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The Bill Duley Collection of John Osborne contains correspondence from John and Helen
Osborne to Bill and Joan Duley, as well as clippings, photographs and playbills
from
two of John Osborne’s theater productions, Déjàvu and Inadmissible Evidence. The
collection is organized in three series: I. Correspondence, 1977-1997, undated;
II.
Printed Materials, 1978-1997, undated; and III. Personal Materials, 1994,
undated. |
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The majority of Series I. consists of postcards and letters spanning from the late
1970s to the early 1990s. Duley and Osborne’s correspondence, reflecting their
friendship through consistent contact over three decades, was at times cordial
and
at other times personal, discussing daily life, party invitations, travels, and
illness. |
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The materials in Series II. primarily consist of newspaper clippings, articles about
Osborne’s upcoming birthdays or milestone events, and reviews of his work. Also
included in this series are several magazine articles, one written on the life
of
Osborne upon turning 55, while several others are written by Osborne in a weekly
series called "Diary" run in The Spectator. Ranging from May 1992 to December 1993,
each article consists of several entries characterized by the passionate and
scathing commentary that Osborne was known for. |
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Series III. consists of personal materials collected by Duley, including a program
from Osborne’s funeral service and photographs of winter scenery and John
and Helen Osborne. |
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These materials were assembled by Bill Duley, a bank manager in Canada and a
personal friend of John Osborne. |
