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Collection Description
The two-box Vizetelly Archive contains a range of primary and secondary
material related to the Vizetelly family of publishers. From the earliest
days of their publishing career (which effectively began in 1843 with
the launch of a newspaper, The Pictorial Post), brothers Henry and
James attempted to fuse the disciplines of printing and journalism
and the Archive reflects their varied roles as writers, editors and
illustrators. Photographs, drawings, scrapbooks and personal histories
are included, together with related press-cuttings, tape-recordings
and a draft unpublished biography of Henry Vizetelly, written in the
1960s by Russell Purchase. Purchase’s detailed research notes
and correspondence are also included. The Vizetelly Archive at Sussex
represents the work of Henry’s sons Ernest (1853–1923)
and Francis (1864–1938) more strongly than it relates to Henry
himself. Henry had edited works by leading French writers and Ernest
continued this tradition. He also wrote books on Republican France,
anarchism, and Lord Kitchener. The last named was withdrawn before
publication in the 1910s, but the Library holds a proof copy for consultation;
many of Ernest’s other publications are also available. Other
items relating directly to Ernest include family photographs and an
album of his drawings and book jacket designs. The papers were donated
to the University in 1982 by Dr O Wright Holmes, Ernest Vizetelly’s
granddaughter.