Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1921-2015 (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
0.5 cubic meters. (33 boxes [3 outsize, 5 large, 8 small, 17 bespoke]).
Context area
Name of creator
Archival history
Papers collated by Harry Secombe, his wife Myra, and their children, kept at the family home in Guildford, Surrey, England. The items were collected during a career spanning over 50 years. In 2021, the family offered the papers to the Library on the 100th anniversary of his birth. Most of the material has been re-boxed. The 17 scrap books were digitized by his son David, and copies of the digital images were also sent to the Library in 2023.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
David Secombe (son), London. Donations of 1 large box (10 small boxes in August 2021); 2 boxes (October 2021); 17 computer files (January 2022); 2 boxes (February 2022); 3 large boxes, 2 small grey boxes (November 2023).
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers and memorabilia documenting the career of Sir Harry Secombe CBE, the entertainer, comedian, singer, star of film, radio, television and theatre, also a writer and broadcaster. This collection was compiled by Harry himself, together with his wife Myra and their children. The papers include scripts from stage, radio and television shows such as "The Goon Show", "Pickwick" (1963 and 1993), "Harry Secombe Show", "Secombe and Friends", "Sunday Night at the London Palladium", etc.. Book manuscripts including "Twice Brightly" (1974), "Goon Abroad" (1982), "Arias and Raspberries" (1989), and "Strawberries and Cheam" (1998). Many anecdotes and speech notes; magazine articles in draft and published; programmes and posters (many signed); letters, personalia, honours, awards ephemera, charity work, funeral and memorial service. Harry was well known for his humorous cartoons and caricatures which feature throughout the collection.
The large collection of personal and publicity photographs, including "Pickwick" productions, "Oliver!", together with stars of theatre, television, friends, and Royalty have been transferred to NLW photographic collections.
Three paintings have been transferred to NLW framed works.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
All papers donated to NLW have been retained with the exception of a few duplicates.
Accruals
Accruals are expected.
System of arrangement
Based on the arrangement of the donor.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to abide by the conditions set out in information provided when applying for their Readers' Tickets, whereby the reader shall become responsible for compliance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation 2018 in relation to any processing by them of personal data obtained from modern records held at the Library.
Sub-series 2/2 "Scrapbooks in digital format" are restricted to viewing on Library terminals only.
Conditions governing reproduction
Usual copyright laws apply.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Alma system control number
Access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Milligan, Spike, 1918-2002 (Subject)
- Charles, Prince of Wales, 1948- -- Photographs. (Subject)
- Secombe, Harry -- Archives (Subject)
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Description follows NLW guidelines based on ISAD(G) 2nd ed.; RDA NACO; and LCSH
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
January 2023-October 2024.
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
Sources
The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: discussions and correspondence with the donor; papers within the archive; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Secombe; https://goonshow.org/ ; https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-58477968
Archivist's note
Compiled by Robert Evans