Collection context
Summary
- Creator:
- Phillips, John
- Abstract:
- The Phillips, J. mss., 1916-2013, consists of the papers of John Nova Phillips, 1926 - .
- Extent:
- 8 Boxes
- Language:
- Materials are in English .
- Preferred citation:
[Item], Phillips, J. mss., Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana..
Background
- Biographical / Historical:
The Phillips, J. mss., 1916-2013, consists of the papers of John Nova Phillips, 1926 - . Phillips first traveled to Europe in 1951 for a Grand Tour. After receiving an M.A. in 18th Century English Literature at Duke University, he returned to Europe in 1955 to teach English in Laval, France and at Le Rosey, a prestigious school in Rolle, Switzerland. After moving to Florence in 1958, he became acquainted with Violet Trefusis, who became his close companion. Trefusis was an English writer and socialite, known for her affair with the poet Vita Sackville-West. After Trefusis' death in 1972, Phillips became her literary executor and inherited her medieval home, St. Loup-de-Naud.
- Scope and Content:
Diaries include handwritten volumes spanning 1952-1999, as well as books of inventories and quotations. Writings include essays based off of diary entries that Phillips later turned into his unpublished autobiography, A Romantic in Europe, and several essays by Violet Trefusis. The Scrapbooks are binders created by Phillips, consisting of a mixture of photographs, clippings, correspondence and other materials. Photographs consist of photographs, slides, albums and frames of Phillips' numerous acquaintances, friends and travels. Notable people featured in this series include Andy Warhol and Gore Vidal. Correspondence is organized alphabetically, and includes letters from Camilla Parker-Bowles, James Lees-Milne and Francois Mitterand. Correspondence also includes letters from Violet Trefusis, with John Phillips' notes. (The originals of these letters can be found at Yale.) Business consists of documents relating to Trefusis' estate, as well as Phillips' own literary career. Publications contains books and magazines. Clippings consists of book reviews and articles cut out from newspapers or printed from the Internet.
- Acquisition information:
- Acquired: 2004, 2012.
- Processing information:
Processed by Claire Horton.
Completed in 2014
- Arrangement:
Organized into the following series: I. Diaries; II. Writings; III. Scrapbooks; IV. Photographs; V. Correspondence; VI. Business; VII. Publications; VIII. Clippings.
- Physical location:
- ALF (Auxiliary Library Facility)
Access
- RESTRICTIONS:
-
This collection is open for research.
Many collections are housed offsite; retrieval requires advance notice. Please make an appointment a minimum of one week in advance of your visit.
- TERMS OF ACCESS:
-
Photography and digitization may be restricted for some collections. Copyright restrictions may apply. Before publishing, researchers are responsible for securing permission from all applicable rights holders, then filling out the Permission to Publish form.
- PREFERRED CITATION:
-
[Item], Phillips, J. mss., Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana..
- CAMPUS:
- Indiana University Bloomington
- LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
-
1200 East Seventh StreetBloomington, Indiana 47405-5500, USA
- CAMPUS:
- Indiana University Bloomington
- CONTACT:
-
(812) 855-2452liblilly@indiana.edu