Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
General material designation
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Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
Level of description
Reference code
Edition area
Edition statement
Edition statement of responsibility
Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
Statement of coordinates (cartographic)
Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
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1936-1970 (Creation)
Physical description area
Physical description
36.5 m of textual records, graphic material, and realia
1 audio cassette.
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
Parallel titles of publisher's series
Other title information of publisher's series
Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series
Numbering within publisher's series
Note on publisher's series
Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Vera Brittain, writer, lecturer, pacifist, and feminist, was born on 29 December 1893 at Newcastle-under-Lyme. She went up to Somerville College, Oxford in 1914 but left to serve as a VAD in World War I. She returned to Oxford after the war where she became friends with Winifred Holtby, a budding novelist. She married George Catlin in 1925 and became the mother of two children. Her most well-known book is Testament of Youth (1933) about her experiences in World War I. During World War II she was a leading member of the Peace Pledge Union. She died in London on 29 March 1970.
Custodial history
Scope and content
The fonds consists of manuscripts, correspondence, journals, published material, photographs, and other material. It also includes materials related to her brother, Edward, as well as other family members. Please see the note on arrangement for a more detailed listing of the contents.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
First accrual was purchased on 8 November 1971 from Brittain's estate through Bertram Rota. Second accrual was purchased in August 1979 from Bertram Rota. Third accrual was purchased from a Sotheby's auction, 29,30 June, lots 346-7, through Bertram Rota. Fourth accrual was purchased in April 1986 from a Christie's auction through Bertram Rota. Fifth accrual was purchased in March 1989 from Sotheran's. Sixth accrual was acquired from John Spencer. Seventh accrual acquired from Alan Bishop in April 2015.
Arrangement
First Accrual
A: Major Published and Unpublished Manuscripts
B: Contributions to Books
C: Juvenilia
D: Journals and Diaries
E: Scrapbooks and Albums
F: Lectures
G: Published Articles, Pamphlets, Book Reviews, and Letters to the Editor
H: Published and Unpublished Articles, Book Reviews and Letters to the Editor
I: Unpublished Articles, Book Reviews, and Letters to the Editor
Note to Researchers: Series G, H, I, contain similar materials. If you cannot locate a file or if a file is empty please search the other two series.
J: Incoming Correspondence, 1916-1965, arranged alphabetically. Note: The archivist has written the outgoing reply date on each letter.
K: Outgoing Correspondence, arranged chronologically, 1929-1970 up to Box 16. Boxes 17-39 are arranged alphabetically first, and then chronologically, and consist of letters to family members and close friends.
L: Photographs
M: Memorabilia
N: Travel
O: Research, Works by Others, Financial
P: News clippings and printed materials
Q: Social
R: John and Shirley Brittain-Catlin (VB's children)
S: Edward Brittain (VB's brother)
T: Edith and T.A. Brittain (VB's parents)
U: Bervon family (VB's relatives)
Other accruals consist of:
<b>Second accrual:</b> Television scripts for Testament of Youth.
<b>Third accrual:</b> Correspondence to the Society of Authors.
<b>Fourth accrual:</b> Photographs of the Brittain and Catlin families.
<b>Fifth accrual:</b> Letter from Vera Brittain to George [Catlin], 8 March 1957.
<b>Sixth accrual:</b> Memoir of Vera Brittain by her former daughter-in-law, Jennifer, Lady Balfour of Burleigh. Ts., 5 p.
<b>Seventh accrual:</b> "Testament of Youth" script
Language of material
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
There are no access restrictions.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Anyone wishing to quote from Vera Brittain’s work, or to reproduce it, whether in print or other media, should apply to the literary executors for the Vera Brittain Estate. More information about permissions from the Vera Brittain Estate may be found on their website.
Finding aids
Associated materials
Researchers may also wish to consult the First World War Poetry Digital Archive.
Accruals
Further accruals are not expected.
