Graham Greene - Catherine Walston Collection
Collection
Identifier: GTM-GAMMS168
The Catherine Walston/Graham Greene Papers consist in bulk of correspondence written by Greene to Lady Walston over a span of three decades from 1946 through 1978. In addition, the collection includes a large portion of original autograph and typed manuscripts, as well as rare proof copies of his works that the author presented over the years as gifts to Lady Walston. There is also a substantial collection of photographs of Greene and Lady Walston, together with friends such as writers Norman Douglas and John Hayward; and film producer Sir Alexander Korda and director Carol Reed. Several portrait-size photographs of Greene are included by notable photographers such as Cornell Capa, Douglas Glass, Yousuf Karsh, Islay de Courcy Lyons, and Jean Marie Marcel. Press clippings of articles both by and about Greene also enrich the collection, as do the unique ephemera/muniments consisting of printed souvenirs and small gift objects presented by Greene to Lady Walston.
Abbreviations used: AC = autograph card ACS = autograph card signed AL = autograph letter ALS = autograph letter signed AMs = autograph manuscript(s) AMsS = autograph manuscript signed AN = autograph note ANS = autograph note signed b/w = black and white photograph CW = Catherine Walston Mss = manuscript(s) n.d. = no date/undated PRN = printed TC = typed card TCS = typed card signed TL = typed letter TLS = typed letter signed TMS = typed manuscript TMsS = typed manuscript signed.
Most manuscripts collections at the Georgetown University Booth Family Center for Special Collections are open to researchers; however, restrictions may apply to some collections. Collections stored off site require a minimum of three days for retrieval. For use of all manuscripts collections, researchers are advised to contact the Booth Family Center for Special Collections in advance of any visit.
Researchers are solely responsible for determining the copyright status of the materials being used, establishing who the copyright owner is, locating the copyright owner, and obtaining permission for intended use.
Graham Henry Greene was born on October 2, 1904, in Berkhampsted, Hertfordshire, England. His father was Charles Henry Greene, headmaster of the Berkhampsted School, which Greene also attended, and his mother was Marion Raymond Greene, a cousin of the famous British novelist Robert Louis-Stevenson. In 1927, Greene married Vivien Dayrell Browning, who survives him, together with their two children, Mrs. Lucy Caroline (Greene) Bourget and Francis Greene. Greene is ranked among the greatest of twentieth-century writers. The author of plays, short stories, non-fiction works, and children's books, he is probably best known as a novelist. He achieved his first literary success with the publication of his thriller novel 'Stamboul Train' (Heinemann, 1932), published in the U.S. as 'Orient Express' (1932), which subsequently became a motion picture under the same title. In addition to a full life as an independent author, Greene was sub-editor to the Times, London (1926-30); film critic for 'Night and Day' during the 1930s; film critic (1935-39) and literary editor (1940-41) for the Spectator, London; a member of the British Foreign Office in Africa (1941-44); director of Eyre & Spottiswoode Ltd. publishers in London (1944-48); Indo-China correspondent for the New Republic (1954); director of Bodley Head publishers, London (1958-68); and a member of the Panamanian delegation to Washington for the signing of the Canal Treaty in 1977. On April 3, 1991, Greene died of a blood disease in Vevey, Switzerland.
For further biographical and bibliographical information, refer to the following sources: 1. Contemporary Authors, New Revision Series, Volume 35 and Volume 133 (Obituary notice); and 2. The Life of Graham Greene, Volume 1: 1904-1939 by Norman Sherry (Viking, 1989).
20.75 Cubic Feet (75 boxes, 7 oversized folders, and 1 set of rolled negatives)
English
Acquired from the Catherine Walston Trust.
The collection has been rehoused in acid-free boxes and folders.
Part of the Georgetown University Manuscripts Repository