Wilfred Bloor Collection

Scrapbooks: Jabez stories and Bible stories, 1968-1993; press cuttings, 1987-1989; correspondence and presscuttings, 1972-1987. Files on: Typescript Jabez stories, 1988-1993; typescript Bible stories, 1988-1991; Folders: Typescripts; material on dialect; Jabez scripts1988-1993; Bible story cuttings and typescripts, 1989-1991; Wilfred Bloor and Jabez features, 1988-1989; Jabez correspondence re broadcasts 1988-1993. Box files, Jabez manuscript notes, materials relation to the Jabez book, Jabez papers including original notes on Old Scot Hay by Thomas Bloor, 1867-1951. Miscellaneous notes, accounts and cuttings, 1890-1993; Audio cassettes: 25 Jabez tapes; 2 Norfolk dialect tapes; 1 Geordie dialect tape.

Dr Wilfred Bloor: Articles featuring 'Jabez' first appeared in the North Staffordshire Evening Sentinel in September 1968 under the pen name of A. Scott. Unknown to his family,Wilfred Bloor had submitted a series of stories featuring 'Jabez', a composite character reflecting memories of his childhood in the small North Staffordshire village of Scot Hay (hence the pen name) and including carefully crafted snippets of the local dialect. As the series progressed the proportion of dialect increased. With a short break in the 1980s he produced a 'Jabez' story for the Sentinel every week from 1968 until his death in 1993 as well as a series of Bible stories in dialect for several years. Three collections of his stories were published between 1972 and 1978 and each sold several thousand copies. Over the years he also made many personal appearances at local venues, reading his stories and explaining about the local dialect and one of these he had professionally recorded and had great success with sales of an audio cassette. He also read his stories on Radio Stoke and in collaboration with them made a second tape and for the local talking newspaper for the blind he recorded many of his stories.

Reference: Bloor Family Web Site (http://www.bloor.demon.co.uk/family/index.htm).  Accessed November 2001

The collection is arranged by document type in the following series: Scrapbooks, files; folders; audio cassettes.

There are no restrictions on access to these papers. Viewing is by prior appointment.

This collection was deposited by the Bloor family in 1993.

English (Geordie dialect, Norfolk dialect)

Listed to file level.

An authority record exists for Wilfred Bloor (GB 152 AAR2062).

There are no restrictions on the use of this archive, apart from the requirements of copyright law.

Further deposits are not expected.

English (Geordie dialect, Norfolk dialect)