Descriptive Summary
Parker, Derek,
1932-
Derek Parker Collection
1955-1970
TXRC96-A45
5.5 boxes (2.29 linear
feet), 1 galley folder
Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center,
University of Texas at Austin
This collection consists primarily of
materials relating to Parker's editorship of the
Poetry Review as well as correspondence,
production files, and printed materials relating to Parker's literary
career.
English.
Biographical Sketch
Derek Parker, critic, interviewer, author, and editor, was born in Looe,
Cornwall, England, in 1932. He attended schools in England until the age of
seventeen. Parker describes himself as primarily a
journalistic hack with perhaps a flair for interpreting the poetry of others;
an occasional poet, an editor with widely catholic tastes.
Parker is a prolific writer and has been published in many forms,
including verse, essays, and monographs, but he is perhaps best known for his
work with the British Broadcasting Corporation and for his career as an editor.
He has edited anthologies of poetry, letters, and journals, including
Poetry Review (1966-1970) and
The Author (1986-).
The
Poetry Review is the official journal of the
Poetry Society which was founded in 1909 to promote poetry, and publishes
poetry, critical essays on poetry and poetics, and reviews. Derek Parker
assumed editorship in 1966, and under his guidance, the journal published work
by poets such as W. H. Auden, Robert Graves, John Heath-Stubbs, and Hugh
MacDiarmid. Members of the Poetry Society who were active during Parker's
editorship include: Presidents Neville Coghill and William Plomer; Vice
Presidents Robert Armstrong, Sir John Betjeman, Sir Francis Meynell, and
Margaret Rawlings; and Chairmen Geoffrey Handly-Taylor and Norman Hidden.
During his tenure as editor of the
Poetry Review, Parker was involved in
several other literary activities, including his editorship with John Lehmann
of
Selected Letters of Edith Sitwell (1970),
his contributions to
Contemporary Poets of the English Language
and
Liberté, and his British Broadcasting
Corporation interview programs.
Since leaving the
Poetry Review, Parker has been active in
other literary ventures, often collaborating with his wife, Julia Louise
Parker.
Throughout his career, Parker has been involved in many literary and
artistic societies. He has been a member of the Radiowriter's Association, has
served on the council of the Society of Authors, on the grand council of the
Royal Academy of Dancing, and as registrar of the Royal Literary Fund.
Scope and Contents
The Derek Parker Collection, 1955-1970, consists of correspondence,
production files, and printed materials relating to Parker's literary career.
The bulk of the collection documents Parker's editorship of the
Poetry Review from 1966-1970. Two series
form the collection: Parker's editorial files for the
Poetry Review, 1965-1970 (4.5 boxes), and
documents relating to Parker's other literary activities, 1955-1970 (1
box).
Of the two series, Parker's editorial files for the
Poetry Review is the largest and potentially
most important. It is subdivided into three subseries: Correspondence,
1966-1970; Production Materials, 1966-1970; and the Poetry Society, 1965-1968.
These three subseries document the contributions to and editorship and
production of the
Poetry Review as well as other activities of
its sponsoring organization, the Poetry Society. The Correspondence subseries
includes both outgoing and incoming mail and highlights Parker's role as
editor. The material primarily regards contributions to the
Poetry Review. The Production Material
subseries comprises the bulk of the collection. A combination of copy,
paste-up, and galley proof files of each issue published during Parker's
editorship document the editing and publishing process of the
Poetry Review.
The second series, Literary Activities, represents Parker's wide range
of literary interests. The series is arranged in two subseries, General
Correspondence, 1955-1970, and Projects, 1960-1970. The Projects subseries is
arranged alphabetically by project, including BBC Interviews, 1963-1969, Civil
List Pension for Jack Clemo, 1960-1961,
Contemporary Poets of the English Language,
1969,
Edith Sitwell: Selected Letters, 1965-1970,
and
Liberté, 1967. This subseries consists
almost solely of correspondence relating to these various projects, documenting
Parker's role in them. Significant correspondents in this series include W. H.
Auden, Gavin Bantock, Ronald Bottrall, Richard Church, Noel Coward, Bonamy
Dobree, Valerie Eliot, Richard Garnett, Robert Graves, Sir Alec Guinness,
Christopher Isherwood, George Wilson Knight, John Lehmann, Laurence Olivier,
Osbert Sitwell, Stevie Smith, Stephen Spender, and A. J. P. Taylor.
Acquisition
Purchases, 1969-1974 (R4966, R5857, R6110)
Access
Open for research
Processed by
Katie Salzmann, 1995; Sarah Demb, 1996
Index Terms
Correspondents
Abbott, Eric S.
Aberconway, Christabel Mary
Macnaghten McLaren, Baroness, 1890-
Auden, W.H. (Wystan Hugh),
1907-1973
Bantock, Gavin,
1939-
Barker, George,
1913-
Betjman, John, Sir,
1906-
Blunden, Edmund,
1896-1974
Bottrall, Ronald,
1906-
Bryher, Winifred,
1894-
Carman, Philip,
1911-
Causley, Charles,
1917-
Church, Richard
Clark, Leonard
Clemo, Jack R.,
1916-
Coward, Noel,
1899-1973
Day, Lewis, C. (Cecil),
1904-1972
Dobree, Bonamy,
1891-
Eberhart, Richard,
1904-
Eliot, Valerie
Enright, D.J. (Dennis
Joseph), 1920-
Finlay, Ian
Hamilton
Garnett, Richard
Graves, Robert,
1895-
Greene, Graham,
1904-
Guinness, Alec,
1914-
Gunn, Thom
Heath-Stubbs, John Francis
Alexander, 1918-
Hepworth, Barbara, Dame,
1903-1975
Hollo, Anselm,
1934-
Hughes, Ted,
1930-
Isherwood, Christopher,
1926-
Jennings, Elizabeth,
1926-
Kirkup, James,
1918-
Knight, George Wilson,
1897-
Larkin, Philip,
1924-
Lehmann, John,
1907-
Lindsay, Jack,
1900-
Lucie-Smith, Edward,
1933-
Macbeth, George
MacDiarmid, Hugh,
1892-1978
MacInnes, Colin
Middleton, Christopher,
1926-
Moore, Gerald,
1923-
Nance, R. Morton (Robert
Morton)
Nijinsky, Romola de
Pulszky
Olivier, Laurence,
1907-
Pilon, Jean-Guy
Pinter, Harold,
1930-
Plomer, William,
1903-1973
Powell, Anthony,
1905-
Pudney, John,
1909-1977
Purdy, James
Quennell, Peter,
1905-
Raine, Kathleen,
1908-
Rawlings,
Margaret
Roche, Paul,
1927
Rowse, A.L. (Alfred
Leslie)
Sassoon, Siegfried,
1886-1967
Singleton,
Geoffrey
Sitwell, Francis
Sitwell, Georgia
Sitwell, Osbert,
1892-1969rell
Sitwell, Sacheve
Smith, Stevie,
1902-1971
Spender, Stephen
Stanford, Derek
Taylor, A.J.P. (Alan John
Percival), 1906-
Thomas, D.M.
Tippett, Michael,
1905-
Waley, Alison
Watkins, Vernon Phillips,
1906-1967
Wellington, Gerald
Wellesley, 7th Duke of, 1885-1972
Whicker, Lawrence
R.
Whyte, Lancelot Law,
1896-
Wilson, Colin,
1931-
Subjects
Sitwell, Edith, Dame,
1887-1964
Poetry Society
Poetry Review (London,
England: 1912)
Poetry--History
and criticism
Poetry, Modern--20th
century
Poetry--Periodicals
Poetry, English
Document Types
Christmas cards
Galley proofs
Petitions
Poems
Postcards
Derek Parker Collection--Detailed Description
Series I. Editor,
Poetry Review,
1965-1970,
4.5 boxes
This series is arranged in three subseries: Correspondence,
Production Materials, and Poetry Society.
The Correspondence subseries is divided into outgoing and incoming
correspondence, both arranged alphabetically by correspondent. Included is
correspondence relating to the hire and release of Parker as editor, concerning
the production of the
Poetry Review, and from numerous
contributors to the magazine. Among the contributors were a number of
significant poets and critics active in Britain in the late 1960s, notably, W.
H. Auden, Gavin Bantock, John Heath-Stubbs, Elizabeth Jennings, Edward
Lucie-Smith, Hugh MacDiarmid, A. L. Rowse, and Sacheverell Sitwell. Most of
this correspondence is in reference to contributions to the
Poetry Review. Also of interest is
correspondence between Parker and Ian Hamilton Finlay concerning Finlay's legal
and ethical dispute with Fulcrum Press.
Production Materials, the second and largest subseries, comprises
the bulk of the collection. All issues of the
Poetry Review produced under Parker's
editorship are represented by a combination of copy, paste-up, and galley proof
files. The copy folders may be of greatest interest. There is one for each
issue containing the contributor's manuscripts with editor's marks. Files are
arranged alphabetically by contributor unless a previous order was implied by
either a table of contents or numbered pages. Many of these manuscripts match
up with correspondence filed in the previous subseries. Fee lists are supplied
in several of the copy folders, outlining Parker's suggested payments to each
of the contributors.
The third subseries, Poetry Society, relates to the production of
the
Poetry Review, and is divided into
Business Records and Correspondence. The Business Records consist of three
items: Annual Accounts, 1965, Chairman's Report, 1966, and Minutes of the 57th
Annual General Meeting, 1966. The correspondence relates to the installation of
a plaque honoring Lord Byron in Westminster Abbey. Responses to a petition are
included as well as correspondence from interested parties such as Charles
Causley, the Dean of Westminster, the Duke of Wellington, Geoffrey
Handly-Taylor, and G. Wilson Knight.
Subseries A. Correspondence,
1966-1970
1
1
Outgoing,
1966, 1969-1970
1
Incoming,
1966-1970
1
2
A-H
1
3
J-R
1
4
S-W
1
Subseries B. Production Materials,
1966-1970
1
Volume 57
1
5
No. 1 Spring 1966 copy
1
6
No. 2 Summer 1966 copy
1
7
No. 3 Autumn 1966 copy
1
8
No. 4 Winter 1966/67 copy
1
Volume 58
2
1
No. 1 Spring 1967 copy
2
2
No. 2 Summer 1967 copy
2
3
No. 3 Autumn 1967 copy
2
4
No. 4 Winter 1967/68 copy
2
Volume 59
2
No. 1
Spring 1968
2
5
Copy
2
Galley proofs (removed to galley files)
2
No. 2
Summer 1968
2
6
Copy
2
7
Paste-up
2
8
Galley proofs
2
No. 3
Autumn 1968
3
1
Copy
3
2
Galley proofs
3
3
No. 4 Winter 1968 copy
3
Volume 60
3
4
No. 1 Spring 1969 copy
3
No. 2
Summer 1969
3
5
Copy
3
6
Paste-up
3
No. 3
Autumn 1969
3
7
Copy
3
8
Paste-up
3
9
Galley proofs
3
No. 4
Winter 1969/70
3
10
Copy
3
11
Paste up
3
12
Galley proofs
3
Volume 61
3
No. 1
Spring 1970
4
1
Copy
4
2
Paste up
4
3
Galley proofs
4
No. 2
Summer 1970
4
4
Copy
4
5
Paste up
4
6
Galley proofs
4
No. 3
Autumn 1970
4
7
Copy
4
8
Paste up
4
9
Galley proofs
4
No. 4
Winter 1970/71
4
10
Copy
4
11
Paste up
4
12
Galley proofs
4
Subseries C. Poetry Society,
1965-1968
5
1
Business records,
1965-1968
5
Correspondence,
1968-1969
5
2
Outgoing,
1968
5
3
Incoming,
1968-1969
5
4
Third party,
n.d.
5
5
Printed material,
1965
Series II. Literary Activities,
1955-1970,
1 box
This series is arranged in two subseries: General Correspondence and
Projects.
The General Correspondence documents many of Parker's early literary
interests and relationships. There are significant numbers of letters from
Ronald Bottrall, Charles Causley, Jack Clemo, and A. L. Rowse.
The Projects subseries represents several of Parker's other literary
interests before and during his tenure as editor of the
Poetry Review, including BBC Interviews,
Civil List Pension for Jack Clemo,
Contemporary Poets of the English Language,
Edith Sitwell: Selected Letters, and
Liberté. The subseries consist
primarily of correspondence relating to these works.
BBC Interviews consists primarily of responses to requests by Parker
for interviews from such figures as John Masefield, Romola Nijinsky, Wallace
Nichols, and others.
Correspondence from Parker, Charles Causley, Richard Church, and the
Prime Minister's Office in an effort to insure a Civil List Pension for poet
Jack Clemo represents another project. There is corresponding mention of these
efforts by Jack Clemo in the General Correspondence subseries.
Another project is
Contemporary Poets of the English Language,
a biographical dictionary of poets edited by Rosalie Murphy. It
consists of correspondence between Parker and Murphy regarding his
contributions.
Edith Sitwell: Selected Letters is the
best documented of Parker's projects. It highlights efforts by Parker and his
co-editor John Lehmann to collect Edith Sitwell's correspondence from her
friends and relatives, and includes correspondence from Philip Caraman, Noel
Coward, Bonamy Dobrée, and Graham Greene.
Liberté contains incoming
correspondence highlighting Parker's involvement in this Canadian anthology of
poetry.
Subseries A. General Correspondence,
1955-1970
5
6
A-Ca
5
7
Causley, Charles
5
8
Ch-O
5
9
P-W
5
Subseries B. Projects,
1960-1970
6
1
BBC Interviews,
1963-1969
6
2
Civil List for Jack Clemo,
1960-1961
6
3
Contemporary Poets of the English Language,
1969
6
Edith Sitwell: Selected Letters,
1965-1970
6
4
Incoming correspondence,
1966-1970
6
5
Third-party correspondence,
1965, 1967-1970
6
6
Liberté,
1967
Derek Parker Collection--Index of Correspondents
- Abbott, Eric S.--5.2-3
- Aberconway, Christabel Mary Macnaghten McLaren, Baroness, 1890-
--5.3
- Abse, Dannie--5.6
- Adcock, Fleur--1.2
- Auden, W. H. (Wystan Hugh), 1907-1973--1.2, 5.6
- Balston, Thomas--6.4
- Bantock, Gavin, 1939- --1.1-2, 5.6
- Barker, George, 1913- --1.1-2
- Bebbington, William George--1.2
- Bellerby, Frances, 1899-1975--5.6
- Berry, Francis, Prof.--6.4
- Betjeman, John, Sir, 1906- --1.2, 5.6
- Blackburn, Thomas--1.2
- Bliss, Arthur, Sir, 1891-1975--6.1
- Blunden, Edmund, 1896-1974--1.2
- Boothby, Lord--5.3
- Bottrall, Ronald, 1906- --5.6
- Bright-Holmes, John--1.1
- Browning, John Durham--6.1
- Bryher, Winifred, 1894- --6.4
- Buick, Carole--6.6
- Campbell, Mary--6.4
- Caraman, Philip, 1911- --6.4
- Carpenter, Maurice--1.2, 5.6
- Causley, Charles, 1917- --5.3, 5.7, 6.2
- Church, Richard--1.2, 5.8, 6.2
- Clark, Leonard--1.2, 5.8
- Clemo, Jack R., 1916- --5.8
- Coghill, Nevill, 1899- --1.2
- Comfort, Alex, 1920- --1.2
- Conn, Stewart--1.2
- Cooper, Diana--5.8
- Coward, Noel, 1899-1973--6.4
- Craig, Alec--5.8
- Cullen, John D. (Methuen & Co. Ltd.
Publishers)--5.8
- Cullum, Jeremy W. [Secretary to Benjamin Britten]--6.1, 6.4
- Day Lewis, C. (Cecil), 1904-1972--1.3, 5.3, 5.8
- Dickinson, Patric, 1914- --1.2
- Dobrée, Bonamy, 1891- --5.8, 6.4
- Dubery, Tom--6.4
- Dunce, Brian--1.1
- Eberhart, Richard, 1904- --6.4
- Eccles, Lord, 1904- --5.8
- Eliot, Valerie--6.4
- Enright, D. J. (Dennis Joseph), 1920- --1.2
- Ewart, Gavin--1.2
- Finlay, Ian Hamilton--1.1-2
- Flower-Melling, Tina [Secretary to Sir John Gielgud]--6.4
- Foot, Michael, 1913- --1.2, 5.3
- Fox, Adam, 1883- --1.2
- Fuller, John, 1916- --1.2
- Fuller, Roy Broadbent, 1912- --1.2
- Garnett, Richard--6.4
- Grant, Stephen--1.2
- Graves, Robert, 1895- --1.2, 6.4
- Greene, Graham, 1904- --6.4
- Grubb, Frederick--1.2
- Guest, Harry, 1932- --1.2
- Guinness, Alec, 1914- --6.4
- Gunn, Thom--1.2
- Hamburger, Michael--1.2
- Handley-Taylor, Geoffrey--5.2, 5.4
- Hausford-Johnson, Pamela--6.5
- Heapley, Edward--1.2
- Heath-Stubbs, John Francis Alexander, 1918- --1.2, 5.8
- Hepworth, Barbara, Dame, 1903-1975--5.8
- Hewitt, John, 1907- --5.8
- Hidden, Norman--1.1-2
- Hobsbaum, Philip--1.2
- Hollo, Anselm, 1934- --1.2, 6.6
- Howell, Anthony, 1945- --1.2
- Hughes, Ted, 1930- --1.2
- Hurdy, John M. (John Major)--1.2
- Isherwood, Christopher, 1904- --5.8
- Jennings, Elizabeth, 1926- --1.3, 5.8
- Kavanagh, P. J. (Patrick Joseph), 1931- --1.3
- Kirkup, James, 1918- --1.3
- Knight, George Wilson, 1897- --5.3, 5.8
- Larkin, Philip, 1924- --1.3
- Lehmann, John, 1907- --6.5
- Leon, Harry--6.4
- Levi, Peter--5.8
- Lindsay, Jack, 1900- --6.4
- Lucie-Smith, Edward, 1933- --1.3
- Macbeth, George--1.3
- MacDiarmid, Hugh, 1892-1978--1.3
- MacInnes, Colin--5.8
- Mackenzie, Michael, 1920- --1.1, 1.3
- Marsden-Smedley, Hester--1.1
- Masefield, John, 1878-1967--5.8, 6.1
- Mead, Mathew, 1924- --1.3
- Mercer, C. W.--5.8
- Merson, Joan--1.3
- Meynell, Francis, Sir, 1891- --1.1, 1.3
- Middleton, Christopher, 1926- --1.3
- Miller, Ruby, 1889-1976--6.1
- Mitchell, Adrian, 1932- --1.3
- Moore, Gerald, 1923- --5.8
- Moore, John--5.8
- Morris, Mabel--6.4
- Murphy, Rosalie--6.3
- Murray, T. B.--6.4
- Nance, R. Morton (Robert Morton)--5.8
- Nander, Roschè--5.8
- Needman, Jacqueline [Secretary to Peter Quennell]--5.3
- Nichols, Wallace Bertram, 1888- --6.1
- Nicholson, [Ben]--5.8
- Nicholson, Norman, 1914- --1.3
- Nijinsky, Romola de Pulszky--6.1
- Norman, Sylvia-6.4
- Oliver, Eric-6.4
- Olivier, Laurence, 1907- --5.8
- Owen, Harold, 1897- --6.4
- Patten, Brian--1.3
- Pepler, L. D. M.--1.1, 1.3
- Perez, Brian--1.3
- Pilon, Jean-Guy--6.6
- Pinter, Harold, 1930- --1.3
- Pipa--6.4
- Pitter, Ruth--5.9
- Plomer, William, 1903-1973--5.9
- Porter, Peter--1.3
- Potter, Tully--1.3
- Powell, Anthony, 1905- --6.4
- Pudney, John, 1909-1977--1.3
- Purdy, James--6.4
- Quennell, Peter, 1905- (
History Today)--5.3
- Quiller-Couch, Fay--5.9
- Raine, Kathleen, 1908- --1.3
- Rawlings, Margaret--5.9
- Redgrove, Peter--6.6
- Riemann, Friedrich Karl--5.9
- Roche, Paul, 1927- --1.3
- Robertson, Alec--1.3
- Robson, Jeremy--1.3
- Rowlotham, Violet--6.4
- Rowse, A. L. (Alfred Leslie), 1903- --1.1, 1.3
- Russell, Peter--5.9
- Sansom, Clive--1.4
- Sassoon, Siegfried, 1886-1967--1.4
- Scannell, Vernon--1.4
- Scupham, Peter--1.4
- Searle, Humphrey--6.4
- Sergeant, Howard--1.4
- Silkin, Jon--1.4
- Simpson, Louis--1.4
- Singleton, Geoffrey--6.4
- Sitwell, Francis--6.4
- Sitwell, Georgia--5.9
- Sitwell, Obsert, 1892-1969--5.9
- Sitwell, Sacheverell, 1897- --1.4
- Smith, [Egbert]--6.4
- Smith, Stevie, 1902-1971--1.1, 1.4, 6.1
- Sokolova, Lydia--5.9
- Spender, Stephen, 1909- --6.4
- Stanford, Derek--1.4
- Stephens, David--6.2
- Taylor, A. J. P. (Alan John Percivale), 1906- --6.1
- Temple, Frederick Jacques--6.4
- Tennyson, Mallary--6.4
- Thomas, D. M.--1.1, 1.4
- Thomas, R. S.--1.4
- Tippett, Michael, 1905- --1.4
- Trueman, Frances, Mrs.--1.4
- Tucker, J. P. [Secretary to Sir John Gielgud]--6.4
- Tuckwell, Patience--1.4
- Turnbull, Gael--1.1, 1.4
- Wain, John--1.4, 5.3
- Waley, Alison--5.9
- Walker, Ted--1.4
- Watkins, Vernon Phillips, 1906-1967--1.4
- Wellington, Gerald Wellesley, 7th Duke of, 1885-1972--5.2,
5.3
- Whicker, Lawrence R.--1.4
- White, Ian--1.1
- White, John F.?--5.9
- Whyte, Lancelot Law, 1896- --6.4, 6.5
- Williamson, Malcolm--6.4
- Wilson, Colin, 1931- --1.1, 1.4