Barbara Jones Archive

The archive comprises material from the estate of Barbara Jones including material that relates to the 1951 exhibition 'Black Eyes and Lemonade’, Jones’ many different book projects as well as other writings and illustrations produced by Jones for periodicals and book projects by different authors. There is material relating to the Festival of Britain, the V&A commemorative exhibitions 'A Tonic to the Nation', for the 25th anniversary of the Festival of Britain and an exhibition for the 50th anniversary of the 'Recording Britain' project, as well as 'Paintings and drawings', an exhibition of Barbara Jones's work at Katharine House Gallery, Marlborough. Records include manuscripts and typescripts, and other book drafts, professional and personal correspondence, typescripts of BBC broadcasts, records of Jones’ visual art including images of her murals, lectures and other educational initiatives, Jones’ research material, as well as press about Jones and her work. It also contains personal papers including legal and financial documents, as well as personal documents from ex-husband Clifford Barry and executor of the Jones Estate, Tony Raymond. Some of these demonstrate her life at 2 Well Walk and her network of professional and personal contacts.

Barbara Jones was a designer, writer, painter and illustrator. She studied mural decoration at the Royal College of Art from 1933-1937, where she became associated with a circle of British artists and illustrators which included Eric Ravilious, Edward Bawden, Edward Ardizzone and John Piper. During the Second World War she was among the few women employed by the ‘Recording Britain’ scheme, painting Britain’s natural and architectural heritage. Jones was commissioned to make murals for the exhibition ‘Britain Can Make It’ (1946) and the Festival of Britain (1951), and, through the influence of James Gardner, the new Commonwealth Institute building in London in 1962. She also created murals for a number of hotels, restaurants, exhibitions and schools, as well as a series of major works for P&O liners between 1948 and 1960. As a graphic designer, writer and broadcaster, Jones championed the popular arts. Her exhibition ‘Black Eyes and Lemonade’, held at the Whitechapel Art Gallery in 1951, and her book ‘The Unsophisticated Arts’ of the same year remain landmarks in the appreciation of vernacular English culture and the popular arts. They are part of a large body of book work, some of which she wrote, while others bore her illustrations or jacket designs. Barbara Jones lived in Hampstead, and died in 1978, aged 66.

Material is arranged in the following series: BJO/1 Material relating to Black Eyes & Lemonade BJO/2 Book projects BJO/3 Other writings and project work BJO/4 Correspondence BJO/5 Personal papers BJO/6 Press BJO/7 Research and reference material

Researchers wishing to consult the collection should make an appointment. Telephone 44 (0)1273 643217 or email designarchives@brighton.ac.uk

Transferred to the Design Archives by Barbara Jones' executor, Tony Raymond, in 2009. An additional deposit from the Estate of Barbara Jones was made in 2015.

Collection level record created by Catherine Moriarty, 2009, and amplified by Sue Breakell, March 2010 Record updated by Lauren Bridges 17 Jan 2020 Record updated by Jen Grasso 22 March 2024

Permission must be sought to publish any material from the collection. Email designarchives@brighton.ac.uk

BJR - Barbara Jones Research Collection