James Bridie
This collection includes correspondence, financial papers, presscuttings, programmes and scripts.
James Bridie (Osborne Henry Mavor 1888-1951) was born in Glasgow on 3 January 1888, the eldest son of Henry Alexander Mavor (1858-1915) and his wife, Janet Osborne (1860-1926). Mavor was educated at Glasgow Academy and studied medicine at Glasgow University but developed an interest in theatre, writing critical reviews.
James Bridie was the non de plume of Dr. Henry Osbourne Mavor. Bridie assumed this pen name as he did not want his theatrical work to affect his position as a practicing doctor. Previously he had used the pen name of Mary Henderson, but adopted the name James Bridie in the late 1920s. Towards the end of the 40s, Bridie used another name, J. P. Kellock, when he co-wrote The Tintock Cup with George Munro. The Sunlight Sonata was performed by the Scottish National Players but it was The Anatomist which really began his writing career.
In 1943 he was one of the founders of the Glasgow Citizens' Theatre. He also played a role in the founding of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, a member of the Arts Council and an adviser to the Edinburgh Festival.
Mavor was appointed CBE in 1946. He died in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on 29 January 1951 of a brain haemorrhage; he was buried in the western necropolis in his native city on 1 February.
How to find material relating to James Bridie
- Browse through a list of documents or events associated with James Bridie or use the Name Search option on the Scottish Theatre Archive Search
See also
The National Library of Scotland also has some items of relevance (Accs. 9987, 11309-10).
