Manuscript Collection - Robert Priest Papers

Identity area

Reference code

Title

Robert Priest Papers

Date(s)

  • 1964-2017 (Creation)

Level of description

Manuscript Collection

Extent and medium

141 boxes (17.8 metres)

Context area

Name of creator

(1951-)

Biographical history

Robert Priest is a Canadian poet, playwright, author and musician. Born in Walton-on-Thames, England, Priest immigrated to Canada as a child and began his writing career shortly thereafter. His first published book was a collection of poetry titled The Visible Man (1980). His later book of poetry, The Mad Hand (1980) won the Milton Acorn Memorial ’s Poetry Award. Priest has since published several books of poetry and works of fiction for children (see partial bibliography below). As a musician and poet Priest performed both as a solo artist and as a member of various groups in the 1980s and 90s, including bands ‘The Defayds’ and ‘The Great Big Face.’ He was also part of a band for young audiences called‘The Boinks’, with musicians Eric Rosser and Ross Macdonald, and a performance poetry group called ‘The Three Roberts’ (with Robert Sward and Robert Zend). For many years, Priest lived with his partner Marsha Kirzner in the Bain Apartments Co-Operative on Bain Avenue in Toronto. He has been an active member of The League of Canadian Poets and The Writer’s Union of Canada since the late 1970s. He has led poetry and lyric writing workshops for young students at many Toronto area schools. In recent years, Priest has made several appearances on CBC radio as ‘Dr. Poetry,’ and has been a regular contributor to Toronto’s Now Magazine.

Archival history

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Includes several drafts of published and unpublished poems, lyrics, short stories and novels from the author’s youth to 2010; mockups and original artwork for books; correspondence (in particular, letters exchanged between RP and members of The League of Canadian Poets, 1980-1999); pamphlets and magazines by other poets and writers; promotional material for poetry and music events held in the greater Toronto area. Also contains manuscript drafts for his children’s book series Spell Crossed including The Paper Sword (2014), Second Kiss (2015) and Missing Piece (2016); drafts of poetry, song lyrics and articles; professional files; correspondence, and other files relating to his life and work.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

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Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Some restrictions on access. Consult finding aids for further details.

Material may be requested in person at the Fisher Library Reference Desk, or in advance using our online stack retrieval request form: https://aeon.library.utoronto.ca

Conditions governing reproduction

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

    Language and script notes

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    Allied materials area

    Existence and location of originals

    Existence and location of copies

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    Description control area

    Description identifier

    Institution identifier

    Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, University of Toronto

    Rules and/or conventions used

    Dates of creation revision deletion

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        Accession area