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Archival description
Jeff Towns (Dylan Thomas) Collection Watkins, Vernon Phillips, 1906-1967
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Bill W. Murphy,

Bound typescript (photocopy), [1965x1968], of a paper by B. W. Murphy, entitled 'Creation and destruction. Notes on Dylan Thomas'; together with an offprint of an article based on this work published in the British Journal of Medical Psychology, 41, (1968), pp. 149-167; three related letters, 1964-1965, from the author to Vernon Watkins; and an undated typescript copy of an unsigned letter by Dylan Thomas to Marguerite Caetani.

D. J. and Florence Thomas,

Holograph letter, dated 31 December 1941, by Dylan Thomas to his parents D. J. and Florence Thomas, written in black ink on lined paper (ff. 1r-3r) and sent from Chiswick, thanking them for the Christmas presents; writing from London, he refers to the time spent in Oxford with Alan and Margaret Taylor over the Christmas holiday, the urgency to find somewhere for Caitlin and Llewelyn to stay near the capital, his recent work on short information films and a radio script, a visit from Vernon Watkins, and a poem published in Lilliput. The envelope is postmarked January 1942.

Daniel Jones and David Higham,

Correspondence, 1953-1954 and 1958, comprising twenty-two mainly typescript letters, mostly from the literary agent David Higham, of Pearn, Pollinger & Higham Ltd, to Daniel Jones, and including five replies (two unsigned) from Daniel Jones, one being a 9 ff. draft letter. Among the topics discussed are the collection of Dylan Thomas letters, edited by Daniel Jones and Vernon Watkins; the publication of a collection of radio talks by Dylan Thomas; the radio production of 'Under Milk Wood'; the publication of Under Milk Wood in Mademoiselle, the serialisation of the work in the Sunday Observer, the edition published by Dent containing a preface by Daniel Jones, and the Acting Edition of the play; incidental music to Under Milk Wood, including the composer's rights; the poet's papers in America; the circumstances surrounding his death; and Caitlin Thomas.

Florence Thomas,

Six autograph letters (one photocopy), [1953]-1957, from Dylan Thomas's mother, Florence ('Florrie') Thomas, to various recipients including Daniel Jones, J. Oliver Stephens and Vernon Watkins. They mainly relate to her bereavement, to Dylan, Caitlin and the grandchildren, and her health.

Thomas, Florence Hannah, 1882-1958.

Francis Dufau-Labeyrie,

Seven letters, 1979-1983, from Francis Dufau-Labeyrie to Gwen Watkins, assisting with research for her book, Portrait of a friend (Llandysul, 1983); he discusses correspondence between himself and Vernon Watkins and his recollections of Dylan Thomas. Also included are photocopies of letters, dated [1937]-1963, from Vernon Watkins to Francis Dufau-Labeyrie containing references to Dylan Thomas, and a copy of Dufau-Labeyrie's 'Notes in memory of Vernon Watkins', 1977.

Dufau-Labeyrie, Francis, 1916-1992

Letters

Includes letters, 1935-1997, from John Malcolm Brinnin (4), John Davenport (2), Nicolette Devas, George Firmage (2), Alfred Janes (2), Mary Keene, Mervyn Levy, Mably Ceredig Owen (2), John Prichard (to Dylan Thomas, enclosing typescript play, 'The centric part'), Bill Read (2), Lynette Roberts, Stephen Spender (3), Margaret Taylor (2), and Tom Warner (2). Amongst the recipients are Vernon Watkins, Daniel Jones, and Charles Fisher. Also included are press cuttings, [1949]-1999, relating to Alfred Janes, mostly tributes.

Letters,

Thirty-four unpublished autograph letters and cards, together with a telegram, 1947-1984, from Caitlin Thomas; among the recipients are Paul Ferris, Daniel Jones (with a draft reply by him), Mervyn Levy, Andrew Sinclair, Stuart Thomas, Ruthven Todd, and Gwen and Vernon Watkins. Also included is a handwritten and typescript copy of a letter, dated 16 December 1953, to George Reavey and Irene Rice Pereira, with a photograph of Caitlin and baby Colm; a typescript copy of a letter, 1954, to David [Higham]; and photocopies of two letters, 1951 and 1962, sent to Helen [McAlpine], held at the University of Texas. Personal matters are mainly discussed in these letters, and Caitlin's life and relationship with Dylan Thomas; several letters are written during the months following her husband's death, and some relate to the trial concerning ownership of the manuscript of 'Under Milk Wood'.

Thomas, Caitlin

Miscellaneous letters,

Photocopies and typescript copies, produced [1955x2000], of seven letters from Dylan Thomas, dated [?1935]-1953, found loose amongst papers acquired in this group. Most were published in Paul Ferris ed., The collected letters of Dylan Thomas (London, 1985). Among the recipients are Marguerite Caetani (2), Pamela Hansford Johnson, J. Oliver Stephens, and Vernon Watkins (signed by VW).