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Barbara Taylor Bradford Archive

Archive Collection: BC MS 20c Bradford

Details

Type of record: Archive

Title: Barbara Taylor Bradford Archive

Level: Collection

Classmark: BC MS 20c Bradford

Creator(s): Bradford, Barbara Taylor (1933-)()

Date(s): c.1940-2019

Language: English

Size and medium: 104 boxes, 36 vols, and 33 videotapes; manuscript papers, typescript papers, videos, greetings cards, photographs, postcards, press cuttings, photocopies; Includes 33 videotapes, 1 cassette tape recording, and 12 transparencies.

Persistent link: https://explore.library.leeds.ac.uk/special-collections-explore/8439

Collection group(s): English Literature

Description

Includes typecript copies of her novels, some with manuscript annotations, printers' proofs, published novels, press cuttings and magazines featuring articles about Taylor Bradford, papers relating to the conferment of her Honorary Degree of Letters at the University of Leeds and her relationship with the University.Also includes published novels given by Bradford to R.P. Carr (Librarian), then given by Carr to the Library.

Biography or history

Barbara Taylor Bradford was born in Armley, Leeds on 10 May 1933, the only child of Winston and Freda Taylor.

She began a career in journalism aged 16, as a reporter for the Yorkshire Evening Post. She would later work in London. She moved to the USA after her marriage in 1963 and continued her journalistic career. She also wrote children’s books and books on interior design.

Her career as a writer of fiction began in 1979, with the publication of her first novel, 'A Woman of Substance'. This would go on to sell over 30 million copies and is ranked as one of the bestselling works of fiction of all time.

Taylor Bradford has written 40 works of fiction, which have collectively sold 90 million copies. They are published in over 40 languages and in more than 90 countries.

Ten of her books were produced as TV films or drama series. The mini-series adaptation of ‘A Woman of Substance’ aired on Channel 4 in the UK in 1985. The broadcast drew 13.8 million viewers, which remains the channel's highest-ever audience.

She holds five Honorary Doctorates of Letters from several institutions including the University of Leeds, Yorkshire; the University of Bradford, Yorkshire; Teikyo Post University, Connecticut; Siena College, Loudonville, New York; and Mount Saint Mary College, Newburgh, New York. She is the recipient of many other awards for her writing achievements and philanthropy, and was awarded an OBE in 2007.

Taylor Bradford married television and film producer Robert Bradford in 1963. They were together for 55 years until his death in 2019.

She lives in New York and regularly travels back to the UK for work and personal visits.

Provenance

The Archive was donated to Special Collections by the Barbara Taylor Bradford.

System of arrangement

The box numbering may be subject to change in the light of subsequent receipts of material.

Access and usage

Reproduction

Access

This collection is subject to various access conditions. Please see individual catalogue descriptions for further details on access.

Material in this collection is in copyright. Photocopies or digital images can only be supplied by the Library for research or private study within the terms of copyright legislation. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain the copyright holder's permission to reproduce for any other purpose. Guidance is available on tracing copyright status and ownership.

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