Fonds RC0084 - Sylvia Fraser fonds

Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

Sylvia Fraser fonds

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Level of description

Fonds

Reference code

RC0084

Edition area

Edition statement

Edition statement of responsibility

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Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

Dates of creation area

Date(s)

  • 1960-2008 (Creation)

Physical description area

Physical description

7 m of textual records, sound recordings and electronic material

Publisher's series area

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Archival description area

Name of creator

(1935-2022)

Biographical history

Sylvia Fraser, novelist and journalist, was born in Hamilton, Ont. on 8 March 1935, the daughter of George Nicholas and Gladys Olive (Wilson) Meyers. She married Russell James Fraser on 30 May 1959. She was educated at the University of Western Ontario and began her career in journalism at the Toronto Star Weekly. She worked there until the magazine folded in 1968. She published her first novel, Pandora, in 1972 and has published several novels since then as well as works of non-fiction such as My Father's House (1987). She has also been a contributor to Saturday Night.

Fraser has been a guest lecturer at the Banff Centre (1973-1979, 1985, 1987-1988), Writer-in-Residence at University of Western Ontario (1980), a member of the Arts Advisory Panel to the Canada Council (1977-1981), a member of the cultural delegation to China (1985), an instructor at the Maritime Writers' Workshop (1986), and Vice-President of the Writers' Development Trust.

Fraser passed away in Toronto on 25 October 2022.

Custodial history

Scope and content

Notes area

Physical condition

Immediate source of acquisition

The first accrual (24-1993) was acquired in 1993, the second accrual (12-2012) was acquired in April 2012, both from Fraser.

Arrangement

There have been two accruals. The first accrual has been arranged into the following series, following Fraser's own listing: Book Manuscripts; Journalism (includes publications, typescripts, research notes and interviews); Correspondence. It should be noted that the drafts of her novels, Berlin Solstice, The Emperor's Virgin, and A Casual Affair were placed by Fraser with her publisher, McClelland and Stewart, for safekeeping. She has indicated that these drafts belong to her and should be considered as part of her fonds. Manuscripts and galleys of the first two novels now form part of the manuscript series of the McClelland and Stewart fonds located in Archives and Research Collections, McMaster University. The second accrual has been arranged into the followings series: manuscripts and research material; correspondence and legal papers; printed and published materials; writing by others; sound recordings and moving images; realia.

Language of material

Script of material

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Availability of other formats

Restrictions on access

The restrictions concerning My Father's House and The Book of Strange expired upon the death of Sylvia Fraser: Box 8, files 12-24, Boxes 9-11. Restrictions on computer disks have also expired, however access is not possible at the present time, please contact the archives for more information: archives@mcmaster.ca

Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

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Accruals

Further accruals are expected.

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Control area

Description record identifier

RC0084

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