Literary Archives

Authors’ papers offer unique insights into the creative process and as such are of great interest to the scholarly community. The Archives holds records of both historical and active Nova Scotia-based creative writers. These range from single items, such as the manuscript of an unpublished novel by the popular 19th-century Halifax poet Mary Herbert, to the records of novelist Donna Morrissey, which include digital and paper typescript drafts and illustrations, annotated page proofs, editorial correspondence, press materials and media reviews.

In additional to individuals’ papers, we have the administrative records of the Writers Federation of Nova Scotia and the Nova Scotia Drama League, and editorial and administrative records of Petheric Press, Pottersfield Press and The Dalhousie Review. These latter collections are rich sources of information about early publishing activity in Nova Scotia.

Baker, Janet. "Archibald MacMechan: Canadian Man of Letters." PhD diss., Dalhousie University, 1977.

Harvey, Kathryn. "From Bags and Boxes to Searchable Digital Collections at the Dalhousie University Archives.” Journal of Canadian Studies 40.2 (Spring 2006): 120-38.

Olsen-Smith, Steven, ed. Melville in His Own Time: A Biographical Chronicle of His Life, Drawn from Recollections, Interviews, and Memories by Family, Friends, and Associates. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 2015. [Reproduces letter from Samuel Arthur Jones to Archibald MacMechan, January 7, 1900, Archibald MacMechan fonds, MS-2-82, Box 9, Folder 83]

Roper, Henry. “A High Anglican Pagan and his Pupil: Charles G.D. Roberts, Robert Norwood and the Development of a Nova Scotian Literary Tradition, 1885-1932.” The Dalhousie Review 75.1 (Spring 1995): 51-74