The George Bowering fonds contains records dating from his years as a student at the University of British Columbia and the nascent days of his career as a writer, through his vocational and professional development during the 1980s and 1990s, his appointments as writer in residence and Poet Laureate in the early 2000s, and following his retirement from teaching in 2001. His records reflect the full range of his activities as a writer, literary and cultural critic, public figure, teacher, family member, and also as a Canadian author of prominence and sometimes controversy. They include correspondence and memorabilia as well as manuscripts, typescripts, and proofs of many of Bowering's works, including: "Geneve," "Autobiology," "Ear Reach," "Kerrisdale Elegies," "A Short Sad Book," "Burning Water," "Shoot!," "Harry's Fragments," "Baseball Love," "The Dissolving Eye," "Left Hook," "Changing on the Fly," "Rewriting My Grandfather," and his collaborative novel, "Piccolo Mondo," as well as unpublished stories, plays and novels. It also contains material for "His Life: A Poem."
Correspondence, both professional and personal, comprises approximately half of the fonds. Many of Bowering's frequent correspondents are members of West Coast and Canadian writing communities; there is additional correspondence with well-known scholars and artists. Bowering's correspondence reveals his engagement with various literary and arts communities across the country. Noteworthy correspondents include: Milton Acorn, Margaret Atwood, Margaret Avison, Bill Bissett, Robin Blaser, Victor Coleman, Greg Curnoe, Frank Davey, Theodore Enslin, Ben Hiatt, Hugh Hood, Douglas Jones, Lionel Kearns, Joy Kogawa, Robert Kroetsch, Patrick Lane, Margaret Laurence, Irving Layton, Dorothy Livesay, Gwendolyn MacEwen, David McFadden, Barry McKinnon, rob mclennan, John Newlove, bpNichol, Malcolm Page, Al Purdy, Fred Wah, Phyllis Webb, and the Véhicule poets, as well as the American poet Robert Creeley, and Australian writers such as Elizabeth Jolley. Additionally, the fonds includes notebooks, photographs, contracts, clippings, memorabilia, diskettes, and CD-ROMs, as well as recorded readings, VHS and audiocassette tapes, and records from Bowering's teaching and radio careers, in addition to his reading tours.
The first accession (1985-4) is comprised mostly of correspondence from Bowering's relationships with his contemporaries, and also with Canadian cultural organizations, such as the Canada Council. The accession consists of eleven series: Series A: Correspondence, Series B: Works, Series C: Review of his work, Series D: Teaching, Series E: Reading Tours, Series F: Conferences, Series G: Radio Work/Interviews, Series H: Publishing, Series I: Works by other writers, Series J: Personal, and Series K: Sound Recordings.
The second accession (1999-03) records Bowering's work during the 1980s and 1990s. During this period, Bowering produced volumes of writing, including some of his most highly acclaimed works. The second accession of the fonds is comprised of the series, A: Correspondence, Series B: Works, Series C: Reviews of Bowering's Work, Series D: Teaching, Series E: Reading Tours and Conferences, Series F: Jury Work, Series G: Radio Work and Interviews, Series H: Works by Other Writers, Series I: Personal and Professional Memorabilia, Series J: Contracts, Series K: Royalties & Fees, Series L: Published Versions of Works.
The third accession (2003-10) transferred in January 2004 from the Queen's University Archives. In addition to personal correspondence and reviews of Bowering's work, this accession contains correspondence that details the publication process of "Imago," a magazine of contemporary verse published by Bowering. It contains additional manuscripts of "Mirror on the Floor," "The Silver Wire," "Rocky Mountain Foot," and "Points on the Grid."
There are eight series in the fourth accession (2003-03), and material further reflects Bowering's work as a writer. Correspondence includes letters of congratulation sent to Bowering following his appointment as Parliamentary Poet Laureate. It also contains correspondence with his first wife, Angela, and contains letters of condolence following her death. Professional correspondence, including letters of recommendation and grant applications, is mixed with personal correspondence. Writing records include manuscripts of novels, short stories, essays, papers, notebooks, poems and edited works. The fourth accession is comprised of eight series: Series A: Correspondence, Series B: Writing, Series C: Works by Other Writers, Series D: Teaching, Series E: Events and Conferences, Series F: Contracts and Royalties, Series G: Clippings, Series H: Memorabilia and Personal Files.
Much of the material that comprises the fifth accession (2006-01) was generated while Bowering was living in Port Colborne, Ontario, acting as Canada's first Parliamentary Poet Laureate, and subsequently as the writer in residence at the University of Western Ontario. Correspondence records include letters and emails that were circulated during Bowering's tenure as Poet Laureate. Notable correspondence traces the response that Bowering received following a public comment he made regarding SLAM poetry. Jean Baird managed Bowering's professional correspondence during this period, arranging his many appointments, especially those relating to public appearances and talks. Additional records include reports and project material directly related to Bowering's tenure as Poet Laureate, as well as manuscripts, journals, research material, and clippings. Letters exchanged between Angela Bowering and Sheila Watson are also included in this accession. The accession is divided into the following series: Series A: Correspondence, Series B: Writing, Series C: Writing by Others, Series D: Festivals/Events, Series E: Appointment as Poet Laureate, Series F: Memorabilia and Personal Files, Series G: Publicity, Series H: Teaching.
