Time and Fossils, Ray
Bradbury as an author of science fiction, Dr Spock’s Baby and Child Care,
Carson and Culler, Anthony Powell’s Angels and Patience and Venusberg,
and meeting John Lehmann in Copenhagen.
Letter and postcard to June Pipe (Penguin Books Ltd.) from Allen Lane in
Australia, 4 March [1953?] and undated.
I.C. Dickson’s recommendations for the future of Penguin Books Pty. Ltd.
(Australia), 17 December 1964.
Correspondence between Allen Lane, Richard Lane and Leslie Paisner, 19
June 1961-14 August 1970. Concerning the flotation of shares in the
company; Richard Lane’s future role in the company; and a list of items that
Richard Lane would like, following Allen Lane’s death, from Priory Farm,
Chapmansford, Silverbeck and Whitehall Court.
Correspondence between Mrs. Betty Harte (caretaker of Allen Lane’s
house, The Warren, Rosscarbery, Co. Cork), Tanya Schmoller and Oliver
Davies, January 1971. Concerning Allen Lane’s death and the possible sale
of The Warren in Rosscarbery, County Cork.
Sale particulars for the sale (by order of the executors of Sir Allen Lane,
deceased) of the freehold agricultural and sporting estate known as
Chapmansford with Lower Wyke Farm, Whitchurch, Hampshire
(comprising 974.804 acres). To be sold by John German & Son at the Star
and Garter Hotel, Andover on 16 April 1971. The sale comprised:
Chapmansford Farm, The Lodge, Chapmansford Cottage, Spratts Down
Villa, and Spratts Down Cottage in Hurstbourne Priors; Lower Wyke Farm
and Lower Wyke Cottages in St Mary Bourne; unused cottages and 700
yards of double-bank fishing along the River Bourne. With a note that Sir
Allen Lane purchased Chapmansford Farm in 1965 and the adjoining
Lower Wyke Farm three years later. Includes photographs and maps of the
estate.
DM1819/3/3
‘Things we See: Fairclough’[E/0703]:
1946-1947
Correspondence between A.S.B. Glover and A.B.R. Fairclough (Council of
Industrial Design) concerning the ‘Things we See’ series, 25 January 194630 December 1947. With aims of the series and draft list of current and
proposed titles.
DM1819/3/4
‘Caribbean Educational Venture’:
1964-1968
Papers relating to Caribbean Educational Publications Ltd, a venture to
publish textbooks for the Caribbean, in which Allen Lane was involved.
DM1819/3/5
‘Houghton Mifflin 1961/2’:
1961-1962,
1964
Correspondence and papers concerning an agreement between Penguin
Books Inc., USA, and Houghton Mifflin, over distribution and sales rights
for Penguins in the USA.
Also notes on extension at Harmondsworth, 1964.
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
7
DM1819/3/6
‘West Drayton: Penguin Warehousing and Distribution Ltd.’:
1947, 1963
Papers concerning property at West Drayton.
DM1819/3/7
‘Film Review’ [FR]:
1946
Correspondence between Allen Lane, Dr Roger Manvell (Executive Editor
of Film Review), Herbert F. Margolis [Fredric Marlowe], and Victor [?]
concerning the Film Review series, 1 January-26 November 1946. With
draft contract letter for ‘Film Review’ articles; report on Penguin Film
Review editorial held 23 September 1946; plan for financial set-up of the
Penguin Film Review; specimen pages for Penguin Limited in connection
with “Hue and Cry”, Hazell, Watson and Viney Ltd.
Box 4
DM1819/4
‘Penguin Books Inc. 1946-55’:
1946-1955
Correspondence between Harry Paroissien and Allen Lane concerning
Penguin in America; including appointment of Harry Paroissien, and visit
by Paroissien to Australia in 1955 to look at operations there.
Box 5
DM1819/5/1
‘Nuffield Foundation’:
1962-1966
Agreements between Penguin, Longmans, and the Nuffield Foundation to
publish science books for ‘O’ and ‘A’ level students.
DM1819/5/2
‘Penguin Books Australia Ltd., Early History’:
1950-1955,
1963-1965
Papers relating to Penguin Books Pty Ltd., Australia, including discussion
of staff members, and visit by Harry Paroissien in 1955.
DM1819/5/3
‘Penguin Books Africa 1954’:
1953-1956
Correspondence with Edwin Lambert concerning Penguin in South Africa,
1953-1956.
Correspondence between Harry Paroissien and Allen Lane concerning
Penguin in America, 1954
DM1819/5/4
‘Houghton Mifflin’:
1962-1963
Papers relating to links between Penguin and Houghton Mifflin in the USA.
DM1819/5/5
‘Penguins Canada’:
1946,
1953-1957
Papers relating to Penguin Books (Canada) Ltd., including correspondence
between Peter Kite and Allen Lane. 1946, 1953-1957.
Also includes visit by Peter Kite to New Zealand and Australia, 1953-1954.
Box 6
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
8
DM1819/6/1
Ledger Book:
Dec 1935 –
Jan 1937
Penguin Ledger Book, December 1935-January 1937.
Covers advertising, authors’ royalties, accountancy charges, bills payable,
Ronald Boswell, bills receivable, Bedford Commercial Van (CUL 816),
Carriage, Croft Commercial Van (AAK 747), commission, Commissioners
Inland Revenue, discounts, depreciation, doubtful debts reserve, furniture,
general expenses, gratuities, interest account, insurance, Income Tax, John
W. Lane, R.G.W. Lane, Allen Lane, John Lane the Bodley Head, lighting
and heating, legal charges, motor expenses, Morris eight saloon car (DMU
183), press advertising, publicity, purchases, packing materials, plant and
sundry equipment, profit and loss on exchange, royalties, rent, reserve for
doubtful debts, reserve for amounts unrecoverable, sales account,
stationery, salaries and wages, share capital, stock and work in progress,
staff bonus. Includes a cancelled Martins Bank Ltd. cheque from Allen
Lane, Director of Penguin Books Ltd., to Leonard Woolf for £5, dated 22
April 1936.
DM1819/6/2
Appointments Diary: possibly kept by Allen Lane’s secretary.
1965
DM1819/6/3
Appointments Diary: possibly kept by Allen Lane’s secretary.
1966
DM1819/6/4
Appointments Diary: possibly kept by Allen Lane’s secretary.
1967
DM1819/6/5
Appointments Diary: possibly kept by Allen Lane’s secretary.
1968
DM1819/6/6
Penguins Progress: 1935-1960 [Q25], published on the 25th Anniversary of
Penguin Books.
1960
DM1819/6/7
The World of Penguin: the Publisher’s Complete Catalogue, ISBN 0 14
087.002 4
1984
DM1819/7/1
Correspondence with Dr. Glyn Daniel, St. John’s College, Cambridge,
advisory editor on archaeological matters to Penguin, includes discussion of
fees.
1972-1974
DM1819/7/2
Correspondence with Dr. Moses Findley, Jesus College, Cambridge,
advisory editor on Pelican Classics, includes discussion of fees.
1968-1974
DM1819/7/3
Correspondence with Dr. Oswyn Murray, Balliol College, Oxford, advisory
editor on ancient history to Penguin, includes discussion of fees, and
mention of Moses Finley.
1971-1974
DM1819/7/4
Correspondence with Professor J.H. Plumb, Christ’s College, Cambridge,
advisory editor on history to Penguin, includes discussion of fees.
1972-1974
DM1819/7/5
Correspondence with Betty Radice concerning Penguin Classics [L/044].
1968-1976
DM1819/7/6
Correspondence with David Shapiro, Brunel University, advisory editor on
Soviet Union affairs and social sciences to Penguin.
1965-1974
Box 7
Box 8
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
9
DM1819/8/1
Telephone book containing external telephone numbers, labelled
‘Harmondsworth Phone Book’, possibly belonged to John Rolfe.
n.d.
DM1819/8/2
Peregrine Books [Y/055]:
1961-1962
Letters from academics commenting on the new series of Peregrine Books,
and invitations to a launch party on 10 Jan. 1962.
DM1819/8/3
Pelican History of Art Series [Z/0560]:
1966-1977
Correspondence, including sales figures and supplies.
DM1819/8/4
Penguin Australia:
1962-1964
Correspondence between Allen Lane and Penguin Books Pty Ltd.,
Australia, including accounts, discussion of staff, and educational books.
Box 9
DM 1819/9
Unknown notes labelled ‘Bristol/Editorial Filing Boxes 1-38’.
n.d.
Penguin in Brazil:
1945-1951
Box 10
DM1819/10/1
Papers relating to activities by Penguin in Brazil including negotiations with
Celso da Rocha Miranda over Editoria Distribuidora Penguin Limitada,
accounts, legal correspondence, contract, and visit by Tatyana Kent to
investigate affairs, 1948.
DM1819/10/2
Letter from Allen Lane (written on Ch. Vairron & Cie., Paris headed
notepaper) to Mr. Crocket, 16 October 1924. Lane mentions that Anatole
France’s body had been brought to Paris and that tomorrow Madame Lion
and Aveline are taking him to the Villa Said to see the lying in state and that
they are arranging for him to have a ticket for the speeches. Platforms and
stands are being erected outside France’s birthplace and where the cortege
will be stopping.
1924-1971
Typescript; ‘Not Wages – an Agreed Share’ by E. Symes Bond, The Vase
Press Ltd. [for Penguins Progress, 1949?].
Deed of cancellation of an agreement originally made between Sir Allen
Lane and Richard Lane on 21 May 1942, dated 9 June 1955.
Letter from Hans Schmoller, West Drayton, to Allen Lane at the Hôtel
Boudie, Carennac, France, 15 July 1960. Schmoller informs Lane of a
rumour that Sir Theobald Mathew, Public Prosecutor, intends to prosecute
Penguin for publishing Lady Chatterley’s Lover. He suggests they
reconsider the plan to send copies of the book to the Public Prosecutor a
week before publication, as Weidenfeld did with Lolita. Also mentions
difficulties surrounding the printing of Kenneth Clark’s The Nude.
Letters from Allen Lane to Tanya Kent and other secretaries at Penguin
Books Ltd. making arrangements (personal and Penguin-related) whilst
Allen Lane is abroad, 1959-1967.
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
10
Letters from Tanya Kent to Allen Lane (personal and Penguin-related),
1965.
Letter from Richard Lane, Victoria, Australia, to T.K. [Tanya Schmoller],
17 February 1971. Lane apologises for not being able to identify the people
in the photograph Tanya sent him, but thinks one of the men may have
served with Allen Lane in the Essex Artillery. He regrets he hasn’t yet
started work on his reminiscences, but Elizabeth will send Tanya a copy of
her thesis.
DM1819/10/3
Transcripts of radio and television broadcasts by Allen Lane and others
discussing Penguin Books:
1940-1967
‘Close-up: Agatha Christie’, n.d. – transcript of an interview with Sir Allen
Lane concerning his business and personal relationship with Agatha
Christie.
‘Saturday Afternoon’, n.d. [c.1940?] – transcript of an interview by F.H.G.
with Allen Lane.
‘Answering You’, no.88, BBC radio, 25 March 1943 – notes for speakers:
Ben Hecht, William March, Cyril Connolly, Allen Lane, Captain Anthony
Cotterell, Cecil Day Lewis, Alistair Cooke and Mary Adams; and transcript
of discussion.
‘Off the Syllabus: Publishing Books’, BBC Home Service (schools), 25
November 1947 – transcript of radio programme, including short interview
with Allen Lane.
General News Talk, European Service: ‘A Thousand Penguins’ by Arthur
Calder Marshall, 29 July 1954 – transcript of radio feature concerning the
19th anniversary of Penguin Books.
‘Frankly Speaking’, BBC Home Service, 1 February 1961 – transcript of an
interview by George Scott, Margaret Lane and Walter Allen with Sir Allen
Lane.
‘The Paperback Revolution’, BBC Home Service, 8 June 1965 – request to
Allen Lane to take part in a discussion.
‘Let’s find out: Quest Celebrity’, BBC Home Service, 3 March 1966 –
request to Sir Allen Lane to take part in a radio programme, 3 March 1966.
‘Insert for Outlook: Paperback books – interview with John Poulter’, BBC
World Service, 3 August 1966 – request to Sir Allen Lane to take part in a
radio interview.
‘Twenty Four Hours’, BBC Television Film (talks), 28 April 1967 – request
to Sir Allen Lane to take part in a filmed interview with Fyfe Robertson on
Penguin hardbacks.
‘In at the Start: The Paperback Revolution’, BBC talks (live or recorded), 18
April 1967 – request to Sir Allen Lane to take part in an interview.
‘This Week: Gore Vidal’, London ITV, 24 October 1966 – transcript of a
discussion with Sir Allen Lane, Clarence Padgett, Pat Newman, Gareth
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
11
Powell, Peter Williams, Gore Vidal, Andre Deutsch, Norman Bogner,
Hammond Innes.
‘Braden Beat: Penguin Book Covers’, ITV, 29 October 1966 – transcript of
feature by Bernard Braden.
‘World of Books: Wish You Were Here’, BBC Home Service, 1 November
1966 – transcript of a programme introduced by Stuart Hood and including
contributions from Pierre Norden, Stephen Potter, John Betjeman, Vernon
Scannell.
‘Book Programme: Penguin Books in mid-1967’, BBC European Service,
30 May 1967 – transcript of a programme with Christopher Marsden,
Jeremy Bennett, Sir Allen Lane, Dieter Pevsner, Hans Schmoller.
‘In at the Start, no.5: The Paperback Revolution’, 18 April 1967 – transcript
of an interview by Michael Sumner with Sir Allen Lane.
DM1819/10/4
Allen Lane The Penguin Press [AL/07139]:
1965-1984
Correspondence concerning the establishment in 1967 of Allen Lane The
Penguin Press as a hardback series and its change to The Viking Press in
1981; report, 1967-1968; correspondence concerning the publishing of
Akenfield by Ronald Blythe, 1965-1969; stock lists, Spring 1967, Autumn
1967, Spring 1968, January-July 1972.
DM1819/10/5
Siné Massacre by Siné, [Penguin 2553, November 1966]:
1965-1968
Letters of complaint concerning the publication of this book, 1966.
Correspondence to Alan Aldridge concerning his appointment as Fiction Art
Director, and subsequent resignation, 1965-68. Includes discussion of cover
design.
DM1819/10/6
New Writing Series [NW]:
1965-1975
Correspondence between John Lehmann and Allen Lane concerning the end
of the series, 1965; with newspaper cuttings of articles on the series, 1970s.
DM1819/10/7
‘Property: Office’:
1962
Building Preservation Order for Bedford Square, nos.6-10 Bayley Street, 115 (odd), 2-20 (even) Gower Street, 1 & 2 Montague Place, 24-60 (even)
Bloomsbury Street, Holbourn, London. With map.
DM1819/10/8
Filofax folder issued by Armstrong Whitworth & Co. Ltd., 1940.
1935-1940
Contains summary draft accounts for Penguin Books [kept by Allen Lane?].
Includes list of monthly credit from 1936 to 1940; overdraft facilities from
1937-1940; comparative rates per page of Purnell, Hazell, Wyman, Clay,
Clowes, and Hunt Barnard; monthly income from 1936 to 1940; the
numbers of books in each series published by Penguin between 1935 and
1939; lists of Penguin book titles nos.1-285, Pelican nos.A1-A70, Penguin
Shakespeare nos.B1-B18, Penguin Illustrated Classics nos.C1-C10, Penguin
Parade nos.1-7, Penguin Guides nos. G1-G6, Penguin Specials nos.S1-S60,
with publication dates.
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
12
Box 11
DM1819/11/1
George Bernard Shaw:
1937-1950
Correspondence between George Bernard Shaw, Penguin, Shaw’s secretary,
and others concerning publishing Shaw’s books.
DM1819/11/2
Royal College of Art:
1960-1964
Correspondence between Allen Lane and Sir Robin Darwin of the Royal
College of Art concerning an appeal for funds. Also general discussions of
their work, and a printed letter (with illustrations) by Edward Ardizzone to
‘Hans’ [Schmoller?] concerning a wine tour in Germany, n.d.
DM1819/11/3
Correspondence between W.R.T. Whatmore of Peat Marwick Mitchell &
Co. and Allen Lane concerning financial matters relating to Penguin,
including share issues.
1955-1959
DM1819/11/4
Correspondence between Harry Paroissien and Allen Lane concerning
Penguin and personal affairs.
1962-1967
DM1819/11/5
Stanley Morison:
1961, 1968
Correspondence between Allen Lane, Robin Darwin of the Royal College of
Art, and Stanley Morison of the Monotype Corporation, 1961.
Papers relating to Allen Lane’s gift to Cambridge University Library of
Stanley Morison’s library of palaeography and typography books, 1968.
DM1819/11/6
Statistics:
n.d.
1968
Lists of suggested Penguin books for reprint (nos.1-756, A1-A219, S63S111, B1-B18, PH1-PH12, R2, C1, L1-L13, D1-D7, K8-K48, MP4, MP16,
PS1-PS61, PP4-PP82, PC1-PC5, BP5-BP9, SC1-SC3); graph showing
comparison between original and reprinted books 1935-1947; report by
Buckmaster and Moore on the purchase of shares in the Penguin Publishing
Co. Ltd., December 1968.
DM1819/11/7
Russian Review series [RR]:
1944-1948
Correspondence between A.S.B. Glover (Penguin Books Ltd.), Allen Lane
(Penguin Books Ltd.), Eunice Frost (Penguin Books Ltd.), W.E. Williams
(Bureau of Current Affairs), Edward Crankshaw, Count Constantine
Benckendorff, Baroness Budberg, and Lt. Col. Edward Crankshaw.
Includes an outline proposal for the series, publishing costs for Russian
Review nos.1-3, and sample page proofs.
DM
1819/11/8
Correspondence between Allen Lane and the University of Bristol
concerning the gift of signed Penguin books; also with Dr. Enrique R.
Serrano concerning Spanish editions of Penguins, 1967.
1960-1961,
1966-1969
DM1819/11/9
Correspondence between Penguin Books and the library of the University of
Bristol concerning the deposit of Penguin archives and books, including lists
of books sent.
1975-1983
Box 12
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
13
DM1819/12/1
Correspondence with Crowell-Collier Publishing Company, New York,
concerning a scheme for an international magazine.
1946-1948
DM1819/12/2
Puffin Books [PS/03]:
1944-1946
Correspondence concerning Puffin Books between Noel Carrington, Allen
Lane, Eunice Frost, Elizabeth Creak, A.S.B. Glover and staff at Penguin; list
of possible invitees to a Puffin party, December 1946; lists of Puffin Books
published 1945-1946; copy of Wee Wisdom: A Magazine for Boys and
Girls, January 1944.
DM1819/12/3
Correspondence between J.E. Morpurgo and Allen Lane, including
discussion of educational affairs.
1962-1963
DM1819/12/4
Death of Allen Lane, 1970:
1970
Letters of condolence and arrangements for memorial service.
Box 13
DM1819/13/1
Noel Carrington:
1963-1970
Correspondence with Allen Lane, mainly concerning personal affairs but
with mention of Puffins and Penguin. Includes a copy of ‘A Century for
Puffin Picture Books’ by Noel Carrington, reprinted from The Penrose
Annual, volume 51, 1957.
DM1819/13/2
Lady Chatterley’s Lover - New Zealand edition:
1964-1965
Correspondence concerning a proposed joint appeal by Penguin Books Ltd.
and William Heinemann Ltd. against the banning of the unexpurgated
version of Lady Chatterley’s Lover in New Zealand. Following permission
being granted by the Ministry of Customs and Justice to the Cabinet to
Heinemann for the import and sale of hardcover copies of the novel in New
Zealand, Penguin considered making an appeal to the Indecent Publications
Tribunal to publish in New Zealand a paperback edition of the novel, 7
January 1964-23 April 1965.
Correspondents include Alwyn R.H. Birch (Director, William Heinemann
Ltd.), Sir Allen Lane, K.M. Maben (Hicks Smith & Sons Ltd., Wellington,
New Zealand), H.F. Paroissien, and Roy Parsons (bookseller, Wellington,
New Zealand).
DM1819/13/3
Martin’s Bank:
1954-1970
Correspondence with Martin’s Bank concerning financial affairs and
Penguin.
DM1819/13/4
New Biology Series [NB]:
1942-1948
Correspondence between Michael Abercrombie of the Department of
Zoology, Birmingham University, and Penguin, concerning the New
Biology series.
DM1819/13/5
Jan Tschichold:
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
1962-1965
14
Includes Christmas card from Jan and Edith Tschichold with a colour print
of ‘Ein altes Glűckwunschblatt aus Vietnam’; card from Jan Tschichold to
Allen Lane thanking him for his letter and informing him of his new
typeface, Sabon, 14 April 1962; birthday greetings from Jan and Edith
Tschichold to Allen Lane, 21 September 1962; letter from Jan and Edith
Tschichold to Allen Lane, 12 November 1968; printed notice that the Royal
Society of Arts in London has conferred on Jan Tschichold in Basle the
distinction of Honorary Royal Designer for Industry “for outstanding
contributions as a typographer and book designer”, June 1965; printed
notice that the Leipzig Gutenberg Prize 1965 has been awarded to Jan
Tschichold.
DM1819/13/6
Penguin Books in Canada:
1948, 1952
Letters from John Hoare, Riverside Books Ltd, Montreal, to Allen Lane
explaining the book trade in Canada. He probably distributed Penguins in
Canada.
DM1819/13/7
Correspondence from Evan Cooper-Willis to Allen Lane and Noel
Carrington, concerning his wife, Susan Williams-Ellis’, proposed Puffin
book on Seashore Life, which was apparently dropped.
1947, 1954
DM1819/13/8
Correspondence from Morris Ernst and Harriet F. Pilpel of Greenbaum,
Wolff and Ernst, Penguin’s lawyers in the USA, concerning Penguin affairs,
including the question of copyrighting the name.
1947-1962
Export:
1959-1970
Box 14
DM1819/14/1
Accounts of sales statistics and of the book trade abroad, including reports
of the book trade in the Philippines, Japan, Hong Kong, Russia, and South
America. Also includes discussion of relations with Longmans.
DM1819/14/2
Panorama of Science:
1960-1961
Papers relating to this series, which was not completed.
DM1819/14/3
Printed accounts and annual reports, including merge with Longman 1970s;
and notes for Allen Lane for the 1963 AGM.
1961-1971
‘American negotiations re. merger 1961-62’:
1961-1962
Box 15
DM1819/15
Papers relating to a merger between Penguin USA, Houghton Mifflin, and
other publishers.
Box 16
DM1819/16
‘Public Issue 1961’:
1961
Papers relating to the public issue of shares in Penguin Books, including
correspondence between Allen Lane and Richard Lane, 1961
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
15
Box 17
DM1819/17
Lady Chatterley’s Lover trial:
1959-1961,
1963, 1966
Lady Chatterley’s party at the Arts Council on 9 December 1960: replies.
Correspondence with the lawyer Michael Rubenstein, Penguin, potential
witnesses, Richard Hoggart, and others, September 1959-November 1960.
Correspondence, 13 January 1960-13 March 1961.
Includes permission to grant a Braille edition of Lady Chatterley’s Lover;
publishing extracts from C.H. Rolph’s The Trial of Lady Chatterley in the
Australian ‘Sunday Mirror’; request to Charles Clark to write a draft blurb
for the new edition of Lady Chatterley’s Lover; the serialization of C.H.
Rolph’s The Trial of Lady Chatterley in the American Esquire magazine;
letter of application from Geoffrey Strachan for a job in the editorial
department of the Pelican Science series. Draft blurb [by Charles Clark?]
and draft introduction by Richard Hoggart for Lady Chatterley’s Lover.
Correspondence, 7 September 1960-10 October 1961, 14-22 October 1963.
Concerning the sale of transcripts of the trial to university libraries in the
UK and US and others.
Letters for the defence, 1960.
Annotated copy of the sixth day summing up of the trial, 2 November 1960,
with note from “J.R” to “A.G” [Anthony Godwin] that both The Catcher in
the Rye and Lady Chatterley’s Lover need cover decisions, 24, 28 May
1965.
Box 18
DM1819/18
Lady Chatterley’s Lover trial:
1960
Press cuttings, May 1959-November 1960.
Witness statement of Sir Allen Lane, n.d. [1960].
Regina v. Penguin Books Ltd. trial transcripts, 1960:
1. First day, 20 October 1960 (Plea; opening address on behalf of
prosecution; Stephen William Webb, C.B.O; Det. Inspr. Charles Monahan;
opening address on behalf of defence).
2. Second day, 27 October 1960 (Examination of: Graham Goulder Hough;
Miss Helen Louise Gardner; Mrs. Joan Bennett; Dame Rebecca West; The
Right Reverend John Arthur Thomas Robinson; Mr. Vivian de Sola Pinto,
Sir William Emrys Williams; Rev. Alfred Stephan Hopkinson; Richard
Hoggart).
3. Third day, 28 October 1960 (Examination of: Richard Hoggart; Francis
Charles Albert Cammaerts, Sarah Beryl Jones; Cicely Veronica Wedgwood;
Edward Francis Williams; Edward Morgan Forster; Roy Jenkins; Walter
Ernest Allen; Anne McDonald Hastings; Clifford James Hemming).
4. Fourth day, 31 October 1960 (Examination of: Norman St. John Stevas;
Sir Allen Lane; Canon Theodore Richard Milford; Kenneth Muir; Sir
Stanley Unwin; Elizabeth Dilys Russell; Cecil Day Lewis; Stephen
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
16
Meredith Potter; Janet Buchanan Roberts; Noel Gilroy Annan; Donald
Alexander Tytler; John Connell; Charles Kenneth Young; Hector Alastair
Hetherington; Bernardine Anna-Livia Wall).
5. Fifth day, 1 November 1960 (closing address of Mr Gardiner, closing
address of Mr Griffith-Jones, Mr Justice Byrne’s summing).
6. Sixth day, 2 November 1960 (Mr Justice Byrne’s summing up; jury’s
verdict).
House of Lords official report, vol.227, no.23, 14 December 1960. Inc.
pp.528-573 Motion - The “Lady Chatterley’s Lover” case.
Box 19
DM1819/19/1
Houghton Mifflin:
1962-1966
Papers relating to relations between Houghton Mifflin and Penguin Books
Inc., USA. Their agreement to act as sales representatives for Penguin in
the USA ended in June 1966.
Box 20
DM1819/20/1
Letters from William Emrys Williams to Allen Lane, discussing Penguin
and personal affairs. Includes discussion of the Peregrine series [Y/055],
and a scheme to write a Penguin history.
1954-1970
DM1819/20/2
Material relating to the history of Penguin, 1946-1970.
1946-1970
Correspondence between John Hadfield and Robert Lusty (National Book
League) and Allen Lane, 4 December 1946-12 October 1949. Concerning
Penguin’s corporate membership of the National Book League; inclusion of
an advertisement for the National Book League in Penguin books, with draft
text for the advertisement which Allen Lane asks Bill Williams to make
more “Penguiny”; and Penguin’s submission of books to the Exhibition of
Book Design. Also includes a booklet for an appeal to bookmen to save no.7
Albemarle Street.
Penguin memorandums between David J. Chambers and Allen Lane and
Eunice Frost concerning Chambers’ proposed Penguin EducationalPublicity film entitled ‘The Story of Penguin Books’, June 1949. With a
rough synopsis of scenes and commentary for the film; A.S.B. Glover and
Eunice Frost’s comments on the script and the intention of the film; and
discussion about the formation of a Penguin Film Publicity-Education Unit.
‘Penguin Home Notes’, August 1950. The first edition of a monthly
newsletter designed to keep Penguin’s representatives up-to-date with
“news, views and scandals emanating from Headquarters.” Mentions the
first Penguin Book Exhibition at 117 Piccadilly; sales of A History of the
USSR, Tudor England, Music 1950, Cinema 1950 and Four English
Comedies; the Penguin Cricket Club and ladies netball team; the marriage
of Joyce Walters to William Quainton and of Tatyana Kent to Hans
Schmoller; extracts of letters received from the public concerning Common
Sense in the Nursery, The Holiday Train and “the Oddity of Homer”.
Two letters from ‘Eddie’ [Edmund Segrave] (The Bookseller) to Eunice
Frost (Penguin Books Ltd.), 14 March, 18 May 1951. Segrave apologises
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
17
for the delay in getting the revised text back to Frost, and adds a postscript
concerning Allen Lane having received an Honorary MA from Bristol
University.
A copy of an essay written by W.J. Beresford Salisbury, a pupil at Westonsuper-Mare Grammar School, about Penguin books, with covering letter and
a reply from A.S.B. Glover which mentions the impending publication of
books with cloth bindings, May 1951.
Proof copy of the text for ‘The Penguin Comes of Age’ by Sir Allen Lane,
n.d. [1956].
Various drafts of a letter from Allen Lane to Richard Lane, 31 December
1957. Concerning the Colombo Plan books; H.F. Paroissien’s return to
Harmondsworth; problems with the Editorial department; Penguin’s
wedding present to Eunice Frost of a Morris Minor car; Penguin’s income
for October to December 1957; spending Christmas with his mother and
family; Silverbeck becoming too large and a proposed move to the farm.
Letters spent by Allen Lane to Miss [June] Pipe during his business trips to
Russia and China, July [1957].
Correspondence between Allen Lane and Richard Lane concerning shares in
Penguin Books Ltd., 23 April 1958-September 1960.
Typescript: ‘Penguin and The Bodley Head: A New Association after
twenty-five years’, 1960. Concerning Penguin Books take over of the
distribution of Bodley Head books from 1 April 1961. With a photocopy of
a handwritten history of The Bodley Head, n.d.
Correspondence between Lord Reith, Gordon Grimley (Bumpus Ltd.), and
Allen Lane, 1 April-1 October 1963. Mentions Henry Miller’s Tropic of
Cancer and Penguin’s publication of Lady Chatterley’s Lover.
‘News from Penguins: Some Facts About Penguins’, 1965.
Invitation from Sir Allen Lane and the Directors of Penguin Books to a
party at the Arts Council on 18 October 1965. With list of invitees, and a
letter of thanks from Esmond Warne (Bowes & Bowes Ltd.) to Allen Lane,
21 October 1965.
Typescript extract from Nicholas Barton’s thesis on paperback publishing
and its effect on the modern publishing industry, with covering letter and
acknowledgement, January 1966.
Four letters from W.B. Ford (Penguin Rep) to Sir Allen Lane, 11 November
1966-7 February 1967. Ford is concerned that the covers of the Penguin
Fiction titles are damaging Penguin’s reputation and sales and that the
marketing methods and sales promotions currently in use are garish, cheap
and nasty, adding that “Our overall policy, which used to stand for
excellence above all else has degenerated to, what seems to me, a deliberate
courting of the ‘Pop’ market and its dishonesty of presentation.”
Correspondence and Penguin memorandums concerning Godwin’s editorial
policy with which Allen Lane is “considerably out of sympathy”. With a
draft statement to the Extraordinary General Meeting on the ‘Godwin
Settlement’, 19 January-29 August 1967.
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
18
Photocopy of extracts from Victor Weybright’s The Making of a Publisher,
with a covering letter from Eddie Seagrave (The Bookseller) to Allen Lane
concerning its publication in The Bookseller, 31 August 1967.
Correspondence between Richard Lane and Allen Lane, 2-9 December
1969. Concerning personal and business affairs.
Newspaper cuttings of obituaries for Allen Lane, 1970. With transcript of
an interview with Sir Robert Lusty about Sir Allen Lane on the radio
programme ‘Now Read On’ transmitted on 8 July 1970.
DM1819/20/3
‘George Bernard Shaw’:
1971-1983
Copy correspondence between Penguin UK and Penguin US concerning
copyright issues for publishing GBS material, 1971-1975.
Correspondence concerning Penguin US and copyright issues for publishing
Shaw, 1975-1983.
DM1819/20/4
Photographs of Allen Lane and Penguin events:
1937-1969
DM1819/20/4/1 - photographs of the interior of the crypt of Holy Trinity
Church crypt, Marylebone Road, London, showing the fairground slide used
to deliver parcels from the printers to the crypt; piles of Penguin books
stacked in front of memorial plaques and vaults; and piles of Penguin books
stacked in front of the family vault of Mr Henry Archer Raymond, n.d.
[c.1937]. Photographer: unknown. (3 x black and white photographs).
DM1819/20/4/2 - photographs of a Penguin delivery van, registration no.
ELB 59, n.d. [c.1938]. [The van is either a Seddon or a Dennis van].
Photographer: unknown. (2 x black and white photographs).
DM1819/20/4/3 - photograph taken at Penguin Books Ltd.’s headquarters in
Harmondsworth, n.d [1940]. Includes photographs of the Lord Mayor’s
Fund consignment of Penguin Books for the British Expeditionary Force;
Allen Lane, Richard Lane and Mr Maynard discussing David Low’s
cartoons for his latest book, ‘History of Europe Since Versailles’; and Allen
Lane and Eunice Frost discussing David Low’s cartoons for his latest book,
‘History of Europe Since Versailles’. Photographer: TunbridgeSedgwick/Topham Picture Library. [Some of these photographs were
published in an article in ‘The Bystander’ on 10 January 1940 (see
DM1294/1/6)]. (4 x black and white photographs)
DM1819/20/4/4 - photograph of a Penguin editorial meeting in W.E.
Williams’s office at 117 Piccadilly, London, n.d. [c.1950]. Featuring R.B.
Fishenden, Noel Carrington, Allen Lane, A.S.B. Glover, E.V. Rieu, Eunice
Frost, A.W. Haslett?, Michael Abercrombie?, W.E. Williams, Eleanor
Graham, C.A. Mace, J.E. Morpurgo and Nikolaus Pevsner. Photographer:
British Official Photograph. (1 x black and white photograph).
DM1819/20/4/5 – portrait photograph of Allen Lane [in his library at
Silverbeck?] reading a book, n.d. [1950s?]. Photographer: unknown. (1 x
black and white photograph).
DM1819/20/4/6 – portrait photograph of Allen Lane, n.d. [1950s?].
Photographer: Howard Coster. (1 x black and white photograph).
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
19
DM1819/20/4/7 – portrait photograph of Allen lane, n.d. [1950s?].
Photographer: unknown. (1 x black and white photograph).
DM1819/20/4/8 – photographs of a party for Penguin staff at Silverbeck on
27 July 1956 to celebrate Penguin’s 21st anniversary. Photographs include
Ashton Allen, Peter Kite, Allen Lane, Stan Olney and Bill Williams.
Photographer: King & Hutchings Ltd. (Middlesex County Press). (9 x black
and white photographs).
DM1819/20/4/9 – photographs of Sir Allen Lane with penguins [at Sydney
zoo during a trip to Australia], n.d. [c.1960]. Photographer: Associated
Newspapers Ltd., Sydney. (3 x black and white photographs).
DM1819/20/4/10 – photograph of Sir Allen Lane in Bombay, n.d. [1960s?].
Written on the back of the photograph is a note: “This is what I looked like
at breakfast time in Bombay after a day & a night on the Comet.”
Photographer: Godwin, Bombay. (1 x black and white photograph).
DM1819/20/4/11 – photograph of Sir Allen Lane talking to an unidentified
man, n.d [1960s?]. Photographer: Press Illustrations. (1 x black and white
photographs).
DM1819/20/4/12 – contact sheet photographs of the interior of the
warehouse at Harmondsworth, n.d. [11 May 1960]. Photographer: The
Times. (2 x black and white contact sheets).
DM1819/20/4/13 - photographs of piles of Penguin books in the warehouse
at Harmondsworth, n.d. [1960]. Photographer: Sam Lambert. (2 x black
and white photographs).
DM1819/20/4/14 – photographs of the binding and dispatch offices at
Penguin’s Harmondsworth offices, n.d. [October 1965]. Photographer:
unknown. (2 x black and white photographs).
DM1819/20/4/15 – photograph of the exterior of new offices at
Harmondsworth, n.d. [1970s?]. Photographer: Peter G. Darrell. (1 x black
and white photograph).
DM1819/20/4/16 – photographs of the interior of the warehouse at
Harmondsworth, n.d. [1970s?]. Photographer: unknown. (2 x black and
white photographs).
DM1819/20/4/17 – photographs of the building and opening of the new bulk
warehouse at Harmondsworth, n.d [c.1960]. Photographer: unknown. (6 x
black and white photographs).
DM1819/20/4/18 – portrait photographs of Sir Allen Lane, n.d. [1960s?].
Photographer: Lotto Métier-Graf. (8 x black and white photographs).
DM1819/20/4/19 – contact sheet of photographs of a publicity shoot with
Jill Norman, n.d. [1960s]. Photographer: unknown. (1 x black and white
contact sheet).
DM1819/20/4/20 – photograph of the exterior of Penguin Books (Australia)
headquarters on Maroondah Highway in Ringwood, Australia, n.d. [c.1963].
Photographer: Richard Steward, Ringwood. (1 x black and white
photograph).
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
20
DM1819/20/4/21 – photograph of the exterior of Penguin Books (New
Zealand) headquarters at Wausau Road, Auckland, New Zealand, n.d.
[c.1973]. Photographer: Contours Studios Ltd., Auckland. (1 x black and
white photograph).
DM1819/20/4/22 - photographs of a staff buffet-dance at Harmondsworth to
mark Sir Allen Lane’s 50 years in publishing and his retirement as
Managing Director of Penguin Books Ltd., 18 April 1969. Photographs
include a presentation to Allen Lane by Christopher Dolly and H.F.
Paroissien of a watercolor painting by David Gentleman of the Bodley Head
Office in Vigo Street. Photographer: unknown. (8 x black and white
photographs).
DM1819/20/4/23 – photographs of a dinner given by Sir Edward Boyle in
honor of Sir Allen Lane in Dining Room A at the House of Commons on 25
April 1969. Photographer: Universal Pictorial Press & Agency Ltd. (8 x
black and white photographs).
DM1819/20/4/24 - photographs of pelicans [in captivity], n.d.
Photographers: Howard Coster and P.A. Reuter. (3 x black and white
photographs).
Box 21
DM1819/21/1
‘Australia’:
1952-1962
Papers relating to Penguin Books Pty. Ltd., including discussions between
Australia and Allen Lane.
DM1819/21/2
‘John Lane’:
1924-1969
DM1819/21/2/1 – Copy of the will of John Lane of 8 Lancaster Gate
Terrace, Hyde Park, London, director of John Lane The Bodley Head Ltd.,
made 31 July 1924. Lane appoints Allen Lane, Edward William Smith and
Francis Churchill Still as his executors and trustees. The following bequests
are made: to Allen Williams Lane £100; all his portraits and engravings
relating to Devonshire be offered to the Royal Albert Memorial Museum at
Exeter and all his books relating to Devonshire be offered to the City
Library at Exeter; requests that the National Gallery, the National Portrait
Gallery, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the British Museum each
select two pictures by English artists from his collection; requests his
executors to have photographs made of his original drawings by Aubrey
Beardsley (currently at the Brooklyn Museum, New York) and that two of
the original drawings are given to the National Gallery, one to the British
Museum, one to the Victoria and Albert Museum and one to the Brighton
Art Gallery, with the remaining drawings to be given to his wife; to the
Royal Albert Memorial Museum at Exeter the port wine glass, engraved
portrait, barometer and the remains of the Chamberlain Worcester Breakfast
Service all of which formerly belonged to the Red. Jack Russell; to Francis
Churchill all the prints of lawyers; to Miss Margaret Windiest Roberts and
James Lewis may to examine all his manuscript papers and correspondence
as soon as possible after his death and to decide whether a history of The
Bodley Head Publishing business ought to be published; to his wife all his
manuscript papers and correspondence; requests his wife to pay an annuity
of £150 to his sister Mary Isabella Brimacombe; to pay the income from his
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
21
investments and property to his wife during her life and after her death to
pay to Margaret Windiest Roberts £100, and the capital and future income
of his residuary estate for Allen Lane for his absolute use and benefit.
DM1819/21/2/2 – Letter from [John Lane] to Annie [Lane, née Eichberg]
and his executors, 9 March 1920. [Lane] informs them that today his has
signed a codicil to his will but wishes to make some further suggestions for
their guidance. This includes that if the business is made a Registered
Company that Allen Williams Lane of Bristol shall represent John Lane and
be made a Director of the Company until his son Allen Williams Lane shall
be of age and fit to take his place as Director; that Ivan Lake be offered a
sixth portion of the ascertained value of the goodwill stock; another sixth
portion offered to Melville Patterson of Trinity College, Oxford rather than
to his present manager Basil Wickham Willett who “lacks initiative,
imagination, power to organize and driving power in a degree which would
endanger the future of the business unless he were ably backed by energetic
and competent partners or Directors”; if Ivan Lake does not want to join the
Company then to offer the position to Mr H. Crocket or Mr Kitchen of
Exeter College, Oxford; to place shares in the name of Guy Eglinton and to
elect him as a Director in the John Lane Company in the place of Mr Kelly;
he hopes that his godson, John Lane Williams Lane, be taken into the firm
in either the London Office or New York.
DM1819/21/2/3 – Copy of amendments to an indenture of trust made on 11
November 1924 by Annie Philippine Lane of New York City with Boston
Safe Deposit and Trust Company of Boston, and D. Webster Johnson of
Medford, Massachusetts.
DM1819/21/2/4 – Letter from Trower, Still & Keeling to Allen Lane, 5
February 1925. Sending copy of the late Mr John Lane’s will.
DM1819/21/2/5 – Draft notes of bequests made by John Lane in his will.
DM1819/21/2/6 – Photocopy of an obituary for John Lane from The
Bodleian: A Journal of Books at The Bodley Head, vol. 15, no.2, February
1925.
DM1819/21/2/7 – Letter from Alfred B. Boswell, Vernham, Petersfield, to
Mr [Allen] Lane, 23 November 1932. Asks Lane to meet him to discuss his
proposal.
DM1819/21/2/8 – Notice of Removal of Messrs. Hicks, Walters & Co. to
Provincial House, 98/106 Cannon Street, London.
DM1819/21/2/9 – Newspaper cutting of an article by Lois Lamplugh
entitled ‘Bodley Head’s Founder’ from The Western Morning News, 7 May
1969.
DM1819/21/3
Press cuttings relating to a merger between Pearson Longman Publishing
Group and Penguin Books Ltd., 4 July-13 August 1970. Include reports of
Allen Lane’s death.
1970
DM1819/21/4
Astrological and handwriting analysis:
1929-1967
Handwriting analysis of a male aged 54 [probably Allen Lane], 18 August
1956; a comparison of the handwriting of a male aged 54 [probably Allen
Lane] and a female aged 34 [possibly Susanne Lepsius], n.d.; and a
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
22
handwriting analysis of two females, n.d.
Horoscope reading for Allen Lane by Evangeline Adams of The Adams
Studio, Carnegie Hall, New York City, 16 May l929. The horoscope deals
primarily with Lane’s character in relation to business and includes the
recommendation that “There is little to indicate you should go into business
for yourself. You seem to meet with more good fortune by being part of a
large organization, and where you are not responsible for heavy over-head
expenses.”
Horoscope readings for Allen Lane by Kate Murray, Finchley Road,
London NW11, 1929.
Yearly horoscope readings for Allen Lane for 1955-1956, 1956-1957, 19571958, 1958-1959, 1959-1960, 1960-1961, 1961-1962, 1962-1963, 19641965, 1966-1967.
Horoscope readings for [Allen Lane] relating to the problem of relationships
and a business offer, n.d.
A birthday card given by ‘M.J.’ to Allen Lane featuring his astrological
chart, 21 September 1960.
DM1819/21/5
Russia and China:
1957
Diaries and other papers relating to Allen Lane’s visit to the Soviet Union
and China (to investigate publishing).
Box 22
DM1819/22/1
Photographs:
1930s-1969
DM1819/22/1/1 – photograph of an article in The Tatler about Mrs Claude
Beddington’s “Everest” party. The article includes a photograph of Allen
Lane talking to the Duchess of Hamilton, n.d. [c.1930s]. Photographer:
unknown. (1 x black and white photograph).
DM1819/22/1/2 – photographs of Allen Lane with penguins at a zoo, n.d.
[c.1935]. Photographer: unknown. (2 x black and white photographs).
DM1819/22/1/3 – photographs of the Holy Trinity Church crypt,
Marylebone Road, London [formerly used as a store by The Bodley Head (1935), then the warehouse, accounts department and distribution centre for
Penguin Books Ltd.(1935-1937) before it was moved to Harmondsworth].
Includes photographs of the exterior of Holy Trinity Church, showing the
despatch of Penguin books by horse-drawn wagon; the interior of the crypt,
showing piles of Penguin books stacked in front of the family vault of Mr
Henry Archer Raymond; the interior of the crypt, showing piles of Penguin
books stacked in front of the vaults and packaging all over the floor; the
interior of the crypt, showing a young man putting together an order of
Penguin books, n.d. [c.1937]. Photographer: unknown. [Reproduced in
‘Shelf Appeal’, August 1937]. (4 x black and white photographs).
DM1819/22/1/4 – series of photograph taken at the Harmondsworth offices
of Penguin Books Ltd, n.d [1940]. Includes photograph of Allen Lane on
the telephone; Allen Lane and Eunice Frost discussing David Low’s
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
23
cartoons for his latest book; Richard Lane at his desk; and three men
working in a warehouse surrounded by stacks of Penguin books.
Photographer: Tunbridge-Sedgwick. [Many of these photographs were
published in an article in ‘The Bystander’ on 10 January 1940 (see
DM1294/1/6)]. (5 x black and white photographs).
DM1819/22/1/5 – series of photographs taken at the Harmondsworth offices
of Penguin Books Ltd. and entitled “Adventures in Publishing”, n.d.
[c.1940]. Includes photograph of Sydney Payne packing books for export; a
package of books being sent to Suva in the Fiji islands; Peter Messer
(editor): Peter Messer and [Eunice Frost?] cross-reading proofs of a new
Penguin book; Penguin Books being loaded for export. Photographer:
Pictorial Press, London. (4 x black and white photograph).
DM1819/22/1/6 – photographs of a buffet-dance at Harmondsworth to
celebrate Sir Allen Lane’s 50 years in publishing and to mark his retirement
as Managing Director of Penguin Books Ltd., 18 April 1969. Photographer:
unknown. (41 x black and white photographs).
DM1819/22/2
Materials relating to Allen Lane’s trip to Russia and China in 1957:
1957
DM1819/22/2/1 - Photocopy of an article in the Hong Kong South China
Sunday Post-Herald, 11 August 1957, entitled ‘The Penguin Boss reports:
Publishing Boom in Russia and Communist China’.
DM1819/22/2/2 – typescript of extracts from Sir Allen Lane’s diary for the
period he was in Prague and Moscow, 30 June, 2-3 July 1957.
DM1819/22/2/3 – typescript of objectives of Allen Lane’s visit to Peking in
July 1957.
DM1819/22/2/4 - typescript of extracts form Sir Allen Lane’s diary for the
period he was in Moscow, 2-3 July 1957.
DM1819/22/2/5 – typescript of Allen Lane’s report of his visit to Moscow
in July 1957. Includes reports of his conversations with Mr Chuvikov
(Director of the Foreign Literature Publishing House), Mr Polivanovsky
(Director of Mosknigatorg), Mr Drobashenkko (Director of the Art
Publishing Company), Mr Vasilyev (The Young Guard/Molodaya Gvardia),
Mr Makarov (Mezhkniga), The Lenin Library, Detgiz (publishing house of
children’s books), and Mr Alexandrov (Kombinat Molotova printing
works).
DM1819/22/2/6 – correspondence concerning arrangements for Allen
Lane’s visit to the USSR, 28 March- 7 June 1957.
DM1819/22/2/7 – typescript of extracts from Sir Allen Lane’s diary for the
period he was in Prague and Moscow, 30 June, 2-3 July 1957.
DM1819/22/2/8 – typescript of extracts from Sir Allen Lane’s diary for the
period he was in Moscow, 5-12 July 1957.
DM1819/22/3
DM1819/22/3/1 - correspondence between Allen Lane and William Emrys
(Bill) Williams, 8 July 1947-3 December 1952:
1947-1965
DM1819/22/3/1/1 - Letter from Bill Williams, Bureau of Current Affairs, to
Allen Lane, Var, France, 8 July 1947. Williams mentions the Conservative
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
24
party and the Right Wing’s assault upon “Current Affairs in the Army, and
upon us [Bureau of Current Affairs] as the providers of the wherewithal by
which the Army is enlightened”; telling Morpurgo that he had no future in
the firm; agreeing the typography and illustration of Penguin Progress with
Tschichold, and agreeing with Lane that it should be used as a “House
Journal” to take the customers behind the scenes at Penguin; believes that
Professor Ayer of University College would make a good General Editor of
“Penguin Philosophers”; and adds “I grow more than ever to believe that in
Paroissien and T.K. [Tanya Kent] we have two of the most intelligent and
dependable lieutenants that anyone could desire. I equally believe that
Frostie [Eunice Frost] and Glover are capable of an even greater
contribution than they have hitherto made. And with a team of that sort I
think we can go places in a big way.”
DM1819/22/3/1/2 - Letter from Bill Williams, Bureau of Current Affairs, to
Allen Lane, Var, France, 14 July 1947. Williams mentions the current
economic climate, saying “As you know, I feel very much as you do about
the risks of spreading our wings too far in a period of such increasing
uncertainty. World trade is going to be a heart-breaking gamble for the next
few years and, in may respects, would-be British exporters have got the dice
heavily loaded against them by the U.S.A… These are some reasons why I
think we are right in our long-term campaigns for building up Penguins at
home. Our policy of arranging for several long-term series is, so to speak, a
system of vertebrae which will give a firm shape to our enterprises. And
meanwhile, we shall fill up the areas within the vertebrae with reprints of
many species. We have a prospective list which no-one in Great Britain can
touch”; he comments on the need to recover, with Tschichold’s help, their
pre-war standard, and suggests setting up an “inner cabinet” consisting of
Allen Lane, Richard Lane, H.F. Paroissien, Jan Tschichold and himself,
with Tanya Kent as their “constant aide-memoire”
DM1819/22/3/1/3 – copy letter from Allen Lane to W.E. Williams, 26 June
1947. Lane sets down his understanding of the arrangements they agreed
regarding the future working of the Editorial Department. Williams will
take control of the Editorial Department and will work with Tschichold on
matters relating to Production, with Eunice Frost as his assistant. Paroissien
work on Sales.
DM1819/22/3/1/4 – copy letter from Allen Lane to W.E. Williams, 15
March 1948. Lane agrees with Glover that they should publish Gallacher’s
synopsis on the Communist Party, but would like Williams’ thoughts on the
subject. Lane adds “It seems to me to be a very straightforward piece of
work, and much as some of us may dislike the policy advocated, I don’t feel
that we as publishers can afford to ignore it, and I don’t only mean
financially.” [W. Gallacher’s The Case for Communism, S156, published
February 1949]
DM1819/22/3/1/5 – copy letter from Allen Lane to W.E. Williams, 30
March 1948. Lane sends Williams the Pritt manuscript, which he found
“extremely interesting, although I felt at a disadvantage in not having read
the document on Nazi-Soviet relations to which it is a reply”, and asks
Williams for his opinion on it.
DM1819/22/3/1/6 – copy letter from Allen Lane to W.E. Williams, 16 April
1948. Lane is relieved that Williams has decided not to take the job [in
Paris?], adding “I stood to lose a good deal if you had taken on the job,
which would have meant, however much we struggled against it, that we
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
25
would be bound to have drifted apart in the control of this firm”
DM1819/22/3/1/7 – copy letter from Allen Lane to W.E. Williams, 14 May
1948. Ashton Allen has informed Lane of plans to organized displays in
July of Penguin publications in every bookshop in Yorkshire, plus a lunch in
Leeds for the booksellers. Ashton Allen believes Penguin’s list is deficient
in contemporary fiction.
DM1819/22/3/1/8 – copy letter from Allen Lane to W.E. Williams, 6
September 1948. Lane states that “the present basis at which we have now
arrived seems to me to be about as perfect an arrangement as one could wish
for, as it places you in the unparalleled position of having contacts in so
many fields: Unesco, the Bureau, the Arts and British Councils, etc., all of
which are of inestimable value to use, and enable you to keep your fingers
on the pulse of what is happening in so many different direction. I feel it
would be a mistake to divorce yourself from such sources of information,
which coupled with your own perceptiveness enable you to advise us in
such a way that our general policy keeps a few jumps ahead of the field.”
DM1819/22/3/1/9 – letter from Bill Williams, UNESCO, Paris, to Allen
Lane, 10 September 1948. Williams discusses the pros and cons of working
full-time or part-time for Penguin as Chief Editor. He states “Penguins is
the most constructive and exciting job I know, or am ever likely to know –
It’s my permanent love”, but agrees that his and Lane’s temperaments are
too similar for them to work together full-time. He stresses that writing the
“blurbs”, plus working on Penguins Progress and the newsletter take up a
lot of his spare time, and asks Lane to consider giving him a pay increase.
DM1819/22/3/1/10 – copy letter from Allen Lane to W.E. Williams, 14
September 1948. Lane is pleased they have cleared the air and is sure they
can settle the financial side to their mutual satisfaction.
DM1819/22/3/1/11 – copy letter from Allen Lane to W.E. Williams, 27
September 1948. Laski has sent Lane a copy of his book, The American
Presidency, and asks Williams for his thoughts on publishing it to tie-in
with the American elections.
DM1819/22/3/1/12 – letter from Bill Williams, UNESCO, Paris, to Allen
Lane, 29 September 1948. Williams gives a “decided No!” to publishing
Laski’s book.
DM1819/22/3/1/13 – copy letter from Allen Lane to W.E. Williams, 5
October 1948. Lane has heard that Stanley Unwin is considering selling the
Bodley Head and asks Williams if they could meet to discuss Lane’s wish to
regain control of the company.
DM1819/22/3/1/14 – letter from Bill Williams, Bureau of Current Affairs,
to Allen Lane, 8 October 1948. Williams reports the outcome of his
meeting with Stanley Unwin concerning Lane’s wish to purchase the
Bodley Head and states that Unwin has no intention to sell. He is sorry to
hear that Lane is ill but is returning to Paris with eight books “to be
blurbed”.
DM1819/22/3/1/15 – copy letter from Allen Lane to W.E. Williams, 11
October 1948. Lane apologies for putting Williams through an unpleasant
interview with Stanley Unwin. Lane does not share Huxley’s view on
colour photography and suggests they go ahead on their own with the
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
26
Lascaux project, and asks whether he should delay sending the set of
Penguin Prints, some of the Modern Painters and the King Penguin’s to
Bellew and Dr. Lin Yutang.
DM1819/22/3/1/16 – copy letter from Allen Lane to W.E. Williams, 5
January 1949. Lane confirms that Williams’ quarterly fee will be raised and
that he will be reimbursed for special out of pocket expenses and agrees to
paying a secretary when Williams appoints one.
DM1819/22/3/1/17 – letter from Bill Williams, Bureau of Current Affairs,
to Allen Lane, 11 March 1949. Williams suggests asking Paroissien to take
charge of advertising and projection, rather than appointing Gale, but
suggests that if Paroissien was ever transferred to New York that Gale cold
take his place. He suggests sending Eunice Frost to Switzerland for her
health and that he will cover her work in London and Glover will cover her
office work.
DM1819/22/3/1/18 – letter from Bill Williams, Bureau of Current Affairs,
to Tatyana Kent, 27 April 1949. Williams has sent Major Tufton Beamish’s
manuscript of his account of what is going on in Europe behind the Iron
Curtain to Basil Davidson of ‘The Times’ and suggests that they could
publish it as an “offset to Zilliacus”. Williams has also asked Woodrow
Wyatt to write for Penguin a book on the state of South East Asia.
DM1819/22/3/1/19 – letter from Bill Williams, Bureau of Current Affairs,
to Allen Lane, 15 July 1949. Bill Rapley has informed Williams that the
Pelican on sailing and the Scores are both selling very well. Williams has
been reading the entire works of D.H. Lawrence, “largely for blurbing
purposes”, and suggests that they should drop Mornings in Mexico from the
ten and replace it with a reprint of Sons and Lovers. Lord Moynihan is
having trouble finding an author for the Liberal book, but has suggested that
Lord Samuel write an introduction on the Philosophy of Liberalism and that
Roger Fulford should write the body of the text. Williams has sent
Economics of Everyday Life to Honor Croome of ‘The Economist’ to vet.
He believes the proposed cut in imports from dollar areas and of raw
materials will lead to a lower output and some unemployment, but that this
will be offset by an increase in imports from non-dollar areas, but says “My
over-all hunch is that Penguins will be the last to feel the cold wind of
austerity now blowing up again. The general reaction will be to buy
cheaper commodities and my bet is that book buyers will be more disposed
than ever to buy the cheaper Penguins rather than the hard cover book. I
have always felt that Penguin Books was particularly well rigged, in the
nautical sense, to stand up to a slump. He asks Lane to tell Lettice that the
Charles Orr Memorial Library has been dispatched to Africa.
DM1819/22/3/1/20 – letter from Bill Williams, Bureau of Current Affairs,
to Allen Lane, Var, France, 21 July 1949. Williams reports on the outcome
of his meeting with Gibbs-Smith concerning a proposed series of “Penguin
Outlines”. He believes the series would only work if top authors were
employed, such as Lord David Cecil, Herbert Read and Denis Brogan, but
that it would just be a poor substitute for the Pelican series, and states that
“Our policy at present is to make a large number of readers reach upward
until they get into the Pelican class. If an easier option were offered them,
they might not reach so avidly. Finally, I am not convinced that, outside our
present range of readership there is a large untapped reservoir of potential
customers. I don’t believe we have reached saturation point in Pelicans –
indeed I think we may get double the size of that audience – but I don’t’
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
27
believe that, beyond these confines, there is a large number of people who
can be persuaded into buying a cheaper literary commodity. Their mental
wants, if any, are satisfied by the lower class periodicals, and their social
habit will not be coaxed towards “serious pleasure” of any kind.”
DM1819/22/3/1/21 – letter from Bill Williams, Bureau of Current Affairs,
to Allen Lane, 7 September 1949. Williams lists the errors he has found in
the Pelican edition of R.H. Barrow’s The Romans [A196], these include no
biographical note about the author, a clumsily drafted house advertisement,
and reference to two further volumes, The Welsh and England in the
Nineteenth Century, that haven’t been published yet. Williams recalls the
extensive revision they had to make to K. Zilliacus’s I Choose Peace [S157]
and states that Lane’s edict that he or Williams should see every book
before it is finally passed is obviously not being followed. At the foot of the
page is a note by “T.K” [Tanya Kent]: “A.L. May I say that there is only
yourself to blame. The Romans was on your desk from the time you were
on holiday. I Chose Peace [sic] was not seen by accident, but by design.”
DM1819/22/3/1/22 – letter from Bill Williams, Bureau of Current Affairs,
to Allen Lane, 3 October 1950. Williams has discussed Hulton’s proposal
for a new literary periodical with Tom Hopkinson, Robert Lusty and John
Lehmann, and is unenthusiastic.
DM1819/22/3/1/22 – copy letter from Allen Lane to W.E. Williams, c/o
Norman Lucas, The BBC, 630 Fifth Avenue, New York, 17 October 1950.
Lane reports that he, Glover, Eunice Frost and John Overton have been
working on the 1951 Festival programme, but does not think that Boris
Ford’s manuscript will be completed in time to be included. Asks Williams
for information on Heath’s activities in order that they should get good
notice of any rapid increase in demand from them as “both the paper and
printing situation are about as bad as they could be. Newspapers come back
on the ration as from Sunday next, and the indications are that paper
rationing will also be re-introduced in other quarters. Our present
programme calls for between 10,000,000 and 11,000,000 books next year,
and this without any very great increase from Paroissien. If we have got to
produce substantially increased quantities of the titles which Heath is
handling, it will mean a proportionate reduction in other parts of our
programme.” Mrs Alan Howard has suggested a series of “cut-down
versions of the neo-Classics”. Lane will turn down the Pritt manuscript.
Prentice-Hall have suggested drawing on some of Penguin’s new
translations of the Classics for their anthologies. Kingsford of the C.U.P has
reported that “the Syndics” are not in favour of the joint impression of the
Pelican History of Art.
DM1819/22/3/1/24 – letter from Bill Williams, Chief Editor, Penguin Books
Ltd., to Allen Lane, 23 January 1951. Williams thanks Lane for his letter
“about the Arts Council business” and adds “This is an occasion for
utterance from the heart: so let me say that all these years of friendship &
exploration with you have been decisive factors in shaping my mind and my
destiny.”
DM1819/22/3/1/25 – letter from Bill Williams, Hôtel d’léna, Paris, to Allen
Lane, 3 December 1952. Williams is in Paris on UNESCO business.
Kenneth Clark, having seen the proofs of Summerson and Cooper, does not
want to write a “puff” in Penguin’s Art History prospectus but does want to
do “a genuine Pelican job, less ambitiously illustrated, in smaller size at a
cheaper price. He says we are departing from our chosen function of cheap
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
28
accessibility”. Clark suggests making Modern Painters more contemporary,
with a book on Francis Bacon.
DM1819/22/3/2 - Correspondence between Allen Lane and Richard Lane,
1947, 1956-1965:
DM1819/22/3/2/1 – letter from Allen Lane, Le Plageron, Pramousquier, to
Richard Lane, 1 July 1947. Allen apologises for not having told Richard
before about the “Tschichold business”.
DM1819/22/3/2/2 – letter from Allen Lane, Le Plageron, to Richard Lane, 7
July 1947. Allen feels that every export business is going to be difficult and
so there seems little inducement to open branches in the USA, Canada,
Australia, Argentina and Brazil. Allen is unable to suggest anyone to run
the export side for Penguin in New York. The Modern Painters’ edition on
Ben Shah [MP11] will have to go to press if they are to be in time for the
Museum of Modern Art exhibition. Suggests casting off “P.B.I” [Penguin
Books, Inc.] and telling them not to use the name on any future productions.
He adds that they should watch their own policy more as their blurbs are
bad, that the introduction to Eudora Welty’s A Curtain of Green [no.520] is
useless, and that the blurb on the back of Pan’s Ten Little Niggers is better
than anything Penguin has produced lately, although someone on the boat
was reading Edgar Mowrer’s Germany Puts the Clock Back [S1] and that
the blurb on that book was very good.
DM1819/22/3/2/3 – letter from Allen Lane to Richard Lane, 13 July 1947.
Allen suggests asking Jan Tschichold to improve the layout of the Penguin
edition of Coriolanus, saying that he does not like the running headlines,
title pages or type used on the cover. Agrees with Bill Williams that
Morpurgo is not the man for the job and that they should pay more attention
to their editorial side. He believes is absence from the office brings out the
best in his staff, with the regular Pelican meetings and the staff meeting
schemes both originating from times he was away on trips. Suggests giving
Bill Williams a more active role in the firm by asking him to look at every
book as it goes to press, to make sure it is “as perfect as possible and carry
with it the feeling that it is not just another ‘paper-back’ but a book on
which considerable thought has been expended. We have so much of which
we can be justly proud that without boasting we can yet give the impression
that to be published by us is indeed a hallmark.” He adds that all Penguin’s
blurbs, lists, public relations and Penguins Progress should also be made a
reflection of their editorial policy. He has just finished reading the Guy de
Maupassant book and feel it “a bit over slangy in a somewhat old fashioned
way. Few things date more than slang.”
DM1819/22/3/2/4 – letter from Allen Lane to Richard Lane, 16 July 1947.
Allen does not like Eisler’s scheme. He regrets that “the pre-war spirit is
absent from me for good” and hopes that “R.K” will still be at liberty
tomorrow.
DM1819/22/3/2/5 – letter from Allen Lane to Richard Lane, 17 July 1947.
Allen fears that they may be prevented from going on with the Penguin
Pens.
DM1819/22/3/2/6 – letter from Allen Lane, Le Plageron, to Richard Lane,
17 & 19 July 1947. Allen hopes Richard will have “R.K”, “T.S.J” and Dick
May with him on the Brighton trip because “The mixing of the classes en
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
29
masse is a difficult thing to accomplish.” He believes the West Drayton
property a very good buy and suggests making use of the waterpower. He
says if they are to devote half of their time to farming that the venture must
be large enough to pay Ashton. Discusses difficulties with men employed
on the farm (Bob Cripps, Marshall and Charlie Frith). Is not surprised by
the Boots returns but things this is due to Mould’s brief regime. Agrees
with Bill Williams that “pre-war selling conditions will return very quickly
and a sound home market should be the first target with export as an extra
layer of jam.”
DM1819/22/3/2/7 – letter from Allen Lane, Le Plageron, to Richard Lane,
20 July 1947. Discusses the farm.
DM1819/22/3/2/8 – letter from Allen Lane, Le Plageron, to Richard Lane,
24 July 1947. Allen discusses the river at West Drayton, the farm, and his
hopes that Tschichold will make a great contribution to the firm. Is a fan of
James Thurber and would like to publish his Carnival [published by
Penguin in June 1953] in full and as a double. Suggests asking Tschichold
to redesign the Penguin Print covers, and dislikes the blurb on Elliot Paul’s
The Narrow Street (no.588) which he thinks was lifted from an American
edition.
DM1819/22/3/2/9 – letter from Allen Lane to Richard Lane, 28 July 1947.
Allen suggests that if Homer’s Odyssey is to be republished in the USA
under another imprint that the advice of Penguin Books Inc. is sought.
DM1819/22/3/2/10 – copy letter from Allen Lane to Richard Lane, 18 June
1956. Allen mentions having employed Personnel Administration to devise
a system of bonuses for people doing routine work, with a separate scheme
for Southport. Agrees to Lane returning to Harmondsworth in 1957 for a
“refresher course”. Nora reports that their mother is in better health.
Discusses the farm and Penguin. Clenow will soon be retiring. The
Canadian building has been financed entirely by H.F. Paroissien. They are
using Richard’s office to house the Grant projector. Hopes to put part of
Silverbeck into use as an office for some of the production and editorial
staff, and thinks it would be ridiculous for him to remain in occupation of
Silverbeck alone. John Piper has agreed to do the Christmas card on the
subject of a heap of stones from Waterloo Bridge which is round at the back
of Harmondsworth. The impact of the increase in printers’ prices on
publishing.
DM1819/22/3/2/11 –letter from Richard Lane, Penguin Books Pty. Ltd.,
Mitcham, Victoria, Australia, to Allen Lane, 18 April 1957. Richard asks
whether Allen is going to close the Canadian office and for details of the
joint O.U.P and Penguin Exhibition in Paris. Discusses arrangements for
his forthcoming trip to England.
DM1819/22/3/2/12 – copy letter from Allen Lane to Richard Lane,
Passenger on S.S. Oronsay, 26 April 1957. Allen confirms that they are
closing the Canadian office which Kite has just sold. The “Coffee Group”
discusses issues and consists of Dickson, Hepburn, Schmoller and Glover.
The OUP Paris Exhibition has been cancelled due to the French
Government’s recent increase in duty on books.
DM1819/22/3/2/13 – letter from Richard Lane, S.S. Oronsay, to Allen Lane,
5 May 1957. Discusses arrangements for their arrival and stay in England.
Richard announces that one of the main things he wants to do during the
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
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visit is to “help try & solve some of your personal problems but as you
know only too well you will have to be willing to cooperate for anything to
be achieved. If you are going to dig in your toes & stick out your jaw & say
that not only are you capable of looking after your own affairs but also those
of all your family & relations, not to mention a couple of hundred
employees – then we shall get nowhere.” Accuses Allen of giving him a
very raw deal on the firm’s shares, taking all of John’s shares and 25% of
Richard’s, as well as not giving him a pay increase for 15 years despite
Allen’s salary having trebled. He hopes that during the three to four month’s
they are in England will allow them to sort out all their personal and
financial problems.
DM1819/22/3/2/14 – copy letter from Allen Lane to Richard Lane, 14 May
1957. Allen suggests that they divide up the various properties which they
currently share and regrets that they will never be able to work together
without friction. Suggests that their mother might like to live at Silverbeck
or South Cottage. Intends appointing Bill Williams as a full director at the
next AGM. Discusses arrangements for Richard’s stay.
DM1819/22/3/2/15 – copy letter from Allen Lane to Richard Lane,
Templestowe, Victoria, Australia, 25 July 1958. Allen proposes appointing
Eunice Frost as a director in recognition of her 21 years with the firm.
DM1819/22/3/2/16 - letter from Richard Lane, Templestowe, Australia, to
Allen Lane, November 1958. Richard reminisces about their childhood in
Bristol
DM1819/22/3/2/17 – letter from Richard Lane, Penguin Books Pty. Ltd., to
Allen Lane, 18 November 1958. Richard will discuss the share issues with
Cecil Hyland. Has heard that Allen is sending someone from
Harmondsworth to America, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand about an
Export Survey. Blames poor book sales in Australia on the television.
DM1819/22/3/2/18 – letter from Richard Lane, Templestowe, Australia, to
Allen Lane, 20 November 1958. Concerning the bonus share business.
DM1819/22/3/2/19 - copy letter from Allen Lane to Richard Lane, 24
November 1958. Concerning the issue of shares to Richard. Alun Davies
will be going to Canada to replace Kite and to stimulate sales. Discusses the
financial position. Lists the names of the Editorial Group (Clark, Curtis,
Duguid, Lutyens, Maschler, Newnham, Perry, Pevsner) with their subject
areas.
DM1819/22/3/2/20 – copy letter from Allen Lane to Richard Lane, 31
March 1959. Announcing the forthcoming AGM at which he proposes to
appoint Paroissien as Director of the English side of the company and
Deputy Managing Director.
DM1819/22/3/2/21 – copy letter from Allen Lane to Richard Lane, 3 April
1959. Relays family news about Lettice, Clare, Christine and Anna.
Mentions his plans to appoint Paroissien as Deputy Managing Director.
New appointments include Neilsen and David Lutyens. Discusses plans for
Penguin’s 25th anniversary, a visit to America to clear up the situation with
Random House and Harpers. Suggests sending Reynolds to Australia to
make a survey of the scene. Implementing a computer system, the poor
financial position.
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
31
DM1819/22/3/2/22 – copy letter from Allen Lane to Richard Lane, 21
August 1959. Reynolds’ report demands some rethinking and
reorganization but suggests that it would be too much for Richard to take on
in his present state of health. Mentions the possibility of Richard taking
early retirement and building up Pine Lodge. Allen intends to do this
himself in three years time at Beech Hill.
DM1819/22/3/2/23 – letter from Richard Lane, Penguin Books Pty. Ltd., to
Allen Lane, 10 January 1960. Mentions meetings with George Ferguson to
discuss the possibility of some joint publishing venture, resuming
negotiations with Angus and Robertson, and shares,
DM1819/22/3/2/24 – copy letter from Allen Lane to Richard Lane, 2
February 1960. Allen does not want to get tied up with Angus and
Robertson or with Horwitz, although he believes that finding an ally with
the right literary judgment would strengthen their position in Australia.
Believes that the new Obscenity Act is going to make it much more difficult
for a successful prosecution of Lady Chatterley’s Lover to be launched.
DM1819/22/3/2/25 – copy letter from Allen Lane to Richard Lane, 11 May
1960. Discusses the “Australian situation”, arrangements with Longmans
for Canada to hold stocks of all saleable titles in Toronto, Newsom’s visit to
Australia on account of Longman’s proposal to augment their operations in
that country. With covering letter from Allen lane to Mark Longman, 11
May 1960.
DM1819/22/3/2/26 – a list of recommendations for Penguin Australia,
agreed with Richard Lane and Cecil Hyland, 25 July 1970.
DM1819/22/3/2/27 – copy letter from Allen Lane to Richard Lane, 26
September 1960. Allen mentions the successful 25th anniversary party that
was held alongside the refrigerated Penguin pool at Frankfurt zoo. The
Lady Chatterley’s Lover trail is due to take place in October and that they
are working on their list of witnesses. Allen offers to send Richard copies
of letters from those who have been approached on the question, with a
selection of press cuttings.
DM1819/22/3/2/28 – copy letter from Allen Lane to Richard Lane, 7
February 1961. Allen asks Richard to let him know what his plans are for
the future and suggests that if he is going to cease to run the firm in
Australia at the end of the year that he comes off the board. Allen thinks
Bill Williams and Eunice Frost are both unlikely to stand for re-election at
the AGM and proposes putting “ICD” and “PBH” up in their places on the
board.
DM1819/22/3/2/29 – copy letter from Allen Lane to Richard Lane, 28
September 1965. Allen thanks Richard for his birthday wishes. Spent the
weekend at the farm with his children and grandchild. Is thinking of
purchasing a farm that is for sale at Hurstbourne Priors. Announces that he
has taken over the lease of the Bodley Head premises and that in the Spring
he will be a new firm to be known as Allen Lane The Penguin Press,
DM1819/22/3/2/30 – ‘Customs Treatment of Sir A. Lane “invidious”’:
typescript of an extract from ‘The Manchester Guardian’, 23 June 1961. A
report from the Sydney ‘Daily Telegraph’ of the searching of Sir Allen Lane
at Sydney Airport for copies of Lady Chatterley’s Lover and The Trial of
Lady Chatterley.
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
32
DM1819/22/3/2/31 – ‘Long-banned Book for UK Publication’: newspaper
cutting [from an Australian newspaper] of an article about Penguin’s plans
to publish the unexpurgated version of Lady Chatterley’s Lover in Australia,
n.d. [1961?].
DM1819/22/3/2/32 – ‘Nation’, no.73, 15 July 1961 [Australian publication],
containing an article by Max Harris entitled ‘Penguins in This Climate?’.
The article reports Sir Allen Lane’s third visit to Australia and mentions the
problems experienced by the Australian branch of the company, the
retirement of Richard Lane, and the legal fight between the publishing firm
of Eyre and Spottiswoode and the two University Presses who publish the
New English Bible, and that Sir Allen Lane had acquired a 40% share in
Eyre and Spottiswoode and Chapman and Hall.
DM1819/22/3/3 – typescript extracts from Victor Weybright’s biography,
The Making of a Publisher: A Life In the Twentieth Century Book
Revolution, published in New York by Reynal in 1967. The extracts include
an account of the early days of Penguin and Penguin Books Inc. in the USA.
With a photocopy of a covering letter from “Eddie”, The Bookseller, 31
August 1967 concerning the proposal to publish the extracts in ‘The
Bookseller’ accompanied by a comment from Sir Allen Lane. “Pretty
offence” has been written in pencil at the top of the letter.
DM1819/22/4
Photographs:
c.19411969
DM1819/22/4/1 – photograph of Sir Allen Lane shaking hands with Sir
Philip Morris after receiving his honorary degree from the University of
Bristol, 6 July 1948. Photographer: Tudor & Facey Photographic Agency,
Bristol. (1 x black and white photograph).
DM1819/22/4/2 – photograph of Allen Lane opening the new wing of
Bristol Grammar School in September 1952, accompanied by the
headmaster John Garrett, Dr F.A. Cocklin the Bishop of Bristol, and
Alderman Henley S. Evans. Photographer: Evening Post. (1 x black and
white photograph).
DM1819/22/4/3 – photograph of E.V. Rieu, Mrs Rieu [and Betty Radice?]
at a garden party held in Bedford Gardens, London to celebrate the
publication of the 50th volume in the King Penguin series, June 1949.
Photographer: Robin Adler, London. (1 x black and white photograph).
DM1819/22/4/4 – photograph of Allen Lane and Lettice Orr on their
wedding day at St Mary’s church, Harmondsworth on 28 June 1941. The
couple are pictured with an unidentified man in a military uniform who is
giving them a pile of Penguin Books. Photographer: London News Agency
Photos Ltd. (1 x black and white photograph).
DM1819/22/4/5 – photograph of Allen Lane and John Hoare junior sitting
on a sofa, April 194[?]. Photographer; Federal Photos, Montreal, Quebec.
(1 x black and white photograph).
DM1819/22/4/6 – Portrait photographs of Allen Lane, n.d. [1950s?].
Photographer: Lotto Métier-Graf, London. (3 x black and white
photographs).
DM1819/22/4/7 – photographs of a Penguin party at the first independent
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
33
Penguin Book Exhibition at 117 Piccadilly, London, November 1950.
Includes Allen Lane, Lettice Lane, Estrid Bannister, Bill Williams, Eunice
Frost, and Hans Schmoller, Tanya Schmoller, Denys Kilham Roberts, J.M.
Richards. Photographer: David Gurney. (1 x black and white photograph).
DM1819/22/4/8 – photographs of Allen Lane and Richard Holme
(marketing director), n.d. [c.1966]. Photographer; Paul Armiger, Daily
Telegraph. (2 x black and white photographs).
DM1819/22/4/9 – photograph of Allen Lane and Han Suyin at a party held
in her honor, n.d. Photographer: unknown. (1 x black and white
photograph).
DM1819/22/4/10 – photograph of Rowland Emett and Allen Lane at the
first independent Penguin Book Exhibition, 117 Piccadilly, London,
November 1950. Photographer: Camera Press Ltd. (1 x black and white
photograph in two halves).
DM1819/22/4/11 – portrait photograph of Allen Lane, n.d. Photographer:
[Madam Yevonde?]. (1 x black and white photograph).
DM1819/22/4/13 – photographs of buffet-dance at Harmondsworth to
celebrate Sir Allen Lane’s 50 years in publishing and to mark his retirement
as Managing Director of Penguin Books Ltd., 18 April 1969. Photographer:
unknown. (3 x black and white contact sheets, 1 x black and white
photograph).
DM1819/22/4/14 – photographs of opening of a new bulk warehouse at
Harmondsworth [completed in July 1967], n.d. [1967]. Includes Sir Allen
Lane unveiling a plaque, a fork lift truck loading books inside the new
warehouse, and Kaye Webb [and Eunice Frost]. Photographer: unknown.
(4 x black and white photographs).
DM1819/22/5
‘Bodley Head – winding up’:
1921-1936
DM1819/22/5/1 - Memorandum and articles of association of John Lane
The Bodley Head Ltd., incorporated 20 April 1921.
DM1819/22/5/2 - Extraordinary Resolution of John Lane The Bodley Head
Ltd., passed 10 March 1927.
DM1819/22/5/3 – Correspondence between Allen Lane, Sidney Davis of
Bulcraig & Davis solicitors, Smedley Rule & Co. chartered accountants,
Alfred Boswell, Purnell & Sons Ltd., H.P. Walters, and E.R. Bennett, 29
April 1929-22 December 1936. Concerning difficulties which arose with
regard to a claim by John Lane The Bodley Head to certain items sent to
Messrs. Dulac for sale some of which belonged to the company; a proposal
to appoint an additional director; the financial situation of the company and
the liquidation of the company.
DM1819/22/6
‘R1: Rights, Revisions, Acquisitions’:
1968-1975
File containing Penguin memoranda concerning copyright issues, reprints,
rights for particular titles, and set books in India.
DM1819/22/7
‘Early History 1949-70 selected’:
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
1948-1970
34
Correspondence and other papers relating to the history of Penguin Books
Inc. USA, 12 September 1948-16 September 1968. Correspondents include
Allen Lane, Morris L. Ernest (Greenbaum, Wolff and Ernst, New York), the
president of The New American Library of World Literature, George
Pfeiffer (Lane Book Company, California), Donald W. Brown, Derek
Shipton, Ed Booher (McGraw-Hill Book Co.), Martin Lightfoot, Chris
Dolly (Penguin Books Inc.), Harry Paroissien. The correspondence
mentions Grace Hogarth’s visit to New York and Boston in 1948 to promote
the Porpoises, King Penguins and Puffins; Harry Paroissien’s visit to New
York in 1949 to investigate the sales position in the USA; publishing
Penguin editions of George Bernard Shaw’s plays in the USA in 1949;
changes to the American copyright law; the Lady Chatterley’s Lover trial of
1960; arrangements in 1965 for Derek Shipton to join Penguin Books Inc. as
an accountant, proposed purchase of Penguin shares by McGraw-Hill; sale
of the American rights in Voices to Rand McNally in 1968; the Penguin
English Project; American marketing of Education books; the Mabey report
on Primary Education of 1968. Includes Penguin Books Inc. management
commission forecast for 1961-1970; sales conference agenda, 31 July-1
August 1968; ‘Penguin Books Inc. Complete List of Titles by Subject and
Series’ July-December 1968; ‘New Books from Penguin’ OctoberNovember 1968
Correspondence between Allen Lane, Tatyana Kent [Tanya Schmoller],
Bernard Stables (Deloitts, Plender, Griffiths & Co., Rio de Janeiro), and Dr
Celso da Rocha Miranda, 29 December 1948-6 October 1949. Concerning
Tatyana Kent’s visit to Brazil; the Penguin Modern Painters series and the
decision not to publish a book about Portinari; attempts to standardize the
Penguin as a trademark; the decision to close Editôra Penguin in Brazil; the
ownership of the Penguin trademark by Deloittes as Editôra Penguin. With
a writ of the constitution of Editôra Distribuidora Penguin dated 28 May
1945.
Correspondence between Sir Allen Lane and Robert Moore (Moore,
Stephens & Co.), 5 September 1952-23 August 1954. Concerning a
proposed settlement of the Penguin shares by Allen Lane on his brother,
Richard Lane. Includes a memorandum detailing Sir Allen Lane’s assets at
5 September 1952; a memorandum of a meeting between Richard Lane and
Mr H.L. Ward on 23 June 1953; memorandum of Sir Allen Lane’s proposed
settlement dated 14 July 1953.
Expenditure notes and report on series year ended 31 December 1958.
From ICD to AL, RL, WEW, EEF, HFP, ASBG, HPS, PBH, JBC, 11 May
1959. Includes comparison of stocks and depreciation 1946-1958; series
stocks and sales year to 31 December 1958; comparison of series sales and
stocks; titles pulped 25 November 1958 at production cost; quarterly
increase in stocks and sales revenue; series quarterly stocks and stock
depreciation year to 31 December 1958; stocks 31 December 1958 at
production cost; series trading account year ending 31 December 1958.
Confidential memorandum on finances in relation to series and stocks.
From ICD to AL, RL, WEW, EEF, HFP, 12 May 1959.
Correspondence between Sir Allen Lane and Leslie Paisner (Paisner & Co.),
20-24 March 1963. Concerning the appointment of three Special Directors,
each with a specific responsibility for a particular branch of the firm:
Anthony Godwin (Chief Editor), Ron Blass (Distribution) and Hans
Schmoller (Production).
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
35
Correspondence between Sir Allen Lane and G.F. Cockerill (Private
Secretary to the Rt.Hon Sir Edward Boyle, M.P), 16 May-1 November
1963. Concerning arrangements for luncheon parties for Senator Benton
and Sir Edward Boyle, and a suggestion that Boyle joins Penguin in the
expansion of their educational side.
Draft confidential copy of the history and business of the Penguin
Publishing Company, n.d. [1968]. Covers the incorporation, company
structure, publishing breakdown, educational division, hardback subsidiary,
interests overseas, breakdown of overseas sales 1967, sales and distribution,
group net sales 1957-1967, annual compound growth rates 1957-1967,
devaluation, capital expenditures 1963-1968, finance, management, profit
record, and profit margins 1963-1967.
Copies of a speech made by Allen Lane thanking the publishers and authors
who have made the Penguin list possible, n.d. [1969?]. Mentions Jonathan
Cape, H.G. Wells, George Bernard Shaw, Apsley Cherry-Garrard, Pevsner,
and the Classics.
DM1819/22/8
Correspondence between Christopher Dolly of Penguin Books Inc., USA,
and Penguin UK concerning Pelican Shakespeare, royalties and Penguin
History of Art series.
1967-1968
DM1819/22/9
‘Mr Paroissien’ [Penguin Books Inc., USA]:
1965-1969
DM1819/22/9/1 – ‘The Restrictive Trade Practices Court and the Net Book
Agreement’ by George W. Liebmann. Reprinted from The Modern Law
Review, September 1965. (2 copies).
DM1819/22/9/2 – Tentative academic mailing schedule, Fall 1968.
DM1819/22/9/3 – Outline of promotional materials and procedures in the
areas of direct mail advertising, space advertising and promotion.
DM1819/22/9/4 – Tentative trade and publicity mailing schedule, JulyDecember 1968.
DM1819/22/9/5 – Tentative space advertising schedule, July-December
1968.
DM1819/22/9/6 – Tentative exhibit schedule for Penguin Books Inc., JulyDecember 1968.
DM1819/22/9/7 – List of forthcoming library editions, November 1968February 1969.
DM1819/22/9/8 – Hardcover Program: Spring 1969. Tentative ALPP list.
DM1819/22/9/9 – Tentative publication schedule, January-March 1969.
DM1819/22/9/10 – Order form for Penguin Books Inc., July-December
1969.
DM1819/22/9/11 – ‘New Books From Penguin, July, August, September
1968’, produced by Penguin Books Inc.
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
36
DM1819/22/9/12 – Penguin Book Inc. advance order form, 1968.
Box 23
DM1819/23/1
Christmas cards and Christmas books produced by the Lane Brothers,
Penguin, and others.
1927-1963
DM1819/23/2
Miscellaneous correspondence including account of Allen Lane being stuck
in a game park in Kenya, 1962, and letter from Christina Foyle following
the death of her father William Alfred Foyle, 1963.
1961-1968
DM1819/23/3
DM1819/23/3/1 – Correspondence concerning revisions to Ian C. Dickson’s
service agreement with Penguin Books Ltd., 23 June 1960-8 August 1962.
Includes a confidential report by I.C. Dickson on staffing issues in the
accounts department, 6 November 1961; draft service agreements; draft
agreement between Penguin Books Ltd and Robert Arthur Davies, Manager
of the Export Department, 196_; draft agreement between Penguin Books
Ltd and James Alexander Holmes, Production Manager, 196_; draft
agreement between Penguin Books Ltd and Ian Charles Dickson, Chartered
Accountant, 196_.
1952-1968
DM1819/23/3/2 – Correspondence concerning Penguin Books Pty. Ltd.,
Australia, 15 November 1961-21 December 1962. Correspondents include
Brian Stonier (Penguin Books Pty. Ltd.), Anthony Godwin (Penguin Books
Ltd.), Eunice Frost (Penguin Books Ltd.), Mark Tucker (Penguin Books Pty.
Ltd.), Allen Lane (Penguin Books Ltd.), Geoffrey Dutton (University of
Adelaide). Includes minutes of the first editorial board meeting of Penguin
Books Pty. Ltd., held on 11-12 December 1960.
DM1819/23/3/3 – Copy letter from Allen Lane to Bob Maynard, 1
September 1952. Concerning Lane’s plans for his visit to Australia. He
will leave the handling of The Woman of Rome to Maynard.
DM1819/23/3/4 – Notice about the death of Mr W (Bill) D. Rapley, London
Representative of Penguin Books, n.d.
DM1819/23/3/5 – Report from Michael Ayrton on Concept, Form and
Symbol by Peter Laverty, with letter of acknowledgement from Raleigh
Trevelyan, 13 November 1961.
DM1819/23/3/6 – Letters from Ernest Marples (Minister of Transport)
concerning Sir Allen Lane’s suggestion to publish a popular version of Mr
Buchanan’s report, 19, 22 December 1961.
DM1819/23/3/7 – Correspondence between Sir Allen Lane and J. Cochrane
de Alencar (Brazilian Ambassador), 15, 25 January 1962. Concerning plans
to establish Penguin in Brazil.
DM1819/23/3/8 – Correspondence between Sir Allen Lane and Prof. J.B.
Ghosh, Bihar, India, to Penguin Books Ltd., 3 April 1968. Ghosh thanks
Penguin for making good affordable books available in India. Lane
mentions his first visit to India in 1939 and that he has given his collection
of signed first editions to the University of Bristol.
DM1819/23/3/9 – Correspondence between Sir Allen Lane and Sir Julian
Huxley, 66-14 September 1962. Huxley has an incomplete copy of William
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
37
Plomer’s At Home and congratulates Lane on his policy with Penguin
Books.
DM1819/23/3/10 – Correspondence between His Royal Highness The Aga
Khan and Sir Allen Lane, 29 October-1 November 1962. The Aga Khan
offers Lane the services of his Nairobi printing works and suggests
producing paperback books in the Swahili or Kikuyu languages.
DM1819/23/3/11 – Copy letter from Allen Lane to John Betjeman, 3
December 1962. Lane has just returned from launching Australian Penguins
in Melbourne, including Robin Boyd’s Australian Ugliness for which he
asks Betjeman to write a short introduction.
DM1819/23/3/12 – Correspondence between Ian Norrie (Managing
Director, High Hill Book Shops Ltd.) and Sir Allen Lane, 6-22 March 1968.
Concerning Norrie’s commission by Jonathan Cape Ltd to prepare a new
edition of Frank Mumby’s Publishing and Bookselling.
DM1819/23/3/13 – Telegram from Ashton [Allen] to Allen Lane
congratulating him on publishing the 1000th Pelican [E.P. Thompson’s The
Making of the English Working Class, A1000], 26 September 1968.
DM1819/23/3/14 – A report to a sales meeting, n.d. [1960]. Mentions the
“Crime Push”, the 25th anniversary of Penguin Books, sales of Lady
Chatterley’s Lover, and that there are no plans to sell Penguin.
DM1819/23/4
Christmas cards produced by the Lane Brothers and Penguin [1936 card
designed by Robert Gibbings].
1927-1949
DM1819/23/5
Sales Meeting minutes 1959-1962; discussion of Penguin mathematics
series; terms for bookshops; correspondence with Patrick Hepburn
concerning his employment at Penguin 1955; and launching of the Puffin
Club 1967.
1955-1967
DM1819/23/6
Photographs:
1930s-1985
DM1819/23/6/1 – Portrait photograph of Allen Lane sitting at a desk with
an open ledger book, n.d. [late 1930s?]. Photographer: unknown. (1 x
black and white photograph).
DM1819/23/6/2 – Photograph of a contract made between Penguin Books
Ltd. And Mr Cherry-Garrard for ‘The Worst Journey in the World’, signed
4 December 1939. Photographer: Tunbridge. (1 x black and white
photograph).
DM1819/23/6/3 – Photograph of Allen Lane working at his desk at the
Penguin offices in Harmondsworth, n.d. [c.1940]. Photographer: unknown.
(1 x black and white photograph).
DM1819/23/6/4 – Photograph of Allen Lane on his wedding day on 28 June
1941 being handed a copy of the Penguin Special edition of Harold J.
Laski’s Where do we go from here? (S78) by an unidentified man in army
uniform. Photographer: London News Agency Photos Ltd. (1 x black and
white photograph).
DM1819/23/6/5 – Photographs of a party to celebrate the publication and
performance of the first model theatre play, High Toby by J.B. Priestley
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
38
(PC5), n.d. [published November 1948]. People photographed include J.B.
Priestley, Noel Carrington, James Laver and John Carter. Photographer:
Tom L. Blau, Camera Press Ltd. (3 x black and white photographs).
DM1819/23/6/6 – Photograph of a Penguin staff stood in front of a bus on a
staff outing, n.d. [late 1940s]. Photographer: unknown. (1 x black and
white photograph).
DM1819/23/6/7 – Photographs of a Penguin party [?at the first independent
Penguin Book Exhibition at 117 Piccadilly, London in November 1950].
Photographs include Margery Allingham, ?J.B.S. Haldane, Allen Lane, C.
Day Lewis, Kingsley Martin, Jim Richards, E.V. Rieu, Ruth Simon (later
Ruth Hart-Davies), Angela Thirkell, Bill Williams, and A. Zwemmer.
Photographer: David Gurney. (4 x black and white photographs).
DM1819/23/6/8 – Photographs of a Penguin party [?at a Penguin Book
Exhibition], n.d. [1950s?]. Photographs include Allen Lane, Hans
Schmoller, and Tanya Schmoller. Photographer: Fox Photos Ltd. (5 x
black and white photographs).
DM1819/23/6/9 – Photographs of the interior of a warehouse [at
Harmondsworth?], n.d. [c.1940s/1950s?]. Photographer: unknown. (12 x
black and white photographs).
DM1819/23/6/10 – Photographs of Penguin point-of-sale displays
advertising ‘Send a Penguin for Christmas’, with a free Penguin Christmas
carton, n.d. [1950s?]. Photographer: unknown. (2 x black and white
photographs).
DM1819/23/6/11 – Photograph of a Penguin Book Exhibition, n.d.
[1950s?]. Photographer: Camera Press Ltd. (1 x black and white
photograph).
DM1819/23/6/12 – Photograph of a luncheon at Claridge’s Hotel on 8
October 1952 to meet the President and Directors of the Lanston Monotype
Machine Company. Photographs include C.W. Geoffrey Paulson (Assistant
General Manager, The Monotype Corporation Ltd.), Sir Allen Lane
(Managing Director, Penguin Books Ltd.), W.H. Parrack (Joint Managing
Director, Odhams Press Ltd.), and G.L. Tinker (Home Sales Manager, The
Monotype Corporation Ltd. Photographer: The Knightsbridge Photographic
Bureau. (1 x black and white photograph).
DM1819/23/6/13 – Photograph of Allen Lane working at his desk [at
Harmondsworth?], Summer/Autumn 1953. Photographer: Harold King
(Photography) Ltd. (1 x black and white photograph).
DM1819/23/6/14 – Photographs relating to the publication on July 1954 of
the 1000th Penguin book, One of our Submarines by Edward Young.
Photographs include window displays, point-of-sale advertising, and of
H.M. Submarine ‘Storm’ coming into her UK base. Copyright: Imperial
War Museum and unknown. (7 x black and white photographs).
DM1819/23/6/15 – Photograph of Rodrigo Moynihan’s painting ‘After the
Conference’, 1955. Photographer: unknown. (1 x black and white
photograph).
DM1819/23/6/16 – Photograph of Allen Lane laying the foundation stone
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
39
[for a new warehouse at Harmondsworth?], n.d. [1958?]. Photographer:
unknown. (1 x black and white photograph).
DM1819/23/6/17 – Portrait photograph of Allen Lane standing in front of
piles of Penguin books in a warehouse, n.d. [1950s?]. Photographer: Ed
Wergeles, Newsweek Photo [USA]. (1 x black and white photographs)
DM1819/23/6/18 – Photographs of the interior of the warehouse and of staff
working in the offices of Penguin Books Inc., Baltimore, Maryland, USA,
n.d. [1960s?]. Photographers: The Holmes I. Mettee Studio Photography,
Baltimore, Maryland, and Blakeslee-Lane, Inc., Baltimore, Maryland. (4 x
black and white photographs).
DM1819/23/6/19 – Photograph of a room [prepared for the Penguin
shareholders’ AGM on 30 May 1962?]. Photographer: unknown. (1 x
black and white photograph).
DM1819/23/6/20 – Contact sheet of photographs of a Peacock party
[possibly to mark the publishing of the first five Peacock books in October
1962], with index, n.d. Photographs include Edward Ardizzone, Mrs
Ardizzone, Enid Bagnold, Charles Clark, Eileen Colwell, David Davis,
Robert Denniston (publisher), Susan Dickinson, Gerald Durrell, Mrs
Durrell, Germano Facetti, Roy Fuller, Tony Godwin, Charles Graves, Roger
Lancelyn Green, David Highams, Helen Hoke (US children’s publisher),
J.A. Holmes, David Holloway (Daily Telegraph), Christine Lane, Lady
Lettice Lane, Ruth Martin (Modern Woman), J.E. Morpurgo, H.F.
Paroissien, Mrs Paroissien, Tanya Schmoller, Diane Speakman, Doreen
Stephens (BBC Women’s TV), Noel Streatfeild, Dorothy Tomlinson
(Hutchinson), Raleigh Trevelyan, P.L. Travers, Alison Uttley, Kaye Webb,
Bill Williams and Robert Wraight. (journalist). Photographer: Terry Hardy.
(3 x black and white contact sheets)
DM1819/23/6/21 – Photograph of the honorary degree certificates awarded
to Allen Lane by the University of Bristol in 1948 and the University of
Oxford in 1983, and of the letter from the College of Arms granting him a
knighthood in 1952. Photographer: unknown. (1 x black and white
photograph).
DM1819/23/6/22 – Photographs of a party to mark Dr E.V. Rieu’s
retirement from the editorship of the Penguin Classics held in the Great
Drawing Room of the Arts Council, London on 22 July 1964. Photographs
include Dr E.V. Rieu and Sir Allen Lane. Photographer: unknown. (4 x
black and white photographs).
DM1819/23/6/23 – Photographs of the window displays for Len Deighton’s
Funeral in Berlin in Collet’s and Foyles’ bookshops, London, n.d.
[published June 1966]. Photographer: unknown. (2 x black and white
photographs).
DM1819/23/6/24 – Contact sheet of photographs of Penguin’s warehouse in
West Drayton, Middlesex, n.d. [c.1966]. Photographer: unknown. (1 x
black and white contact sheet).
DM1819/23/6/25 – Photographs of a joint 65th birthday party for Sir Allen
Lane and Nikolaus Pevsner, 1967. Photographs include Sir Allen Lane,
Nikolaus Pevsner and John Braine. Photographer: unknown. (2 x black and
white photographs).
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
40
DM1819/23/6/26 – Photographs of Sir Allen Lane opening the new
warehouse at Harmondsworth in 1968. Photographs include Sir Allen Lane,
Kaye Webb, Harry Paroissien. Photographers: unknown. (2 x black and
white photographs, 8 x colour photographs with negatives).
DM1819/23/6/27 – Photograph of the interior of a warehouse [at
Harmondsworth?], n.d. [c.1970?]. Photographer: unknown. (1 x black and
white photograph).
DM1819/23/6/28 – Photograph of a water sculpture [at Harmondsworth?],
n.d. [c.1970?]. Photographer: unknown. (1 x black and white photograph).
DM1819/23/6/29 – Photograph of Sir Allen Lane greeting Tony Richardson
to the reception at the Stationers’ Hall, London held on 23 April 1969 to
celebrate Sir Allen Lane’s fifty years in publishing. Photographer:
unknown. (1 x black and white photograph).
DM1819/23/6/30 – Photograph of Sir Allen Lane cutting a cake [at a party
to celebrate his fifty years in publishing?], n.d. [1969?]. Photographer:
Fotobureau Jan Schiet, Marnixstraat, Amsterdam. (1 x black and white
photograph).
DM1819/23/6/31 – Photographs of the dispatch department in the
warehouse at Harmondsworth, n.d. [1970s?]. Photographer: unknown. (2 x
colour photographs).
DM1819/23/6/32 – Photographs of the unveiling of a plaque by Sir Edward
Boyle in the Council Chamber commemorating Sir Allen Lane’s
presentation of furnishings to the Council Chamber in gratitude for 50 years
co-operation with the members of The Booksellers Association of Great
Britain and Ireland, July 1969. Photographer: Fox Photos Ltd. (10 x black
and white photographs).
DM1819/23/6/33 – Photographs of a retirement party for Ashton Allen,
sales manager, held in the Board Room of Penguin Books Ltd.,
Harmondsworth, n.d. [16 December 1967]. Photographers: unknown. (2 x
black and white photographs, 4 x colour photographs).
DM1819/23/6/34 – Photograph of Sir Allen Lane meeting Kwaku Mensah,
during a visit to Kumasi, Ghana [in 1956?]. Photographer: AsieduAgyentutu, Speed Graphic Studio, Kumasi. (1 x black and white
photograph).
DM1819/23/6/35 – Photograph of Sir Allen Lane standing in front of
bookcases of Penguin books, n.d. [1960s]. Photographer: unknown. (1 x
black and white photograph).
DM1819/23/6/36 – Photograph of a display of Penguin Books, n.d.
[c.1960]. Photographer: unknown. (1 x black and white photographs).
DM1819/23/6/37 – Photograph of Sir Allen Lane [at a book fair?], n .d.
[1960s]. Photographs include David Collins, Rowland Emett, John
Goodman, Peter Kemp and Sir Allen Lane. Photographer: Apex Photos
Ltd. (3 x black and white photographs).
DM1819/23/6/38 – Photograph of a visit from the Overseas Booksellers’
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
41
Mission to the International Booksellers’ Conference held at
Harmondsworth, n.d. [late 1960s?]. Photographer: unknown. (1 x black
and white photograph).
DM1819/23/6/39 – Photographs of Michael Bond looking at artwork, n.d.
[1970s?]. Photographer: unknown. (2 x black and white photographs).
DM1819/23/6/40 – Contact sheets of photographs of the exterior of no.8
Vigo Street, London, n.d. [c.1985]. Photographer: unknown. (2 x black and
white contact sheets).
DM1819/23/6/41 – Photographs of Penguin book covers, displays and
merchandising. Includes the covers of Penguin books nos.2-10 (published
July 1935); a point-of-sale display for Len Deighton’s Ou est le Garlic
(PH117, published October 1965); window display for five Penguin editions
of Ernest Hemingway’s books published in May 1966 (nos.2421-2425);
collection of Penguin and Pelican Books [last published in September
1967]; Penguin display case. Photographers: unknown. (5 x black and
white photographs).
DM1819/23/6/42 – Photographic negatives of no.8 Vigo Street, London; Sir
Allen Lane laying a foundation stone [for a new warehouse at
Harmondsworth?]; the interior of the crypt at Holy Trinity church; a
Penguin staff Christmas party at Harmondsworth [c.1947]; 21st anniversary
party at Silverbeck; Allen Lane unveiling a plaque [at the new warehouse at
Harmondsworth?]; Allen Lane [receiving the Queen’s Award?]; Allen Lane
holding a penguin and reading The Thin Man. Photographers: unknown.
(17 x black and white negatives).
Box 24
DM1819/24/1
Photograph Album:
1967
Photographs of Sir Allen Lane’s visit to The Philips Park Press, Manchester
on 20 July 1967 to initiate the new Strachan and Henshaw rotary book
printing press. Photographs include Ashton Allen (Penguin area sales
manager), John Alport, Mary Cohen (Percivals’), Tom Cross (head of
packing and dispatch), Arthur J. Darch (W.H. Smith & Sons), W.B. Day
(Penguin’s Manchester rep.), Arthur Harrison (printing overseer), Stanley
Haslam (bindery overseer), Reg Humphreys (composing department
overseer), Anthony Kadelbach (Penguin area sales manager), Sir Allen
Lane, Mary Mersser (Nicholl’s London director), Bernard Nicholls
(managing director). Reg Pipe (binding machine operator), Laurence P.
Scott (managing director of The Guardian and Manchester Evening News),
David Starr (General Manager). Photographer: Arthur Taylor. The press
was used for the 23rd reprint of the Penguin edition of Homer’s ‘Odyssey’
and was therefore christened The Odyssey Press.
DM1819/24/2
‘Staff’:
1952-1968
Correspondence concerning staff matters. Correspondents include Ashton
Allen, John A. Allen, Rene Allen, Sir Edward Boyle, Charles Clark,
Margaret S. Clark, John Curtis, Christopher Dolly, Tony Godwin, A.S.B.
Glover, R.M. Harwood, R.C. Ingram, Richard Lane, Phoebe Latham, Tom
Maschler, S.T. Mitchell, John Munson, H.F. Paroissien, James B. Price,
Raleigh Trevelyan, Kaye Webb, Jim Watkins, C.M. Woodhouse, A. Young.
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
42
Includes Christmas card from the staff of Penguin’s Southport depot,
1950/51, with photographs of all the staff; appointment in 1958 of Tom
Maschler; John A. Allen joining Penguin in 1960; possibility of Tony
Godwin joining Penguin in 1960; appointment in 1960 of Alwyn R.H.
Birch; resignation in 1961 of Richard Lane from both the English and
Australian boards of Penguin Books Ltd.; resignation in 1961 of John
Curtis; appointment in 1961 of Kaye Webb as editor of Puffin books and in
1966 as a director; appointment in 1962 as Chris Dolly as Joint Export
Manager; resignation in 1962 of Raleigh Trevelyan; appointment of R.C.
Ingram in 1963 as paramount financial controller; appointment in 1965 of
Sir Edward Boyle to the board of Penguin Books Ltd.; death of A.S.B.
Glover in 1966, with obituary written by Allen Lane; the retirement in 1967
of Ashton Allen; appointment in 1967 of John Munson and his resignation
in 1968.
DM1819/24/3
Correspondence with Harry Paroissien and others concerning Penguin in the
USA; including sales figures and discussions with lawyers.
1960-1961
DM1819/24/4
Correspondence with Penguin Australia, Penguin Books Pty Ltd.
1962
DM1819/24/5
Notes on the history of Penguin.
1969-1971
Includes contact sheets of photographs of a reception held by the Directors
of Penguin Books at the Stationers’ Hall on 23 April 1969 to celebrate Sir
Allen Lane’s 50 years in publishing; draft of Sir Robert Lusty tribute given
at Sir Allen Lane’s memorial service on 18 August 1970; copy of Richard
Hoggart’s tribute to Sir Allen Lane, August 1970; photocopy of an article by
René Elvin entitled ‘Two Pioneers of Publishing: Orell Fussli Verlag,
Zurich and Kosel Verlag’; typescript extracts from Victor Weybright’s
biography, The Making of a Publisher: A Life In the Twentieth Century
Book Revolution, published in New York by Reynal in 1967 of an account
of the early days of Penguin and Penguin Books Inc. in the USA; photocopy
of ‘The Life of Sir Thomas Bodley’; photocopy of an article by Michael S.
Howard entitled ‘Two English tradesmen: Jonathan Cape’, published in
‘The Times’, 14 January 1971.
DM1819/24/6
Correspondence concerning land owned by Penguin at Stanwell.
1995-1996
Correspondence between Penguin Books Ltd. and the Environment Agency
concerning the National Rivers Authority acquisition of land at the junction
of Horton Road and Leylands Lane and at Willow Farm in connection with
the River Colne diversion scheme.
Box 25
DM1819/25/1
Hesketh Pearson:
1926-1927,
1968-1970
Papers relating to the legal case of John Lane The Bodley Head Ltd. against
the author Hesketh Pearson. Pearson wrote the book The Whispering
Gallery: Being Leaves from the Diary of an Ex-diplomat, 1926, alleging that
it was written on behalf of a diplomat. Allen Lane was involved in the case
as a junior member of the firm. Also correspondence concerning the case,
1968-1970.
DM1819/25/2
Correspondence between Allen Lane and Richard Lane concerning personal
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
1952-1970
43
matters and Penguin in Australia.
DM1819/25/3
Correspondence between Allen Lane and V. Krishna Menon concerning
Pelican Books, and other Penguin issues.
1937-1938
DM1819/25/4
‘America 1960’:
1960
Correspondence between Allen Lane, Harry Paroissien and others
concerning Penguin USA.
DM1819/25/5
‘America 1961’:
1960-1961
Correspondence between Allen Lane, Harry Paroissien and others
concerning Penguin USA.
DM1819/25/6
Photographs of a presentation by Hans Schmoller to Jack Summers at
Harmondsworth to celebrate his forty years with Penguin Books Ltd., n.d.
[23 December 1974]. Photographer: unknown. (6 x black and white
photographs).
1974
DM1819/25/7
Photographs:
1954-1969
DM1819/25/7/1 – Photograph of an advertisement for the 1000th Penguin,
One of Our Submarines by Edward Young, n.d. [published July 1954],
photographer: King & Hutchings Ltd; photograph of H.M. Submarine
‘Storm’ coming into her UK base, copyright: Imperial War Museum, n.d.
(2 x black and white photographs).
DM1819/25/7/2 – Photographs of a reception held by the Directors of
Penguin Books at the Stationers’ Hall on 23 April 1969 to celebrate Sir
Allen Lane’s 50 years in publishing. People pictured include John Baker,
R.A. Batchelor (Chambers), Anne Graham Bell, Eugene Braun-Munk
(Hachette Livre, Paris), Geoffrey Broughton, Eric Burt, Michael Buttler,
Mrs Oliver Caldecott, Charles Clark, R. Clarke, John Clay and Richard
Clay, Peter Cochrane, Harry Cooper (Cox & Wyman), Mr Cotton (Manager,
WH Smith, Richmond), Arthur Crook, Pip Cullen (Bookwise, Godalming),
Glyn Daniel, S. Davidson (WH Smith, Sloane Square), R.A. Davies, Robin
Denniston (Hodders), Martin Dent (Chairman of J.M. Dent Ltd.), Ian
Dickson, Una Dillon, Mr & Mrs C. Dolly, Margaret Drabble, Lord Evans,
Roger Falk, Bert Ferris (Blackwells, Oxford), R.E.H. Finch (Cazenove &
Co.), Aubrey Forshaw, Eunice Frost, J. Garland, Jock Gibb, Janet Glover,
Mrs Glover, Lilia Gollancz, Richard Gordon, Robert Gregory, Tom Hodges
(Head Book Buyer, W.H. Smith, Head office), Mr & Mrs Hoekstra (Dutch
bookseller), Richard Hoggart, Jimmy Holmes (W.H. Smith, Area Manager,
Central London), Mrs Pat Hudson (Hudson’s, Birmingham), Barry
Johnston, Richard Kent, Archie Kidney (W.H. Smith area manager for West
London), Sir Allen Lane, Lady Lettice Lane, Jim Law (Head Book Buyer,
Boots Head office, London), Martin Lightfoot, R.A. Machell, Tom
Maschler, Mary Messer, Anthony Mott, Charles Mozley, John Newton, Mr
& Mrs Bernard Nicholls (C. Nicholls the Printers), Eric Norris (Pioneer
Bookshop, Woolwich), Mr & Mrs Leslie Paisner, Ian Parsons, Maureen
Patten, Mrs Elkie Powell, Michael Radcliffe, June Rae and Alec Rae
(Pilgrim’s Bookshop, Canterbury), Sydney Robin (solicitor), Mr & Mrs
Ledig Rowhoet (German publisher), Michael Rubinstein, Sir Gordon
Russell, Thomas Russell, Peter du Sautoy, Hans Schmoller, Mr Scott (W.H.
Smith, Airport Area Manager), Lord Sieff of Brimpton, Bertie Smith
(Managing Director, Gordon & Gotch), Colin North Smith (Peat ,Marwick,
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
44
Mitchell), Bill Stone (printer), Sir John Summerson, A.J.P. Taylor, Maureen
Thacker, Mr & Mrs Lovell Thompson, Mrs Edith Tschichold, Jan
Tschichold, Ralph Tubbs, Mrs Tubbs, Rayner Unwin, J.R. Vesselo (Penguin
Advisory Editor), Elliot Viney, Lewis Ward, Jack Watson (W.H. Smith area
manager for North London), Kaye Webb, Leslie Wheeler (Carter &
Wheeler, Slough), Sir Mortimer Wheeler, Kim Whiting, Angus Wilson,
Terence Wright, Mr Yeo (W.H. Smith & Sons), Brian Young, and Edward
Young. Photographer: unknown. (135 x black and white photographs)
DM1819/25/7/3 – Photographs of the exterior of the Old Mill, West
Drayton. Photographer: unknown. (4 x black and white photographs).
DM1819/25/7/4 – colour transparency of an informal photograph of Allen
Lane [in a garden?], n.d. [c.1960s]. (1 x colour transparency).
Box 26
DM1819/26/1
‘Author’s Letters’:
1937-1969
File of correspondence between Allen Lane and various authors, topics
include Penguin books, signed copies and visits. Authors include Margery
Allingham, John Braine, Agatha Christie, Robert Graves, Graham Greene,
Max Mollowan, Ethel Mannin, André Maurois, Ved Mehta, Nancy Mitford,
Arthur Ransome, Edmond Segrave, Edith Sitwell, Beatrice and Sidney
Webb, Marjorie Wells, Chiang Yee and P.G. Wodehouse.
DM1819/26/2
Papers relating to the purchase of shares in Jonathan Cape Ltd.
1960-1962
DM1819/26/3
Correspondence between Allen Lane and William Emrys (Bill) Williams
concerning Penguin and personal matters.
1947-1969
DM1819/26/4
‘Letters from authors to Allen Lane at the Bodley Head’:
1925-1940
Correspondents include: Agatha Christie, James Hanley, Alice Harland,
R.W.D. Holland, Charles Houghton, Elsa Lanchester, Hendrik Willem van
Loon, Ethel Mannin, André Maurois, William Heath Robinson, Beatrice
Kean Seymour, A.J.A. Symons, “C.T”, Ben Travers, and Krishna Raja
Wadiyar IV, Maharaja of Mysore.
Box 27
DM1819/27/1
‘Correspondence with publishers’:
1937-1968
Correspondence between Allen Lane, Penguin, and publishers. Mainly
invitations to events, but also some discussion of book rights. Includes an
80th birthday party for Jonathan Cape, 1959. Publishers include Faber,
Victor Gollancz, Jonathan Cape, Stanley Unwin, Hogarth Press, Bodley
Head, Hutchinson, and Routledge & Kegan Paul.
DM1819/27/2
‘Penguin Books Australia Limited – Early History’:
1947-1971
DM1819/27/2/1 - Copy letter from [Penguin Books] to John Hadfield,
National Book League, 20 February 1947. Allen Lane will not be able to
arrange the exhibition of the 4th year architectural students’ models and
plans of Penguin’s new premises until after his return from the USA.
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
45
DM1819/27/2/2 – Copy letter from Allen Lane to J.S. Meulenhoff,
Meulenhoff & Co., Amsterdam, 23 June 1952. Lane thanks Meulenhoff
for the consignment of Insel Books and informs him that Mr Davis,
Acting Sales Manager, hopes to visit Meulenhoff in July.
DM1819/27/2/3 – Four copies of a menu card [designed by Hans
Schmoller] for a luncheon to Sir Allen Lane at the Connaught Rooms,
London, 13 February 1957. One copy has been signed by Allen Lane and
everyone who attended the luncheon. (4 copies)
DM1819/27/2/4 – Two copies of a printed invitation from Sir Allen Lane
to attend a celebration a cocktail party at Silverbeck on 27 June 1956 to
celebrate Penguin’s 21st anniversary. (2 copies)
DM1819/27/2/5 – A brief history of Penguin books [by W.E. (Bill)
Williams?], 1958.
DM1819/27/2/6 – Report by [W.E. (Bill) Williams?] of a trip that he and
David Kimble (Director of the Extra-mural department of Achimota
University and editor of the West African Penguins) made to West Africa
to ascertain the size of the book market, n.d. [c.1960?].
DM1819/27/2/7 – Invitation from Sir Allen Lane to all members of the
Penguin staff to attend a garden party at Silverbeck on 29 July 1960 to
celebrate the 21st anniversary of Penguin Books.
DM1819/27/2/8 – Menu card [to celebrate the publication of the 200th
Puffin book?], n.d. [1963?]. Signed by Sir Allen Lane, Naomi Lewis,
Peter Opie, Hans Schmoller, Kaye Webb, Martin Bassett and Iona Opie.
The cover of the card is a copy of the book cover of Iona and Peter Opie’s
The Puffin Book of Nursery Rhymes [PS200].
DM1819/27/2/9 – Printed silk handkerchief to commemorate a football
match between Drukkeru Bosch and Penguin Books on 25/26 March
1968. Includes names of both teams and photographs of the staff. The
Penguin team consisted of Stan Harris, John Badham, Tony Mott, Brian
Addams, Stan Kenton, Keith Burns (captain), Holga Marsen, Michael
Fairchild, Billy Gill, Kenneth Morgan, and Keith Kenton. The Bosch
team consisted of Harry Mulder, Kees v.d. Wal, John Cloo, Ruud Kragten,
Teo v.d. Linden, Jan Boot, Gerrit de Leeuw, Frans Cabo, Ben Heesbeen
(captain), Gerrit Lijffijt, and Wout Wagenaar.
DM1819/27/2/10 – Printed invitation from Sir Allen Lane to attend a
reception to mark the silver jubilee of Penguin Books at the Exotarium in
the Zoological Garden, Alfred-Brehm-Platz, Frankfurt am Main on 21
September 1960. The card includes Elizabeth Friedlander’s 25th
anniversary Penguin device and a plan of the zoo.
DM1819/27/2/11 – Letter from John Newton (Director of The Booksellers
Association) to Sir Allen Lane, 7 July 1969. Regrets that Lane was unable
to attend the unveiling of the plaque in the new Council Chamber,
commemorating Lane’s gift to the Association. The plaque was unveiled
by Sir Edward Boyle on Lane’s behalf.
DM1819/27/2/12 – Letter from Harold Raymond, Biddenden Place,
Biddenden, Kent to Mrs Schmoller, 22 March 1971. Mentions his
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
46
memories of the early days of Penguin Books.
DM1819/27/2/13 – Letter from Deny Kilham Roberts, Cornwall to Mrs
Schmoller, 24 March 1971. Will send Schmoller his memories of the
early days of Penguin Books, but is also writing his own life story.
DM1819/27/2/14 – Printed invitation from Sir Allen Lane to attend a
buffet lunch on 6 July [n.y] to celebrate the opening of the new canteen.
DM1819/27/3
Appointment of Allen Lane as an honorary member of the Royal Institute
of British Architects.
June 1970
DM1819/27/4
‘Beginnings’:
1908-1966
Correspondence and papers relating to the history of John Lane The
Bodley Head and the early days of Penguin Books.
Letter from L.J. Bathurst (Alston Rivers Ltd.) to ‘Dear Lane’, 5 November
1908. Bathurst is sorry to hear of Lane’s illness and wishes him a speedy
recovery. Reports on a meeting held at which it was agreed that the
‘Circle’ firms should only send one copy on sale to book shows, that
Heinemann suggest that the 6d. novel houses should agree not to dispose
of any of their novels to the 7d. people, and that Gamage’s are selling the
‘Queen’s Letters’ even though they have been boycotted for violating the
Net Book agreement.
Letter from L.J. Bathurst (Morning Post) to ‘Dear Lane’, 12 July 1911.
Bathurst thanks Lane for caricature of his ancestor, the Lord Chancellor’s
father.
Letter from L.J. Bathurst (Morning Post offices) to ‘My dear Lane’, 10
February 1914. Bathurst apologises for not being able to accept Lane’s
invitation; has never attended an Odd Volumes dinner but hopes to meet
Lane at the next P.C. lunch.
Reader’s report [possibly by Allen Lane] of W.H. Rainsford’s That Girl
March [published by John Lane in 1920], n.d.
Letter from [Arundel Dene?], c/o Melbourne Electric Supply Co., to ‘Dear
Mrs Lane’, 25 November 1925. Concerning her tribute to John Lane with
reference to a memoir published in ‘The Bulletin’.
Letter from [Lewis May?] to ‘My dear Allen’, 15 February 1933. Sends
Lane a brief chronology of the history of The Bodley Head from 1887 to
1894 and suggests that “There may be some pale excuse for an orgy on the
first of Oct. 1934” but not in 1933 as Lane had hoped.
Part of an announcement written on John Lane The Bodley Head Limited
writing paper, 29 May 1935. The announcement reads: “On June 28th we
are publishing the first ten titles of a new 6d. series to be known as
PENGUIN BOOKS. The size of the books will be approximately 9” x
41/2”, so that they slip easily into the pocket, whilst the text is printed
clearly on good paper, and is restful to the eye.” On the back of the
announcement are notes made in pencil of outgoings to April 1933 and
April 1934.
Letter from Alfred Fairbank to ‘Dear Young’, 18 January 1938. Fairbank
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
47
sends Young a photosta of his drawing of the cheque.
Correspondence between Beryl Olney and Allen Lane, 4-17 January 1966.
Concerning the death of Beryl’s father, Stanley Olney, who was one of the
few people who moved over to Penguin when the Bodley Head folded up.
Letter from Blanche Prescott to Allen [Lane], 20 August [n.y.].
Concerning the death of Clifford Prescott.
DM1819/27/5
‘Mergers and negotiations’:
1961-1969
Correspondence with publishers concerning possible mergers and share
options, including Bodley Head, Longman 1969, McGraw-Hill 1967,
Houghton Mifflin and Penguin USA, Fred Warburg of Martin Secker &
Warburg 1961, and Pan Books 1961.
DM1819/27/6
‘Eleanor Graham’:
1959-1960
Correspondence between Eleanor Graham and Allen Lane, 12 January
1959-5 September 1960.
Includes discussions about publishing Eleanor Graham’s Life of Jesus
(PS135, published October 1959), Brian Wildsmith’s illustrations, Hans
Schmoller’s design and the reception of the book, particularly in America;
Eleanor Graham’s breakdown and return to work at Puffin; Margaret
Clark’s character; arrangements for Eleanor Graham’s retirement at the
end of 1960 and discussions about possible people to succeed her
(suggestions include James Reeves, John Verney and Judith Gordon
Walker); visits to Allen Lane and his family.
DM1819/27/7
Penguin Classics [L/044]:
1950-1985
Letter from E.V. Rieu to [Alan] Glover, 13 April 1950. Rieu sends
Glover copies of the letters from two Americans [Stanley Glowacki and
Harriet D. Adams] asking him to show them to Thomas and Allen Lane.
He suggests that the whole series could be advertised in Everybody’s.
Copy letter from Stanley Glowacki to Mr Rieu, 5 April 1950. Glowacki
congratulates Rieu on his translations of Virgil’s Eclogues and Homer’s
Odyssey: ‘Reading neither Greek nor Latin, I was stunned by what is, to
me, a new way of experiencing the excitement of the Odyssey and the
thing of beauty that is the Eclogues.’
Copy letter from Harriet D. Adams to Mr Rieu, 8 April 1950. Adams
congratulates Rieu on his translation of The Odyssey: ‘Now I have read
your Odyssey and have had a real experience. Thank you for opening my
eyes to what must have been the essential quality of the minds of those
ancient people.’
Penguin memo from A.S.B. Glover to Dr E.V. Rieu, 3 February 1955.
Michael Grant has set his proposal for a Latin anthology and has asked to
see Mayor’s Augustine and Robert Graves’ Suetonius or Lucan. Glover
encloses a note about the scheme given to him by a Classics teacher and a
copy of a comment by Dr Henry Rowell, Professor of Classics at John
Hopkins University.
Notes [by a Classics teacher] concerning the teaching of Greek literature
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
48
in translation in girl’s grammar schools and suggesting the need for an
anthology of extracts from the lyric writers, historians, orators, Aristole,
new comedy, Alexandrians, Plutrach, Lucian, Longus.
A proposal [from Dr Henry Rowell, Professor of Classics at John Hopkins
University] that Penguin Books should publish translations of selections
of Latin and Greek literature.
Penguin memo from A.S.B. Glover to Dr E.V. Rieu, 4 April 1956.
Enclosing a letter [from K.C. Horton] and wondering whether it is worth
giving consideration to a possible volume of German short stories in the
Classics.
Letter from K.C. Horton to ‘Dear Sir’, 31 March 1956. Horton sends
thanks for the publication of Faust, The Trial, Tonio Kröger and the
English-German, German-English dictionary and suggests publishing the
works of German short story tellers.
Penguin memo from H.F. Paroissien, Penguin Books Inc., to A.S.B.
Glover, 26 March 1958. Paroissien sends an extract from a letter from
‘Mother Fiske’ of Manhattan College: ‘Penguin Books are most valuable
in the teaching of the classics. Your translations, especially of the Greek
tragedies, are excellent, and the introductions equally so…’
List of Penguin Classics sales figures for the first quarter of 1959.
Memorandum from A.S.B. Glover to E.V.Rieu, 21 February 1959.
Glover quotes from a letter he has received from a woman teacher:
‘Perhaps this is not the place to do so, but I would like to add my thanks to
you for this magnificent series. For anyone like myself whose bitter regret
is has long been that Greek is not taught in girls’ schools, this series of
splendid translations has been more than a godsend..’
Copy letter from Allen Lane to E.V. Rieu, 1 May 1962. Lane asks Rieu
whether he would object to his withdrawing his membership of the
Athenaeum [Club].
Letter from E.V. Rieu to [Allen] Lane, 7 May 1962. Rieu and others
would be sorry if Lane left the [Athenaeum] Club.
Photocopy of a newspaper article concerning the retirement of E.V. Rieu,
The Times, 8 January 1964.
Photocopy of a newspaper article concerning the retirement of E.V. Rieu,
n.d. [1964].
Photocopy of a note [from Hans Schmoller] to Allen Lane concerning the
set of Classics given to E.V. Rieu [on his retirement], n.d. [c.1964].
Obituary for E.V. Rieu by Betty Radice, Proceedings of the Royal Society
of Literature, n.d. [c.1972].
Photocopy of a newspaper article in which Betty Radice remembers E.V.
Rieu, Times Higher Education Supplement, 19 October 1984.
Photocopy of a letter from Betty Radice to Linda [Lloyd Jones], 7
February 1985. Radice sends her thoughts about Penguin Classics for
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
49
Penguin’s 50th anniversary exhibition, suggesting the first and last six or
ten titles, outstanding Oriental titles, important titles and best sellers,
adding ‘I’m sorry this seems so vague and inadequate, and what I think
important because of quality, Penguin’s might not because there are other
titles which sell better.’
Newspaper cutting of an obituary for Betty Radice, The Times, 20
February 1985.
DM1819/27/8
‘R. Holme’:
1965-1966
Papers relating to the appointment of Richard Holme as Marketing
Director, 1966.
DM1819/27/9
‘J.M. Cohen’:
1953-1963
Correspondence with J.M. Cohen, Editorial Advisor on Classics and
Foreign Poets.
DM1819/27/10
‘Anthony Godwin’:
1960-1963,
1967-1968
Correspondence between Allen Lane and Tony Godwin concerning his
role in Penguin, 1960-1963. Also letters of complaint from Graham
Greene concerning the cover designs of his books, 1967-1968.
Box 28
DM1819/28/1
‘Private discussions with Lord Goodman etc.’:
1968
Correspondence between Allen Lane and Lord Goodman concerning a
proposed project for the Universities to be involved in Penguin.
DM1819/28/2
‘Penguin Trust 1960’:
1959-1960
Correspondence between Allen Lane, Sir Geoffrey Crowther, Penguin USA,
and others concerning a proposed purchase of shares in Penguin by The
Economist newspaper.
DM1819/28/3
Penguin USA:
1940-1971
Letters from Ian Ballantine, Penguin USA to Allen Lane, 1940;
correspondence between Victor Weybright and Eunice Frost concerning
Audubon for King Penguin 1946; correspondence with Victor W. von
Hagen 1951; and notes by Kurt Enoch on his relations with Allen Lane
1937-1947, 1971.
DM1819/28/4
‘Dr Rieu’s Party 22 Jan. 1964’:
1963-1964
Party in honour of EV Rieu on his retirement as head of Penguin Classics,
with letters from Betty Radice, translators and others.
DM1819/28/5
Letters of congratulation to Allen Lane on the receipt of his knighthood,
with some replies by Allen Lane, surnames A-L.
1952
Box 29
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
50
DM1819/29/1
Letters of congratulation to Allen Lane on the receipt of his knighthood,
with some replies by Allen Lane, surnames M-Z.
1952
DM1819/29/2
‘Allen Lane’s trips to Russia and China, Summer 1957’:
1957
Copies of letters sent and other material.
DM1819/29/3
Letter from Jocelyn Gibb, of Geoffrey Bles Ltd., to Allen Lane concerning
Bumpus, Claude Gill and the Book Society.
1961
DM1819/29/4
‘Cranks file’:
1965-1967
Miscellaneous letters sent to Penguin including unsolicited manuscripts.
Box 30
DM1819/30/1
‘Correspondence with Printers’:
1946-1967
Correspondence between Allen Lane and various printers of Penguin books,
concerning technical aspects of book production.
DM1819/30/2
Letters of congratulation to Allen Lane on the receipt of his knighthood,
with copy of formal reply.
1952
DM1819/30/3
File of material relating to Penguin and financial matters, including
correspondence between Allen Lane and his solicitors and accountants
concerning trusts 1952-1955; announcements of Annual General Meetings;
and printed accounts and export sales figures.
1950-1970
DM1819/30/4
Miscellaneous correspondence between Allen Lane and publishers
concerning Penguin and personal issues; including letters of congratulation,
appointment of staff, and discussion of the acquisition of titles.
1955-1967
Penguin Modern Painters Series [MP/0706]:
1942-1957
Box Files
DM1819/31
Correspondence between Kenneth Clark, Eunice Frost, artists and authors
concerning Modern Painters 1-9, 11-20. Also general correspondence
concerning the series and artists which were not covered, 1942-57.
File of correspondence from Edward Ardizzone [possibly concerning a
volume which did not materialize], 1942-1945 [transferred from Porpoise
Books file, DM 1819/39/2]
DM1819/32
Penguin Modern Painters Series [MP/0706]:
1942-1965
Correspondence concerning Modern Painters series MP1-MP9, MP11MP20. Includes correspondence with P. Adam, Colin Anderson, Edward
Ardizzone [possibly concerning a volume about Ardizzone that did not
materialize], Alfred H. Barr junior, Edward Le Bas, Charlotte Bawden,
Edward Bawden, Clive Bell, Anthony Bertram, John Betjeman, Rolf Burgi,
Edward Burra, Charles Clark, Kenneth Clark, Douglas Cooper (concerning
a proposed book on Picasso, MP18, that never materialized), Lord
Cranbrook, Cicely Dalton, Richard Doetsch-Benziger, Myfanwy Evans
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
51
[Myfanwy Piper], C.E.J. Evershed, Eunice Frost, Isabel Fry, Ian GibsonSmith, Martyn Goff, Lloyd Goodrich, Duncan Grant, Milligan Grundy,
Philip Hendy, Ivon Hitchens, Frances Hodgkins, Mary Hutchinson, Robin
Ironside, David Jones, Charles Kearley, Margaret King, Edward Marsh,
Francis Meynell, Henry Moore, Paul Nash, Ben Nicholson, Victor Pasmore,
John Piper, V.S. Pritchett, Herbert Read, J.M. Richards, John Richardson,
Osborne Robinson, John Rothenstein, Kenneth Rowntree, Edward
Sackville-West, Michael Sadler, James Thrall Soby, Gilbert Spencer,
Marguerite Steen, John Summerson, Helen Sutherland, Katharine
Sutherland, Graham Sutherland, Allan Walton, and Victor Weybright.
Also includes production costs for MP1-MP6 as at September 1945;
production costs for MP-MP11 as at March 1948; summary stock valuation
at cost with net profit from sale of stock (MP1-MP11) on hand at 31 March
1948.
DM1819/33
Lady Chatterley’s Lover trial:
1960-1961
Letters supporting and against the publication of Lady Chatterley’s Lover,
1960-1961.
Notes by Hans Schmoller on events in August 1960, with press cuttings.
Correspondence with Julian Symons concerning his proposal to write a
special feature for the Sunday Times on the Lady Chatterley case,
September 1960.
DM1819/34
Lady Chatterley’s Lover trial:
1959-1961
Material not needed for lawsuit, including correspondence concerning
problems due to the printers, Hazell Watson and Viney Ltd., not wanting to
publish Lady Chatterley, April 1960.
Letters of thanks to Allen Lane for sending a specially printed copy of
Rolph’s The trial of Lady Chatterley, 1961. [Arranged alphabetically by
surname]
Names and addresses of individuals [to be sent copies of C.H. Rolph’s The
Trial of Lady Chatterley]
DM1819/35
Lady Chatterley’s Lover trial:
1959-1967
Correspondence concerning the legal case in USA and Australia, 19601961, 1965-1967.
Correspondence with Michael Rubinstein and other lawyers concerning the
case, including legal costs, 2 October 1959-13 June 1961. Includes list of
witnesses not claiming expenses, Lady C defence fund, list of booksellers
who had ordered copies of Lady C that were ready for dispatch when
distribution was stopped and not sent.
DM1819/36
Lady Chatterley’s Lover trial:
1960-1961
General correspondence concerning the trial, including press
cuttings/articles and letters of congratulation and disapproval, and
discussion of the overseas market, 1960.
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
52
Includes two admission tickets to the trial on 1 November 1960.
DM1819/37
Lady Chatterley’s Lover trial:
1960-1965
Correspondence and papers concerning arrangements to send out copies of
Sir Allen Lane’s Christmas book, C.H. Rolph’s The Trial of Lady
Chatterley, to people in the USA, Italy, Canada, Europe, 1960-1961.
Letters against the publication, 1960-1961.
Letters and telegrams of congratulations on the result of the trial, 1960.
Correspondence concerning sales of The Trial of Lady Chatterley and Lady
Chatterley’s Lover in Australia, 1965.
Letters of support and disapproval, 1960.
DM1819/38
Penguin Books Inc., 1949-51:
1947,
1949-1951
Correspondence between Penguin Books USA and Penguin Books UK
concerning day-to-day affairs. Includes correspondence from Allen Lane,
HF Paroissien, A.S.B. Glover, Eunice Frost and others.
DM1819/39/1
Baby Puffins BP1-9:
1943-1957
Editorial correspondence concerning Baby Puffins BP1-BP9.
Includes correspondence with Noel Carrington, Dorothy Chapman, Richard
Chopping, Eunice Frost, John Harwood, Peter Heaton, Allen Lane, H.W.
Oberndorfer, Geoffrey Smith and Denis Wirth-Miller.
DM1819/39/2
Porpoise Books J2-4:
1946-1957
Editorial correspondence concerning Porpoise J2-J4.
Includes correspondence with Edward Ardizzone, Australian Broadcasting
Commission, Miss V.H. Drummond [Mrs Violet Swtenham], Eunice Frost,
A.S.B. Glover, Robert Harben, Grace Hogarth, H.W. Oberndorfer and
Marjorie Smith.
DM1819/39/3
Ptarmigan Books PT1-9:
1943-1953
Editorial correspondence concerning Ptarmigan PT1-PT9.
Includes correspondence with British Embassy in Warsaw, Central Office
of Information, W.N. Dixon, Eunice Frost, A.S.B. Glover and Hubert
Phillips.
DM1819/39/4
Editions Pingouin, F2, F5, F6:
1941-1944
Editorial correspondence between authors and Penguin.
DM1819/40/1
Editions Penguin, V1, V3-V7, V11, V13, V14, V17, V18:
1941-1963
Editorial correspondence between authors and Penguin, 27 June 1941-9
March 1963.
Correspondents include Pierre Calmann-Lévy, Robert Calmann-Lévy,
Jonathan Cape, Eric Clavering, Dennis Cohen (The Cresset Press Ltd.),
J.L.R. Corpel (French Copyrights Co.), D.L. Duguid (Penguin Books Ltd.),
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
53
Eunice Frost (Penguin Books Ltd.), Romain Gary, A.S.B. Glover (Penguin
Books Ltd.), Joseph Kessel, Arthur Koestler, Louis Lévy, Marthe Louis
Lévy, H.W. Oberndorfer (Penguin Books Ltd.), A.D. Peters (Literary
Agents), Presses Universitaires de France, Mrs M. Redwood, Louis Roche,
George Rubinstein (Rubinstein, Nash & Co.), Oliver Simon (Curwen Press
Ltd.), Nicolette Simms (The Cresset Press Ltd.), Dr. L.W. Tancock.
DM1819/40/2
Penguin Illustrated Classics: Pride and Prejudice (C1):
1945-1947
Correspondence between H.S. Reader (Production Dept., Penguin Books
Ltd.) and The Rischgitz Studios concerning the loan of photographs of Jane
Austen and Mrs Gaskell, 12 April 1945-5 March 1947. With the blurb for
cover 2 and cover 4 of Pride and Prejudice.
DM1819/40/3
Puffin Cut-out Books, PC1-PC11:
1946-1953,
1963
Editorial correspondence concerning Puffin Cut-Out Books PC1-11.
Includes correspondence with Bernhardr Baer, W.J. Bassett-Lowke, Noel
Carrington, Jane Cummings, L.A. Dovey, Guy Daniel, Mary Emett,
Rowland Emett, Eunice Frost, J. Fullerton, Victor Keeling, Elizabeth
Knight, Allen Lane, E.G.D. Liveing, Ruari McLean, F.M. Oppenheimer,
John Overton, Alick Potter, Margaret Potter, J.M. Richards, Geoffrey
Robinson, George Speaight and J.R. Staniforth.
DM 1819/41
Celebrations to mark 50 years of Allen Lane in Publishing:
1969
At the same time Allen Lane retired as Managing Director of Penguin and
these files contain several commemorative items, with arrangements for
parties, and letters from well-wishers, April-May 1969.
(6 files)
DM1819/42/1
Parties for booksellers throughout UK to celebrate 25 years of Penguin
Books:
November
1960
Arrangements and correspondence.
DM1819/42/2
Letters of congratulation to Allen Lane on 25 years of Penguin Books.
1960
DM1819/42/3
Letters of thanks to Allen Lane from people receiving copies of Penguins
Progress 1935-60.
1960
DM1819/42/4
Letters of acceptance to a party to celebrate 25 years of Penguin, at
Frankfurt, 21 Sept. 1960.
1960
DM1819/42/5
Letters of thanks for Allen Lane’s 1964 Christmas Book: For Such as Are of
Riper Years.
1964-1965
DM 1819: Allen Lane Filing Cabinets
54