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Kenneth MacMillan created this one-act ballet for The Royal Ballet which received its premiere at the Royal Opera House on 13 Mar 1980. The ballet was performed in New York as part of The Royal Ballet's 50th anniversary season in 1981. The material comprises:

1. Post card from Wendy Ellis wishing Kenneth MacMillan good luck and thanking him for a marvellous part, 13 Mar 1980
2. Post card from Jill Bennett congratulating Kenneth MacMillan on Gloria, with envelope postmarked 18 Mar 1980
3. Nine telegrams wishing Kenneth MacMillan good luck, including from Frederick Ashton, John Tooley, Norman Morris, John and Anya Sainsbury, friends and colleagues at the Royal Opera House, 12 and 13 Mar 1980
4. 12 letters to Kenneth MacMillan expressing appreciation and admiration of Gloria after the first night at the Royal Opera House, including from Joan Lawson, Lois Hainsworth, Royal Academy of Dancing, Richard Ralph, Principal London School of Contemporary Dance, Robin Howard, Director General Contemporary Dance Trust, Norman Morrice, Artistic Director The Royal Ballet, Claus Moser, Chairman of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Anya Sainsbury, John Tooley, General Director Royal Opera House, Mark Bonham Carter, Chairman of Ballet Subcommittee of the Royal Opera House, and Peter Snow, March 1980
5. Letter from Philip Semark, Executive Vice President Foundation for the Joffrey Ballet, following the performance at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, with envelope. 9 Jul 1981

The first performance of The Prince of the Pagodas formed part of the celebrations for Kenneth MacMillan's 60th birthday. The cards and telegrams celebrate both the first night of the ballet and his birthday, with some also being Christmas cards. The material comprises:

1. Ten letters, including handwritten letters from Margot Fonteyn, thanking Kenneth MacMillan for dedicating the ballet to her, from Anthony Dowell, Zoe Dominic, and Angela and Nicholas Serota, Director of the Tate Gallery, typed letters from John Sainsbury, one congratulating MacMillan on the ballet, the other enclosing a copy of a letter from Edward, Duke of Kent saying how much he enjoyed the ballet
2. Three Christmas cards, from the students at White Lodge who appeared as pages, from Janet and Leo Kersley, and Colin Nears
3. Six postcards including one handwritten by Anya Sainsbury, wishing Kenneth a happy birthday and 'congratulations on your wonderful 'Pagodas'. The card includes a reference to a 'head' by Julian Sainsbury, presumably a birthday gift to Kenneth MacMillan from John and Anya Sainsbury
4. Four good luck telegrams from La Scala, National Ballet of Canada, the Hongkong Ballet, and Elaine McDonald (Scottish Ballet)
5. One invitation to the supper following the first performance of The Prince of the Pagodas, with handwritten list of names and a note from Kenneth MacMillan on the reverse.

Margot Fonteyn is the Prima Ballerina Assoluta of The Royal Ballet. She was Juliet in the first performance of Kenneth MacMillan's Romeo and Juliet (although the role was created for Lynn Seymour) and Kenneth MacMillan dedicated The Prince of the Pagodas to her. The correspondence in this file comprises

1. Handwritten letter on Hotel de Paris, Monte Carlo headed notepaper, in her excitement she forgot to say how marvellous the pas de deux is. Absolutely right for Anya (Linden)
2. Handwritten letter on Grosvenor House, London headed notepaper, thanking him for the flowers and thanking him and Peter (Wright) for 'what I know was a 'thank you' from you', July 25th, no year
3. Handwritten letter from Teatro alla Scala, Milan, sending good wishes for his new position as Director of The Royal Ballet, undated but envelope postmarked 14.9.1970
4. Handwritten card thanking Kenneth MacMillan and Peter (Wright) for a huge bouquet and sending best wishes, Dec 26th, no year
5. Handwritten postcard of L'Opera de Monte-Carlo, Monaco, Monte-Carlo, thanking him for the birthday telegram, undated but envelope postmarked 8.6.1979

Anya Sainsbury was Gala Chairman for the Gala Performance in aid of Friends of One-Parent Families in 1980. The correspondence comprises:

1. Carbon copy of a letter from William Forsythe to Anya Sainsbury explaining his rationale for the piece he created on Lynn Seymour for the Gala, his feelings for her, for galas and ballet, 9 Dec 1980
2. Carbon copy of Anya Sainsbury's reply to the above expressing her sorrow that the piece he created for Lynn Seymour was not "appropriate" for the gala, and fearing it influenced Lynn Seymour's decision to cancel her forthcoming season with The Royal Ballet. The letter expresses her admiration for William Forsythe, 20 Jan 1981
3. Handwritten letter from Anya Sainsbury to Kenneth MacMillan on Friends of One-Parent Families Gala Performance headed notepaper accompanying the two copy letters. Mentions Isadora, n.d. but with accompanying hand addressed envelope date stamped 9 Feb 1981. There is an additional handwritten note on the reverse apologising for not having posted the letter (there is also note in blue biro on reverse of envelope by Jann Parry)
4. Unattributed press cutting giving a review of the Gala and a list of attendees

One handwritten page of a holiday in Corfu with Deborah and Charlotte as the guests of Anya and John Sainsbury. The notes detail the journey by private boat from Southampton to Corfu, and other guests at the villa including Colette Clarke

Anya Sainsbury was a dancer with The Royal Ballet, as Anya Linden, and created roles in several of Kenneth MacMillan's early ballets. She married John Sainsbury and they were great supporters of The Royal Ballet and the Royal Opera House as well as friends of Kenneth and Deborah MacMillan. The material in this file comprises

1. One page handwritten note from John Sainsbury to Kenneth and Debbie thanking them for their birthday wishes, dated Nov 8th, no year
2. One page letter handwritten on both sides, from Anya to Kenneth, c/o the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, forwarding Kate (Firestone's) contact details in California where Anya is staying, and sending best wishes for the forthcoming performances of Isadora in New York, undated but envelope postmarked June 1981
3. One page letter handwritten on both sides, from Anya to Kenneth congratulating him on the revival of Rite of Spring, with envelope, 26.10.1987
4. One page handwritten letter from John to Kenneth, sending congratulations for the performance of Rite of Spring, with envelope, 27.10.(1987)
5. Handwritten note to Kenneth from John and Anya (written by John) praising the performance 'of a true work of genius', undated by accompanied by a typed compliments slip dated 13.10.1989. The note refers to the performance of Requiem on 12.10.1989
6. Handwritten pencil draft of a thank you letter to John and Anya for the holiday on Crete that Kenneth, Deborah and Charlotte spent with the Sainsburys in 1991. Unrelated notes on the reverse in blue biro