Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- [c.1967]-2010 (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
22 large boxes (0.638 cubic metres.) [18 boxes February 2012; 4 boxes September 2012].
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Peter Finch is an internationally known poet, writer and critic, and was born in Cardiff in 1947. He sometimes writes in traditional literary forms, but he is best known for his interest and innovation in experimental literature, especially concrete, found and sound poetry. His writing process has evolved in tandem with the forefront of technological advances, often using computers, images, sound, video, e-mail and webpages. He has published more than 25 volumes of poetry, and has also written critical works relating to poetry publishing in the UK.
Beginning in the late 1960s, Finch organised poetry readings in Cardiff and contributed to the pioneering and influential literary magazine, Second Aeon, which he edited until 1974. He was also treasurer of the Association of Little Presses from the 1970s until the 1990s, and was responsible for the Arts Council of Wales’s specialist Oriel Bookshop in Cardiff in the same period. His interest in performance poetry also led him to become a founder member of Cabaret 246 and the trio Horse's Mouth in the 1980s and 1990s. From 1998-2011 he was the Chief Executive of Literature Wales. He now spends his time writing, and also appears at many literary readings and festivals. Finch’s later work includes psychogeographies of the Severn estuary and alternative literary guides to Cardiff, including the Real Cardiff trilogy. He has received a number of awards.
Archival history
The archive remained in Peter Finch's possession until it was purchased by the Library.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Purchase; Peter Finch ; Cardiff ; February 2012 and September 2012 ; 006226778
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of Peter Finch, comprising early poetry and literature, early typescripts, manuscripts, several hundred files and note books, proofs and research for the Real Cardiff trilogy, some files about the Writers Handbook, and correspondence, together with material accumulated through his involvement with the Association of Little Presses, including fanzines, unofficial publications, and experimental and amateur publications. The archive includes many aspects of Finch’s work, notably his concrete verse, visual poetry, sound poetry, found poetry and collage poems, and it reflects his technical experimentation with poems created on typewriters, word processors and photocopy machines.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
All records donated to NLW have been retained.
Accruals
Accruals are possible.
System of arrangement
Arranged as found.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to abide by the conditions set out in information provided when applying for their Readers' Tickets, whereby the reader shall become responsible for compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998 in relation to any processing by them of personal data obtained from modern records held at the Library. = Disgwylir i ddarllenwyr sydd am ddefnyddio papurau modern yn Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru gydymffurfio â Deddf Gwarchod Data 1998 yng nghyd-destun unrhyw brosesu ganddynt o ddata personol a gasglwyd o gofnodion modern sydd ar gadw yn y Llyfrgell. Nodir y manylion yn yr wybodaeth a roddir wrth wneud cais am Docyn Darllen.
Conditions governing reproduction
Usual restrictions apply.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Preferred citation: Peter Finch Papers
Alternative identifier(s)
Alma system control number
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Finch, Peter, 1947- (Subject)
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Description follows NLW guidelines based on ISAD(G) 2nd ed.; AACR2; and LCSH
Status
Final
Level of detail
Full
Dates of creation revision deletion
May 2017
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
Sources
Archivist's note
Compiled by David Moore. The following sources were used in the creation of this description: Peter Finch's website (viewed April and May 2017); papers within the archive.