Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
Robertson Davies collection
General material designation
Parallel title
Other title information
Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
Level of description
Collection
Reference code
RC0693
Edition area
Edition statement
Edition statement of responsibility
Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
Statement of coordinates (cartographic)
Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
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1952-1982 (Creation)
Physical description area
Physical description
3 folders of textual records.
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
Parallel titles of publisher's series
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Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series
Numbering within publisher's series
Note on publisher's series
Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Robertson Davies (1913-1995) was a writer, journalist, and university professor. Educated at Upper Canada College, Queen's University and Balliol College, Oxford, he returned to Canada in 1940 as literary editor of Saturday Night. Two years later, he became the editor of the Peterborough Examiner. At the beginning of his career Davies earned his reputation as a journalist, dramatist and the alter ego of the cantankerous diarist, Samuel Marchbanks. In 1951 Davies published his first novel, Tempest Tost. Altogether he wrote a dozen novels, but he was equally prolific as an essayist, book reviewer, short story writer, and satiric commentator of his age. Davies taught literature at the University of Toronto from 1960 to 1981, and it was also during this period that he was named the first Master of Massey College. He was the recipient of many honours, including the D.Litt conferred upon him by McMaster University in 1959.
Custodial history
Scope and content
The collection consists of three typescripts: A masque of Aesop, A masque of Mr. Punch, and A Christmas Carol Reharmonized.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Items 1 and 2 (17-2000) were purchased courtesy of the Alexander Gallery. Item 3 (26-2003) was purchased from Nigel Williams Rare Books.
Arrangement
Language of material
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
There are no access restrictions.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Finding aids
Box G037
F.20 Item 1. A masque of Aesop written for the jubilee of the Preparatory School of Upper Canada College / by Robertson Davies. – [1952]. – Ts. ( mimeo). 36 p.
F.21 Item 2. A masque of Mr. Punch: a Victorian extravaganza for the boys of U.C.C. Prep. / by Robertson Davies. – 1962. – Ts. (mimeo). 62 p. – With a programme of the production of the play dated 8 December 1967.
[These two plays were specifically written by Davies for staging at the Preparatory School of Upper Canada College in Toronto. The typescripts are pre-publication versions of the plays given to the directors, actors and crews while each play was in production.]
F.22 Item 3. A Christmas Carol Reharmonized / by Robertson Davies. – 1982. – Ts. (mimeo). 15 p.
[Title page reads: “This special edition of | A Christmas Carol Reharmonized | has been prepared by | BRENDA and ROBERTSON DAVIES | to bid some of their friends | A MERRY CHRISTMAS. | There are twenty-five copies, | of which this is | Number 21.” The number 21 has been handwritten and is followed by the handwritten dedication: “for Maisie | from Rob | with love. | Christmas 1982” The story is a variation on A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.]
Associated materials
For further archival material pertaining to Davies, researchers should examine the fonds of Canadian publishers Clarke, Irwin; McClelland and Stewart; and Macmillan Canada.
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
Alternative identifier(s)
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Control area
Description record identifier
RC0693
