Oswell Blakeston, artist and writer, was born Henry Joseph Hasslacher on May 17, 1907. His professional life began in the British film industry in which he worked as a camera boy at the Gaumont Studios along with David Lean. This apprenticeship was followed by an editorial position with the small yet influential film magazine,
Among his early literary endeavors was the co-editorship (with Herbert Jones) of the little magazine,
Blakeston's poetry was published in the volumes
Blakeston also wrote a number of non-fiction books, including cookbooks, travel books, and books on photography and filmmaking. His published cookbooks include
Oswell Blakeston died in 1985.
The collection consists of original and carbon copy typescripts, holograph manuscripts, clippings, printed sheets, advertising material, ink sketches, photographs, page proofs, galleys, notebooks, scrapbooks, audio tape, correspondence, and printed dust jackets, ranging in date from 1927 to 1985. The collection is arranged in three series: Correspondence (1933-1985, nd, 3 boxes); Works (1927-1985, nd, 18 boxes, 61 scrapbooks); and Personal Papers (1929-1985, nd, 3 boxes). Blakeston habitually economized by using both recto and verso of sheets of paper, often using the two sides for different works. Little attempt was made to identify fragments on the versos of sheets unless identification was obvious, as in the case of correspondence. In such cases, the versos were photocopied and filed in the appropriate series.
Blakeston's career as writer and reviewer is well documented in the collection. Among his published non-fiction, there are typescripts of
Blakeston's unpublished work predominates in the collection.
The Correspondence series consists primarily of incoming correspondence concerning both Blakeston's professional and private life. Letters from publishers, editors, collaborators, illustrators, and other colleagues document Blakeston's professional transactions. Other letters offer a more personal glimpse of Blakeston. Subjects include observations on Finland and St. Helena, personalities of various editors, the London art scene, and inquiries concerning writers Blakeston had known (including Dylan Thomas). Of primary interest is a large group of letters from the novelist Bryher in which she discusses her creative struggles, her unrequited love for H. D., and her enthusiasm for Blakeston's own work. In addition to Bryher, the significant correspondents are Nancy Cunard, H. D., John Lennon, Kenneth Macpherson, Yoko Ono, Lotte Reininger, Perdita Schaffner, and Eric Walter White.
Among Blakeston's personal items are his application for conscientious objector status in World War II along with related documents, photographs of his childhood and family life, experimental photographs, travel photographs, and his
Gift, 1985
Open for research
Robert Kendrick, 1994-95
Further material related to Oswell Blakeston may be found in the following HRHRC collections:
The Correspondence series consists primarily of incoming correspondence of both a professional and personal nature. Incoming correspondence has been arranged alphabetically by correspondent with unidentified correspondents filed at the end of the sequence. This correspondence includes letters from publishers, editors, collaborators, illustrators and other colleagues relating to the day-to-day activities of the publishing world. There are also rejection notices as well as advice on improving material submitted for publication from a variety of correspondents. A sizable amount of correspondence from Ian Young, Winston Leyland, and Dennis Cooper, among others, concerns the publication in various formats of gay fiction and poetry. Another predominant theme of the correspondence is Blakeston's function as art critic. Artists, gallery owners, and their supporters wrote, inviting Blakeston to openings or thanking him for reviewing their exhibitions. There is also correspondence from Blakeston's readers, especially of his travel books, both supporting and questioning his assessments of places visited. A number of entries to newspaper competitions received by Blakeston are included here.
Among the correspondence of a more personal nature, material from
Bryher ranging in date from 1952 to 1982 occupies an entire folder. This
correspondence touches on a variety of subjects, including Bryher's continuing
encouragement of Blakeston's own work, Bryher's unhappy love for H. D., and her
own creative struggles. A few of these letters include greetings from H. D. in
her own hand. H. D.'s daughter, Perdita Schaeffner, and Bryher's husband,
Kenneth Macpherson, also have correspondence in this series. There is a letter
from Nancy Cunard accepting one of Blakeston's poems for translation and
publication in a French anthology as well as a Christmas card from Eric Walter
White. Letters from Lotte Reininger discuss a potential exhibition of her work,
her gratitude for Blakeston's sympathy after the death of her husband, Carl
Koch, and her travels after his death. A note from John Lennon and Yoko Ono
thanks Blakeston for his
The outgoing correspondence is arranged chronologically; undated
letters are filed at the end of the sequence. This correspondence includes some
letters to Bryher (addressed as
The Works series is divided into six subseries: Non-Fiction, 1947-1975, nd (6 boxes); Fiction, 1929-1964, nd (5 boxes); Poetry, 1954-1978, nd (2 boxes); Submissions Files, 1974-1985, nd (1 box); Research, 1938, nd (5 boxes); and Scrapbooks, 1927-1985 (61 scrapbooks). Correspondence in this series is also listed in the Index of Correspondents at the end of the inventory.
The Non-Fiction subseries consists of original and carbon copy typescripts, holograph manuscripts, audio tape, proofs, galleys, correspondence, photographs, layouts, notes, notebooks, prospectuses, and a poster. The subseries includes typescripts of two of Blakeston's published works:
By far, the majority of this subseries consists of unpublished material. Two memoirs,
The Fiction subseries consists of original and carbon copy typescripts, holograph manuscripts, page proofs, galleys, publicity materials, correspondence, photographs, and music. Among Blakeston's published work, the subseries includes galleys of
Among the unpublished fiction represented in the collection are typescripts of the novels
The Poetry subseries consists of original and carbon copy typescripts, holograph manuscripts, page proofs, galleys, periodicals, and notebooks. Among Blakeston's published books of poetry, there are a layout, page proofs, and incomplete galleys for
The Submissions Files subseries consists of original and carbon copy typescripts and correspondence, arranged chronologically. These are batches of poetry with some short fiction which were assembled for submission to various publications and publishing agents. Among those receiving submissions are
The Research subseries contains notebooks with holograph notes, library slips, and some clippings. Most of the notebooks are undated. The notebooks contain general observations, ideas for stories, lists of words, occasional clippings, and some poetry.
The Scrapbooks subseries consists of 61 scrapbooks, arranged roughly chronologically and numbered consecutively, containing a wide variety of material. The contents include primarily clippings of Blakeston's reviews of art and books; clippings of his early writing on film; clippings of articles on Blakeston himself; reviews of Blaketon's own work; announcements of various art exhibitions; invitations; and correspondence. Identified correspondents are included in the Index of Correspondents at the end of the inventory.
The Personal Papers subseries consists of a range of personal items. There are address books and appointment books, the latter covering 1956-1985. Business cards and invitations from throughout Blakeston's career are included. Many of his book contracts are here as well as some receipts from his travels which resulted in books. There are also clippings and ephemera related to cooking, a few drawings, and dust jackets from some of his books. His