School Ball. The Evening Huronite, 19th May 1939.

The regimental staff guest list will be...senior high faculty, wives and escorts, secretarial staff and escorts, J.L. Carr and Miss Betty Minkel...

Photo in High School Yearbook, 1939

 J.L. Carr describes ocean voyage and stop made at Hawaiian islands. The Evening Huronite, 29th July 1939.

This is the second of a series of letters to be written by J.L. Carr who was an exchange instructor in the Junior High School last year and is now en-route to his home in Birmingham, England. The letter was written aboard the Empress of Japan, docking at Yokohama and was dated June 24.

 Carr is welcomed to Japan by being arrested twice in one week . The Evening Huronite, 14th August 1939.

J.L. Carr. writes of his unpleasant experiences in this third of a series of letters.

 J.L. Carr arrives in Shanghai on eve of anniversary of war. The Evening Huronite, 29th August 1939.

J.L. Carr has written a descriptive letter of his visit to Shanghai and Hongkong.

  J.L. Carr writes experiences of trip from Singapore to Rangoon. The Evening Huronite, 14th September 1939.

J.L. Carr writes the following letter of his travels around the Malay Peninsula from Singapore to Rangoon.

 J.L. Carr, back in England, tells of final stages of his world tour. The Evening Huronite, 5th October 1939.

Back in his home in England after a trip around the world, during which time he was out of touch with his family and was reported missing, J.L. Carr has written two more articles for the Evening Huronite telling of the final stages of his world tour and his arrival back in Britain.

  Air-raid scare mars Carr's stay in Paris; now home in England. The Evening Huronite, 9th October 1939.

The ninth in the series of letters from J.L. Carr recently an Exchange Teacher from England in the Huron Junior High School. . . This was mailed Sept 20 from his home in England, giving an account of the last lap of his trip.

  Huron exchange teacher gives lowdown on English way of brewing tea; reports war thoughts. The Evening Huronite, 28th March 1940.

Our British correspondent, J.L. Carr has resumed his teaching duties in Birmingham, England writes a Melodrama in 4 acts and another column for The Evening Huronite.

  Former Huron high school teacher tells of life in besieged Britain. The Evening Huronite ,19th September 1940.

J.L. Carr, the Evening Huronite's own British correspondent who was an exchange teacher in the Huron Junior High in 1938-1939 and more recently on evacuation duty with Birmingham school children near Chepstow, Wales, writes again about his homeland during the Battle of Britain.

  Things might be worse, says Carr; British seeing The Grapes of Wrath. The Evening Huronite, 30th September 1940.

J.L. Carr, the Evening Huronite's correspondent from the British home front, formerly an exchange teacher in the Huron Junior High school, writes from 'somewhere in England', although his letters bore the Birmingham postmark.

  Bombs burst over Birmingam but Carr thinks about S.D. turkeys. The Evening Huronite, 27th November 1940.

Here is a South Dakota Thanksgiving week story written underground in England, for, one Britisher, at least, spent is time in a bomb shelter thinking - and writing - about turkeys in South Dakota.

  Carr leaves Birmingham for a few days of quiet in home of father. The Evening Huronite, 3rd December 1940.

Finds Englishman's garden planted with S.D. seed doesn't fare too well.

  Carr leaves Birmingham schoolroom to serve in England's Royal Air Force. The Evening Huronite, 12th December 1940.

Has children write of experiences during night bombing; anxiously awaits news of U.S. election.

  Iowan learns about his home state from James Carr, now member RAF. The Evening Huronite, 13th November 1941.

Former Huron exchange teacher is thrilled at meeting Sioux Cityan in England; has praise for Salvation Army.

  James Carr finds America figuring prominently in British newscasts. The Evening Huronite, 2nd February 1942.

Is impossible not to think of this country, says former Huron exchange teacher, whose thoughts constantly turn to United States.

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Reports in British newspapers, 1940 - 1956

J.L.Carr arrived back in England in September 1939 and enlisted. While he waited to be called up, he return to Birmingham and taught in a school for children with learning difficulties, though it wasn't called that then. He joined the Royal Air Force in October 1940 and served until 1946, when he returned to teach in schools in Birmingham, now a married man. He played cricket for Birmingham Municipal C.C. in the Midlands Club Cricket Conference from perhaps 1947 until 1951, when he moved to Kettering to become headmaster of a new school.

  America Holds a Ringside Seat. Britain is asked why she doesn't get on with the war.. The Yorkshire Evening Post, 12th April 1940.

To the Editor. Sir . . . On Thursday I had a letter from Mr R.D. Lusk, editor and owner of Huron's only newspaper . . . He was laterly an Associated Press correspondent in New York. . . I consider his letter a very fair digest of American opinion . . .

J.L. Carr, Sherburn-in-Elmet, April 7.

  Sea Control. American Faces Stern Reality. The Yorkshire Evening Post, 28th August 1940.

To the Editor. Sir, Some time ago I sent you a letter (which you published) from Mr Lusk, the editor and owner of a prarie daily paper the Evening Huronite. Its outspoken comments on the tardiness of our war effort caused many of your subscribers to write to him, to The Yorkshire Evening Post and to myself. Two days after the letter's appearance you considered it sufficiently important to discuss in an editorial . . .

J.L. Carr, Sherburn-in-Elmet.

  Club Cricket. Birmingham Daily Gazette, 9th June 1949.

Warwickshire Club and Ground, 106, Birmingham Municipal 84, J.Carr 21. [An unusual match for Carr, played on Wednesday 8th June, perhaps in half-term. Thanks to Harry Watton for pointing it out to me.]

  They're keen on cricket these city officals.. Birmingham Sports Argus, 16th July 1949.

Birmingham Municipal, who celebrated their jubilee last season with a cricket week, are among the most flourishing clubs in the city. . . P. Brooker, J.L. Carr and L. Spier are capable batsmen who have been rather out of luck this season. . . The Municipal's reserve teams have also been doing well . . . on Saturday J.L. Carr returned to form with a fine 103 not out in the return game with the Inland Revenue . . .

  Club Cricket. Birmingham Sports Argus, 27th May 1950.

Birmingham Municipal v Birmingham Co-op. Municipal 52-3, J.L Carr not out 11, batting at number 3. [Only details of Birmingham innings given (see below).]

  Club Cricket. Birmingham Sports Argus, 3rd June 1950.

J.L. Carr, with a solid 43 not out, helped Birmingham Municipal to reach 127-5 before declaring against Birmingham Cooperative, who had reached 57-3 when rain brought the match to an end.

  Club Cricket. Birmingham Sports Argus, 17th June 1950.

Birmingham Municipal v Studley. J.L Carr b Weaver 44. [Only details of Birmingham innings given (see below).]

  Club Cricket. Birmingham Sports Argus, 24th June 1950.

Birmingham Municipal v Birmingham Y.M.C.A. J.L Carr not out 28. Rain stopped play.

  Club Cricket. Birmingham Sports Argus, 8th July 1950.

Birmingham Municipal v Netherton. J.W. Carr (sic) not out 32. [Only details of Birmingham innings given (see below).]

  Club Cricket. Birmingham Sports Argus, 26th May 1951.

Birmingham Municipal v Birmingham Co-op. Municipal 100-3, J.L Carr not out 0, batting at number 4.

This report is notable because it's the last time JLC was mentioned in the Birmingham Sports Argus before he moved to Kettering.

Notes: The Birmingham Sports Argus often gave details of the innings of only one team in the paper, the side batting first. A reader, Harry Watton, kindly wrote to me and pointed out that this was probably because the paper was sent to press before the final scores were available. The Sports Argus was only published once a week, on Saturday. The results of local cricket matches were not reported in the Monday edition of the Birmingham Daily Gazette, the only other newspaper available on-line. The Argus sometimes summarised the results of matches played the previous Saturday, but not always.

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Reports from The Daily Plainsman, Huron, South Dakota, 1956 - 1957

Carr returned to Huron in 1956, with his wife and son, to teach again for a school year in Huron.

 [Title unknown]. The Daily Plainsman, 27th March 1956.

The possibility of employing James Carr, presently living in England, for the 1956-57 year was discussed. Motion by Mr. Sauer, seconded by Mrs Hobel, that James Carr be offered a contract for the 1956-57 school year at a salary of $4,200.00 and that one of the houses owned by the School District be made available for his use at a rental of not more than $25.00 per month. Upon roll call vote all present voted for the motion.

 [Title unknown]. The Daily Plainsman, 1st August 1956.

James Carr the school teacher from England who taught on an exchange basis in Huron back in 1939, is just about ready to sail with his family for these shores. A letter from him to Supt. James F. Slocum said that he is due to sail on the Queen Mary Aug. 16 and arrive in Huron about Sept. 1.

 Carr opens series of AAUW lectures. The Daily Plainsman, 18th October 1956.

James Carr, exchange teacher from England, spoke on 'Social and Class distinction in English society' Tuesday, Oct 16, in the first of a series of lectures being sponsored by the American Association of University Women.

His next topic, 'International Problems' will be presented at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct 23, in the Senior High school library. The Suez Canal situation will be discussed.

 The Publisher's Notebook by Bob Lusk. The Daily Plainsman, 26 May 1957.

James L Carr, of Kettering, Eng., is about to complete his second year of teaching in Huron High School.

He will leave behind him for the people of Huron, Beadle County and the northern plains, a real contribution to the history of pioneering and pioneer living in this great region of America. For, during his spare time - in the early morning hours and after school until late at night - he has written, illustrated and put together in book form a record of the way of life of the plains homesteaders.

Ths record was called The Old Timers, which Carr wrote and drew himself, then mimeographed 82 copies.

 Prariana . . . . by Gertrude Lampe. The Daily Plainsman, 28th July 1957.

A report of the farewell party at the Carrs' residence before leaving Huron.

 Midway in the Week by Dick Williams. The Daily Plainsman, 18th September 1957.

(J.L.Carr) gave a class of sophomore students here (in Huron) a copy of The Essex County Standard and asked them to write a description of Colchester. Here is the composite picture as the Wild West sees you. . . When it is not raining most of the natives ride around on cycles and motocycles and seem to steal and kill a lot.

The article reported on Carr's students' view of Colchester gathered from an issue of the Essex newspaper, probably sent to Sally, his wife, who was from Essex. Carr sent extracts of what they wrote to the Editor and they were published in the Essex County Standard on 12 July 1937. The following issue contained a poem writen by the Editor:

Can it be that we have pandered
In the 'Essex County Standard'
To this tiresome taste for crime,
Symptom of our troubled time?
Sophomores in South Dakota
Say that we exceed our quota
We in turn are far from sure on
Latest trends in farthest Huron
Do sophomores wear cap and gown
Or ruthless [natives] roam the town?
Thus ignorant, we do confess
An urge to read your Local Press.

 Midway in the Week by Dick Williams. The Daily Plainsman, 1st October 1957.

The article contained a letter from Carr about his friend Charlie Moore, who had died on 3rd January.

Sir; I have only just heard of the death of my old friend Charlie Moore. On and off in the last 20 years I spent a deal of time in his cellar listening with awe to his flood of talk seasoned with a rare collection of Anglo-Saxon expletives. . .

His knowledge of the recent history of Huron and district was encyclopedic and he had the foresight to collect together extracts from nineteenth century copies of The Huronite and had these typed. . .

In a decade when more and more of us are conforming to pattern, Charlie stubbornly stayed the last man in America to believe General Custer's end should be pinned on the Pentagon rather than the Sioux.

Farewell, old friend! Jim Carr.

Carr dedicated The Battle of Pollock Crossing thus: 'For C.M. in his basement R.I.P'.

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Reports from British newspapers, 1958 - 1994

JLC returned to live at 27 Mill Dale Road, Kettering for the rest of his life and became a novelist and publisher.

 Talk of the Midlands. Not all loss.. Birmingham Post, 4th January 1964.

Before the war and for a short time afterwards, Mr. J.L. Carr was a teacher in Birmingham. Then he left for Kettering where he still lives. He went, he says, because he found Birmingham too anonymous: only a couple of houses way from his, one man shot another and then himself - and not until Mr. Carr read the paper the next day did he learn what had happened. Now, however, Mr. Carr has turned Birmingham's failing into profit. He has used a similar incident to provide the climax of his first novel, A Day in Summer, which will be published on January 24.

 Press Council verdicts. The Guardian, 19th January 1964.

A report about a complaint made by Carr to the Press Council.

To illustrate an article dealing with the causes of exceptional unemployment in Appledore and the efforts that are being made to alleviate the position, 'The Observer' published a picture of a queue of men waiting in a local hall for unemployment pay.

Mr. J.L. Carr, of 27, Mill Dale Road, Kettering, complained to the Council that this constituted a disgraceful intrusion into privacy. He claimed that a man in the dole queue resented being photographed.

The Press Council noted that the photograph was taken 'against the light' so that the individuals were not easily recognisable. The adjudication was that The Observer was justified in publishing the picture in an article which drew attention to a local unemployment situation.

 Kettering head leaving to do two years’ research, Evening Telegraph (Kettering), 13th June 1967

Mr James Carr, Headmaster of Highfields School, Kettering, since 1951, is to leave at the end of this term to conduct two years’ research into integrated studies.

The article reported that he was guaranteed a position until September 1969. He had taught for two years at a central school in Hampshire and then for three years at a special school in Birmingham.

 Mania for fencing puzzles Mr Carr. Evening Telegraph (Kettering) 29th November 1968

An article on Carr's views about the pointlessness of putting up fencing to protect spaces and places.

Note: Kettering Public Library has a mimeographed blue print by Carr for developing an open area of parks and paths behind the Public Library and between the Town Hall and Church. Carr did plan drawings of how the area could be used and a perspective drawing of how it might look. The area he identified is now mostly a car park.

 Sonia Jackson, When Parent Becomes Teacher, The Times 19th March 1969, page 9.

The article describes Carr's experiences of teaching his son at home for a term, and the outcome.

 Former teacher becomes successful novelist. Star Phoenix, Satskatoon, Satkatchewan, Canada, 12th August 1978. Also reprinted in: Calgary Herald, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 16th August 1978; Leader Post, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, 19th August, 1978; and Edmonton Journal, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on 18th November 1978.

Note: This article was probably first published in a British newspaper and then sold to the Canadian newspapers, perhaps by Consolidated Press (CP).

His is the world's smallest publishing house, and few are so versatile and successful. Carr's publishing enterprise fits neatly into a back bedroom in his house in this community in the midlands. His departments for packing, accounting, dispatching, filing and stock lie within easy reach of his editorial desk.

 A fine catch in the covers by Alex Hamilton. The Guardian 27th November 1980.

An interview with J.L. Carr, who had just won the Guardian Fiction Prize for A Month in the Country.

He would like to correct a common impression among readers that a novelist steps out of bed, places his finger against his forehead and siphons off the contents. This is not the Carr method, which is rather to scribble at odd times on scraps of paper, in the garden, on trains and sometimes during sermons.

 Cash boost for writers of quality by Christopher Warman. The Times 2nd November 1982, issue 61378, page 12.

Note: The article reported on bursaries awarded by the Arts Council to 10 writers including Antonia Byatt, Christopher Hope and Graham Swift. Carr was awarded £3,000 for a novel about publishing and writing.

 Publishing. National adornment by E.J. Craddock. The Times, 5th November 1985.

A small feature on the novels and small books published by Carr whose novel, The Battle of Pollocks Crossing had just failed to win the Booker Prize.

Perhaps Viking alias Penguin should buy him altogether, publisher and writer, so that he may be regarded as the national adornment he clearly is.

Carr told the writer Helen Simpson that he thought that Craddock was a very clever writer [File of notes in Kettering Public Library].

 The quince tree that just grew and grew by David Holloway. The Daily Telegraph, 9th September 1987. (AH)

'David Holloway reports on the latest venture from small-scale but highly succesful Kettering publisher'. An article published the day before the QTP celebrated its 21st birthday. (AH)

 Profile: writer J.L. Carr. Catching up with fame, a man who tells an amazing tale out of school by Amanda Craig. The Sunday Express, 8th November 1987. (AH)

An article about Carr just before the premiere of the film of A Month in the Country. (AH)

 A quixotic gesture of personal freedom by Keith Wheatley. The Sunday Times, 28 February 1988 (AH).

An interview with JLC with one interestng quote about book publishers: They take your book and leave you in the dark. Some of the covers on my books have been almost guaranteed not to sell a copy. See The Harpole Report.

 Fame? Who needs it. by Joy Pinkham. Looking Good, August 1988, pages 28-29.

Interview with JLC. There is a copy in Kettering Public Library.

 Wednesday People. A distant view of literary life by Dennis Barker. [newspaper not known] 25th January 1989.

An interview with Carr at his house in Kettering just after the preview of the TV film of A Day in Summer.

London is full of novelists writing about people writing novels and hoping for an award. James Carr, the 76-year-old Guardian prize novelist, publisher and stone-carver misses this stereotype by miles - many more than the 70 from London to Kettering.

 Interview of the Month by Judith Spelman. Writers News, March 1990, volume 1, No 6, p 10-11.

Writer and publisher J L Carr talks to Judith Spelman. There is a copy in Kettering Public Library.

 First impressions, lasting memories. The Guardian, 16th August 1990.

Carr was among a group of well-known writers who were asked to look back at books that made a big impression on them when they were young. Carr's books were Eothen by Alexander William Kinglake and Youth by Joseph Conrad.

 People. Masterworks in miniature by Tim Heald. The Observer 18th February 1990.

An article on Carr's small books.

I made a pilgrimage to Kettering to visit the great J.L. Carr. He is in his late seventies and not only a novelist of genius but a publisher of rare and admirable eccentricity, a perfect answer to multinational, writer-hostile publishing conglomerates.

 Marriage lines. The Observer Magazine, 7th July 1991.

Carr was one of several people asked about their marriage. He was quite candid.

 It was a very hot, listless afternoon. by Byron Rogers. Sunday Telegraph 5th December 1993.

Byron Rogers tells how he has become the custodian of an extraordinary pictorial record. [This is A Northamptonshire Record.]

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