Alden Nowlan fonds

NOWLAN, ALDEN, 1933-1983.

Canadian poet, author, playwright and journalist. Born January 25, 1933 in Windsor, Nova Scotia. Died June 27, 1983 in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Biographical information available in The Oxford companion to Canadian literature, 2nd ed., p. 877; The Oxford companion to Canadian theatre, p. 394; If I could turn and meet myself : the life of Alden Nowlan / by Patrick Toner (Fredericton, N.B. : Goose Lane Editions, 2000); and in One heart, one way : Alden Nowlan, a writer's life / by Greg Cook (East Lawrencetown, N.S. : Pottersfield Press, 2003).
Fonds consists of the following series for MsC 40: correspondence (1949-1984); drama (1969-1982); fiction (ca. 1952-1984); poetry (ca. 1951-1983); prose (1950, 1963-1983); published works (1951-1983); audio-visual (192-, 1954-1984); miscellaneous (1952-1984); works on Nowlan (1953-1984); and four small appendices (MsC 59, 61, 106, 119) consisting of material relating to A. Nowlan and acquired from other sources. MsC 59 consists of a sound cassette Remembering Alden Nowlan, taped at a Theatre New Brunswick event paying tribute to A. Nowlan. MsC 106 is a draft of A gift to last, revised by co-author Walter J. Learning in 1989. MsC 119 consists of promotional material for a production of Frankenstein : the man who became god. For description of MsC 61 see entry under Rachel Paulson Pride. Later accessions include: Acc 523/92.21 consisting of poetry manuscripts, notebooks, reviews and other material relating to publication or productions of A. Nowlan's work after his death in 1983, as well as twenty-four sound recordings of interviews, radio broadcasts of A. Nowlan's works, tributes paid to the author and other miscellaneous events; Acc 567/95.5 consisting of material relating to A. Nowlan including v. 2, no. 4, Summer 1963 issue of Amethyst devoted to him; Msc 301 consisting of audiocassettes recording interviews by Greg Cook of family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances, editors, publishers and fans of A. Nowlan in research for biography One heart, one way : Alden Nowlan, a writer's life; Acc 755/04.5 consisting of 44 videocassettes and 1 compact disc relating to documentary Alden Nowlan: the mysterious naked man; MsC 309 consisting of letter from A. Nowlan (October 26, 1968) to Catherine Lamb (Lady Cummins) with poem The last leper in Canada for possible publication in Stand; and MsC 328 consisting of 15 letters from A. Nowlan to Gerry Taylor and a contract relating to their collaboration on a proposed book about country music in Canada.
Previously known as Alden Nowlan papers.
Most stage and radio plays included in the fonds co-authored by Walter J. Learning.
Acquired between 1981 and 2007. First accession officially presented to the University of Calgary by A. Nowlan at a ceremony on March 22, 1982. MsC 59 and Msc 106 donated by Eric Swanick and Walter J. Learning, respectively. Accession 523/92.21 acquired from the estate of A. Nowlan. Accession 567/95.5 and Msc 301 donated by Greg Cook. Accession 755/04.5 acquired from Brian Guns, Morningtide Films. Msc 309 donated by Catherine Lamb (Lady Cummins). MsC 328 acquired from Gerry Taylor.
Text in English.
Some items restricted.
Published inventory The Alden Nowlan papers. - (Canadian archival inventory series, no. 10). - Calgary : University of Calgary Press, 1992. Biocritical essay by Robert Gibbs. MsC 59, 61, 106, 119 described as appendices in the published inventory. File level inventory for Accession 523/92.21 and Msc 301 and 309 available at the repository.
Additional archival material dated pre-1967 located at the Harriet Irving Library, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, N.B.
MsC 40, 59, 106, 119, 301, 309, 328
Acc 523/92.21, 567/95.5, 755/04.5