SIMMONS, JAMES, 1933-
James Simmons papers, 1945-1996
James Simmons papers, 1945-1996
Emory University
Emory University
Robert W. Woodruff Library
Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library
Atlanta, GA 30322
404-727-6887
rose.library@emory.edu
Permanent link: http://pid.emory.edu/ark:/25593/8zw5k
Digital Material Available in this Collection
Collection Stored Off-Site
All or portions of this collection are housed off-site. Materials can still be requested but researchers should expect a delay of up to two business days for retrieval.
Descriptive Summary
Creator: | Simmons, James, 1933- |
---|---|
Title: | James Simmons papers, 1945-1996 |
Call Number: | Manuscript Collection No. 759 |
Extent: | 39 linear feet (78 boxes) and 1 oversized papers box and 1 oversized papers folder (OP) |
Abstract: | Personal and literary papers of Irish poet and editor James Simmons including drafts of Simmons's own writings, personal and literary correspondence, printed material, and photographs. |
Language: | Materials entirely in English. |
Administrative Information
Restrictions on access
Special restrictions apply: Subseries 1.5 contains restricted correspondence.
Collection stored off-site. Researchers must contact the Rose Library in advance to access this collection.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
All requests subject to limitations noted in departmental policies on reproduction. No special restrictions apply.
Source
Purchase, 1994.
Citation
[identification of item(s)], James Simmons papers, Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library, Emory University.
Processing
Katie Long, November 2002.
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Collection Description
Biographical Note
James Simmons was born in 1933 in Derry, Northern Ireland. He attended the University of Leeds as a mature student in the late 1950's where he met lifelong friends Tony Harrison and Wole Soyinka. Simmons went on to teach English at Ahamadu Bello University in Nigeria, Friends School, Lisburn, and the New University of Ulster, Coleraine, and in 1989 was named Writer in Residence at Queens University of Belfast. In 1968, Simmons founded and edited The Honest Ulsterman , a prominent literary magazine in Ulster. He founded The Poets' House, which was a series of summer poetry conferences with wife, Janice Fitzpatrick Simmons in 1990. In 1994, The Poets' House began offering Ireland's first M.A. in Creative Writing. Simmons had seven children, five with first wife, Laura Stinson, one with Imelda Foley, and one with Janice Fitzpatrick. His published collections of poems include: Ten Poems, Ballad of a Marriage, Late but in Earnest, In the Wilderness and Other Poems, No Ties, No Land is Waste, Dr. Eliot, Energy to Burn, The Long Summer Still to Come, West Strand Visions, Memorials of a Tour in Yorkshire, Judy Garland and the Cold War, Constantly Singing, From the Irish, Sex, Rectitude and Loneliness, Mainstream, and The Company of Children. Simmons passed away June 21st, 2001.
Scope and Content Note
The collection consists of personal and literary papers of James Simmons from 1945-1996. The bulk of the collection consists of drafts of Simmons's own writings, including poetry, prose, and songs that span his career. Also present are extensive files of personal and literary correspondence including correspondence and literary works of Tony Harrison, Seamus Heaney, Michael Longley, Derek Mahon, Paul Muldoon, Wole Soyinka, and many other prominent literary figures. The collection also includes The Poets' House archive, submissions for and a copy of the first issue of The Honest Ulsterman, extensive manuscript and typescript writings by others, collected printed material, and photographs.
Arrangement Note
Organized into seven series: (1) Correspondence, (2) Diaries, (3) Writings by Simmons, (4) Subject Files, (5) Writings by Others, (6) Printed material, and (7) Photographs.
Selected Search Terms
Personal Names
- Foley, Michael, 1947-
- Harrison, Tony, 1937-
- Heaney, Seamus, 1939-
- Hewitt, John Harold, 1907-1987.
- Larkin, Philip.
- Longley, Michael, 1939-
- Mahon, Derek, 1941-
- McGuckian, Medbh, 1950-
- Muldoon, Paul.
- Soyinka, Wole.
Corporate Names
Uniform Titles
Topical Terms
- Belfast Group.
- College teachers--Nigeria.
- Dramatic criticism--Ireland.
- English literature--Irish authors--20th century.
- English poetry--Irish authors--20th century.
- Irish poetry--History and criticism--20th century.
- Poetry--Studying and teaching--Ireland.
- Poets, Irish--20th century.
- Popular music--Writing and publishing--Ireland.
- Songs, Irish--20th century.