Series No. 1

Personal. -- 1939-1992. -- 22 cm of textual records

Scope and content: This series contains personal correspondence between David Walker and his family and friends as well as magazine and newspaper articles by various individuals about Walker and his literary career. A few letters are from book publishers and from movie producers interested in making films based on Walker's novels. Much of the correspondence is incoming. Some communications are with Willa Walker.

The series consists of 2 subseries: 1) correspondence, and 2) biographical information.

Subseries 1, correspondence includes correspondence from friends -- members of The Black Watch and former prisoners of war -- and family members as well as a few letters from Lord and Lady Wavell. Letters from friends discuss Walker's posting to France (1940), regimental activities, wartime experiences, his decision to emigrate, personal news, and political and social conditions in post-war Europe and late 1940s India. Communications from Walker's father, brothers, sister, brother-in-law, aunt, nephews, and children discuss his writings and accomplishments as well as family matters. The Wavell letters discuss Walker's writing career, Lord Wavell's activities, family, and friends as well as the writing and revision of Walker's article about Wavell.

In addition to published magazine articles, subseries 2, biographical information contains booklets, a citation, and newspaper clippings relating to Walker's friends, his family home in Scotland, his writing awards (Governor-General's award for fiction), his honourary degree from U.N.B., and his recreational activities. It also includes a few communications with publishers and texts of several speeches which he probably wrote or delivered.

File arrangement of subseries 1 is alphabetical by name of correspondent; file arrangement of subseries 2 is random.

Title based on contents of series.

Additional communications with former prisoners of war as well as information about Walker's wartime experiences are located in series 2, prisoner of war.

A few letters from family members are located in series 3, subseries 2, agreements and correspondence.

Biographical information is also located in series 3: subseries 1, correspondence and subseries 2, agreements and correspondence (books and films).

Series 3, subseries 5, articles (non-fiction) includes drafts and published copies of articles by Walker which offer information about his early life, his career in The Black Watch, his method and style of writing, his friendship with Lord Wavell, and his decision to emigrate to Canada.



Series No. 1, Subseries No. 1

Correspondence

BOX NO. 1
Files:

1. Colonel W. D. Arbuthnott (The Black Watch) about Neil Blair, 1988-89

2. The Black Watch (members and former members) 1940-81 (includes a brief history of The Black Watch)

3. Colonel Neil Blair of The Black Watch, 1948-88 (includes article by DHW published in The Red Hackle about Blair and their years in The Black Watch).

4. Lady Dunn/Lady Beaverbrook, 1958; 1967

5. Lords John and James Elphinstone, 1950; 1985; 1990; n.d.

6. General Sir Bernard Fergusson (The Black Watch and P.O.W., later Lord Ballantrae) 1948-50, 1976 (includes copy of his obituary)

7. Mrs. Halstead Freeman (includes correspondence with The Atlantic Monthly about submissions from Walker) 1948-49

8. Sir. Martin Gilliat (former P.O.W. and private secretary to Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother) 1947-49; 1972-90

9. David Hanton (gamekeeper, Cortachy) and Sandy Miller (Angus Reservoir manager) 1980-89, n.d.

10. Adrian House (editor with Collins) 1994

11. Major Colin MacKenzie of Farr, M.E., M.B.E. (P.O.W.) 1949-58, 1974-91, n.d.

12. Prisoners of war (former) 1945, 1983-90

13. Hugh Richardson (brother-in-law of DHW) 1984-89

14. General Sir Neil Ritchie (The Black Watch) 1978-82

15. Robin Scott and Johnny Gifford, 1939-40

16. Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau (and his agents) 1972-84

17. UNB Presidents Colin B. Mackay and Robin Armstrong about honourary degree, 1955; 1993

18. Viceroy's Staff (India) 1947-48 (includes letter from Lord Mountbatten)

19. I.A. Walker (aunt of DHW) 1948-58

20. Walker family members, 1949-58; 1976-89 (include funeral service sheet for DHW's brother Sir William Giles Newsom Walker)

21. Archie John Wavell, n.d. (includes articles and news about the Wavell family)

22. Lady Eugenie Wavell, 1950-57, n.d.

23. Lord and Lady Wavell, Archie John Wavell, and friends of Wavell family 1946-65 (includes copy of Order of Service in Memory of Field Marshall Earl Wavell, articles about Lord Wavell, drafts of his speeches, obituary, and booklet, "Arms and the Man")

24. Various individuals (including David Niven; Darryl Zanuck of Twentieth Century-Fox; Jud Kinberg of Blazer Films; Hugh MacLennan; and Ken Hermon, P.O.W.) 1938, 1950-58, 1965-81, 1987-91

25. Various individuals (including Brian Bartlett, The Montreal Gazette and readers of Walker's work) 1948, 1968, 1976-80

26. From India - Umar Din, bearer, and Hato, artist responsible for drawing in Giles's nursery at Strathcroix, 1947-48

27. About Lord Tweedsmuir's illness and death, 1939-40; 1950

28. About invitations to functions (declined) 1954, 1989

29. About moving to Canada, 1946-48

30. Application for gardener and caretaker for Strathcroix (some letters in German)


Series No. 1, Subseries No. 2

Biographical Information

BOX NO. 1
Files:

31. Article, Saturday Night, 29 November 1952 "Canadian Writing: '52" (includes note about DHW)

32. Article about DHW, Canadian Tractor Farming, "Close to the Soil With Eye to the Sea", 1958

33. Article about DHW "By the By...." by Joan Ganong, The Atlantic Advocate, October 1958

34. Article, John O'London's, "Living Writers: New Series, 2. David Walker" by John Barrows (1961)

35. Article about DHW, Wilson Library Bulletin, vol. 37, no. 4, December 1962

36. Article (note) about Willa and David Walker, The Atlantic Advocate, July 1969

37. Article about DHW, The Australian Women's Weekly, "Visiting His P.O.W. Pals: It's David Walker, of 'Geordie' fame", 9 July 1969

38. Articles about DHW (includes one by Hugh MacLennan)

39. Articles (newspaper clippings) about DHW (includes biographical sketch and review of Winter of Madness)

40. Article about Lord Wavell (published in Times, June 1980) by Lord Ballantrae

41. Booklet about Pitlair House, the Walker family home in Scotland (includes Walker genealogical information)

42. Booklet, "The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews" [Scotland]

43. Citation for honourary degree from U.N.B., 1955 (includes copy of Walker's letter to U.N.B. president Colin B. Mackay, 23 March 1955)

44. Newspaper clippings about winning Governor General's award for fiction

45. Obituary of Sir Douglas Bader (P.O.W.)

46. Obituary of DHW in The Red Hackle (The Chronicle of The Black Watch -- Royal Highland Regiment) April 1992

47. In Memorium - DHW (resolution published in 1992 annual report of Roosevelt Campobello International Park Commission)

48. Sheet Music - "Songs of the Hebrides"

49. Speeches and opinions 1947, 1969, 1975, n.d.

50. Tribute to DHW on his 80th birthday by granddaughter Anna K. Walker

51. Sketches (original) of elephants (4)


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