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Sydney Goodsir Smith papers
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Held at: University of Delaware Library Special Collections [Contact Us]181 South College Avenue, Newark, DE 19717-5267
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the University of Delaware Library Special Collections. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
Sydney Goodsir Smith was one of the most important authors of the twentieth-century Scottish Literary Renaissance. As a vital member of Edinburgh's literary circle, Smith was known for his emotional love poetry and nationalistic concern for the cultural and political affairs of Scotland. Smith, however, was neither raised nor educated in Scotland. He was born in Wellington, New Zealand, on October 26, 1915 and attended preparatory school in England. After a brief stay at Edinburgh University in the early 1930s, he graduated from Oxford in 1937 with an M.A. in history. After graduation, Smith settled permanently in Edinburgh, drawn by its beauty and culture.
In the late 1930s, Smith began to write poetry using his own individualized version of the Scottish language. With the publication of
The Deevils Waltz in 1946 and Carotia Cornucopius in 1947, Smith exhibited an increasing confidence in the innovative language of his poetry. His next books, Under the Eildon Tree (1948) and So Late into the Night: Fifty Lyrics, 1944-1948 (1952), are collections of love poems which are considered Smith's best. In the 1960s, Smith's works grew increasingly nationalistic in tone. His play The Wallace (1960) celebrates the Scottish nation and mourns its cultural and political oppression. Similar themes are expressed in his poems The Vision of the Prodigal Son (1959) and Gowdsmith in Reekie (1954). Sydney Goodsir Smith died in Edinburgh on January 15, 1975.Aitken, W.R. "Sydney Goodsir Smith, 1915-1975: A Checklist of His Books and Pamphlets." In For Sydney Goodsir Smith, Loanhead: M. Macdonald, 1975. pp. 85-91 Sherry, Vincent B., Jr. (Ed.). Dictionary of Literary Biography. Volume 27. Poets of Great Britian and Ireland, 1945-1960."Sydney Goodsir Smith" by David S. Robb. Detroit: Gale Research Co., 1984. pp. 340-346. Includes a critical bibliography.
The Sydney Goodsir Smith papers date primarily from the late 1950s and early 1960s, an especially nationalist phase in Smith’s literary career. The collection contains several drafts and advance proofs of Smith's play
The Wallace and manuscripts of his long dramatic poems, Gowdsmith in Reekie and The Vision of the Prodigal Son. Also present are seventeen pieces of correspondence and the manuscripts of about twenty prose pieces, including essays, reviews, and scripts from radio talks.Purchase, 1972.
Processed by Wendy van Wyck, 1991.
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Subject
Place
Occupation
- Publisher
- University of Delaware Library Special Collections
- Finding Aid Author
- University of Delaware Library, Special Collections
- Finding Aid Date
- 2006 June 8
- Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open for research.
- Use Restrictions
-
Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. Please contact Special Collections, University of Delaware Library, http://library.udel.edu/spec/askspec/
Collection Inventory
All letters are to Sydney Goodsir Smith unless otherwise indicated.
To Ian [?] from Sydney Goodsir Smith. Notes on verso in Smith's hand. Concerns Smith's declining to write a critical review.
Physical Description1 page
From Christopher Murray Grieve (Hugh MacDiarmid). Notes on verso in Smith's hand. Concerns Grieve's declining an invitation because he has finished a tour and is preparing to go abroad.
Physical Description1 page
From Donald [?]. Apology to Smith for having him write a script that was not used.
Physical Description1 page
From Ruthven Todd. Concerns Todd's recent activities, including his love life, reading tour, preparations to become a U.S. citizen, and his book on Dylan Thomas.
Physical Description2 pages
From B.H. Alexander. Alexander informs Smith that he will be paid a reduced fee for a script that was never used. The script was for a radio talk on Kurt Wittig's book.
Physical Description1 page
From Sir Tyrone Guthrie. Guthrie says he will not be available to direct
The Wallace. Physical Description2 pages, with envelope
From Michael Charlton. Concerns the state of affairs of Scottish art.
Physical Description4 pages
To the Editor of "The Spectator" from Sydney Goodsir Smith. With autograph corrections. Protesting David Craig's review of "Honour'd Shade."
Physical Description2 pages
From Legman [?]. Notes on verso in Smith's hand. Concerns Smith's advice to Legman and Legman's acquisition of a set of books belonging to James Barke.
Physical Description2 pages
To the editor of "The Spectator" from Sydney Goodsir Smith. With autograph corrections and notes on verso in Smith's hand. Protesting David Craig's review of "Honour'd Shade."
Physical Description1 page
To exebition [sic] officer from Sydney Goodsir Smith. Smith accepts an invitation to "Films on Art."
Physical Description1 page
From David Miklejohn. Notes on verso in Smith's hand. Miklejohn expresses outrage at English control of Scottish affairs.
Physical Description1 page
From A.D. Fraser. Request for Smith to write articles about the art exhibitions at The Edinburgh International Festival.
Physical Description1 page
From Leonard J. Paterson, Vice President of The Scottish Union of Students. Notes on verso in Smith's hand. Request for Smith to serve as a judge of student productions at the Edinburgh International Festival.
Physical Description1 page
From A.D. Fraser. Notes on verso in Smith's hand. Concerns critical notices of art exhibits.
Physical Description1 page
From Tom Gourdie (Secretary, Exhibitions Committee). Notes on verso in Smith's hand. Invitation to an art exhibition at the Kirkaldy Art Gallery.
Physical Description1 page
From William Arrowsmith, English Editor of The Hudson Review. Notification that books and poems sent by Smith have been received.
Physical Description1 page
From Sydney Goodsir Smith.
Physical Description13 pages
Contains Dramatis Personae and text, lightly revised in author's hand. Pages 65, 72, 89, and 90 are in top copy typescript, apparently representing a revised version of the discarded material. This version differs from the published text.
Physical DescriptionTypescript [carbon], 95 pages (95 leaves)
Heavily revised in the author's hand.
Physical DescriptionTypescript, 23 pages (23 leaves)
Lightly revised. Apparently a later version.
Physical DescriptionTypescript, 45 pages (45 leaves)
Heavily revised and with autograph notes in the author's hand. Includes "Note on Prologue" and prologues II-V.
Physical DescriptionTypescript, 7 pages (7 leaves)
"Appendix Three Songs and Postscriptum" written on cover.
Physical DescriptionAutograph manuscripts, 8 pages (3 leaves)
Autograph revisions.
Physical DescriptionTypescript, 1 page (1 leaf)
"To precede Postscriptum" written on top. Handwritten revisions. Contains notes about where the songs should be inserted.
Physical DescriptionTypescript, 2 pages (2 leaves)
Heavily revised in author's hand. Includes at least two versions and several duplicate pages.
Physical DescriptionTypescript, 10 pages (8 leaves)
Heavily revised in the author's hand.
Physical DescriptionTypescript, 11 pages (9 leaves)
Revised in author's hand.
Physical DescriptionTypescript, 10 pages (8 leaves)
Includes six typescript carbon pages of insertions and one page from the radio play script.
Physical DescriptionTypescript, 13 pages (11 leaves)
Includes a list of corrections.
Physical DescriptionAutograph manuscripts, 13 pages (7 leaves)
Published by Oliver & Boyd. Revised in the author's hand. "Author's marked set. Checked S.G.S." is written on the first page.
Physical Description14 pages (4 leaves)
Consists of manuscripts and proof material relating to two long poems by Goodsir Smith.
Heavily revised in the author's hand with many passages added and deleted. Typed signature at the end: "Quod S.G.S. makar. Embrotoun, May 1954."
Physical DescriptionTypescript, 19 pages (19 leaves)
Typed signature "Sydney Goodsir Smith" at the beginning. Contains many variants from the advance proof.
Physical DescriptionTypescript, 12 pages (13 leaves)
Revised in the author's hand and signed at the end "Embrotoun 25 Janiveer 1959." The author provides a glossary of some 90 words on verso of sheet 6.
Physical DescriptionAdvance Proof, 21 pages (7 leaves)
Typescript. Title altered in manuscript to read "Festival Cinderella Tries Again." Edited, but not in the author's hand. Typed signature "by Sydney Goodsir Smith" after the title.
Physical Description3 pages (3 leaves).
Galley proofs. Revised and added material in the author's hand.
Physical Description3 pages (3 leaves)
Autugraph manuscripts. Autograph draft for a broadcast discussion with Robert Kemp concerning Sir Thomas Urquhart’s lesser-known works.
Physical Description6 pages (3 leaves)
Typescript draft of an article which was later reworked into dialog form for the broadcast discussion with Robert Kemp. Heavily revised in the author’s hand with a typed signature “Sydney Goodsir Smith 18 Royal Terrace, Edinburgh.” at end.
Physical Description41 pages (41 leaveS)
BBC Script marked “R.K.” and “S.G.S.” for the broadcast discussion with Robert Kemp concerning Sir Thomas Urquhart and his lesser known works.
Physical Description29 pages (29 leaves)
Contains Smith's "Personal Preface," revised in his hand.
Physical Description1 page (1 leaf)
A further draft of Smith's announcement is written on the last page.
Physical Description4 pages (1 leaf)
Draft of announcement for the Auk Society Edition of Burn's
The Merry Muses of Caledonia, of which Smith was an editor. Physical DescriptionTypescript, 1 page (1 leaf)
Autograph manuscript. “Intro by S.G.S.” written on first page. Contains an outline of the festivities (Hugh MacDiarmid to toast “The Immortal Memory” etc.).
Physical Description6 pages (2 leaves)
Typescript, heavily revised. Wittig's book was published in 1958. Apparently, Smith was to review the book on a radio program, but the review was never used. (See letter of 1959 July 8 from B.H. Alexander).
Physical Description11 pages (11 leaves
14 pages (14 leaves) "from Sydney Goodsir Smith, 18 Royal Terrace, Edinburgh 7." typed at the beginning.
Typed on half-sheets of paper and heavily revised. Typed signature "by Sydney Goodsir Smith" after the title. Unrelated manuscript notes on verso of page 6. An essay on "Chagall" appears on the verso of page 7.
Physical Description8 pages (8 leaves)
Contains additional unrelated manuscript notes.
Physical Description3 pages (2 leaves)
Notes for the radio talk. Titled "Urquhart."
Physical Description12 pages (6 leaves)
Typescript draft of a radio talk. "To George Bruce (Scott. Life & Lett.), BBC Abrdn, from Sydney Goodsir Smith" typed at the top of second page. Heavily revised. Typed signature "Sydney Goodsir Smith, 18 Royal Terrace, Edinburgh" on last page.
Physical Description8 pages (8 leaves)
BBC duplicated Script for Smith's talk on the first program of the Scottish Life and Letters Series, Wednesday May 25, 10:10 pm.
Physical Description9 pages (9 leaves)
Typed signature "by Sydney Goodsir Smith" after the title. An introduction to
The Wallace, mentioning the radio adaptation "you will hear on Monday night." Physical Description2 pages (2 leaves)
Includes reviews of works by Scottish painters, a fragment on Scottish nationalism, part of a review of a Saltire Classics edition of Barbeur's "The Bruce," an excerpt entitled "English Chronicler" and a fragment of an article entitled "John Jamieson D.D., Preserver of the Scots Language, 1759-1838."
Physical Description11 pages (11 leaves)
Rough drafts of reviews, announcements, and essays. Many are written on the backs of letters, envelopes, handouts, stenciled artist exhibition catalogs, etc. Subjects include articles on art exhibitions, the theatre, classics of Scottish Literature and Auk Society publications.
Some titles include "Modern Art Gallery," "Scottish Painting," etc.
Physical DescriptionAutograph manuscripts, 20 pages (8 leaves)
Includes articles on Scottish painters and painting.
Physical DescriptionAutograph manuscripts, 19 pages (9 leaves)
Includes several exhibition catalogs and press releases.
Physical Description10 pages (10 leaves)
Some titles include "Scottish National Theatre," "Theatre-Scotland," a piece on Stevenson's
Kidnapped and an article on his own play, The Wallace. Physical DescriptionAutograph manuscripts, 19 pages (10 leaves)
Includes Smith's essay "England on Scotland" and a manuscript copy of the same essay entitled "Now We Know," in another hand.
Physical DescriptionAutograph manuscripts, (46 leaves)
Autograph manuscripts, (24 leaves)