Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- [1940-1970] (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
4 files
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Iris Murdoch was born in Dublin, Ireland on 15 Jul 1919. When she was very young Iris and her parents moved to London, England, and Iris studied at Frobel and Badminton Schools. She followed this with studies in classics, ancient history and philosophy at Oxford, and further study at Cambridge. During the war years Iris worked for the Treasury in London, and then joined the UNRRA providing relief in formerly occupied countries in Europe. In 1948 she became a fellow of St Anne's College, Oxford, where she taught and researched philosophy.
Iris Murdoch wrote a number of tracts on philosophy, however it is for her novels that she is best known. She wrote 26 novels in total, her first being Under the Net published in 1954. Other notable works include The Bell and The Sea, the Sea, for which she won the Booker Prize. Her last novel, Jackson's Dilemma, was published in 1995.
In her youth Iris Murdoch had relationships with a number of individuals, including Elias Canetti. She met author and scholar John Bayley while at Oxford, and they married in 1956. She wrote to a great number of people and maintained friendships in this way.
Later in life Iris Murdoch was diagnosed with Alzheimers disease, the first effects of which she had attributed to writer's block. She died in 1999.
Repository
Archival history
The photographs were found in the loft of Iris Murdoch and John Bayley's former home in Steeple Aston, Oxford.
GB 2108 KUAS83 [1940-1970] Collection (Fonds) 4 files Murdoch , Dame , Jean Iris , 1919-1999 , author
Iris Murdoch was born in Dublin, Ireland on 15 Jul 1919. When she was very young Iris and her parents moved to London, England, and Iris studied at Frobel and Badminton Schools. She followed this with studies in classics, ancient history and philosophy at Oxford, and further study at Cambridge. During the war years Iris worked for the Treasury in London, and then joined the UNRRA providing relief in formerly occupied countries in Europe. In 1948 she became a fellow of St Anne's College, Oxford, where she taught and researched philosophy.
Iris Murdoch wrote a number of tracts on philosophy, however it is for her novels that she is best known. She wrote 26 novels in total, her first being Under the Net published in 1954. Other notable works include The Bell and The Sea, the Sea, for which she won the Booker Prize. Her last novel, Jackson's Dilemma, was published in 1995.
In her youth Iris Murdoch had relationships with a number of individuals, including Elias Canetti. She met author and scholar John Bayley while at Oxford, and they married in 1956. She wrote to a great number of people and maintained friendships in this way.
Later in life Iris Murdoch was diagnosed with Alzheimers disease, the first effects of which she had attributed to writer's block. She died in 1999.
The photographs were found in the loft of Iris Murdoch and John Bayley's former home in Steeple Aston, Oxford.
Purchased for Kingston University Archives and Special Collections.
Collection of photographs previously owned by Iris Murdoch. Includes images of Iris Murdoch alone, Iris Murdoch pictured with others and portraits of individuals who Iris Murdoch knew. As well as Murdoch those depicted include John Bayley, Frank Thompson and Elias Cannetti.
Original order. The photographs have been sub-divided into files of Murdoch pictured alone, Murdoch pictured with others and images of other individuals Murdoch knew.
Photographs are able to be viewed by appointment in the Kingston University Archives and Special Collections reading room.
No copying of the photographs is permitted due to copyright permissions and the fragile nature of some of the images.
English
Some of the photographs are quite fragile. Gloves should be worn while handling the collection.
Full catalogue entries will eventually be added on to our Archives catalogue at http://adlib.kingston.ac.uk.
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. 2014 Collections Photographic collections Individual portraits Paintings Portraits Group portraits Photography Portrait photography Photographs Visual materials Bayley , John , b 1925 , literary critic and writer Murdoch , Dame , Jean Iris , 1919-1999 , author x Murdoch , Iris Thompson , Frank , 1920-1944 , serviceman Canetti , Elias , 1905-1994 , author and philosopher Illustrations Cultural resources
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Purchased for Kingston University Archives and Special Collections.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Collection of photographs previously owned by Iris Murdoch. Includes images of Iris Murdoch alone, Iris Murdoch pictured with others and portraits of individuals who Iris Murdoch knew. As well as Murdoch those depicted include John Bayley, Frank Thompson and Elias Cannetti.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Original order. The photographs have been sub-divided into files of Murdoch pictured alone, Murdoch pictured with others and images of other individuals Murdoch knew.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Photographs are able to be viewed by appointment in the Kingston University Archives and Special Collections reading room.
Conditions governing reproduction
No copying of the photographs is permitted due to copyright permissions and the fragile nature of some of the images.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Full catalogue entries will eventually be added on to our Archives catalogue at http://adlib.kingston.ac.uk.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English