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Masefield, John, 1878-1967

John Masefield collection. – 1955-1959. – 6.5 cm of textual records and graphic material.

John Masefield, poet, novelist and playwright, was born in Herefordshire, on 1 June 1878. In 1888 he was sent to Warwick School and then, in 1891, to Liverpool, to train in the merchant marine. He followed this training by work at sea and travel. He returned to England in 1897 to take up his vocation as a poet while also working as a clerk. Beginning in 1901 he devoted himself full time to writing. During World War I Masefield was sent to the United States to explain the British war effort. In 1917 he received honorary degrees from both Yale and Harvard universities, the first of many such awards. He was Poet Laureate from 1930 to 1967. In 1935 he was elected to the Order of Merit. He died on 12 May 1967 at his home near Abingdon.

The collection consists of 4 letters from Masefield to Kathleen Harper, 1955-[1956]; a poem “On the Occasion of Her Majesty’s Visit to Canada, 1959”, 8 pages typed and signed by Masefield “For Kathleen Harper, August the 1^st 1959”, also a one-page manuscript abridged version of the poem. The collection also contains a b&w photograph of Masefield, signed and inscribed to Harper in 1959 and a copy of Masefield’s play, Good Friday, signed and inscribed to Harper in July 1955.

See also the James Daniel Brasch fonds for additional Masefield correspondence.

Title based on the content of the collection.
The collection (32-2006) was purchased from the Alexander Gallery in November 2006.
Finding aid available as part of this collection level description only.
There are no access restrictions.
Further accruals are not expected.

Contact: archives@mcmaster.ca
Last Reviewed: January 11, 2007
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