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Date(s)
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1892-1969 (Creation)
Physical description area
Physical description
50 cm of textual records
40 photographs : b&w
3 paintings (1 oil painting, 2 watercolours)
43 ink drawings
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Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Marjorie Lowry Christie Pickthall (1883–1922) was a librarian, a writer and a poet. She was born in Gunnersby, Middlesex, England, the daughter of Arthur C. Pickthall and Helen Mallard. She died in Vancouver, British Columbia, following an operation.
She moved with her family to Southwater, Sussex, then to Toronto, Ontario in 1889. She was educated at St. Mildred’s College and Bishop Strachan School. She sold her first story, “Two-Ears” to The Globe (a Toronto newspaper) while still a student at Bishop Strachan School. She was employed as an assistant librarian at Victoria University Library, Toronto, from 1910 to 1912 and her writing was published in several periodicals during that time, including Acta Victoriana, a student literary journal at Victoria College.
Pickthall moved to England in 1912 and lived near Salisbury until 1919. She participated in World War I as an ambulance driver, a farm labourer and a library clerk. She wrote many short stories and poems during this period. After the war she returned to Toronto, then moved to Vancouver, where she continued to write.
Pickthall published over two hundred short stories and approximately one hundred poems along with numerous articles in journals such as Atlantic Monthly, Harper’s, and Scribner’s. She also contributed to young people’s magazines. Her publications include: The Drift of Pinions (1913), Lamp of Poor Souls and Other Poems (1916), Little Hearts (1916), The Bridge: A Story of the Great Lakes (1922), The Woodcarver’s Wife and Other Poems (1922), Angels’ Shoes: And Other Stories (1923), Little Songs: A Book of Poems (1925), and The Complete Poems of Marjorie Pickthall (1927).
She is buried at the St. James Cemetery in Toronto.
Custodial history
Scope and content
The fonds consists of Marjorie Pickthall’s records pertaining to her activities as a poet and writer. The fonds includes: correspondence, including correspondence with Helena Coleman (1908-22), and Pelham Edgar (1903-04); manuscripts including (annotated) poems, short stories and articles; personal material including photographs; artistic material by Pickthall including paintings and drawings; and, other material.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Much of the fonds was acquired from Helena Coleman, Pelham Edgar, Lorne Pierce, Nina Gale and other persons. An essay by Dorothy Elizabeth Toye Long was acquired from D. Toye in 1964. A selection of drawings, letters and poems by Pickthall were removed from the manuscript collection of Helena Coleman and presented to Victoria University Library by May Glen in 1954. A book and some photographs were acquired from Mary M. Glen in 1969. Framed photographs were acquired from Lorne Pierce. Some photographs were acquired from Dr. G.I. Evans through Mrs. G.C. Andrew in 1981.
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Restrictions on access
No restrictions on access.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Part of the fonds is available on microfilm which researchers are requested to use unless an enquiry can be satisfied only by consulting original documents. For further information contact the Chief Librarian.
Associated materials
Walter Jackson McCrea fonds at McMaster University Library Archives and Special collections include correspondence with Pickthall.
University of Calgary Library Special Collections contains a letter from Pickthall to the editor of the Canadian Courier, dated May 6, 1909.
Marjorie Pickthall Collection and Wallace Family fonds, part of the University of Victoria Libraries Special Collections, includes correspondence and copies of poems.
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
General note
Title based on the contents of the fonds.
General note
The fonds is stored in 4 boxes.
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Added by MO: May 24, 2016
Revised by BC: March 14, 2018