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Edward Callan Collection: Alan Paton Archive

 Collection
Identifier: 03-exws_alanpatonarchive

Scope and Contents

This archive primarily contains articles from a variety of journals, magazines and newspapers by Alan Paton and correspondence between Edward Callan and Paton, as well as Paton's wife, Anne; and son, Jonathan. It also contains correspondence between Callan, Nadine Gordimer, Albert J. Luthuli, and other prominent South African anti-apartheid activists. Many of the journal issues included in the collection are from Reality: a journal of liberal & radical opinion (1962-1992). There are also reviews of Paton's work by Callan, articles by Callan, typescripts of speeches and plays, and an audio cassette of a speech given by Paton in 1970.

Dates

  • Creation: 1920-2001; bulk 1922-1994
  • Other: Date acquired: 12/1996

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

WMU Special Collections. Non-circulating. Contact department for access.

Edward Callan Biography

Edward Callan (1917-2011) was born in Ireland and lived in South Africa for many years before emigrating to the United States in 1952. After teaching stints at Fordham and Loyola universities, he settled in Kalamazoo in 1957, teaching English at WMU until his retirement in 1983 after 26 years of service to the University.
He was an authority on the works of poets W.H. Auden and William Butler Yeats, as well as on the literature, history and politics of South Africa. He also was one of the University's most honored faculty members. In 1983, Callan was appointed a Distinguished Faculty Professor, WMU's highest faculty honor, and in 1980, he was named a Distinguished Faculty Scholar, WMU's highest scholarly award.
Callan was a bibliographer of the works of the South African author / activist Alan Paton. Apart from being a bibliographer, Edward Callan also wrote critical studies of Paton's works. Callan compiled several bibliographies on Paton's work such as Alan Paton (New York: Twain Publisher, 1968), a revised edition of Alan Paton (Boston: Twain Publishers, 1970), and a bibliography of Alan Paton in German entitled: Alan Paton (Hamburger Bibliographien) (Hamburg: H. Christians, 1970).

Extent

12 boxes : The Alan Paton Archive is housed in 12 archival boxes (approximately 5 linear feet).

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Articles, essays, speeches by South African author and anti-apartheid activist Alan Paton collected by Western Michigan University professor Edward Callan. Also contains correspondence between Callan and Alan Paton, as well as Callan and other notable South African anti-apartheid activists, such as Nadine Gordimer and Albert J. Luthuli.

Source of Acquisition

Edward Callan

Method of Acquisition

Donation.

Title
Inventory of the Alan Paton Archive of the Edward Callan Collection Finding Aid
Status
Completed
Author
Alex Weeldreyer
Date
2012-12-01
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Western Michigan University Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Western Michigan University Libraries, Special Collections
Zhang Legacy Collections Center
1650 Oakland Drive
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5307 US
(269) 387-8490