Scope and Contents
The James Kirkup Papers includes correspondence, writings, photographs, audiovisual material, personal documents and memorabilia that document the life and work of British author James Kirkup. The papers span his writing career, from early school papers to digital books published in the 2000s, and include documentation of the diverse genres of Kirkup's research and writing: autobiography, poetry, travel writing, obituaries, novels, dramatic works, and translations. The papers document not only Kirkup's life and work, but also pacifism as a theme in literature, twentieth-century gay life, émigré life in Japan, twentieth-century literature and poetry (especially haiku), and Kirkup's family history. Prominent correspondents include Akiko Takemoto and Muriel Metcalfe.
Dates
- 1890 - 2007
- Majority of material found within 1940 - 2007
Creator
Language of Materials
Chiefly in English and Japanese. Some material in French.
Conditions Governing Access
The materials are open for research.
Boxes 177-178 (audiovisual material): Restricted fragile material. Reference copies may be requested. Consult Access Services for further information.
Conditions Governing Use
The James Kirkup Papers is the physical property of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. For further information, consult the appropriate curator.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from James Kirkup and from Hawthorn Books on the Edwin J. Beinecke Book Fund, 1994-2009.
Printouts of virtual books: gift of Brindin Press, 2003.
Arrangement
Organized into seven series: I. Correspondence, 1937-2007. II. Writings, 1938-2007. III. Personal Papers and Memorabilia, circa 1920-1997. IV. Audiovisual Material, 1993-2002. V. Visual Material, circa 1890-2000s. VI. Printed Material, 1930s-2000s. VII. Manuscript Material Removed from Books, 1960s-2000s.
Extent
79.11 Linear Feet ((199 boxes) + 2 rolls and 4 broadside folders)
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Abstract
The James Kirkup Papers includes correspondence, writings, photographs, audiovisual material, personal documents and memorabilia that document the life and work of British author James Kirkup.The papers span his writing career, from early school papers to printouts of digital books published in the 2000s, and include documentation of the diverse genres of Kirkup's research and writing. The papers document not only Kirkup's life and work, but also pacifism as a theme in literature, twentieth-century gay life, e?migre? life in Japan, 20th century literature and poetry (especially haiku), and Kirkup's family history. Prominent correspondents include Akiko Takemoto and Muriel Metcalfe.
James Kirkup, 1918-2009
James Kirkup, prolific author and translator, produced hundreds of works of poetry, autobiography, drama, travel memoir, translation and obituary. Kirkup occasionally used pen names, including James Falconer, Jun Honda, Andrew James, Taeko Kawai, Felix Liston, Edward Raeburn, and Ivy B. Summerforest.Kirkup was born April 23, 1918 in South Shields, England, lived much of his life in Japan, and died May 10, 2009 in Andorra.
Processing Information
This collection includes materials previously identified by the following call numbers: Uncat MS Vault 714, Uncat MS Vault 748, Uncat MS Vault 821, Uncat MSS 519, Uncat MSS 556, Uncat MSS 872, Uncat MSS 948, and Uncat MSS 1220.
Collection are processed to a variety of levels, depending on the work necessary to make them usable, their perceived research value, the availability of staff, competing priorities, and whether or not further accruals are expected. The library attempts to provide a basic level of preservation and access for all collections, and does more extensive processing of higher priority collections as time and resources permit. This collection received a basic level of processing in 2010-2011, including rehousing and minimal organization. Various acquisitions associated with the collection have been merged and organized as a whole.
As a rule, descriptive information found in the Collection Contents section is drawn in large part from information supplied with the collection and from an initial survey of the contents. Folder titles appearing in the contents list below are often based on those provided by the creator or previous custodian. Titles have not been verified against the contents of the folders in all cases. Otherwise, folder titles are supplied by staff.
This finding aid may be updated periodically to account for new acquisitions to the collection and/or revisions in arrangement and description.
Box 200 and folders 1994-1995 are unused. Original audiotape reels are now housed in box 177. Restricted fragile material.
- Audiovisual materials
- Authors, English -- 20th Century -- Archives
- Autobiography
- Emigration and immigration -- Japan
- English drama -- 20th Century
- English poetry
- Gay authors
- Gay men
- Haiku
- Haiku -- Translations into English
- Homosexuality and literature
- Kirkup, James, 1918-2009
- LGBTQ resource
- Metcalfe, Muriel
- Notebooks
- Obituaries
- Pacifism -- Great Britain
- Photographs
- Poetry
- Sound recordings
- Takemoto, Akiko, 1937-
- Translating and interpreting
- Travelers' writings, British
- Video recordings
- Title
- Guide to the James Kirkup Papers
- Author
- by Beinecke staff
- Date
- 2007-05-16
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Part of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library Repository
Location
121 Wall Street
New Haven, CT 06511
Opening Hours
Access Information
The Beinecke Library is open to all Yale University students and faculty, and visiting researchers whose work requires use of its special collections. You will need to bring appropriate photo ID the first time you register. Beinecke is a non-circulating, closed stack library. Paging is done by library staff during business hours. You can request collection material online at least two business days in advance of your visit, using the request links in Archives at Yale. For more information, please see Planning Your Research Visit and consult the Reading Room Policies prior to visiting the library.