Holograph letter, dated 26 August 1948, by Dylan Thomas to Elisabeth [Lutyens], written in black ink and sent from Witney, discussing his work and poverty. The author has inscribed the word 'dirt', with an arrow pointing to a dark smudge on the paper, at the bottom of the letter (f. 1v).
Holograph letter, dated 28 May [19]51, by Dylan Thomas to D.[onald] R. Milner of the Times Educational Supplement, written in blue ink on blue paper (recto side only) and sent from Laugharne, declining an invitation 'to write a short survey on Wales'.
Holograph letter, 15 July 1953, by Dylan Thomas to Elizabeth Reitell, written in blue ink and sent from Laugharne, in which he refers to Under Milk Wood, financial matters, and a proposed opera in collaboration with Stravinsky. The envelope, included with the letter, is inscribed on the reverse by the author, 'from Dylan Thomas'.
Holograph letter, dated 7 January 1938, by Dylan Thomas to Keidrych [Rhys], sent from Blashford, in which he informs KR that Augustus John is trying to contact him regarding a portrait, expresses his own frustration at KR and the publication of Wales magazine, and enquires if KR is compiling a bibliography of his (DT) work.
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.
Script, 1954, (73 pp.), belonging to the producer Douglas Cleverdon, of the BBC production of 'Under Milk Wood'. Previously enclosed in a folder labelled 'BBC Script B2', it contains a brief note in pencil on the front page by Philip H. Burton.
Script, 1954, (73 pp.), of the BBC production of 'Under Milk Wood', containing a note in biro on the front page from Richard Bebb, who played the second voice, to Richard Jones; together with three letters, 1995-1996, from the latter to Jeff Towns, and three press cuttings and a programme, 1958-1988, relating to the play.
Typescript copy, 1974, (5 pp.) of a revised Preface by Daniel Jones for Under Milk Wood, together with proofs of the edition published in 1975 which comprises the first and second Prefaces (1954 and 1974); both typescript and proofs contain occasional corrections in his hand. Also included is related correspondence, 1974, between Daniel Jones and the publishers, J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd.
Programmes of productions of 'Under Milk Wood', together with related papers, 1956-2005.
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).
Postcard, [?2000], from Colm Thomas addressed to Jeff Towns.
Holograph letter of congratulation, 1935, from Dylan Thomas's father, D[avid] J[ohn] Thomas, to Daniel Jones, possibly after the latter was awarded the Mendelssohn Scholarship.
Folded page (4 pp.) from an exercise book containing an early untitled and unpublished pencil draft, [1925x1929], by Dylan Thomas of a short story which opens "Monseiur [sic] Didot's menagerie reached the little town of Artois early in the summer morning some years ago".
Pencil draft statement of intent, [c. 1928], in Dylan Thomas's hand, headed "Introduction" and written on both sides of a single ruled page from an exercise book. The piece begins, "It is unfortunate that the younger an artist is the less he is credited with being an artist...", and was possibly intended for the journal 'The Era' or a similar project.
Pocket book with black covers containing notes by Dylan Thomas, [1951x1953], for a radio feature on the South Bank exhibition, together with a list headed "Possibilities for the observer", observations on Persia, and a list of published and proposed works by him. The notebook may have accompanied Dylan Thomas during his third trip to America as it contains notes and contacts relating to the visit, some in the hand of Liz Reitell, in the back of the volume.
Untitled typescript copy, [?1963], (4 pp.), of the beginning of 'Prologue to an adventure', published in Wales, no. 1, (1937), containing ink corrections in an unidentified hand; together with a letter, 1963, from Stuart Thomas to David Higham explaining that this is a copy of a manuscript found behind the drawer of the writing desk at the Boat House.
Manuscript, (11 pp.), of the first and only issue of 'The Era: a literary journal issued six times a year', vol. I, (January and February, [c. 1928]). An additional contents list is inserted between the folded second and third pages. Most is written in the hand of Daniel Jones; the signature of his co-editor, Dylan Thomas, appears four times. The Foreword by Jenkyn D. Jones, is signed by him; D. J. Thomas is also listed amongst the contributors. Dylan Thomas refers to his father and sister, Nancy, in his Editor's Notes.
Four separate pages of ink and pencil drawings and doodles, [1934x1953], by Dylan Thomas, including an early self-portrait; together with an autograph list by Liz Reitell of their New York drawings.
A printed double page chart, [1936x1945], entitled 'Qualities: the new confessions book', from an edition of The week-end book. Dylan and Caitlin Thomas have scored themselves and each other on various personality traits and physical attributes listed at the top of the page. Also included is a copy of The week-end book (London, 1931), containing brief notes in an unidentified hand, possibly that of Daniel Jones (p. 509).