Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
General material designation
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Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
Level of description
Reference code
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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1952-2022 (Creation)
Physical description area
Physical description
10.05 m of textual records
371 photographs: b&w and col.
61 audiocassettes
3 pieces of artwork
Additional sound recordings and electronic material
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
Parallel titles of publisher's series
Other title information of publisher's series
Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series
Numbering within publisher's series
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Archival description area
Name of creator
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. The third accrual (2023-030) was acquired from the estate of Sylvia Fraser. The fourth accrual (2024-020) was acquired from Susan and Nick McIlveen.
Arrangement
There have been four 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.
The third accrual has been arranged in six series:
Series 1: Literary Records
Series 2: Correspondence
Series 3: Personal Records
Series 4: Photographs
Series 5: Oversize Materials
Series 6: Audiocassette Recordings
The fourth accrual has been arranged in one series:
Series 1: Oversize Artwork
Language of material
Script of material
Location of originals
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
The following files in the third accrual are restricted:
Box 44, Files 1-2: Restricted until death of Silken Laumann.
Box 58, File 1: Restricted until death of Barry Avrich.
Box 58, Files 3-12: Restricted until death of Silken Laumann.
Box 58, Files 20-28: Restricted until death of Clara Hughes.
Box 58, Files 29-38: Restricted until death of Lorinda Stewart.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Finding aids
Associated materials
Accruals
Further accruals are expected.
