MS Mus. 1784/1/38

1: f. 1: R. Lawrence: Acting Secretary, National Federation of Music Societies, Yorkshire Region: 27 April 1955: Request for Sargent to speak at the forthcoming Annual Regional Conference of the National Federation of Music Societies

2: f. 2: Harold Shelton: Odhams Press Ltd: 23 November 1955: Concerning proposal to write a biography of Sargent

3: f. 3: Laurence Olivier: Actor: 18 June 1955: Sargent writes to Olivier concerning an article in the Daily Express; regrets he cannot see 'Macbeth' owing to his forthcoming holiday in Bermuda

4: ff. 4-5: Harold Rosenthal: Editor of 'Opera': 25-28 March 1955: Request to write an introduction for the Opera Annual; Sargent declines

5: ff. 6-7: I.P.M Macdougall: Casualty Physician, St. Bartholemew's Hospital, Dr. Gibbons: Medical Doctor: Letters from Macdougall to Gibbons concerning the physical health of Sargent's butler

6: f. 8: J. Fenwick: Service Department, The Pyrene Company, Limited: 26 October 1955: Concerning maintenance agreement for fire extinguishers

7: ff. 9-18: Peter Trower: People's Theatre, Newcastle Upon Tyne: 4 October 1955: Request for Sargent's comments concerning the People's Theatre enterprise in order to support a public appeal

8: ff. 19-29: John Page: Founder of the organisation 'World Music': 19 September 1955: Correspondence concerning Page's newly-established organisation named 'World Music', with related press cuttings

9: f. 30: Edward Ford: Extra Equerry to the Queen: 21 May 1955: Thanks Sargent for informing the Queen about the death of Mabel Lander

10: ff. 31-32: Christabel Marillier: Composer: 4-18 July 1955: Informs Sargent that a new edition of her light opera 'The Rose and the Ring' has been published; asks how a broadcast of some of the songs could be obtained

11: f. 33: W.H. [Paton?]: 30 May 1955: Writes to suggest that a recording of Brahms's Requiem should be made

12: f. 34-36: Irene Poulton: 16-18 June 1955: Enquiry about Sargent's interpretation of the ballet suite 'The Wise Virgins'; offers to transcribe any of Sargent's manuscripts into braille

13: ff. 37-38: Dorothy Pybus: [friend in South Africa]: 15-19 June 1955: Informs Sargent she has sent two boxes of cigars; reports the death of her mother; Sargent's reply refers to his recent recording work and forthcoming trip to Bermuda

14: ff. 39-40: Oscar Pulvermacher, Marie Pulvermacher: [friends in Johannesburg]: 30 May 1955: The Pulvermachers write to congratulate Sargent on his 60th birthday; Sargent enquires about the Johannesburg orchestra in relation to a possible visit in 1956

15: f. 41: Ronald Paul: 26 April 1955: Enquires whether there is a recording of Sargent's arrangement of Borodin's 'Nocturne'

16: f. 42: Noël [Prentice?]: [Associated with Sargent from Melton Mowbray]: 15 May 1955: Writes to thanks Sargent for a dinner; comments on his youthful appearance

17: ff. 43-44: Katherine Webb: Joint Managing Director, Hutchinson and Co. (Publishers) Ltd., Charles Reid: [Later to become Sargent's biographer]: 22 November 1955: Concerning a proposed biography of Sargent; Reid requests a series of interview sessions

18: ff. 45-61: John P. Haynes: Governor, HM Prison, Eastchurch, George Karl Russell: Formerly piano builder, G. Frazer Thompson: Secretary, The Royal London Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society: Bernard Moor: 10 November 1954- 6 October 1955: Correspondence concerning Karl Russell, who is in difficulty with the law and has been sent to prison for a second time

19: ff. 62-63: M.M. Rumfitt: 6 June 1955: Writes to object to Sargent's broadcast comments on poor amateur performances of Gilbert and Sullivan

20: f. 64: [unclear]: Royal Academy of Music: 2 June 1955: Invitation to attend a drinks party at the Royal Academy of Music

21: ff. 65-66: G. Robinson: Books Editor, Rockcliff Publishing Corporation: 20 September 1955: Request to publish Sargent's biography

22: f. 67: Edmund Rubbra: Composer: 9 June 1955: Sargent requests that Rubbra respond to a critic in the press by expressing his satisfaction with Sargent's performance of his Symphony

23: ff. 68-69: D.J. Walley: Chairman, Royal Buckingham & Associated Hospitals Management Committee: 3 May 1955: Request for Sargent to present prizes at the Annual Prizegiving of Stoke Mandeville School of Nursing; Sargent is unavailable

24: ff. 70-71: A. Leslie Smith: Chairman, Speakers' Committee, Rotary Club of London: 11-12 May 1955: Request for Sargent to speak at a lunch of the Rotary Club of London

25: ff. 72-74: A.W. Moss: Chief Secretary, Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: 9 September 1955: Request for Sargent to open an exhibition of paintings at Parsons Gallery; Sargent declines

26: ff. 75-76: Mona Rubie: 15-16 August 1955: Sargent writes to Mona Rubie concerning the death of Lord Horder

27: ff. 77-78: Winifred Reiser: 20-28 July 1955: Seeks a buyer for a Welte Electric Piano Player with music rolls

28: f. 79: C.B. Rees: 3 August 1955: Letter of condolence from Sargent to Rees

29: ff. 80-81: Dave Rigall: 14 April 1955: Seeks to obtain records of 'Elijah' in Canada

30: ff. 82-85: B.L. Deed: 8-17 November 1955: Concerning request for Sargent to arrange a concert in Stamford in aid of the school war memorial

31: ff. 86-87: Josephine Armstrong Sefton, Countess of Sefton: 25-28 November 1955: Concerning arrangements to meet Sargent in Liverpool

32: ff. 88-90: David Shakespeare: 2 October-5 December 1955: Request for a copy of a letter Sargent received from a Carmelite Nun and read out on the radio; Sargent no longer has a copy of the letter

33: ff. 91-93: Katherine Clegg: 22-23 November 1955: Seeks secretarial work

34: f. 94: Robert Shaw: Robert Shaw & Co Ltd: 16 November 1955: Concerning Sargent's order for string vests

35: ff. 95-97: Jennifer Sheaves: 17 November 1955: Requests secretarial work

36: ff. 98-99: James Henry Stuart Graham: 2-5 September 1955: Sargent provides a reference for James Graham for employment with Henry Boustred & Sons Solicitors

37: ff. 100-102: F. Southerington: Sergeant, Royal Air Force: 21 September 1955: Request for Sargent to hear his son, who is a pianist, perform in a concert

38: ff. 103-104: Jaine Shingleton: 7 September 1955: Seeks secretarial work

39: ff. 105-107: Lazare Saminsky: Conductor, composer: 1-15 August 1955: Sargent responds to a questionnaire for a book Saminsky is writing on conducting

40: ff. 108-109: Evan Senior: publication 'Music and Musicians': 4 August 1955: Request for a performance of Prokofiev's Cello Concerto; Sargent would like to see the score

41: ff. 110-113: John W. Harris, Undergraduate student at St. Catherine's College, Cambridge, Violette Browne: Friend of Sargent: 9-19 July 1955: Harris requests that Sargent give an address to The Shirley Society of St. Catherine's College, Cambridge; Browne supports the request

42: f. 114: [Mr] du Pre: 3 October: Sargent thanks du Pre for 'the most amusing poems'

43: f. 115: Smith & Welltood Ltd., Bonnybridge, Esse Cooker Co.: 20 July 1955: Concerning invoices for a stove

44: ff. 116-119: Albert Schafer: 19-25 May 1955: Correspondence concerning a proposal to rebuild the Queen's Hall

45: ff. 120-122: Bernard Sims: Chairman, Stamford Gilbert and Sullivan Players: 24-27 May 1955: Informs Sargent of the forthcoming performance of 'Princess Ida' by the Stamford Gilbert and Sullivan Players

46: f. 123: Natalie Seymour: Student: 26 May 1955: Request to attend a rehearsal

47: f. 124: D. Stucley [Mrs]: 4 June 1955: Sargent invites Stucley and others to accompany him on his holiday in Bermuda

48: ff. 125-126: Leonard Russell: Literary Editor, The Sunday Times: 2-6 June 1955: Request for Sargent to appear as speaker at The Sunday Times Book Exhibition at the Royal Festival Hall; Sargent declines

49: ff. 127-131: Mavis Straker: Soprano: 5 April 1955: Request to sing at the Promenade Concerts; Starker encloses a concert programme and press reviews; Sargent informs her the programmes are already settled

50: f. 132: Geoffrey Crump: Director, The Steep Shakespeare Players: March 1955: Concerning a forthcoming performance of 'As You Like It' by the Steep Shakespeare Players at Ashford Chace

51: f. 133: Percy Hoskins: Hon. Sec., 'Saints and Sinners' Club of London: 29 April 1955: Concerning a luncheon of the 'Saints and Sinners' Club of London

52: f. 134: Dorothy Sargent: Sargent's sister: 28 April 1955: Concerning tickets for a performance of 'Hiawatha'

53: ff. 135-136: Oliver Schroder: Sargent's manservant, I.P.M Macdougall: Casualty Physician: 10-12 May 1955: Concerning Schroder's medical treatment

54: ff. 137-138: J.S. Tapper: London Old Stamfordians: 7 December 1955: Concerning the placement of a memorial for Canon J.D. Day

55: f. 139: [Mr] Timofeev: 27 September 1955: Concerning efforts to obtain a score of the Khachaturian cello concerto

56: ff. 140-141: G. Ayles-Ransley: Richmond and Twickenham Music Festival: 1 October 1955: Correspondence concerning the syllabus for the Richmond and Twickenham Music Festival, which Ayles-Ransley sends for Sargent's interest

57: ff. 142-148: Henry F. Tiarks: Banker, friend of Sargent: 23 May-23 August 1955: Concerning Sargent's holiday in Bermuda which is arranged by Tiarks

58: ff. 149-151: Anne Thompson: 25-26 July 1955 : Concerning the ballot and queuing for the last night of the Promenade Concerts

59: ff. 152-153: Dorothy Tutin: [The Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith]: 2-3 August 1955: Sargent invites Tutin to attend rehearsals at the Royal Albert Hall and invites her to join him for lunch after a rehearsal

60: f. 154: [Miss] Tomlins: 2 May 1955: Thanks Sargent for tickets for Promenade Concerts

61: ff. 155-156: Marjorie: [friend in Sussex]: 25 April 1955: Personal letter congratulating Sargent on his 60th birthday

62: f. 157-158: Muriel Taylor: [friend in Kent]: 27 April 1955: Letter to accompany a gift of a china figure on Sargent's 60th birthday

63: ff. 159-160: A. Lionel Taylor: Assistant Secretary, Huddersfield Choral Society: 22-26 April 1955: Request for Sargent to act as referee for an employment application

64: ff. 161-162: Sir Arthur Beverley Baxter: Member of Parliament, Journalist: 12-15 September 1955: Request for Sargent to audition young Canadian pianist Neil van Allen

65: ff. 163-164: Margaret Harris: Hon. Sec., Operatic Society of the University of Southampton: 13-18 July 1955: Request for Sargent to address the Operatic Society of the University of Southampton; Sargent declines

66: ff. 165-166: Kathleen M. Wells: Regional Officer, United Nations Association of Great Britain and Northern Ireland London Regional Council, Nancy Stewart Parnell: United Nations Association of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: 20 May-14 July 1955: Concerning Sargent's subscription to the United Nations Association of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Thanks Sargent for consenting to become President of the United Nations Association of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

67: ff. 167-171: Tom Wilkinson: 25-25 April 1955: Concerning reference required for Tom Wilkinson's tenancy

68: 'Peggy' Wilkinson, Tom Wilkinson: 25 October 1955: Invitation from the Wilkinsons for Sargent to visit their new flat

69: ff. 172-174: Kostek Wojnarowski: Sculptor: 17-23 November 1955: Wojnarowski requests permission to make a portrait bust of Sargent; Sargent accepts

70: ff. 175-180: Jessie Wood [née Goldsack]: Companion of Henry Wood: 7 November 1955-19 June 1955: Thanks Sargent for a party following a performance of the 'Messiah'. Requests to meet Sargent for lunch; proposes a concert performance of Walton's 'Troilus and Cressida'; Sargent doesn't believe the work is suitable. Sargent thanks Wood for an 'exquisite' birthday present. Sargent writes to Wood offering a foot rest as a house-warming present; refers to a marked score and the prospectus for the Promenade Concerts

71: ff. 180-182: Elinor Remick Warren: Composer: 14 January 1955: Concerning score of Warren's composition 'The Passing of King Arthur' which she has sent to Sargent for his consideration

72: ff. 183-186: Mary Wilson [Lady Wilson]: [married to Sir James Steuart Wilson, tenor, formerly Deputy General Administrator, Royal Opera House]: 27 October-5 November 1955: Informs Sargent that Steuart has left the Opera 'under unpleasant circumstances'; requests help to find him some teaching work on their return to Britain

73: ff. 187-189: T.J. Walsh: Chairman, The Wexford Festival: 2-9 May 1955: Request for Sargent to take part in the Festival Forum of the Wexford Festival of Music and the Arts; Sargent declines owing to prior engagements

74: ff. 190-192: Malcolm Joseph-Mitchell: Associate Secretary, World University Service: 22-25 April 1955: Request for Sargent to serve as vice-president of the World University Service

75: ff. 193-195: Harry Willis: Headmaster, East Lane County Secondary School, North Wembley: 7-8 June 1955: Request for Sargent to give an address at East Lane County Secondary School; Sargent declines owing to unavailability

76: ff. 196-197: W.L. Dixon: The Henry Wood Gramophone Circle: 14-17 June 1955: Invitation for Sargent to attend an evening of the Henry Wood Gramophone Circle; Sargent declines owing to unavailability

77: ff. 198-199: [Miss] F. Whealbet: 13-18 June 1955: Correspondence concerning comments made by Sargent in the Daily Express relating to a matter of theology in Shakespeare

78: ff. 200-201: J.G. Spencer: Hon. Sec., Warwick Orchestral Society: 28 September-4 October 1955: Request for Sargent to continue as President of the Warwickshire Music Society; Sargent accepts

79: ff. 202-203: Joan Woollcombe: 5 August-7 September 1955: Invitation for Sargent to receive as a gift a copy of 'The Pilgrim's Progress' formerly belonging Lord Horder