Fay Compton's Scrapbooks

Fifteen scrapbooks compiled by/ for Fay Compton containing a comprehensive account of her acting career and private life through photographs, film stills, press cuttings and programmes from 1913 to 1967.

Fay Compton was born Virginia Lilian Emmeline Compton Mackenzie in London in 1894 to actor manager, Edward Compton, and his actress wife, Virginia Bateman. Fay Compton began her stage career in 1911 and earned an early reputation by performing in the works of J. M. Barrie. Compton was considered a versatile actor performing Shakespeare, romantic drama, high and light comedy, farce and even as principal boy in pantomime. Fay Compton’s film career began in 1917 and continued for the next 60 years, as well as continuing to work on stage, radio and television. Fay Compton was married four times, to H. G. Pelissier in 1911; Lauri de Frece in 1914; Leon Quartemaine in 1922 and Ralph Michael in 1942. She had one child, Anthony Pelissier, born 1912. Fay Compton died in 1978, aged 84.

This archive collection is available for consultation in the V&A Blythe House Archive and Library Study Room by appointment only.Full details of access arrangements may be found here: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/a/archives/

Access to some of the material may be restricted. These are noted in the catalogue where relevant..

Information on copying and commercial reproduction may be found here: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/a/archives/

This collection was appraised in line with collection management policy.

No further accruals are expected.

See also the core collections of the V&A Department of Theatre and Performance. Material may be found in several collections, including the biographical, productions, company and photographs files.

Please ask for details.