John Metcalfe:

An Inventory of His Papers at the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center

Biographical Sketch

(William) John "Jack" Metcalfe, born in Heacham, Norfolk, England, on October 6, 1891, was a teacher, short story writer, and novelist recognized primarily for his works of science fiction. His father, William Charles Metcalfe, wrote sea stories for boys and during John Metcalfe's childhood served as a superintendent of orphanages in Canada, England, and Scotland.

John Metcalfe graduated with a degree in philosophy from the University of London in 1913. From 1913 until 1914 he taught in Paris. After World War I began in 1914, he joined the Royal Naval Division; he was invalided out in 1915 and enlisted again in 1917, this time in the Royal Naval Air Service. He obtained a commission in 1918 and served with the 29th Group, Royal Air Force, as an armament officer.

After the war, Metcalfe became Assistant Master at Highgate Junior School in London and began writing. In 1925, his first book, The Smoking Leg and Other Stories, was published, and he subsequently abandoned his teaching career and began writing full-time.

In 1928, Spring Darkness was published, and Metcalfe emigrated to the United States. While serving as a barge captain on the East River, he began writing Arm's Length. On March 17, 1930, Metcalfe married the American novelist Evelyn Scott (1893-1963). They spent the next few years travelling extensively. In 1939 Metcalfe joined the British Royal Air Force as a squadron leader.

Following his service in World War II, Metcalfe taught at Cranborne Chase School in Dorset and then at Davie's Tutorial School in Hampstead before returning to the United States. After a 1953 writing fellowship at the Huntington Hartford Foundation in California, Metcalfe moved to New York City. In 1954 he worked at Searing Tutoring in New York, and in 1954 and 1955 he taught at St. Bernard's School. He was employed by the National Reading Foundation from 1955 to 1956 and also did some private tutoring. From 1955 to 1958 he taught at the Haithcock School in Greenwich, Connecticut, and in 1959 he began working for the Tutoring School of New York.

Evelyn Scott died in August 1963, after suffering from heart disease, a lung tumor, and mental health problems in her later years. Metcalfe suffered a breakdown after her death and was hospitalized in the Central Islip State Hospital of New York in August, 1964. After his release in October 1964, he returned to England, where he died on July 31, 1965, as the result of a fall.

Metcalfe's work is noted for its bizarre and grim elements. He is recognized for his skill at characterization and his ability to convey atmosphere and create a sense of scene. Although Metcalfe is best remembered as an author of science fiction and macabre stories, he also wrote several novels and some poetry.

Some of John Metcalfe's principal works include The Smoking Leg and Other Stories (1925); Spring Darkness (in America, Mrs. Condover, 1928); Arm's Length (1930); Judas (1931); Foster-Girl (in America, Sally: The Story of a Foster Girl, 1936); All Friends are Strangers (1948); The Feasting Dead (1954); and My Cousin Geoffrey (1956). Metcalfe also contributed short stories to various magazines and anthologies.

Sources of information about Metcalfe include: Terence Ian Fytton Armstrong, "In Memorian: John Metcalfe," by John Gawsworth, ( The Antigonism Review, v. 1, no. 2, Summer 1970); E.F. Bleiler, Checklist of Science Fiction; Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature 1; Supernatural Fiction Writers ; Twentieth Century Authors; Supplement to Twentieth Century Authors; and Who's Who in Horror and Fantasy Fiction.

Scope and Contents

The John Metcalfe collection consists of manuscripts, notebooks, diaries, legal documents, correspondence, photographs, and scrapbooks dating from 1846 to 1965. The material is arranged in eight series: Works, Notebooks, Diaries, Business and Legal Papers, Family Correspondence, Photographs and Photograph Albums, Scrapbooks, and Miscellaneous.

The John Metcalfe papers provide information on all stages of Metcalfe's life. His childhood years are represented by his unfinished autobiography, family letters, including letters he wrote as a boy, and a notebook he kept at age nine. Manuscripts of works written at different points in his life reflect his development as an author. Metcalfe's short stories and short story ideas are particularly well-represented in this collection. Metcalfe's revision process can be traced through his corrections and variant versions of manuscripts. Although Metcalfe's published novels are not well represented here in manuscript form, his personal copies of his books contain corrections (see the List of Associated Materials).

The papers also document some of Metcalfe's interests and activities. For example, notebooks from childhood on, newspaper clippings of scientific discoveries, and items such as a scrapbook of pressed seaweed reflect his lifelong enthusiasm for science. Faced by poverty and illness in his later years, Metcalfe became concerned with issues of the aging, as shown by clippings about social security, youth serum, etc. Valuable information about the final years of Metcalfe's life can be found in his letters to John Gawsworth.

Information about Metcalfe's father, William Charles Metcalfe, and his wife, Evelyn Scott, who were also writers, can be found in Metcalfe's papers as well.

All correspondents found in the John Metcalfe collection are listed in the Index of Correspondents.

Manuscripts relating to John Metcalfe can also be found in the HRHRC's Evelyn Scott, W.C. Metcalfe, August Derleth, and Terence Ian Fytton Armstrong (John Gawsworth) collections.

Restrictions

Access

Open for research

Administrative Information

Acquisition

Purchase, 1967

Processed by

Katherine Mosley, 1991

Folder List

 Index of Correspondents