Professional Documents
Culture Documents
DM 1819 List
DM 1819 List
This collection was deposited in March 1998, and is the contents of three filing cabinets originally housed in
Sir Allen Lanes office at Penguin headquarters.
Box 1
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Department; the old Bedford van has been replaced by an Austin van; a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 Penguins 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 Lanes 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, Choppings Flower Project,
Classics, illustrated atlases, publishing in foreign countries and languages,
architectural guides, Pevsners itineraries and colour books, the fashion
magazine, photographic quarterly).
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 Gales 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 Penguins 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.
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.
Letter from the Joint General Manager, Martins Bank Ltd. to Sir Allen
Lane concerning Lanes 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 Childrens 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 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.
Correspondence between Mrs May E. West and Sir Allen Lane concerning
her family printing works in Mitcham, 20-30 January 1969.
Box 2
Two memoranda concerning the Penguin Primary Project, n.d.; and Penguin
educational publishing up to 1970, 1964.
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.
Letter and postcard to June Pipe (Penguin Books Ltd.) from Allen Lane in
Australia, 4 March [1953?] and undated.
I.C. Dicksons recommendations for the future of Penguin Books Pty. Ltd.
(Australia), 17 December 1964.
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.
Box 4
Box 5
Papers relating to links between Penguin and Houghton Mifflin in the USA.
Box 6
DM1819/6/6 Penguins Progress: 1935-1960 [Q25], published on the 25th Anniversary of 1960
Penguin Books.
DM1819/6/7 The World of Penguin: the Publishers Complete Catalogue, ISBN 0 14 1984
087.002 4
Box 7
DM1819/7/1 Correspondence with Dr. Glyn Daniel, St. Johns College, Cambridge, 1972-1974
advisory editor on archaeological matters to Penguin, includes discussion of
fees.
DM1819/7/2 Correspondence with Dr. Moses Findley, Jesus College, Cambridge, 1968-1974
advisory editor on Pelican Classics, includes discussion of fees.
DM1819/7/3 Correspondence with Dr. Oswyn Murray, Balliol College, Oxford, advisory 1971-1974
editor on ancient history to Penguin, includes discussion of fees, and
mention of Moses Finley.
DM1819/7/4 Correspondence with Professor J.H. Plumb, Christs College, Cambridge, 1972-1974
advisory editor on history to Penguin, includes discussion of fees.
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 1965-1974
Soviet Union affairs and social sciences to Penguin.
Box 8
Box 9
Box 10
DM1819/10/2 Letter from Allen Lane (written on Ch. Vairron & Cie., Paris headed 1924-1971
notepaper) to Mr. Crocket, 16 October 1924. Lane mentions that Anatole
Frances 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 Frances birthplace and where the cortege
will be stopping.
Letter from Hans Schmoller, West Drayton, to Allen Lane at the Htel
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 Chatterleys 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 Clarks 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.
DM1819/10/3 Transcripts of radio and television broadcasts by Allen Lane and others 1940-1967
discussing Penguin Books:
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.
Lets 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.
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.
Correspondence between John Lehmann and Allen Lane concerning the end
of the series, 1965; with newspaper cuttings of articles on the series, 1970s.
DM1819/10/8 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.
Box 11
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 & 1955-1959
Co. and Allen Lane concerning financial matters relating to Penguin,
including share issues.
DM1819/11/4 Correspondence between Harry Paroissien and Allen Lane concerning 1962-1967
Penguin and personal affairs.
DM1819/11/9 Correspondence between Penguin Books and the library of the University of 1975-1983
Bristol concerning the deposit of Penguin archives and books, including lists
of books sent.
Box 12
DM1819/12/3 Correspondence between J.E. Morpurgo and Allen Lane, including 1962-1963
discussion of educational affairs.
Box 13
Includes Christmas card from Jan and Edith Tschichold with a colour print
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 1947, 1954
Carrington, concerning his wife, Susan Williams-Ellis, proposed Puffin
book on Seashore Life, which was apparently dropped.
DM1819/13/8 Correspondence from Morris Ernst and Harriet F. Pilpel of Greenbaum, 1947-1962
Wolff and Ernst, Penguins lawyers in the USA, concerning Penguin affairs,
including the question of copyrighting the name.
Box 14
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.
DM1819/14/3 Printed accounts and annual reports, including merge with Longman 1970s; 1961-1971
and notes for Allen Lane for the 1963 AGM.
Box 15
Box 16
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 Chatterleys Lover need cover decisions, 24, 28 May
1965.
Box 18
Box 19
Box 20
DM1819/20/1 Letters from William Emrys Williams to Allen Lane, discussing Penguin 1954-1970
and personal affairs. Includes discussion of the Peregrine series [Y/055],
and a scheme to write a Penguin history.
Proof copy of the text for The Penguin Comes of Age by Sir Allen Lane,
n.d. [1956].
Letters spent by Allen Lane to Miss [June] Pipe during his business trips to
Russia and China, July [1957].
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.
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 Penguins 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.
Box 21
DM1819/21/3 Press cuttings relating to a merger between Pearson Longman Publishing 1970
Group and Penguin Books Ltd., 4 July-13 August 1970. Include reports of
Allen Lanes death.
Horoscope readings for Allen Lane by Kate Murray, Finchley Road, London
NW11, 1929.
Yearly horoscope readings for Allen Lane for 1955-1956, 1956-1957, 1957-
1958, 1958-1959, 1959-1960, 1960-1961, 1961-1962, 1962-1963, 1964-
1965, 1966-1967.
Diaries and other papers relating to Allen Lanes visit to the Soviet Union
and China (to investigate publishing).
Box 22
DM1819/22/2 Materials relating to Allen Lanes trip to Russia and China in 1957: 1957
DM1819/22/2/2 typescript of extracts from Sir Allen Lanes diary for the
period he was in Prague and Moscow, 30 June, 2-3 July 1957.
DM1819/22/2/4 - typescript of extracts form Sir Allen Lanes diary for the
period he was in Moscow, 2-3 July 1957.
DM1819/22/2/7 typescript of extracts from Sir Allen Lanes 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 Lanes 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 1947-1965
(Bill) Williams, 8 July 1947-3 December 1952:
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).
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, 1967-1968
and Penguin UK concerning Pelican Shakespeare, royalties and Penguin
History of Art series.
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).
DM1819/23/1 Christmas cards and Christmas books produced by the Lane Brothers, 1927-1963
Penguin, and others.
DM1819/23/2 Miscellaneous correspondence including account of Allen Lane being stuck 1961-1968
in a game park in Kenya, 1962, and letter from Christina Foyle following
the death of her father William Alfred Foyle, 1963.
DM1819/23/4 Christmas cards produced by the Lane Brothers and Penguin [1936 card 1927-1949
designed by Robert Gibbings].
Box 24
Photographs of Sir Allen Lanes 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
(Penguins 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 (Nicholls 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 Homers Odyssey
and was therefore christened The Odyssey Press.
DM1819/24/3 Correspondence with Harry Paroissien and others concerning Penguin in the 1960-1961
USA; including sales figures and discussions with lawyers.
DM1819/24/4 Correspondence with Penguin Australia, Penguin Books Pty Ltd. 1962
Box 25
DM1819/25/2 Correspondence between Allen Lane and Richard Lane concerning personal 1952-1970
matters and Penguin in Australia.
DM1819/25/3 Correspondence between Allen Lane and V. Krishna Menon concerning 1937-1938
Box 26
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 1947-1969
concerning Penguin and personal matters.
DM1819/26/4 Letters from authors to Allen Lane at the Bodley Head: 1925-1940
Box 27
DM1819/27/3 Appointment of Allen Lane as an honorary member of the Royal Institute June 1970
of British Architects.
Letter from L.J. Bathurst (Alston Rivers Ltd.) to Dear Lane, 5 November
1908. Bathurst is sorry to hear of Lanes 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 Gamages are selling the
Queens 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 Chancellors
father.
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.
Correspondence between Beryl Olney and Allen Lane, 4-17 January 1966.
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 Everybodys.
Letter from K.C. Horton to Dear Sir, 31 March 1956. Horton sends
thanks for the publication of Faust, The Trial, Tonio Krger and the
English-German, German-English dictionary and suggests publishing the
works of German short story tellers.
List of Penguin Classics sales figures for the first quarter of 1959.
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.
Obituary for E.V. Rieu by Betty Radice, Proceedings of the Royal Society
of Literature, n.d. [c.1972].
Box 28
DM1819/28/5 Letters of congratulation to Allen Lane on the receipt of his knighthood, 1952
with some replies by Allen Lane, surnames A-L.
Box 29
DM1819/29/1 Letters of congratulation to Allen Lane on the receipt of his knighthood, 1952
with some replies by Allen Lane, surnames M-Z.
DM1819/29/3 Letter from Jocelyn Gibb, of Geoffrey Bles Ltd., to Allen Lane concerning 1961
Bumpus, Claude Gill and the Book Society.
Box 30
DM1819/30/2 Letters of congratulation to Allen Lane on the receipt of his knighthood, 1952
with copy of formal reply.
DM1819/30/3 File of material relating to Penguin and financial matters, including 1950-1970
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.
Box Files
Names and addresses of individuals [to be sent copies of C.H. Rolphs The
Trial of Lady Chatterley]
DM1819/40/1 Editions Penguin, V1, V3-V7, V11, V13, V14, V17, V18: 1941-1963
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)
DM1819/42/3 Letters of thanks to Allen Lane from people receiving copies of Penguins 1960
Progress 1935-60.
DM1819/42/5 Letters of thanks for Allen Lanes 1964 Christmas Book: For Such as Are of 1964-1965
Riper Years.