Ruthven Todd collection

Collection

Identifier: PCMS-0055

Staff Only

The Ruthven Todd collection contains manuscripts, correspondence, and artwork produced between 1938 and 1986. Manuscripts include early handwritten poetry and typed and handwritten poetry and prose from later in Todd’s life. Correspondence between Ruthven Todd and Charles Abbott, “Bob,” Karl Gay, Melissa Banta, and Robert Latona are present in the collection. Correspondence discussing Todd between Julian Symons, Kathleen Raine, Nicolette Bernard, and Robert Latona regarding Todd are also present. The artwork present is an original and 3 prints of an illustrated poem titled Fungi.

Dates

1938-1986

Creator

Banta, Melissa (Person)

Language of Materials

Collection material in English.

Terms of Access

The Ruthven Todd collection, 1938-1986 is open to researchers.

Copyright

Copyright of papers in the collection may be held by their authors, or the authors' heirs or assigns. Researchers must obtain the written permission of the holder(s) of copyright and the Poetry Collection before requesting photocopies and/or publishing quotations from materials in the collection.

Extent

.63 Linear Feet (2 manuscript boxes)

Additional Description

Abstract

The Ruthven Todd collection consists of papers produced between 1938 and 1986. The collection contains handwritten and typed manuscripts, correspondence, and artwork.

Biographical

The poet, novelist, and artist Ruthven Todd was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1914. He began his career as a journalist and copy-editor while living in Edinburgh, London, and later Essex. He is best known for his work as an editor of the works of William Blake and his children’s books. Under the pseudonym R. T. Campbell, he wrote detective fiction. During the 1930s he was involved with the surrealists movement and had friendships with a number of prominent writers, including Dylan Thomas, Wyndham Lewis, Ezra Pound, and Julian Symons. He moved to America in 1947, where he took a position teaching at the University of Iowa and ran The Weekend Press. In 1960 he moved to El Terreno, Palma de Majora, where he lived until 1965 when he resettled for the final time to the village of Galilea, where he lived until his death in 1978.