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Mass-Observation Archive: Topic Collections

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NEWSPAPER READING: 1937-62

TC 61: 15 boxes

Introduction

The majority of the material in this Topic Collection was used as the basic source of information for The Press and its Readers, Art & Technics Ltd, 1949

For precise information of which surveys were used see Appendix I of The Press and its Readers

See also TC 60: Press

BOX 1: DECEMBER DIRECTIVE 1937 AND READING SURVEY NO 4 1938

61/1/A: December Directive 1937

Handwritten/typed reports by members of the Panel on reading habits (newspapers) on public transport, first three weeks of January 1938

61/1/B: Reading Survey No 4 1938

Copy of M-O Bulletin May-June 1938

Analysis of the survey

Replies to survey by members of the Panel

61/1/C-E: Reading Survey No 4 1938

Replies to Survey by members of the Panel

61/1/F: Typed Report

"Motives and Methods of Newspaper Reading" (M-O) December 1938

61/1/G: Report on the Press, 1940

Typed Ms "The Press and the Public" (chapter headings only)

Typed Ms "The Social Function of the Press" 31.10.40, various drafts. Approx 68,000 words (RF)

61/1/H:

Background material for above Ms: assorted notes, cuttings etc

BOX 2: NEWSPAPER READING QUESTIONNAIRES 1940. MAGAZINE QUESTIONNAIRES 1940-45

61/2/A: Newspaper Reading Surveys: January-April 1940

Typed survey, 6.1.40 (KB)

Handwritten survey, 22.4.40 (DH)

61/2/B: Newspaper Reading Questionnaire: May-June 1940

Typed questionnaire replies, Silvertown, Fulham (NM, MD, SS, BW)

Handwritten analysis

Typed report "Distrust of the News" 22.5.40

61/2/C: Responses to newspaper articles: July 1940

Typed/handwritten responses from the public to news stories, London (LE, NM, CF, DH)

Analysis

61/2/D: Magazine Questionnaire: March-April 1940 (repeat 1941)

Questionnaire typed on postcard

Typed/handwritten replies to questionnaire, March (KB)

Handwritten letter to (KB) from magazine shop assistant

Typed interviews with magazine/newsagent assistants (KB)

Typed preliminary report on "Magazines and Pamphlets"

Typed/handwritten analysis of trade magazines, 27.4.40 (JA)

Typed magazine and periodical sales report, 20.2.41 (DS)

61/2/E: Magazine/bookstall questionnaires 1943

Typed schedule of bookstall survey, January (TH)

Typed specimen questionnaire

Typed coding of magazines

Handwritten observations, Manchester, 31.1.43 (FM)

Handwritten replies to questionnaire, Manchester, 22.1.43 (FM)

Handwritten copy of questionnaire to newsagents, general impressions and replies to questionnaire, Fulham, 18.3.43 (NW)

61/2/F: Magazine Questionnaires 1945

Typed first and second draft of questionnaire of proposed investigation of weekly picture magazines

Typed/handwritten replies to questionnaire

BOX 3: QUESTIONNAIRES ON THE READING OF PARTICULAR NEWSPAPERS 1942

61/3/A: Daily Mirror, March 1942

Typed copy of questionnaire

Typed/handwritten replies to questionnaire, London (PJ, EG, RC, RB, LB)

Handwritten analysis sheets

Handwritten news quotas re the Daily Mirror, 26.3.42 & 28.3.43, (DB)

Handwritten notes on the Daily Mirror from the Liberal questionnaire and correlations (DB)

Handwritten notes on the Daily Mirror questionnaire (DB)

Handwritten notes on the second Daily Mirror questionnaire (DB)

Handwritten further correlations (DB)

Typed extracts from M-O diaries and directives re the Daily Mirror

61/3/B: Daily Express, June 1942

Typed report "Daily Express reading observations" M-O, 23.6.42

Typed/handwritten analysis of material collected in questionnaire (BW, DB)

Typed list of observers involved in the questionnaire, 4.6.42 (BW)

Handwritten observations on cards, London, 22.6.42 (CF)

61/3/C-D: Daily Express Questionnaire replies: June 1942

London, Luton, Bolton, Coventry, Wales, Aylesbury (MS, MT, CM, ET, VT, PJ, DH)

61/3/E: Daily Herald: July-August 1942

Typed report on "Daily Herald Readership" 2nd Draft, Sept (M-O)

Questionnaire replies, London (DH, EG, MS, CG, POL)

Typed/handwritten observations, indirects and interviews with newsagents (CM, LB, DH, POL, EG)

Analysis

61/3/F: Tribune, December 1942. Tribune and Illustrated, January 1943

Handwritten Tribune circulation lists

Typed/handwritten observations, London, December 1942(GST, CM, EW, CG)

Typed copy of Tribune questionnaire

Handwritten/typed replies to Tribune questionnaire, December 1942 (MH, CM, EW, FHB, KK)

Handwritten/typed replies to Tribune/Illustrated questionnaire January 1943, London (CM, GB, VS, MH, DE)

Analysis sheets

BOX 4: 1947, DIRECT QUESTIONING AND OBSERVATIONAL MATERIAL USED IN M-O SURVEY ON NEWSPAPER READING

61/4/A: Analysis of material, July 1947

Typed analysis of answers to 'sealed packet' sent to Panel members, 20.7.47

Handwritten summary of survey of Kent Messenger

2 pamphlets, The Reading Habit

61/4/B: Newspaper reading in Public Libraries, September 1947

Handwritten observations, London (DH, BS)

61/4/C: Observations and Follows, September 1947

Handwritten/typed observations of newspaper reading, London stations, streets and pubs (DH, RMC, LB)

61/4/D: Local newspapers, September 1947

Typed list of London and provincial weekly papers

Typed analysis of 1947 Directive (September) re local papers

Handwritten/typed observations and indirects re local papers Middlesbrough (IP), Blaina (JG), Bolton (BL)

61/4/E: Family Newspaper Reading Questionnaire (Survey 1), October 1947

Typed partially reconstructed questionnaire

Handwritten/typed questionnaire replies (BS, KB, LB, DH, RL, BL)

Handwritten observations, 19.9.47 (LB)

Handwritten notes on questionnaire

2 handwritten questionnaire replies (slightly different from above) 8.12.47 (DH)

61/4/F: Sunday Newspaper Reading Questionnaire (Survey II), November-December 1947

Handwritten questionnaire replies, London (BS, LB, IPS, RL)

BOX 5: REPLIES TO THE GRAVESEND BY-ELECTION NEWSPAPER QUESTIONNAIRE, NOVEMBER 1947: WOMEN

61/5/A: Class B, all ages

61/5/B: Class C, under 40 years old

61/5/C: Class C, 40 years and over

61/5/D: Class D, under 40 years old

61/5/E: Class D, 40 years and over

BOX 6: Replies to the Gravesend By-Election Newspaper Questionnaire, November 1947: Men

61/6/A: Class B, all ages

61/6/B: Class C, under 40 years old

61/6/C: Class C, 40 years and over

61/6/D: Class D, under 40 years old

61/6/E: Class D, 40 years and over

BOX 7: DIRECT QUESTIONNAIRE ON NEWSPAPER READING, JANUARY-FEBRUARY 1948

61/7/A: Copies of the questionnaire and instructions to Observers

Typed code list

Typed verbatim questionnaire and instructions

Copies of the questionnaires

61/7/B & C: Analysis sheets

61/7/D: Replies to the questionnaire in Putney: Area 1

Detailed and cross-off questionnaire replies (DH, IPG, BS, HT)

BOX 8: DIRECT QUESTIONNAIRE REPLIES 1948 (AS BOX 7)

61/8/A: Replies to questionnaire in Croydon: Area 2 (LB, RL, DH)

61/8/B: Replies to questionnaire in Tottenham: Area 3 (BS, IPG)

61/8/C: Replies to questionnaire in Hendon: Area 4 (KB, DH, LB)

61/8/D: Replies to questionnaire in Bolton: Area 5 (KB)

61/8/E: Replies to questionnaire in Aston: Area 6 (IPS)

61/8/F: Replies to questionnaire in Bristol: Area 7 (ML, CW)

61/8/G: Replies to questionnaire in Essex villages: Area 8 (BS)

BOX 9: MATERIAL COLLECTED FOR NEWSPAPER READING SURVEY, APRIL-MAY 1948

61/9/A: Children's Newspaper Reading, April 1948

Handwritten answers by 10-16 year old schoolgirls and boys

61/9/B: Observations in London Public Libraries, May 1948

Handwritten observations of newspaper reading (LB, DH)

(Box includes press-cuttings January-February 1948)

BOX 10: CORRESPONDENCE, ANALYSIS AND FINAL REPORT 1947-48

61/10/A: Correspondence between M-O and provincial/national newspapers, March-April 1948

61/10/B: Correspondence between M-O and JRM Brumwell and A Everett-Jones (members of the Advertising Service Guild)

Re surveys and publication of The Press and its Readers, December 1945-November 1948

Including typed draft report for the Advertising Service Guild on Readership, October 1947

Typed newspaper survey progress report, April 1948

Pamphlet "The Big Meaning of Small"-a survey on classified advertisements in evening newspapers

61/10/C: Analysis sheets of material collected for survey 1947-48

Including

  • 1942 Newspaper Reading Survey
  • 1947 Tottenham Library Survey (See Reading Habits (TC 20), boxes 13-14)
  • 1942 & 1947 Directive

61/10/D: Handwritten, early draft report on Newspaper Reading 1947-48

61/10/E: Typed report "Newspaper Reading 1947-48"

Incomplete; finally published as The Press and its Readers

61/10/F: Galleyproofs of The Press and its Readers 1949

BOX 11: MISCELLANEOUS NEWSPAPERS COLLECTED IN NEWSPAPER READING SURVEY 1947-48

61/11/A: Daily Mirror

61/11/B: News Chronicle

61/11/C: Daily Graphic

61/11/D: The Star

61/11/E: Daily Herald

61/11/F: Daily Express

BOX 12: MISCELLANEOUS NEWSPAPERS COLLECTED IN NEWSPAPER READING SURVEY 1947-48

61/12/A: Daily Mail

61/12/B: Daily Telegraph

61/12/C: The Times

61/12/D: Daily Worker

61/12/E: Manchester Guardian

61/12/F: Evening News

61/12/G: Evening Standard

61/12/H: Local papers

BOX 13: MISCELLANEOUS SUNDAY NEWSPAPERS COLLECTED IN NEWSPAPER READING SURVEY 1947-48

BOX 14: NEWSPAPER STRIKE, APRIL 1955

61/14/A: Typed report and internal M-O material

Typed report "Newspaper Strike"

Typed quotations from Questionnaire 258 (II)

Typed analysis of 150 Londoners interviewed 15-18.4.55

Typed instructions to observers on interviewing

Quota sheets (analysis of people interviewed by various observers)

61/14/B: Replies and code sheet to Questionnaire 257, London

61/14/C-D: Replies to Questionnaire 257, London

61/14/E: Replies and code sheet to Questionnaire 258 (II), London

61/14/F: Observations and interviews with newspaper vendors

Typed/handwritten observations and interviews, London stations (JS, MT, LE)

61/14/G: Observations, indirects on attitudes to newspaper strike

Typed/handwritten (CG, DM, DLD)

61/14/H: Library questionnaire

Handwritten answers to short questionnaire

61/14/I: Emergency newspapers produced during the strike

BOX 15: Later newspaper reading surveys

61/15/A: Questionnaire and analysis of survey carried out for Odhams Press Ltd, November 1956-March 1957

Correspondence from Odhams Press Ltd to M-O re survey

3 questionnaire replies

Analysis

61/15/B: Public Opinion survey M-O 1152, September 1962

Typed instructions to investigators

Typed copy of questionnaire

Typed cards used in survey

(Box includes 4 copies of the Daily Telegraph 6.2.56)

Mass-Observation Studies 1937-55

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