An archive of letters received by Dominic Hibberd while researching and publishing on Wilfred Owen which includes a remarkable letter from Alec Paton written in 1988 (he was 95 at the time) recalling his school experiences with the poet: ‘Wilfred and I were great friends at school in Birkenhead Institute from schooldays up to the time when the family moved... to Shrewsbury.’ Other letters to Hibberd touch on Craiglockhart Hospital, Owen’s sexuality and a missing pocket book owned by Owen.
Dominic Hibberd has led biographical work on Wilfred Owen and this collection (1988-2000) accompanies his copy of ‘Wilfred Owen The Last Year’ (the second paperback printing).
Alec Paton’s letter is the earliest in the collection, written in response to a BBC brodcast by Hibberd, in a shaky hand congratulating Hibberd on his recent radio talk ‘The Inwardness of War’ together with an accompanying letter from the BBC expressing delight that a schoolfellow of Owen’s should have heard and enjoyed the programme.
Contained within the archive are a further circa. 40 letters to and from Owen scholars, researchers and enthusiasts including:
1988 typed letter from British actor and playwright Stephen Macdonald to DH discussing Stephen Spender, Siegfried Sassoon, Robbie Ross and Owen Dudley Edwards.
1989 typed letter from David Wilkinson discussing Canon Bate’s article in Nov 1975 Blackwood Magazine referencing research into Richard Aldington.
1989 typed letter from the author Samuel Hynes to DH regarding Michel Roucoux’s book.
1990 typed letter from a descendant of Dr Arthur Brock providing historical research on his ancestor and details regarding his time at Craiglockart War Hospital.
2 x 1990 typed letters from director/writer Andew Higgs to DH seeking a meeting to discuss WO’s few months at Craiglockart where he underwent treatment for shell shock and additional questions regarding his relationship with Siegfried Sassoon.
1991 hand written letter from military historian Douglas Gill offering advice to DH regarding research into WO’s progress and promotion records, recommending contacting Prof Ted Bogacz and advice on medal research.
Typed letter dated 1992 on Imperial War Museum headed paper including trench map discussing errors in Jon Stallworthy’s ‘Wilfred Owen: A Biography’. Addressed to WYC Hollenkamp.
1993 typed letter from Andrew Robinson, author of ‘Rabindranath Tagore – The Myriad Minded Man’, seeking advice regarding WO’s relationship with Tagore and the whereabouts of a missing pocket book owned by Owen.
4 x 1993 hand written letters from Jean Eastwood, a retired English literature teacher and member of Dunsden Church where the Owen family attended. The question of W0’s homosexuality is debated ‘I am sorry to have given the impression that I was condemning homosexuality or that I consider it to be ‘abnormal’ I admit to having been puzzled by some of his poems, though – ‘Shadwell Stair’ for example’. Jean offers to help gather information regarding Vivian Rampton.
A letter dated 1993 from Viv Rampton’s great nephew sent to DH.
1993 letter from Miranda Seymour discussing Rupert Hart Davis’s opposition to her proposed writing of a life of Graves.
2 x 1994 typed letters on National Portrait Gallery headed paper discussing WO postcard.
2 x 1994 typed correspondence between Paul Moyes author of ‘Siegfried Sassoon: Scorched Glory’ and DH.
Hand written letter from Shakespeare scholar Kenneth Muir to DH. (undated).
Photocopied series of correspondence dated 1994/1995 between Prof. Jon Stallworthy and John Whitehead discussing intellectual objections to the proposed publication of ‘Disabled and Other Poems’.
1996 typed letter from Napier University Edinburgh asking for advice to help with the set up of a World Wide Web site on War Poets.
1996 typed letter from Royal Photographic Society discussing John Gunstun’s photographs and the search for a portrait of WO.
Photocopied email correspondence between Pamela Blevins and DH discussing WO and Ivor Gurney.
2 x envelopes addressed to DH containing 17 annotated colour photographs of Joncourt WW1 battlefields.
All contents in very good condition.
