Jack Cox Papers
Date range: 1937-1983
Medium: Archive
Jack Cox (1915-1981) was born in Worsley, Manchester; he attended Eccles Grammar School and the University of Manchester. He subsequently worked as a Manchester Guardian news and feature reporter, specialising in education. From 1940 to 1946 he served in the Royal Engineers Corps Field Survey. A life-long scout, he also worked as scoutmaster of two troops - one in Lancashire and one in Germany.
Cox became the longest serving editor of the Boy's Own Paper (familiarly known as BOP) from 1946-67. He also edited several other annuals and magazines such as the Boy's Own Annual, Family Pets, The Boy's Own Companion, and, with Enid Blyton, The Children's Book of Knowledge series. His love of the outdoors was reflected in his many books on camping; he also wrote a portrait of Lord Baden-Powell (1957). In 1982, after Cox's death, his book Take a Cold Tub, Sir! Story of the Boy's Own Paper, was published.
The Boy's Own Paper was published from 1879 to 1967. It was created by the Religious Tract Society, and was originally issued in weekly and monthly parts, but from 1913 it became monthly only. BOP also published an Annual for much of its life.
The collection includes:
- Correspondence relating to Cox's work and publications, especially BOP. There is one letter from Enid Blyton;
- Drafts and manuscripts of Cox's books;
- Contracts for Cox's publications;
- Photographs of camping equipment, camp sites, scouts on adventure courses, Cox himself, and Lord Baden-Powell;
- Diaries;
- Newscuttings and articles.
See also:
Further information:
- Catalogue available via Special Collections reading rooms.
- Jack Cox, Take a Cold Tub, Sir!: the Story of the Boy's Own Paper (Guildford, 1982).
Location:
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