Add MS 89510/16/7

Large blue scrapbook with read leather spine embossed with the dates 1936-1954, containing press cuttings, programmes and copies of photographs recording the stage and screen career of Ralph Richardson and his wife, Meriel Forbes. This volume may have been compiled by Ralph himself.

It includes:

• a programme for the Henry Irving Centenary Matinee on 23 May 1938 at the Lyceum Theatre
• a letter to Ralph from the Admiralty dated 16 Sep 1939, offering a temporary commission as Sub-Lieutenant
• a programme for the Red Cross Gala matinee on 12 Mar 1940 at the Palace Theatre, with a letter of thanks from Walter Payne, dated 19 Mar 1940, enclosing a copy of a letter from the Lord Mayor
• a programme for the Shakespeare Birthday Festival on 22 Apr 1940 at the Old Vic
• booklet containing a narrative of the film, The Silver Fleet, illustrated with stills from the film, published in 1942
• a programme for The Ship-shape Show in May 1943 on board H.M. Troopship
• a programme for Seascape on 12 Sep 1943, on behalf of ENSA at the Royal Albert Hall
• a programme for a concert in aid of the Navy League, on 17 Oct 1943, at the Coliseum, Charing Cross
• a colour booklet commemorating a victory parade of British and Soviet forces with captions in Russian
• cuttings celebrating the marriage of Ralph and Meriel in Jan 1944 and celebrating the birth of Charles in Jan 1945
• programmes for the ENSA tour of Europe in May-Jun 1945 and for the residency at the Comedie Francaise in Jul 1945
• a programme for a concert of the Southern Philharmonic Orchestra, narrated by Ralph, on 14 Dec 1946, at the Dome, Brighton
• a programme for a Remembrance Day Concert, narrated by Ralph Richardson, on 6 Nov 1949 at the Royal Albert Hall
• a programme for a concert of the Halle Orchestra, narrated by Ralph Richardson, on 16 Apr 1950 at the King's Hall, Belle Vue, Manchester
• a programme for the opening of the Kenya National Theatre by Ralph Richardson and Sir Evelyn Baring on 6 Nov 1952