Special Collections Department
Sydney Goodsir Smith Papers
1954 - 1960
Manuscript Collection Number: 226
Accessioned: Puchase 1972
Extent: 58 items (.4 linear ft.)
Content: Letters, typescripts,
manuscripts, proofs, notes, exhibition catalogs
Access: The collection is open for research.
Processed: 1991 by Wendy van
Wyck
Special Collections, University of Delaware Library
Newark, Delaware 19717-5267
(302) 831-2229
Table of Contents
Biographical Note
Sydney Goodsir Smith was one of the most important authors of the twentieth-century Scottish Literary Renaissance. As a vital member of Edinburgh’s literary circle, Smith was known for his emotional love poetry and nationalistic concern for the cultural and political affairs of Scotland. Smith, however, was neither raised nor educated in Scotland. He was born in Wellington, New Zealand, on October 26, 1915 and attended preparatory school in England. After a brief stay at Edinburgh University in the early 1930s, he graduated from Oxford in 1937 with an M.A. in history. After graduation, Smith settled permanently in Edinburgh, drawn by its beauty and culture.
In the late 1930s, Smith began to write poetry using his own individualized version of the Scottish language. With the publication of The Deevils Waltz in 1946 and Carotia Cornucopius in 1947, Smith exhibited an increasing confidence in the innovative language of his poetry. His next books, Under the Eildon Tree (1948) and So Late into the Night: Fifty Lyrics, 1944- 1948 (1952), are collections of love poems which are considered Smith’s best. In the 1960s, Smith’s works grew increasingly nationalistic in tone. His play The Wallace (1960) celebrates the Scottish nation and mourns its cultural and political oppression. Similar themes are expressed in his poems The Vision of the Prodigal Son (1959) and Gowdsmith in Reekie (1954). Sydney Goodsir Smith died in Edinburgh on January 15, 1975.
Sources:
Aitken, W.R. “Sydney Goodsir Smith, 1915-1975: A Checklist of His Books and Pamphlets.” In For Sydney Goodsir Smith, Loanhead: M. Macdonald, 1975. pp. 85-91
Sherry, Vincent B., Jr. (Ed.). Dictionary of Literary Biography. Volume 27. Poets of Great Britian and Ireland, 1945-1960. “Sydney Goodsir Smith” by David S. Robb. Detroit: Gale Research Co., 1984. pp. 340-346. Includes a critical bibliography.
Scope and Content Note
The Sydney Goodsir Smith Papers date primarily from the late 1950s and early 1960s, an especially nationalist phase in Smith’s literary career. The collection contains several drafts and advance proofs of Smith’s play The Wallace and manuscripts of his long dramatic poems, Gowdsmith in Reekie and The Vision of the Prodigal Son. Also present are seventeen pieces of correspondence and the manuscripts of about twenty prose pieces, including essays, reviews, and scripts from radio talks.
Series List
I. Correspondence
II. Material toward The Wallace, a play in five acts and five
prologues
III. Poetry
IV. Prose
V. Miscellaneous Manuscript Worksheets
Contents List
Box -- Folder -- Contents
Series I. Correspondence
All letters are to Sydney Goodsir Smith
unless otherwise indicated.
1 F1 To Ian [?] from Sydney Goodsir Smith
1958 May 21 TLS 1p
Notes on verso in Smith’s hand. Concerns Smith’s
declining to write a critical review.
From Christopher Murray Grieve (Hugh MacDiarmid)
1959 Jan 27 ALS 1p
Notes on verso in Smith’s hand. Concerns Grieve’s
declining an invitation because he has finished a tour
and is preparing to go abroad.
From Donald [?]
1959 Mar 10 ALS 1p
Apology to Smith for having him write a script
that was not used.
From Ruthven Todd
1959 May 7 TLS 2pp
Concerns Todd’s recent activities, including his
love life, reading tour, preparations to become a U.S.
citizen, and his book on Dylan Thomas.
From B.H. Alexander
1959 Jul 8 TLS 1p
Alexander informs Smith that he will be paid a
reduced fee for a script that was never used. The
script was for a radio talk on Kurt Wittig’s book.
From Sir Tyrone Guthrie
1959 Jul 17 ALS 2pp
Note: with envelope. Guthrie says he will not be
available to direct The Wallace.
From Michael Charlton
1959 Sep 16 ALS 4pp
Concerns the state of affairs of Scottish art.
F2 To the Editor of “The Spectator” from Sydney
Goodsir Smith
1960 Jan 18 TLS 2pp
With autograph corrections. Protesting David
Craig’s review of “Honour’d Shade.”
From Legman [?]
1960 Jan 21 TLS 2pp
Notes on verso in Smith’s hand. Concerns Smith’s
advice to Legman and Legman’s acquisition of a set of
books belonging to James Barke.
1960 Feb 6 TLS 1p
With autograph corrections and notes on verso in
Smith’s hand. Protesting David Craig’s review of
“Honour’d Shade.”
To exebition [sic] officer from Sydney Goodsir
Smith
1960 Mar 17 TNS 1p
Smith accepts an invitation to “Films on Art.”
From David Miklejohn
1960 Apr 14 ALS 1p
Notes on verso in Smith’s hand. Miklejohn
expresses outrage at English control of Scottish
affairs.
F3 From A.D. Fraser
1960 Aug 11 ALS 1p
Request for Smith to write articles about the art
exhibitions at The Edinburgh International Festival.
From Leonard J. Paterson, Vice President of The
Scottish Union of Students
1960 Aug 17 TLS 1p
Notes on verso in Smith’s hand. Request for Smith
to serve as a judge of student productions at the
Edinburgh International Festival.
From A.D. Fraser
1960 Aug 23 ALS 1p
Notes on verso in Smith’s hand. Concerns critical
notices of art exhibits.
From Tom Gourdie (Secretary, Exhibitions
Committee)
1960 Sep 11 ANS 1p
Notes on verso in Smith’s hand. Invitation to an
art exhibition at the Kirkaldy Art Gallery.
From William Arrowsmith, English Editor of The
Hudson Review
n.d. TLS 1p
Notification that books and poems sent by Smith
have been received.
F4 Autograph drafts of letters to various individuals
from Sydney Goodsir Smith. 13pp
Series II. Material toward The Wallace, a play in five
acts and five prologues
The Wallace was first broadcast as a radio play in
1959, and its first stage production was in the
Assembly Hall during the Edinburgh International
Festival, Aug-Sep 1960. It was published in book form
in the same year by Oliver and Boyd.
1 F5 Early version, n.d.
TS [carbon] 95pp (95 leaves)
Contains Dramatis Personae and text, lightly
revised in author’s hand. Pages 65, 72, 89, and 90 are
in top copy typescript, apparently representing a
revised version of the discarded material. This
version differs from the published text.
F6 Act I, n.d.
TS, 23pp (23 leaves)
Heavily revised in the author’s hand.
F7 Act I, n.d.
TS, 45pp (45 leaves)
Lightly revised. Apparently a later version.
F8 Prologues, n.d.
TS, 7pp (7 leaves)
Heavily revised and with autograph notes in the
author’s hand. Includes “Note on Prologue” and
prologues II-V.
F9 Appendix, Two Songs, Three Songs, n.d.
Appendix
AMs, 8pp (3 leaves)
“Appendix Three Songs and Postscriptum”
written on cover.
Two Songs
TS, 1pp (1 leaf).
Autograph revisions.
Three Songs
TS, 2pp (2 leaves)
“To precede Postscriptum” written on
top. Contains notes about where the songs should
be inserted. Autograph revisions.
F10 Postscriptum: Auctorial Note for Pedants, n.d.
TS, 10pp (8 leaves)
Heavily revised in author’s hand. Includes at
least two versions and several duplicate pages.
Miscellaneous typescript pages, n.d.
F11 TS, 11pp (9 leaves)
Heavily revised in the author’s hand.
F12 TS, 10pp (8 leaves)
Revised in author’s hand.
F13 TS, 13pp (11 leaves)
Includes six typescript carbon pages of insertions
and one page from the radio play script.
F14 Autograph notes, n.d.
AMs, 13pp (7 leaves)
Includes a list of corrections.
F15 Advance Proof (First Gathering), [1960]
14pp (4 leaves)
Published by Oliver & Boyd. Revised in the
author’s hand. “Author’s marked set. Checked S.G.S.”
is written on the first page.
Series III. Poetry
Consists of manuscripts and proof material
relating to two long poems by Goodsir Smith.
F16 Gowdsmith in Reekie, May 1954
TS, 19pp (19 leaves)
Heavily revised in the author’s hand with many
passages added and deleted. Typed signature at the
end: “Quod S.G.S. makar. Embrotoun, May 1954.”
F17 The Vision of the Prodigal Son, n.d.
TS, 12pp (13 leaves)
Contains many variants from the advance proof.
Typed signature “Sydney Goodsir Smith” at the
beginning.
F18 The Vision of the Prodigal Son, Jan 25, 1959
Advance Proof, 21pp (7 leaves)
Revised in the author’s hand and signed at the end
“Embrotoun 25 Janiveer 1959.” The author provides a
glossary of some 90 words on verso of sheet 6.
Series IV. Prose
Contains manuscripts of articles, reviews, essays,
radio talks, announcements, etc.
1 F19 Festival Drama to Come (Essay), n.d.
TS, 3pp (3 leaves)
Title altered in manuscript to read “Festival
Cinderella Tries Again.” Edited, but not in the
author’s hand. Typed signature “by Sydney Goodsir
Smith” after the title.
F20 Knight of Cromartie (Newspaper Article), n.d.
Galley Proofs, 3pp (3 leaves)
Revised and added material in the author’s hand.
F21 The Man Who Died Laughing (Radio Talk), n.d.
AMs, 6pp (3 leaves)
Autograph draft for a broadcast discussion with
Robert Kemp concerning Sir Thomas Urquhart’s lesser-
known works.
F22 The Man Who Died Laughing (Article), n.d.
TS, 41pp (41 leaves)
Typescript draft of an article which was later
reworked into dialog form for the broadcast discussion
with Robert Kemp. Heavily revised in the author’s hand
with a typed signature “Sydney Goodsir Smith 18 Royal
Terrace, Edinburgh.” at end.
F23 The Man Who Died Laughing (Radio Talk), n.d.
TS, 29pp (29 leaves)
BBC Script marked “R.K.” and “S.G.S.” for the
broadcast discussion with Robert Kemp concerning Sir
Thomas Urquhart and his lesser known works.
F24 The Merry Muses of Caledonia, n.d.
Announcement, TS, 1p (1 leaf)
Draft of announcement for the Auk Society
Edition of Burn’s The Merry Muses of Caledonia, of
which Smith was an editor.
Advance copy of Prospectus, 4pp (1 leaf)
A further draft of Smith’s announcement is
written on the last page.
The Merry Muses of Caledonia (Galley Eleven), 1p
(1 leaf)
Contains Smith’s “Personal Preface,” revised
in his hand.
F25 Plan for Program of a Burn’s Night Supper, n.d.
AMs, 6pp (2 leaves)
“Intro by S.G.S.” written on first page. Contains
an outline of the festivities (Hugh MacDiarmid to toast
“The Immortal Memory” etc.).
The Scottish Tradition in Literature (Review of
Kurt Wittig’s book of the same title), n.d.
2 F26 TS, 11pp (11 leaves)
Heavily revised. Wittig’s book was published in
1958. Apparently, Smith was to review the book on a
radio program, but the review was never used. (See
letter of 1959 July 8 from B.H. Alexander).
F27 TS, 14p (14 leaves)
“from Sydney Goodsir Smith, 18 Royal Terrace,
Edinburgh 7.” typed at the beginning.
F28 Sir David Lindsay and Sean O’Casey: Rebels in the
Theatre (Essay), n.d.
AMs, 3pp (2 leaves)
Contains additional unrelated manuscript
notes.
TS, 8pp (8 leaves)
Typed on half-sheets of paper and
heavily revised. Unrelated manuscript notes on
verso of page 6. An essay on “Chagall” appears on
the verso of page 7. Typed signature “by Sydney
Goodsir Smith” after the title.
Sir Thomas Urquhart of Cromartie (Radio Talk),
n.d.
F29 AMs, 12pp (6 leaves)
Notes for the radio talk. Titled “Urquhart.”
F30 TS, 8pp (8 leaves)
Typescript draft of a radio talk. “To George
Bruce (Scott. Life & Lett.), BBC Abrdn, from Sydney
Goodsir Smith” typed at the top of second page.
Heavily revised. Typed signature “Sydney Goodsir
Smith, 18 Royal Terrace, Edinburgh.” on last page.
F31 TS [mimeo], 9pp (9 leaves)
BBC duplicated Script for Smith’s talk on the
first program of the Scottish Life and Letters Series,
Wed. May 25, 10:10 pm.
F32 Sir William Wallace, Guardian of Scotland (Article
of Talk), [c. 1959]
TS, 2pp (2 leaves)
An introduction to The Wallace, mentioning the
radio adaptation “you will hear on Monday night.”
Typed signature “by Sydney Goodsir Smith” after the
title.
F33 Fragments of Typescript Articles, n.d.
TS, 11pp (11 leaves)
Includes reviews of works by Scottish painters, a
fragment on Scottish nationalism, part of a review of a
Saltire Classics edition of Barbeur’s “The Bruce,” an
excerpt entitled “English Chronicler” and a fragment of
an article entitled “John Jamieson D.D., Preserver of
the Scots Language, 1759-1838.”
Series V. Miscellaneous Manuscript Worksheets
Rough drafts of reviews, announcements, and
essays. Many are written on the backs of letters,
envelopes, handouts, stenciled artist exhibition
catalogs, etc. Subjects include articles on art
exhibitions, the theatre, classics of Scottish
Literature and Auk Society publications.
2 Rough drafts of reviews and essays on artists,
exhibits and galleries, n.d.
F34 AMs, 20pp (8 leaves)
Some titles include “Modern Art Gallery,”
“Scottish Painting,” etc.
F35 AMs, 19pp (9 leaves)
Includes articles on Scottish painters and
painting.
F36 Misc. material dealing with artists, exhibits and
galleries
10pp (10 leaves)
Includes several exhibition catalogs and press
releases.
F37 Rough drafts of reviews and articles on theatre
and literature, n.d.
AMs, 19pp (10 leaves)
Some titles include “Scottish Nat. Theatre,”
“Theatre-Scotland,” a piece on Stevenson’s Kidnapped
and an article on his own play, The Wallace.
F38 Misc. drafts of articles, reviews and other prose works
-41 AMs, (46 leaves). Includes Smith’s essay “England
on Scotland” and a manuscript copy of the same essay
entitled “Now We Know,” in another hand.
F42 Misc. notes and lists
-43 AMs, (24 leaves)
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