Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- [1955]-[1991] (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
26 cm of textual records
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Milton Thomas Wilson, a scholar of Romantic poetry and an editor of Canadian Forum, was born in Toronto in 1923 to Mr and Mrs G. S. Wilson. He attended St Andrew‟s College in Aurora, Ontario. In 1940, Wilson began studying English at Trinity College in the University of Toronto, but he interrupted his education in 1943 to serve in the Canadian navy during the Second World War. He returned to Toronto to obtain his BA and MA degrees in 1945 and 1946 respectively. He completed a PhD at Columbia University in 1957. After teaching briefly at the University of Syracuse, he was appointed lecturer at Trinity College in 1949. He became full professor in 1966 and professor emeritus in 1988. In 1975, Wilson became the first chair of the University of Toronto Department of English. (The English departments of the colleges at the University of Toronto had previously merged together under the direction of a committee of which Wilson was also chair.) Wilson worked as literary editor (1954-59) and managing editor (1959-68) of Canadian Forum. Among his publications are Shelley's Later Poetry (1959, republished 1974) and E. J. Pratt (1969). He is the editor of Poetry of Mid-Century (1964) and Poets Between the Wars (1967). He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.
Wilson married Joanna Crawford, daughter of Mr and Mrs John Knox Crawford, on 6 September 1947.They had six children: Barbara, Katharine, Gregory, Victoria, Timothy, and Antony. Prof. Wilson died in Toronto on 22 March 2013.
Repository
Archival history
The records which comprise Series 1 and 2 were received from Dr Wilson by Linda Corman, head librarian of the Trinity College Library, who transferred them to the Archives on 15 November 1991 (acc. no. 1991-0018). The records which comprise Series 3 were located in the Archives and accessioned (no. 2009-0003) by the Archivist in 2009; their provenance is unknown.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Fonds consists of records relating to Dr Wilson‟s academic career and administrative role in the departments of English at Trinity College and the University of Toronto as well as correspondence, including poetry, relating to his position as editor of Canadian Forum.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
A chronological order was imposed on series 1 and 2 sometime after 1991 (with undated items at the end of each file) except for the Irving Layton and Al Purdy files, in which the original order was retained. Other than the latter files, the original order of series 1 and 2 is unknown; there was likely no apparent order. Original order was maintained in Series 3.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Some material in poor condition in series 1 and 2 has been photocopied on acid-free paper and placed next to the original. Researchers are asked to avoid using the originals where photocopies exist. Some files are closed; see series-level access note.
Conditions governing reproduction
Various copyright holders. It is the researcher's responsibility to obtain permission to publish any part of the fonds.
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Some material in poor condition in series 1 and 2 has been photocopied on acid-free paper and placed next to the original.
Finding aids
Finding aid attached
Uploaded finding aid
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Dates of creation revision deletion
2016-07-25
Language(s)
- English