Diaries, Photographs and Letters: the Archive of an MGM Child Film Star and friend of Judy Garland: Freddie Bartholomew

Hollywood and England: Unpublished, 1934. Extensive Hollywood archive of the MGM child film-star Freddie Bartholomew, September 1934-1944, curated by his guardian and aunt, Cissie Bartholomew. The archive starts as the Bartholomews moved to Hollywood for Freddie's career-making debut as David Copperfield which was released early in 1935. This led to a decade of huge success for the child-star which is documented in this collection of photographs, postcards and diaries, including original photographs of Bartholomew with Judy Garland - his co-star in the 1938 picture, Listen Darling. FREDDIE BARTHOLOMEW POSTCARDS (9) Chronicling Californian road-trips in 1935 around the time of filming Anna Karenina with Greta Garbo. Freddie gushes about Yosemite and Palm Springs with just occasional hiccups as in October 'I have sprained an ankle and I am on crutches. It puts your whole body out of order. Love Freddie'. FREDDIE AND CISSIE POSTCARDS (6) Jointly written or on Freddie's behalf by Cissie B: 'We are staying in San Francisco for the night after coming from Los Angeles to make a speech....' (May 1935) 'Jimmy Durante and Gracie Fields just been into our room to talk to us...' (Nov 1938) FREDDIE BARTHOLOMEW LETTER: Handwritten from 'Metro Goldwyn Studios, Culver City' May 2nd 1935, Freddie reports that 'I have finished "Anna Karrina" [sic] but I am expecting to have a test for another picture, with Mr Cuckor as the directer [sic]...' CISSIE BARTHOLOMEW'S DIARIES: Two volumes: Volume I January 1, 1934-1939, octavo with broken lock; Volume II, Jan 1st 1940-November 1944. The first volume covers the period of Freddie's greatest success, notably the arduous filming schedule of David Copperfield: 'Freddie did flogging scene. Very good.' (Oct 1) 'Micawber scenes with Charles Laughton', 'Freddie did scenes with Peggotty and his mother's death', 'Scene with Uriah Heep' and by the end of November 1934 'Copperfield holiday'. Cissie Bartholomew records the process of 'Working on Captain Courageous' (21 Jan, 1937) and the celebrity that she and her nephew now enjoyed: 'Preview Charlie Chaplin's [Modern Times] Spoke to Mr Chaplin…' (February 12, 1936,). In March 1935, 'Freddie went up to George Cukor's to rehearse. We all went up to see the play "The Saviour'...' Cissie's legal battle over her adoption of Freddie is chronicled in detail, so April 1936, 'I won case for 2nd time. Freddie met his mother, only lawyer present (at Town House 7.30 pm.' But nothing can get in the way of work, as on April 25 1936 'Spent day in the garden doing scenes with Fredric March & Greta Garbo' for Anna Karenina. 1937 saw the peak of their success, 'Lunched with Constance. Saw George Cukor and Paulette Goddard Edward Roberts and the Chaplin boys. Tea at Charlie Chaplins saw Mary Pickford. Dinner at Una O'Connor's…' And there is a tantalising encounter with F Scott Fitzgerald in his role as a writer for MGM: 'Day with the Fitzgeralds' - Scott Fitzgerald was working on a script that would have brought together Freddie Bartholomew, Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney (June 30th 1937). When Freddie did eventually succumb to overwork: 'Fritz Lang sent Just So Stories' (Lang would direct Freddie in Captains Courageous). The second volume covers the war years with Freddie's final films and enlistment. CISSIE BARTHOLOMEW POSTCARDS (17), most to her mother 'Mrs Bartholomew' in Warminster, England, 'Freddie nursed a baby lion' (May 1935); the pair find Los Angeles 'Much cooler than Hollywood'. Largely dating from travels during mid 1935. Large quantity blank postcards. PHOTOGRAPHS: 120 large format photographs of Freddie Bartholomew by MGM photographers, picturing him with co-stars Greta Garbo and Charles Laughton in roles from Anna Karenina, Captain Courageous (alongside Charles Laughton), Little Lord Fauntleroy, Kidnapped and partying with fellow child-stars, Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney, 1935-1940. The larger images are often annotated by Cissie Bartholomew and bear the stamps of MGM photographers and include 6 vintage photos of Freddie Bartholomew with Judy Garland (his collaborator on the 1938 picture, Listen Darling). Also Little Lord Fauntleroy, studio photographs of Captain Courageous, Listen Darling, Lloyds of London, Professional Soldier and Kidnapped. 3 stills with Greta Garbo in Anna Karenina plus candid and private family photographs. EPHEMERA includes 20 telegrams from studio bosses with a congratulatory telegram from Cole Porter, 1937 'All our Congratulations for your wonderful performance in Captain Courageous we were very proud of you.' A few sheets from an unused notepad of the child-star's personalised note-paper and family documents. Provenance: Collection compiled by Millicent - 'Cissie' - Bartholomew consigned by a descendant to auction in 2019. Please contact Christian White Rare Books Ltd for more information or images of this item 1934