Finding Aid
Jeffery Donaldson fonds. 1st accrual. – ca. 1870-2023; predominant 1990-2023. – 2.1 meters of textual materials; 26 photographs: b&w and col.
Series 1: Essays and Poetry. – 0.5 m of textual records. – 1991-2023.
Series 2: Journals and Notebooks. – 0.7 m of textual records. – 1984, 1993-2023.
Series 3: Personal Correspondence. – 0.5 m of textual records; 11 photographs. – 1986-2021.
Series 4: Academic Correspondence and Awards. – 0.1 m of textual records. – 1987-2017
Series 5: Family Memorabilia. – 0.2 m of textual records; 4 artifacts; 14 photographs. – ca. 1900-2015; 1970-1983 predominant.
Series 1: Essays and Poetry. – 0.5 m of textual records. – 1991-2023.
The first series contains a mixture of Donaldson’s creative and academic written works, as well as chapbooks published by his press, Paradise North Press. The series also contains published works that were gifted to Donaldson by other poets and associates, including Bernadette Ryan (Rule) and John Terpstra. Records in the series pertain to the following Donaldson poetry, non-fiction, and academic publications: Missing Link: The Evolution of Metaphor and The Metaphor of Evolution (McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2015); Momento: On Standing in Front of Art (Gordon Hill Press, 2023); and Granted (The Porcupine’s Quill, 2023). Some records also pertain to Donaldson’s earlier works: Once Out of Nature (McClelland & Stewart Inc, 1991); Waterglass (McGill-Queen’s University Press, 1999); Palilalia (McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2008); Guesswork: Poems (Goose Lane Editions, 2011); and many articles and collaborative works.
The series includes Donaldson’s manuscripts and drafts, many of which were bound and feature hardback cloth covers. Other documentary forms include files of Donaldson’s research on metaphors, literary cosmology, philosophy, and literary enlightenment, as well as some correspondence.
Donaldson’s written works are arranged chronologically.
Note: Box 2 file 19 is embargoed until 2050.
Box 1
F.1 Donaldson, Jeffery. Once Out of Nature [First published chapbook by McClelland & Stewart Inc., with foreword by Richard Howard]. – 1991. – 0.5 cm.
F.2 [Binder (separated into folders) containing various drafts of Donaldson’s poems such as “The Teaching Garden” (old title “Feddy Doe”); “Hollymount Poems”; Waterglass (dedicated to his wife, Annette), and other poems. Also contains his correspondence with various publishers such as McGill-Queen’s University Press, Monitor Book Company Inc., and McClelland & Steward Inc. – 1 of 3]. – 1995-1998. – 1 cm.
F.3 [2 of 3]. – 1.5 cm.
F.4 [3 of 3]. – 0.7 cm.
F.5 [Essay by Donaldson, Jeffery. “The Last Light at Sandover: James Merrill’s ‘Nine Lives’”; with correspondence to Professor Poirier. Academic work]. – October 8, 1998. – 0.5 cm.
F.6 Donaldson, Jeffery. Waterglass [Chapbook published by McGill-Queen’s University Press; signed by Donaldson]. – 1999. – 0.5 cm.
F.7 Donaldson, Jeffery. Palilalia [Printed computer manuscript]. – November 2, 2007. – 1.5 cm.
F.8 Palilalia First manuscript [Computer printout with annotations]. – ca. 2007. – 1 cm.
F.9 Donaldson, Jeffery. Palilalia [Published by McGill-Queen’s University Press]. – 2008. – 0.5 cm.
F.10 [Binder: Missing Link: The Evolution of Metaphor and the Metaphor of Evolution; annotated manuscripts by Donaldson. Published in 2015 – 1 of 5]. – ca. February 2008. – 1.5 cm.
F.11 [2 of 5]. – ca. February 2008. – 1 cm.
F.12 [3 of 5]. – ca. February 2008. – 0.5 cm.
F.13 [4 of 5]. – ca. February 2008. – 0.5 cm.
F.14 [5 of 5]. – ca. February 2008. – 0.5 cm.
F.15 [William (Bill) Keith, correspondence and review of Palilalia – Poetry as “Disordered Speech”]. – May 26, 2009. – 9 pp.
F.16 Donaldson, Jeffery. Guesswork [Published chapbook by Goose Lane Editions]. – 2011. – 0.5 cm.
F.17 Terpstra, John. Greetings from Head of the Lake [Three copies of poetry chapbook which was bound and published by Donaldson’s own press, Paradise North Press. Hardcover chapbook signed by John Terpstra]. – 2013. – 2.5 cm.
Box 2
F.1 Donaldson, Jeffery. Why the Universe Is a Poem: The Evolution of Metaphor as the Missing Link [Computer printout of the manuscript of his academic publication. Could be the old title from his book Missing Link: The Evolution of Metaphor and the Metaphor of Evolution]. – 2015. – 3 cm.
F.2 Donaldson, Jeffery. A Bridge is a Lie: How Metaphor Tests Science [Bound article manuscript published in 2015]. – ca. 2015. – 1 cm.
F.3 [Comments on Jeffery Donaldson Missing Link]. – ca. 2015. – 4 pp.
F.4 [Book review for Missing Link]. – ca. 2015. – 5 pp.
F.5 Zwicky, Jan. The Longwalk uncorrected proof [Annotated manuscript; later published by the University of Regina Press]. – 2016.
F.6 The Essential John Ribetanz. Selected by Jeffery Donaldson [Published by the Porcupine’s Quill; includes Donaldson’s annotations in various poems]. – 2017. – 0.5 cm.
F.7 [Donaldson agreement with The Porcupine’s Quill for his original work Viaticum: From Notebooks – redacted copy]. – April 26, 2019. – 0.5 cm.
F.8 Poems for a Birthday [Chapbook published by The St. Thomas Poetry Series in celebration of the birthday of Hugh Anson-Carwright. Features Donaldson’s poem “Afterthought”]. – November 2020.
F.9 Donaldson, Jeffery. The Middle Way of William A. Stephens [Chapbook published by Paradise North Press]. – 2021. – 0.7 cm.
F.10 Donaldson, Jeffery. Later Thinks [Chapbook published by Paradise North Press]. – 2022. – 21 pp.
F.11 Aide, William. The Ocean Étude: Poems for Alan King [Hardcover chapbook. Published by Paradise North Press] – 2022. – 0.7 cm.
F.12 Schindler, Karen. Baselinepress Covers [Chapbook published by Paradise North Press]. – 2022. – 0.5 cm.
F.13 [Metaphor book; transcribed notes from a section of Donaldson’s notebook]. – ca. 2022. – 22 pp.
F.14 [Donaldson, Jeffery. Granted was titled Metaphor 101; bound computer printout of manuscript with annotations]. – ca. 2022. – 1 cm.
F.15 Rule, Bernadette. The Window Washer of Chartres [Chapbook, published by Paradise North Press]. – 2023. – 0.5 cm.
F.16 Little, Geraldine C. and Donaldson, Jeffery. “After, Life and Color (Goethe’s Theory)”. – November 8, [?]. – 1 p.
F.17 Garshowitz and Donaldson, Jeffery. “Adieu: A Duo” [Poem with annotation]. – n.d. – 1 p.
F.18 Donaldson, Jeffery. An Account of Quantum Behaviours from a Metaphoric Perspective (Quantum Metaphor) [Hardcover bound manuscript with annotations; this essay was an influence on his work in Missing Link: The Evolution of Metaphor and the Metaphor of Evolution]. – n.d. – 0.5 cm.
F.19 [Donaldson agreement with The Porcupine’s Quill for publication of his original work Viaticum from Notebooks]. – April 26, 2019. – 0.5 cm. – Embargoed until 2050.
Box 3
F.1 Donaldson, Jeffery. Eyeskip [Hardcover printed computer manuscript with annotations]. – n.d. – 1.5 cm.
F.2 [Donaldson, Jeffery. Eyeskip, renamed Scapegoat; bound computer printout of a manuscript with annotations]. – n.d. – 1 cm.
F.3 Donaldson, Jeffery. Fluke Print [Typescript/computer draft; old title Viaticum, with annotations and corrections. Dedicated to Karen Schindler]. – n.d. – 1.5 cm.
F.4 Donaldson, Jeffery. God is in the House: Loss of Belief in Modern Myth [Bound computer printout of article manuscript with annotations]. – n.d. – 0.5 cm.
F.5 Donaldson, Jeffery. I Stand Before You: Museums, Galleries, and How to Find Yourself in Them. [A computer printout of manuscript with annotations]. – n.d. – 1 cm.
F.6 Donaldson, Jeffery. Momento: On Standing in Front of Art [Earlier draft with comments, corrections, and annotations. Bound computer printout of manuscript, later published in 2023]. – n.d. – 1.5 cm.
F.7 Donaldson, Jeffery. Momento: On Standing in Front of Art [Bound computer printout of manuscript with corrections and annotations. Later published in 2023]. – n.d. – 1.5 cm.
F.8 Donaldson, Jeffery. Palilalia [Computer printout of manuscript which contains Donaldson’s annotations and corrections]. – n.d. – 1.5 cm.
F.9 Donaldson, Jeffery. Sacrifice, Slaughter, Misadventure [Printed computer manuscript and research notes]. – n.d. – 1 cm.
F.10 Donaldson, Jeffery. Scapegrace [Two bound computer manuscripts with annotations]. – n.d. – 2.5 cm.
F.11 “The Thieving Beds” [Copy of short story; unknown author]. – n.d. – 2 pp.
F.12 “Louder than a piano” [Copy of short story; unknown author]. – n.d. – 7 pp.
Box 4
F.1 Donaldson, Jeffery. Slack Action Poems [Manuscript which contains his annotations and dedication to Barbara Joyce Donaldson]. – n.d. – 1.3 cm.
F.2 [Donaldson, Jeffery. Stellification of W.H. Auden and copies of his other poems]. – n.d. – 9 cm.
F.3 [Originally in Binder 1 April 1996 – 30 July 1996 – Elliot and Heaney; includes draft essay on “T.S Elliot’s Little Gidding Section II and Seamus Heaney’s Station Island section XII” with annotations by Donaldson. Originally in Box 11, File 3]. – n.d. – 1.2 cm.
F.4 [Poems by Susan Sink; “At Grandmother’s House”; “In the Family Room”; “About the Swans”; “Through A Glass, Darkly”; and “Dreams About Roy Porter, Who Lived Next Door”]. – n.d. – 8 pp.
F.5 [Draft poems with annotations]. – n.d. – 0.5 cm.
F.6 [(NF and) The Science of Cultural Evolution, typed research notes. Also includes section of Nicholas Halmi’s essay]. – n.d. – 10 pp.
F.7 [“Referee’s Report on Jeffery Donaldson’s Missing Link: The Evolution of Metaphor and the Metaphor of Evolution”; essay and review]. – n.d. – 6 pp.
F.8 References [Collection of materials used for Missing Link…]. – n.d. – 8 pp.
F.9 [N. Fyre research notes, separated into sections: “Consciousness”, “Time”, “Nothing at All”, “Miscellaneous”, and others. With annotations, possibly by Donaldson]. – n.d. – 1 cm.
F.10 [Larkin’s Church Going and other research notes]. – n.d. – 6 pp.
F.11 Donaldson, Jeffery. “Loss of Belief in Modern Myth” [Annotated and final article/essay]. – n.d. – 0.7 cm.
F.12 [T.S. Elliot and Seamus Heaney draft essay and their works. Draft sections from Donaldson’s essay “T.S Elliot’s Little Gidding Section II and Seamus Heaney’s Station Island section XII”]. – n.d. – 1 cm.
F.13 [Annotated section and draft; part of the Elliot and Heaney essay] – n.d. – 0.5 cm.
Series 2: Journals and Notebooks. – 0.7 m of textual records. – 1984, 1993-2023.
The second series is a collection of Jeffery Donaldson’s journals and notebooks. Many of his journals were transcribed and bound by him to allow for easy reading. Topics featured in the journals include Donaldson’s relationships, travels, and interactions with peers, as well as various research materials for his articles and essays. Details of his personal life and research notes for his written works are intertwined. Many of his journal entries contain his research notes for his academic works, such as Missing Link: The Evolution of Metaphor and the Metaphor of Evolution (McGill-Queen's University Press, 2015); Frye and the Word: Religious Contexts in the Writings of Northrop Frye (University of Toronto Press, 2003); and first thoughts about Alice in Wonderland which later led to his chapter “As Above So Below? Madness and Nonsense in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”, which was included in the anthology Alice in Wonderland in Film and Popular Culture (Palgrave Macmillan, 2022).
The series also contains Donaldson’s bound and transcribed notes on themes of creative writing, math, science, and religious ideologies. Lastly, the series also contains his weekly planner and agendas.
Series is arranged in chronological order.
Box 4 [cont’d.]
F.14 [Black Moleskine journal/notebook; includes research notes for essays and poems, as well as research on metaphor]. – 2007-2009. – 2 cm.
F.15 [Black Moleskine notebook. Features Donaldson’s research notes on myths, cosmology, various inspirations for his poetry, and poetry drafts for “Etymology: of Miracle = Wonder and Answer Me”]. – 2011-2012. – 1.5 cm.
F.16 [Black Moleskine Journal. Journal contains research notes for his lecture and writings; drafts of his essays and poetry]. – 2013-2015. – 2 cm.
F.17 [Dark blue Moleskine notebook. The notebook contains research notes for his academic lectures and poetry, and daily journal. Also includes Hamilton Museum of Mental Health Care programme and a thank you card from “Bill” (William Blissett)]. – 2018-2020. – 2.5 cm.
F.18 [Small black Moleskine notebook that features research materials and poetry drafts that could relate to Missing Link: The Evolution of Metaphor and the Metaphor of Evolution (2015)]. – n.d. – 1 cm.
Box 5
F.1 [Small blue Moleskine pocket notebook]. – n.d. – 0.5 cm.
F.2 [Selectum notebook with research notes; water damage and child’s drawing on the back]. – n.d. – 1 cm.
F.3 [Binder 17 Aug. 1994-30 July 1998. Contains transcribed personal journal; and photocopy of the draft article “Must Men Stand by What They Write? Geoffrey Hill’s The Mystery of the Charity of Charles Péguy.” Also includes letters from various publishers on the article – 1 of 5]. – 1989; 1994-1998. – 1.5 cm.
F.4 [2 of 5]. – 2 cm.
F.5 [3 of 5]. – 2 cm.
F.6 [4 of 5]. – 0.5 cm.
F.7 [5 of 5]. – 0.5 cm.
F.8 [First Class notebook. Includes various drafts of sections of articles and essays. Lecture and research notes include a few flagged pages by Donaldson]. – 2005-2006. – 1 cm.
F.9 [Originally in Binder 1 August 1995- 31 March 1996. Transcribed personal journal about Donaldson’s life, career, and writings – 1 of 2]. – August 1, 1995-March 31, 1996. – 1.5 cm.
F.10 [2 of 2]. – 1.5 cm
F.11 [Children’s drawings and calendar that lists Donaldson’s classes for the year, family, and personal events]. – 2010-2019. – 2 cm.
F.12 [Originally in Binder 1 April 1996- 30 July 1996. Personal journal of Donaldson about his daily life, research for Frye and the Word: Religious Contexts in the Writings of Northrop Frye (2003), and first thoughts on Alice in Wonderland which later led to his chapter “As Above So Below? Madness and Nonsense in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” (2022)]. – April 1, 1996-July 30, 1996. – 1.5 cm.
F.13 [Originally in McMaster Binder 3 Aug 1996 to 30 Oct 1997. Donaldson’s personal journal about his daily life, writings on Frye, and career]. – August 3, 1996-October 3, 1997. – 1.7 cm.
F.14 [2 of 2]. – 1.5 cm.
F.15 [Journals on Frye. Was originally in Binder 1 April 1996- 30 July 1996. Contains Donaldson’s research on Northrop Frye for his work Frye and the Word: Religious Contexts in the Writings of Northrop Frye (2003)]. – March 21-December 30. – 15 pp.
Box 6
F.1 [Section of transcribed journal]. – n.d. – 8 pp.
F.2 [Three smaller notebooks]. – 2004-2006; 2010. – 1.5 cm.
F.3 [Various smaller notebooks. Five notebooks that contain research, lines of poetry, and a notebook with drawings]. – 2011. – 1 cm.
F.4 Notebooks 2013-Nov 2021 [Bound and transcribed notes from draft versions of Scapegrace and Missing Link. Also features various research notes]. – 2013-2021. – 1 cm.
F.5 Math Notebook [Bound and transcribed materials on Donaldson’s research in mathematics and records of his exchanges with fellow researchers]. – September 24, 2014 – May 21, 2023. – 1 cm.
F.6 [“Bill”–William Blissett’s photocopied notebook entries, with annotations by Donaldson]. – May 18, 2021. – 1.5 cm.
F.7 Notes [Bound and transcribed notes from Donaldson’s various writings and lectures]. – November 19, 2021 – October 15, 2022. – 1 cm.
F.8 Notebooks [Bound and transcribed notes on creative writing, math, science, and religious ideologies]. – October-December 2022. – 1 cm.
F.9 Notebooks [Bound and transcribed from Donaldson’s research notes on Northrop Frye, math and sciences, and Donaldson’s study on poetry]. – January 1-February 28, 2023. – 1 cm.
Box 7
F.1 Notebooks [Bound and transcribed research notes on various articles, ideas for poetry; unpublished poems]. – March 1-April 30, 2023. – 1.3 cm.
F.2 Notebook 1v23-30vi23 [Bound and transcribed research notes on articles; includes notes from Arthur Koestler (research mentioned in almost all notebooks), Michael Faraday, and other mathematicians and leaders in the fields of science, literary cosmology, history, and philosophy. Also includes some of Donaldson’s smaller unpublished poems and writings]. – May-June 2023. – 1 cm.
F.3 Notebooks [Bound and transcribed notes about research on metaphors and other structures of writing and scientific research]. – July 1-August 31, 2023. – 1 cm.
F.4 Weekly appointments. – 1993. – 1 cm.
F.5 Weekly Appointments [Agenda and letter from Cythina Messenger from the University of British Columbia]. – 1994. – 1.5 cm.
F.6 Weekly 1995 [Agenda]. – 1995. – 1 cm.
F.7 1996 Weekly [Agenda]. – 1996. – 0.7 cm.
F.8 Weekly Appointments [Agenda with loose notes]. – 1997. – 1 cm.
F.9 Weekly Appointments [Agenda]. – 1998. – 1 cm.
Box 8
F.1 Weekly Appointments [Agenda]. – 1999. – 1 cm.
F.2 Weekly Appointments [Agenda]. – 2000. – 1.5 cm.
F.3 Weekly Appointments [Agenda with postcard]. – 2001. – 1.5 cm.
F.4 Weekly Appointments [Agenda listing appointments with various academic colleagues and fellow writers]. – 2002. – 1 cm.
F.5 Weekly Appointments [Agenda]. – 2003. – 1 cm.
F.6 [Telephone book with business cards from Donaldson’s acquaintances]. – n.d. – 1.2 cm.
Series 3: Personal Correspondence. – 0.5 m of textual records; 11 photographs. – 1986-2021.
The third series in the fonds includes Donaldson’s correspondence with his family, colleagues, and peers. Most of the correspondence is with Peter Sanger and Allan Garshowitz, both Canadian poets and prose writers. The letters between Sanger and Donaldson are primarily about their friendship and writing projects; the two edited drafts of one another’s work. The series also includes correspondence with Allan Garshowitz. Garshowitz and Donaldson wrote about their personal life during the pandemic, as well as their poetry and essay research. The series also includes correspondence from various poets and publishers, such as McClelland & Stewart Ltd. and Rubicon Publishers, about Donaldson’s or other poets’ manuscripts and royalties. Lastly, some correspondence is from family members and peers. Donaldson’s responses to many of these letters were transcribed and bound in hardcover. This correspondence includes holiday cards, children’s drawings, and letters about Donaldson’s personal events. In addition, the series contains letters from various organizations and institutions, such as Victoria University and others.
Series is arranged in chronological order.
Note: Allan Garshowitz goes by many pennames in his letters, such as “A,” “Ai,” “the Soo,” and “Algar.” Garshowitz also gives Donaldson numerous nicknames when he addresses him at the start of his letters.
Letters from “B” or “Bill” are from William Frederick Bissett.
Box 8 [cont’d]
F.7 Letters Poets and Proposals [Correspondence from various poets, friends, and publishers like McClelland & Stewart Ltd. Includes business and personal correspondence with David Manicom from Rubicon Publishing; article printouts; a letter from the League of Canadian Poets; emails; and letters from various professors. – 1 of 3]. – 1986-2018. – 1 photograph: col., 6 x 9 cm; 2 cm of textual records.
F.8 [2 of 3]. – 1.5 cm.
F.9 [3 of 3]. – 2.5 cm.
Box 9
F.1 Letters: Family and Miscellaneous [Contains letters from family members such as his nieces, nephew, and wife. In addition, the file includes certificates from the Hamilton & Region Arts Council (2000); an invitation to the ceremony commemorating the installation of the President and Vice-Chancellor of Victoria University (1994); and correspondence about his acquaintances’ daily lives. Lastly, the file includes personal photographs with family]. – 1989-2000. – 8 photographs: col.; 2.5 cm of textual records.
F.2 Letters: Family and Miscellaneous [Contains personal letters]. – 1992. – 4 pp.
F.3 [Marks of your Absence; addressed to Gaffer, Jeffery Donaldson’s nickname. Letter/journal entries from Donaldson’s wife, Annette Abma (“Poos”). Was a part of the Binder 17 Aug 1994-30 July 1998]. – ca.1994-1998. – 7 pp.
F.4 [Michael Groden remembrance thank you card] – 2021. – 2 pp.
F.5 [Christmas cards]. – November-December 2021. – 3 cards.
F.6 [A letter of thanks to David Kent and Associates]. – January 15, 2022. – 8 pp.
F.7 [Letter Page 3 and 4 by unknown sender. Incomplete letter]. – n.d. – 2 pp.
F.8 [Correspondence between Donaldson and Ross Leckie; cue cards]. – n.d. – 14 pp.
F.9 [Christmas and New Year’s cards from the McNulty family: Mickey, John, Franny and Emma]. – n.d. – 1 p.
F.10 Letters in (Linda) [Correspondence from Oliver Berghof in West Germany; letters from David Manicom; drafts of various poems such as “Birds, flight”; “From Nature”; sample from Queen’s Quarterly issue featuring the article “Tiger Killer”; review of “The Body in the Library: Northrop Frye’s Critical Prophecies”; and others]. – 1984-1993. – 2 cm.
F.11 Richard Howard [Letters from Richard Howard. File includes newspaper clippings, postcards from Howard, and copies of Howard’s poems such as “Undertakings and Like Most Revelations”. His essays include “A Consideration of the Writing of Emily Dickinson”; “Caught Looking: A Note on Jeffery Donaldson’s Poems” and draft introduction of Richard Howard Selected Poems for Penguin Books. Photographs of Jacques Offenbach and Théophile Gautier. Lastly, the folder contains postcards from Howard – 1 of 2]. – 1989-1992. – 6 postcards; 2 photographs: b&w., 12.5 x 17.7 cm; 2 cm of textual records.
F.12 [2 of 2] – 1.5 cm.
F.13 [Letter from “B” (most likely from his friend, “Bill” William Frederick Bissett); a handwritten letters sent to Jeffery and his wife, Annette Abma]. – June 15, 2016. – 1 p.
F.14 Peter Sanger [Handwritten correspondences, but a few letters are water damaged. The correspondence also includes letters to Donaldson and his wife, letter from the Canada Council for the Arts, and includes various essays. It also contains Sanger’s essays “A Lightning Heart: On John Thompson” – 1 of 4]. – 1993-2003. – 2 cm.
F.15 [2 of 4]. – 1.5 cm.
F.16 [3 of 4]. – 1.5 cm.
F.17 [4 of 4]. – 1 cm.
Box 10
F.1 [Handwritten letter from Peter Sanger]. – July 2, 2008. – 10 pp.
F.2 [Handwritten correspondence from Peter Sanger]. – January 27, 2010. – 4 pp.
F.3 [Correspondence from Peter Sanger, with green inked annotation]. – March 23, 2011. – 6 pp.
F.4 [Handwritten letter from Peter Sanger]. – March 1, 2014. – 3 pp.
F.5 [Handwritten correspondence from Peter Sanger]. – March 11, 2014. – 2 pp.
F.6 [Sanger, Peter; handwritten letter to Donaldson]. – April 27, 2014. – 5 pp.
F.7 [Handwritten correspondence from Peter Sanger]. – August 19, 2018. – 5 pp.
F.8 [Handwritten correspondence from Peter Sanger, page 6 and 7]. – n.d. – 2 pp.
F.9 [Water damaged typed letter from Allan (Garshowitz) to Donaldson]. – June 28, 1992. – 1 p.
F.10 [Typed letter from “A” (most likely from Allan Garshowitz), of ‘Sault Ste. Marie’]. – October 8, 2009. – 2 pp.
F.11 [Correspondence from Allan Garshowitz; handwritten letter]. – July 3, 2010. – 16 pp.
F.12 Letters to Allan Garshowitz [Letters from Donaldson in response to Garshowitz’s correspondence. Bound journal of Donaldson’s transcribed letters]. – August 10, 2019 – September 3, 2021. – 2.7 cm.
F.13 [Letters from “A” (“Ai”, “the Soo”, “Algar”, pennames for Allan Garshowitz). The folders contain a collection of typed and a few handwritten letters to Donaldson. Many correspondences contain personal accounts; photocopies of photographs of pipes; academic research; and records of daily life during the pandemic. Letters arranged by Donaldson. – 1 of 10]. – 2019-2021. – 1 photograph: col., 13.5 x 21.5 cm; 2.5 cm of textual records.
F.14 [2 of 10]. – 2.5 cm.
F.15 [3 of 10]. – 2 cm.
F.16 [4 of 10]. – 2.5 cm.
Box 11
F.1 [5 of 10]. – 2.5 cm.
F.2 [6 of 10]. – 2 cm.
F.3 [7 of 10]. – 2 cm.
F.4 [8 of 10]. – 2 cm.
F.5 [9 of 10]. – 2.5 cm.
F.6 [10 of 10]. – 2.5 cm.
Box 12
F.1 Letters to Allan Garshowitz [Bound compilation of correspondence sent by Donaldson to Garshowitz]. – August 10, 2019 – September 3, 2021. – 3.5 cm.
F.2 [Letter from A, handwritten letter (most likely a letter from Allan Garshowitz)]. – January 5, 2021. – 1 p.
F.3 [Correspondence from Allan “the Soo” (Garshowitz)]. – July 11, 2021. – 3 pp.
F.4 [Final letter from Allan (Garshowitz); photocopy of typed letter]. – ca. 2021, 2022. – 1 p.
Series 4: Academic Correspondence and Awards. – 0.1 m of textual records. – 1987-2017.
The fourth series contain documents that pertain to Jeffery Donaldson’s academic correspondences, mainly with McMaster University. Series also includes flyers, pamphlets, and correspondences from various award events such as the City of Hamilton Arts Awards; CAA Award for Poetry; Atwater Poetry Project; and the Lorenzo Reading Series. Lastly, the series includes his awards.
Series is arranged in chronological order.
Note: Box 12 Files 17 and 18 are embargoed until 2050.
Box 12 [cont’d]
F.5 [Table Talk Gregor Campbell event flyer and draft poem]. – January 19, 1987. – 2 pp.
F.6 [Donalson’s notes; notebook titled “Precedents for my literary encounters theme”]. – November 1994. – 13 pp.
F.7 [Typescript of symposium lecture entitled “James Merrill: A Life in Writing”]. – November 19, 1994. – 0.5 cm.
F.8 Undergrad corr. [Correspondences; event flyers; awards from the Established Artist Recipient – City of Hamilton Arts Awards with letter from the Mayor of the City of Hamilton;
Shortlist for the 2009 CAA Award for Poetry; program for the 2008 Lorenzo Reading Series; and thank you cards from students. Donaldson’s poem “Ultra Sound” and “A Note to My Poem”]. – 2005-2020. – 1 photograph: col., 15 x 20 cm; 1.5 cm textual records.
F.9 [Hart House Library Committee presents Poetry Reading flyers]. – March 17 [?]. – 5 pp.
F.10 [Poetria Nova flyer]. – n.d. – 1 p.
F.11 [Donaldson’s “Soon-to-be Ph. D” business cards]. – n.d. – two cards.
Series 5: Family Memorabilia. – 0.2 m of textual records; 6 artifacts; 14 photographs. – ca. 1870-2015; 1970-1983 predominant.
The fifth series contain materials and mementos that once belonged to Jeffery Donaldson’s father, Harold James Donaldson, and his grandfather, William Esli Donaldson. Harold Donaldson was also interested in poetry and drawing; William Donaldson, a veteran of the First and Second World Wars, was as well.
The series also contains Jeffery Donaldson’s literary juvenilia, academic records from primary and secondary school, and some family photographs.
Series is arranged in chronological order.
Box 12 [cont’d]
F. 12 [Collection of awards and medals from Donaldson’s grandfather, William E. Donaldson, a veteran of WWI and WWII. Kept in a smaller blue box within Box 12]. – ca. 1919-1989. – 4x14 cm; 6 artifacts.
Item 1: [Collection of service medals with ribbons from WWI and WWII that belonged to William E. Donaldson. Medals include Victory Medal (Inter-Allied War Medal), Military Medal WWII, and 1939 Voluntary Service]. – ca. 1916; 1939; 1939-1945. – Each 1.5 cm in diameter; 3 medals.
Item 2: [Canadian Army Royal Canadian Regiment VRI Cap Badge. Belonged to William E. Donaldson]. – n.d. – 6 cm in diameter.
Item 3: [115th Imperial Council Session Medial–logo of Masonic/Shriners International, shaped as a coin]. – 1989. – 3.3 cm in diameter.
Item 4: [Canada military patch]. – n.d. – 2 x 5 cm.
F.13 [Scrapbook of Edgar A. Guest poems and other poems. A collection of newspaper clippings featuring Guest’s poems, compiled by Harold Donaldson. Also contains the last speech of William E. Donaldson]. – ca.1959. – 1.5 cm.
F.14 [The article “The Boys and the Leopard”, and photographs of young Jeffery Donaldson. Includes photographs of a young Jeffery Donaldson in wedding suit; portfolio photograph; and a photograph of an older Jeffery Donaldson in the army tank called Dragoon]. – ca. 1980s. – 13 photographs: col. and b&w.; 2 pp. of textual records.
F.15 [Newspaper clipping of Margaret Atwood receiving an honorary degree during Donaldson’s graduation ceremony at the University of Toronto]. – June 14, 1983. – 1 p.
F.16 [Jeffery Donaldson’s letters and postcards to his parents from abroad and some of his draft poems]. – September-November 1983; September – October 1995. – 1.5 cm.
Box 13
F.1 [‘Pal’ memorial ceremony program. Pal is the nickname of Harold Donaldson; Jeffery Donaldson signed the back of his father’s memorial program]. – June 15, 2015. – 3 pp.
F.2 [Copy of published book–George Willis. Any Soldier to His Son. Published by G. Allen & Unwin Ltd. Belonged to Jeffery Donaldson’s grandfather. No book cover, please handle it with care]. – 1919. – 0.5 cm.
F.3 [Photographs of the Donaldson family; photographs of Jeffery Donaldson with his mother, Barbara Joyce Donaldson (nèe Westfall), and father on a beach]. – n.d. – 4 Photograph: col.; 13x 17.5 cm.
F.4 [“To My grown-up son” – poem written by Harold Donaldson, father of Jeffery Donaldson]. – n.d. – 1 p.
F.5 [Jeffery Donaldson’s progress report – Grades 1 and 2]. – 1966-1968. – 5 pp.
F.6 [Parent-teacher interview notes and newspaper clipping. Academic documents from Donaldson’s childhood]. – November 3, 1968; March and June 1969. – 4 pp.
F.7 [Gosford Boulevard Public School placement card]. – September 1969. – 1 p.
F.8 Smith, L. Dwight. Why this confusion in the Temple? [Information booklet; published by the Masonic Service Association of the United States; with water damage]. – July 1970. – 1 cm.
F.9 [Early education records, including records from primary and secondary school. Also includes job evaluation]. – 1970-1979. – 1 cm.
F.10 [Water safety programme certificate]. – May 29, 1971. – 1 p.
F.11 [Various early poems]. – 1975-1977. – 1 cm.
F.12 [Poetry book]. – 1976-1977. – 0.3 cm.
F.13 [Eye-Ease Steno notebook with early creative writing]. – 1976-1977. – 0.5 cm.
F.14 [Short stories and poems]. – 1976-1977. – 0.5 cm.
F.15 [History exercise book which has Donaldson’s short stories]. – 1977. – 0.4 cm.
F.16 [“In Canada…”, handwritten poem by Donaldson]. – February 20, 1977. – 1 p.
F.17 [Graduation diploma from Huron Heights Secondary School]. – July 4, 1978. – 1 p.
F.18 [Honours graduation diploma and ceremony programme from Huron Heights Secondary School]. – July 3, 1979; October 12, 1979. – 7 pp.
F.19 [Sketches – one possibly created by Harold Donaldson or Heather Spears, two by J. Wien]. – 1983. – 3 pp.
F.20 [Jeffery Donaldson and Annette Abma wedding photographs]. – December 17, 1994. – 7 pp.; 2 photographs: col., 10 x 15 cm.
F.21 [Sermon titled “Let us go Forward Joyfull”]. – May 24, 1998. – 7 pp.
F.22 [The Order of the Burial of the Dead; with note from August 27, 1980. Published by S.P.C.K., London. Printed by Richard Clay & Sons Limited]. – ca.1870-1900. – 15 pp.
F.23 [Valentine’s Day Card. Donaldson’s card to his mother, Joyce]. – n.d. – 3 pp.
Oversize folders
Box 14
F.1 Acta Victoriana submission; large print flyers. – October 29, 1982. – 2 pp.
F.2 University of Toronto Degrees [Bachelor of Arts – Certification in English Language and Literature; Master of Arts; and Doctor of Philosophy. Also includes three convocation programs]. – 1983; 1985; 1989. – 0.5 cm.
F.3 Sanger, Peter. Bookwork [Broadside signed by author; numbered 11 of 200]. – September 9, 2004. – 31 x 47 cm; 1 p.
F.4 [Newspaper; Hamilton Spectator review clipping entitled “Pocketful of Metaphors: Poetry Book Invites Comparison” by Daniel Nolan. Donaldson’s interview on his collection of poems Granted (2023)]. – March 10, 2023. – 5 pp.
F.5 [Broadside P. Warner poem “The Owl”, published by Icehouse Poetry; Six computer printouts of Donaldson’s poem “Garden Variation: An Epithalamion for Glen and Elizabeth Gill”; photograph of Donaldson’s grandfather’s marriage certificate; photograph of a young Donaldson in his wedding suit; and a computer printout of “In Memory of a lovely man poem” by Fran]. – 1994-2012. – 2 photographs: col., 20 x 25.5 cm; 0.5 cm of textual records.
Donated books
The following eight books and journals were donated with the archive. Bibliographic records for these items are available in the Division’s Library catalogue.
Donaldson, Jeffery. Echo Soundings: Essays on Poetry and Poetics, Palimpsest Press, 2014.
Donaldson, Jeffery. Fluke Print, The Porcupine’s Quill, 2018.
Donaldson, Jeffery. Granted: Poems of Metaphor, The Porcupine’s Quill, 2023.
Donaldson, Jeffery. Momento: On Standing in Front of Art, Gordon Hill Press, 2023.
Donaldson, Jeffery. Slack Action Poems, The Porcupine’s Quill, 2013.
Donaldson, Jeffery. Viaticum from Notebooks, The Porcupine’s Quill, 2019.
Matheson, George. A Take on Pictures, Paradise North Press, 2022.
Palmeri, Joseph. A Return to the Scriptures: Critiquing the Political Theology of Man, Paradise North Press, 2023.
