SFU Library Special Collections: Contemporary Literature Collection
Features
- Over 18,000 books
- 1,600 periodical titles
- 750 poetry broadsides/posters
- 146 metres of manuscripts
- 185 journals/serial publications
- 900 audio recordings of poetry readings
| The Contemporary Literature Collection is almost as old as the university itself.
In 1965, the English Department received a grant along with a commission to compile a bibliography of avant-garde magazines. As well, the Department was to begin building a special collection comprised of little magazines, pamphlets, chapbooks, and ephemera representing modern literature for the period 1945 - 1965, with an emphasis on poetry. The contemporary Literature Collection grew from this nucleus, and in the early seventies the English Department and the Library agreed on a policy to guide the development of the collection: |
get away from the shit of symbolism/basic CUT of imagism. leaf is a LEAF/that is enough/it has infinite implications. LOOK at it. look at the leaf/dont try to make it into a symbol of something ELSE. Ezra Pound of rhythm is image -Say it, no ideas but in things - |
As a governing principle underlying its existence, the Contemporary Literature Collection expresses a basic and implicit faith in the quality, the integrity, and the significance of post-war experimental and avant-garde poetry. To the extent that this body of work reflects the culture and society of which it is part; to the extent that it manifests and expresses the aesthetic values, objectives and trends of its particular generation, CLC policy will be to collect its most representative publications.
Materials in the Contemporary Literature Collection are of several types:
- works by selected contemporary poets who exert an acknowledged influence on their peers, and criticism of their writings,
- works by lesser-known poets committed to experimental methods,
- translations by authors in the above categories,
- anthologies,
- little magazines and periodical,
- manuscripts, correspondence, and other unpublished materials and ephemera related to writers central to the collection.
A listing of the selected central authors is available from the staff in Special Collections.
All CLC books, pamphlets, magazines and broadsides are listed in the CLC catalogue and serails printout and are indicated by the letters CLC after the call number in the OPAC, and by the code 'D' in the serials printout. The card catalogue in Special Collections lists additional cross references and special issues of journals. Another card file provides access to over 900 hundred tapes; many of these, including the tapes of the influential 1963 Vancouver Poetry Conference, have been indexed.
With the aid of a grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Council of Canada we have begun to put our manuscripts into an online catalogue. It currently contains over 6,000 entries covering 40,000 items. Inventories of other library manuscript collections are available. Manuscript holdings include correspondence of Ezra Pound, the complete archives of poet-playwright Michael McClure, poet-critic Frank Davey, poet Gerry Gilbert, and manuscript material of bp Nichol dating back to 1961. The archives of Talonbooks, Open Letter, IO, Coyote's Journal and 'Caledonia Writing Series' are also available.
The Contemporary Literature Collection is by far the largest single collection. Other books considered for placement in Special Collections include works published before 1600 (and in North America before 1800), important first and limited editions, especially fine editions, and erotica. In addition, certain materials are held in Special Collections because they have special shelving needs or are particularly susceptible to theft or damage if shelved in the open stacks.
Wordsworth Collection. We have the finest collection of Wordsworth in Canada and Western North America. It includes first editions of Wordsworth's Poetical works, the first edition , second issue (London) of the Lyrical Ballads, 1798 , as well as all the Moxon editions published with his corrections during his lifetime. There are also many 18th and 19th century travel books of the Lake District, and two books from Wordsworth's own library. The Wordsworth Collection was used in the preparation of the Cornell Wordsworth series. See also: http://www.sfu.ca/~curtis/CorWor.html
| Acknowledgement: The Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada has contributed generously to both the Contemporary Literature Collection and the Wordsworth Collection on a continuing basis since 1981. |
W.B. Yeats. A small collection mainly consisting of first editions of W.B. Yeats. See also: http://www.sfu.ca/~curtis/CornellYeats.
Art Portfolios. A Navaho War Memorial portfolio, historical paintings of the Hudson's Bay Company, posters of Sister Corita Kent, prints by Henry Miller, a photograph portfolio by Paul Strand, and others.
William Blake. A selection of drawings, illuminations and engravings in facsimile, including the fine Trianon Press publications.
Access
Location: WAC Bennett Library, 7th Floor
Hours: Monday - Friday 10:00 - 4:30
Special Collections may be used by all members of the University community, researchers from other institutions, and members of the local community. Staff assistance is required for the use of the collection.
Search the current CLC Inventory through the SFU library catalogue.
Loan Policy
A Reading Room is provided for the use of Special Collections materials, books and magazines and manuscripts in the Contemporary Literature Collection. A tape player is available for readers' use. First editions and special editions of literary works must be used within Special Collections.
Usage Regulations
Readers are required to leave coats, bags and briefcases on the racks provided before entering the reading area. Readers are asked to use pencil rather than pen and ink for making notes.
Inquiries, contact:
| Tony Power Contemporary Literature Collection Librarian 778.782.6676 / power@sfu.ca |
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