Fonds F2017 - Milton T. Wilson fonds

Identity area

Reference code

CA OTTCA F2017

Title

Milton T. Wilson fonds

Date(s)

  • [1955]-[1991] (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

26 cm of textual records

Context area

Name of creator

(1923-2013)

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.

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

      Related descriptions

      Notes area

      Alternative identifier(s)

      Access points

      Subject access points

      Place access points

      Name access points

      Genre access points

      Description control area

      Description identifier

      OTTCA-F2017

      Institution identifier

      Rules and/or conventions used

      Dates of creation revision deletion

      2016-07-25

      Language(s)

      • English

      Script(s)

        Sources

        Accession area