Letters and postcards, 1970-1980 and undated, of W.S. Graham to William Featherston, with a few letters of Nessie Graham and others; typescript, carbon typescript and photocopied typescript of draft sections of long poems, 1958 and undated, including `The Dark Dialogues` and `With the Dulle Griet in Canada`; silk screen print portrait of W.S. Graham by William Featherston; and CD and audio-cassette of BBC radio broadcast by W.S. Graham.

Collection

Identifier: Acc.13163

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

William Featherston, a Canadian artist, lived and worked in Cornwall during the 1960s. During this period he became a friend of Sydney and Nessie Graham. Featherston returned to Canada in 1971, and the friends corresponded over the next decade. The letters and cards are wide-ranging, intensely personal, and often enriched with Graham`s drawings and doodles. The sections of typescript poetry (some of it carbon typescript and photocopies) include draft passages from `The Dark Dialogues` and `With the Dulle Griet in Canada`. The other items were added to the collection by the vendor.

Dates

Creation: 1958, 1970-1980, and undated.

Conditions Governing Access

Normal access conditions apply.

Extent

0.04 Linear metres (1 box and one outsize portfolio.)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

The arrangement is largely dictated by the format, consisting of: one file of letters, cards and poems; one portfolio of outsize artwork and posters; one file of audio material.

Other Finding Aids

Inventory.

Custodial History

These papers belonged to William Featherstone. They were purchased by the National Library of Scotland from his widow.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Bought, 2010, from G. Featherstone, Canada.3 June 2010

Appraisal

The collection was bought in its entirety.

Existence and Location of Originals

Mainly original manuscript and typescript material and artwork.

Existence and Location of Copies

One of the letters (24 February 1980) is a photocopy. The typescript text of `With the Dulle Griet in Canada`is photocopied, as is the accompanying copy of Michael and Margaret Snow`s 1994 article on the poem. The collection includes copies of two photographs.

Bibliography

Two of the letters (4 December 1973, 7 February 1974) were published in `The Nightfisherman: selected letters of W S Graham` edited by Michael and Margaret Snow (Manchester: Carcanet, 1999).