Subject strengths: Literature, Social History, History

The papers of Jack Common (1900-1968) are a rich resource for those interested in the history of this talented Tyneside-born writer. They include published and unpublished typescripts and manuscripts of his work, including Kiddar's Luck, his fictionalised childhood autobiography, published in 1951. There are also Common's diaries, notebooks, research notes, news cuttings, correspondence and photographs.

The papers also include copies of articles and draft articles for his contribution to the socialist journals The Adelphi and New Britain. Correspondence to Jack Common includes letters from his friends George Orwell, E.M. Forster, Dorothy and Max Plowman, Richard and John Middleton Murry, Thomas McCullough and Connie Common, Jack's second wife. There is also correspondence from various publishers as well as from the BBC and Associated British Picture Corporation.

 

 

Collection Name and Collection Reference Code:

Collection Name: Common (Jack) Archive

Archive Ref Code: GB186/JC

Date Range of Material

1916 - 1988

Type of Material

The personal archive of Jack Common

Size of Collection

6 Linear Metres of shelving 

How To Order Items From This Collection

Please use the finding aid below to search through a list of the individual items we have within this collection.

If you find an item you would like to consult in the Special Collections reading room, simply make a note of the reference number and title of the item(s) you are interested in (for example JC/01/02 - Jack Common's Diary 30/6/1930 - 3/11/1930).

You can then place your order by linking to our Request Form. 

Finding Aid 

Archival catalogue available via the Archives Hub.

Unable to visit our Reading Room?

If you are unable to visit our reading room, we also have a virtual reading room service and digitisation service.

Other resources

Material from this archive was used in our Treasures of the Month feature for August 2015.