File 2 - "The Ascent of Man: General letters, August 1973-February 1974"

2 files (2 parts)

Comprises correspondence mainly regarding 'The Ascent of Man' television series being shown in the United Kingdom and Canada, 'The Ascent of Man' book and articles in 'The Listener'.

"August 1973" section contains: correspondence from the general public (without replies, but mainly annotated that they had been replied to) in response to 'The Ascent of Man' being shown on television on subjects including Buddhist thinking, flowers in photographs of Bronowski published by the Radio Times, evolution, ideas for investigating molecules, ethical problems in the defence of tolerance, relativity, and theories of Dr [Immanuel] Velikovsky; a letter from Magaret Drage on 'The Ascent of Man' and having worked with Bronowski as a typist in 1946; a letter from Dr J N Blau thanking Bronowski for an autographed book and proposing a television series on medical sciences and human culture; a letter from Laurence Took thanking Bronowski for sending his book 'Science and Human Values'; a letter from Mrs Buttle thanking Bronowski for his letter and on her ancestor, William Lithgow; a letter from J D A Levy (director of Israel Information Office) asking Bronowski to address a meeting in London; a letter from Betty Fairbairn on 'The Ascent of Man' and family news; correspondence with the general public (with copies of replies from Bronowski) on subjects including a reference for a quote on Newton that Bronowski used, calling for scientific investigations of Zen Buddhism and mediation, reasons Isaac Newton did not continue his work on gravitation calculation and theory, and the scientific apparatus that appeared in the sequence on Benjamin Franklin in 'The Ascent of Man'; and a letter from Dr G Seaborn Jones regarding his work in psychology and on 'The Ascent of Man' with a reply from Bronowski.

"September 1973" section contains: letters from the general public (with no replies, but two annotated as replied to) in response to 'The Ascent of Man' articles in 'The Listener' (BBC magazine) and the television series on subjects including F. Matthias Alexander not being included in the programmes; a letter thanking Bronowski for sending a book [to a school boy]; a letter from Allison [Walker-] Morecroft on 'The Ascent of Man' and family news; and a letter from Dorothy Reed asking for Bronowski to be included in a book on favourite holiday destinations of famous people, to be sold in aid of cancer research.

"October 1973" section contains: a letter from Mr R Nevil Coles on the beginnings of agriculture as discussed in 'The Ascent of Man' and recalling playing chess with Bronowski in the University club in Cambridge, with a reply from Bronowski; letters from the general public in response to 'The Ascent of Man' being shown on television (with replies from Bronowski) on subjects including mixing up the gender of bees in 'The Ascent of Man', the planned Edwardian Festival in Folkestone (Kent, United Kingdom), and whether Bronowski believed in life after death; correspondence with H R Mills on 'The Ascent of Man', meeting Bronowski at Society for Visiting Scientists lunches in the 1950s, and Bronowski's help with a mathematical problem (a copy of a letter from Bronowski on this problem is included, 1952); letters from the general public in response to 'The Ascent of Man' being shown on television (without replies from Bronowski, but some acknowledged by Kathleen Verlander and annotated as replied to) on subjects including asking for signed photographs of Bronowski and autographs, and Bronowski's house being clean; a letter from Professor G J Fraenkel (School of Medicine, The Flinders University of South Australia) on 'The Ascent of Man' articles published in 'The Listener', with a reply from Bronowski; and letters between Rita Cooper (assistant to Adrian Malone, BBC) and Kathleen Verlander on forwarding letters.

"November 1973" section contains: a letter from Jane Mair (BBC) on enjoying the programmes; a letter from Kenneth Hodgson thanking Bronowski for autographed copies of 'The Ascent of Man' book, on the television programme and thanking Rita Bronowski for a telephone call with news of Sylvia [Fitzgerald née Hodgson]; copies of letters (annotated that they had been replied to) congratulating Bronowski on 'The Ascent of Man' television series, publication in 'The Listener' and as a book and his interview on the Michael Parkinson television show, requesting a signed copy of 'The Ascent of Man' book, and personal family news from Jenny (?, Ard Insh, Kincraig, Inverness-shire); letters from the general public with replies from Kathleen Verlander on subjects including asking Bronowski's opinion on an article, Bronowski's Parkinson interview, and publication of 'The Ascent of Man' book.

"December 1973" section contains: correspondence with Herbert Ward (Borough Librarian, Tower Hamlets, London) on subjects including a display in Whitechapel area library on 'The Ascent of Man', sending Bronowski photographs (not included) of Whitechapel, meeting at the Harrogate conference of the Library Association when Bronowski gave the presidential address (1957), Bronowski trying to trace his former house in Commercial street, London, and developments in Tower Hamlets libraries; a letter from Ronald W Bevan (MS(OR) Division, Civil Service Department, Whitehall) on meeting in London and sending a quote from the Daily Telegraph, with a reply from Bronowski; a letter from Morris Saady on attending Central Foundation Boys' Grammar School with Bronowski; letters from the general public (only one with a reply from Bronowski, but some annotated as replied to) on subjects including enjoying 'The Ascent of Man' programmes, a request for a photograph, sending an article on 'Life with a purpose' by Reverend H Burton-Haynes (included), sending poetry inspired by 'The Ascent of Man' (included), and Michael Parkinson's interview of Bronowski.

"January 1974" section contains: a letter from Ronald Duncan sending an enclosure (not included); letters appreciating 'The Ascent of Man' and on "mathematical implications of Huxley's typing monkeys"; and a letter from Marie-Louise Clark on being offended by Bronowski's mention of her mother (Cecily Jennings, wife of Humphrey) in his talk 'The Time of My Life' on BBC Radio 4 and in an earlier article, with a reply from Bronowski apologising.

"February 1974" section contains: letters and some poems from the general public (with copies of a standard reply from Bronowski, or annotated that they had been replied to) on subjects including appreciation of the television series, book and article in the 'Radio Times', Bronowski's appearance on 'Desert Island Discs' (BBC Radio 4), 'The Ascent of Man' programmes being valuable to Open University students, interest in Bronowski's other books, writing an essay on Bronowski, shock that Bronowski did not have a vast appreciation of music (as stated on 'Desert Island Discs'), disagreeing with conclusions in programme 13 because of religious beliefs, requesting signed copies of 'The Ascent of Man' book and photographs of Bronowski, requesting work in the Council for Biology in Human Affairs at the Salk Institute, complaining about the price of 'The Ascent of Man' book, and requesting a Christmas card; a letter from Leonard Cassini on 'The Ascent of Man' programme dealing with Galileo and having met before Bronowski moved to California; letters from people Bronowski had known in the United Kingdom (Eileen [Jann], Joy [?] and Kay Oldfield) on appreciation for 'The Ascent of Man' programmes and 'Time of My Life' radio programme, reminiscences of holidays together, personal and family news; a letter from Richard L Rosenthal on an advertisement for 'The Ascent of Man' in The New York Times; a letter from Robin Simmons recommending some texts relating to the comparison of man and animals; a letter from Lily Zinn on appreciation of 'Desert Island Discs' and memories of Bronowski's mother, father, brother and sister, who she knew in London; a letter from Gordon F Fowler thanking Bronowski for sending a photocopy of his talk on "the monkey typing Shakespeare" in response to Fowler's previous letter on "mathematical implications of Huxley's typing monkeys"; a letter from Patricia Muscroft on having a son die from Batten disease (including a photograph of her son) and appreciating 'The Ascent of Man' programmes; a letter from Ann Cooper (secretary, National Pure Water Association) on fluoride being added to water, with a reply from Bronowski; correspondence with Ruth Caunce on blood groups and the statues on Easter Island; a letter from Mrs J Stone asking Bronowski why he had said that life was a gigantic accident, with a reply from Bronowski; a letter from Vivian Woodall [school student] about the speed of light, with a reply from Bronowski; correspondence with D H Grimes (Department of Statistics and Computer Science, University College London) on male and female chromosomes; a postcard from C Winston asking to paint Bronowski's portrait (had already painted portraits of George Bernard Shaw, Mahatma Gandhi etc.) annotated as replied to and "yes"; a letter from Gerald F Krassa discussing an interview with Bronowski in 'Science News' and purpose in the universe, with a reply from Bronowski; and a letter from Collins Publishers asking Bronowski to write an introduction for a series of Children's books, with a reply declining.

The original, reverse chronological, order has been maintained.

Photographs of Whitechapel [sent by the Borough Librarian] are in Bronowski 1/4/1.

This file was originally in a ring binder.