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Summary Information

Repository
Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
Lilly Library
Indiana University
1200 E. Seventh St.
Bloomington, IN 47405-5500
Phone: 812-855-2452
Fax: 812-855-3143
Email: liblilly@indiana.edu

Creator
Finlay, Ian Hamilton.

Collection No.
LMC 1407

Extent
1080 items

Language
Materials are in English.

Abstract
The Finlay mss. II, 1965-1973, consists of correspondence and writings of Ian Hamilton Finlay, 1925- , poet of Stonypath, Dunsyre, Lanark, Scotland.

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research.

Biographical Note

An influential proponent of concrete poetry, Finlay moved from solely literary forms of poetry, drama, and short stories in the 1950's to kinetic forms of poetry expressed in stone, wood, neon and other tangible structures in the 1960's. Boats and boating, sails and the sea were used by Finlay to suggest poetic ideas in many of his poems such as Archangel of Archangel, Boatyard, Four Sails, The Four Seasons..., Homage to Gomringer, Little Drummer boy, The Old Nobby, Seashells, Sepia Barge and others. Sundials were used in like manner as in Arcadian Sundials, Biggar Sundial, and Land/Sea Indoor Sundial. Letters exchanged with woodcarvers, stone carvers, photographers, typographers, printers, and artists give the instructions for the creation of many of his works. A book of poems, Poems to See and Hear , was prepared especially to introduce to children Finlay's poetic concepts. During 1968 to 1971 there was much work by Films of Scotland in the preparation of the films Ocean Stripe 5 and KY 365 based on Finlay's life and poetry.

Following an agreement with the Fulcrum Press in June 1968 to publish an edition of The Dancers Inherit the Party, a controversy developed over the next several years concerning the first appearance of the work. This involved lengthy correspondence with solicitors, members of parliament, librarians, staffs of magazines, newspapers, arts councils, and literary organizations as well as close friends and poets.

Arrangement

The collection is organized into the following series: I. General Correspondence; II. Writings; III. Fulcrum Press; IV. Miscellaneous.

Scope and Content Note

The Finlay mss. II, 1965-1973, consist of correspondence and writings of Ian Hamilton Finlay, 1925- , poet of Stonypath, Dunsyre, Lanark, Scotland. Letters are exchanged with other poets, artists, architects, designers in glass, photographers, all in pursuit of the construction of his poetry in concrete form. Also included is correspondence with Fulcrum Press concerning the problems involved in the copyright of The Dancers Inherit the Party.

• Indexing Terms

• • Names
  • Finlay, Ian Hamilton.
  • Finlay, Ian Hamilton --Correspondence.
  • Finlay, Ian Hamilton. Dancers Inherit the Party.
  • Fulcrum Press.
• • Topics
  • Concrete poetry.
  • Poets, Scottish --Correspondence.

Related Material

Finlay mss.; also located at the Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.

Administrative Information