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Kavanagh, P. J. (Patrick Joseph), 1931-
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John Cowper Powys miscellanea

Miscellaneous items of or relating to John Cowper Powys, comprising printed signed confirmations by Henry Barclay Swete, Regius Professor of Divinity at Cambridge, and Herbert Edward Ryle, Hulsean Professor of Divinity at Cambridge, that Powys attended a course of their lectures during 1892 and 1893, with a note by Powys's father the Reverend Charles Francis Powys; Powys's certificate of rejection from the Army Medical Board, 29 May 1918 (signed by Powys); an envelope inscribed by Powys 'Little Objects of unknown value belong to me' containing various receipts, 1919, a cheque dated 22 May 1919 made out to Powys's wife Margaret Powys, a printed calling card of Mrs T. Oatley Bennett, an envelope containing butterfly antennae (the contents noted on the envelope by Powys), and an undated newspaper cutting detailing accommodation to let; an immigration visa (as nonquota returning immigrant) dated 2 September 1924, which is signed by Powys and displays a photograph of him; a printed announcement of a testimonial dinner held in honour of Powys, 29 May 1929; a prescription note for Powys from Dr Max Einhorn of New York City to Dr C. Thomas, dated 15 March 1930, suggesting a diagnosis of excess stomach acid and possible gastric ulcer; a poem by William J. Williams ('The Catholic') entitled L'Ours' written out in Powys's hand; a watercoloured ink drawing by Powys depicting caricatures of Owain Glyndŵr, Hitler, a sea-serpent (possibly the poet Huw Owen Williams (Huw Menai), whom Powys often depicted in this guise) holding the sword Excalibur, and Powys himself (bottom left); a pocket diary for 1949 containing mainly names and addresses and memoranda, with a photograph on f. 22 inscribed on the back by Powys 'Sammy Clemens great nephew or great cousin of Mark Twain!!'; an address book, with occasional entries also by Phyllis Playter; a caricatured ink drawing of Powys and Phyllis Playter by Powys, dated 29 April 1951; a copy of Blaenau Observed A Broadcast Poem (Dock Leaves Press, 1957) by Raymond Garlick, inscribed 'Raymond Garlick 30:XII:57'; a list written on headed British Museum paper 'For John Cowper Powys, from some admirers of his genius' (comprising Museum staff and University lecturers); an invitation to attend a Buckingham Palace garden party held on 20 July 1961; an address book, with occasional entries also by Phyllis Playter; printed cards 'to his Friends' announcing that Powys would no longer be writing letters 'owing to the Physical and Mental Infirmities of Old Age'; a certificate and related material from the University of Wales, Cardiff conferring (in absentia) on Powys the honourary degree of D.Litt., July 1962; a list of household expenses in Powys's hand, showing that 'stationary & Postage' was the single greatest expense for the period in question; and a typescript copy of a radio broadcast, dated 24 May 1976, entitled A Glastonbury Romance, written and read by P. J. Kavanagh. Together with an undated poem entitled Forum Romanum by Frances Gregg, with whom Powys had a relationship prior to settling down with Phyllis Playter, and two typescript biographical pieces on the novelist, pamphleteer and physician Louis Ferdinand Auguste Destouches (Louis-Ferdinand Céline), one of which is by Powys translator Marie Canavaggia (undated) and the other by 'J. C[?anavaggia], dated June 1962.

October 2021 donation

Material by or relating to the poet, novelist and illustrator Margiad Evans (born Peggy Eileen Whistler), comprising:

Photograph (made into a postcard) of Lavender Cottage, Bridstow, near Ross-on-Wye, Margiad Evans' family home from 1921, in April 1936, which would have been around the time of her father's death. She describes it as ‘this place where I was born….yes though I came when I was twelve I was born here’ (https://www.walesartsreview.org/creed-the-lasting-voice-of-margiad-evans/)

Press cutting of letter sent by Margiad Evans to Picturegoer magazine, 20 November 1937.

Three instalments of Margiad Evans' account of her life with epilepsy, serialised in John Bull magazine, October-November 1952; together with photocopy of the text. The account was published in book form as A Ray of Darkness (Chatto & Windus, 1952). Margiad Evans developed convulsive seizures at age 41, eventually dying as a result of the brain tumour that had caused them.

Proof copy of Margiad Evans's second anthology of poems A Candle Ahead (Chatto & Windus, 1956), with manuscript corrections. Annotated on rear cover 'Unfinished', along with pencil note.

Article on Margiad Evans by P. J. Kavanagh, published in The Listener magazine, 11 November 1971.

Parables and Faxes - letters and reviews

Letters to Gwyneth Lewis from publishers, writers, academics, friends, journals (including The Poetry Society, Planet, Parnassus: Poetry in Review, The Kenyon Review, The New Republic, and Poetry Wales), agents and the Arts Council of Wales concerning the publication of her volume of poetry entitled Parables and Faxes, and in particular publicity and reviews, as well as the publication of other poems by Gwyneth Lewis, and also literary prizes other literary business, as well as personal and social matters; together with typescript, photocopied and published press reviews of Parables and Faxes, related publicity material including lists of contacts for reviews and the launch, copies of other published work by Gwyneth Lewis and interviews with her, material from Bloodaxe Books (including guidance on house style, invoices for books ordered, and catalogues), lists of poems published by Gwyneth Lewis, and related notes and press cuttings.