SAMPLE DESCRIPTIVE INVENTORY

NEW CALEDONIA COMMUNITY ARCHIVES

Justin Albert Smythe fonds, 1902-1964.

Accession No: 987.024

Location: A-13, A-14

Prepared by: Annie Andrews
12 April 1993

JUSTIN ALBERT SMYTHE fonds. - 1902-1964 (predominant 1930-1964). - 2 m of textual records.

Smythe was born in Red Deer, Alberta in 1900. He was the son of Albert and Maria Smythe, who were leaders of the Anglican Church in Alberta. The family moved to New Caledonia in 1913, and Smythe was educated at Caledonia Heights High School and Interior Community College. He graduated from the University of Toronto in 1925 with a B.A. in English Literature. In 1927, he married Janet Caldwell, a biologist from Ottawa. They returned to New Caledonia in 1930, and Smythe established the New Caledonia Times newspaper. He remained editor of the newspaper until his death in 1964. Smythe served as a war correspondent in Egypt from 1939 to 1942. He was a poet and author, and won several awards for his work, including the Northern Canada Award in 1933 for his poem "And on to Glory"; the Jacob Ritter Award for Adventure Fiction in 1955; and the Canadian Press Award for excellence in print journalism in 1962. Justin and Janet Smythe had seven children. Justin died in New Caledonia in 1964, and Janet died in Ottawa in 1986.

The fonds consists of correspondence, journals, manuscripts, newspaper articles and clippings. The records include extensive information aboutjournalism and literary writing in New Caledonia and in Canada. Correspondents include journalists Hugo White, William B. Jenner, and Stewart Potter; and authors Morley Fellows and Anna Dexter.

Title based on the contents of the fonds. Donated to Archives by son, Andrew Justin Smythe, in 1987. Some restrictions apply to correspondence with Anna Dexter. Inventory available: No. 987.024.

1 . Professional correspondence. - 1924-1929. - 80 cm.

The series consists of correspondence between Smythe and other writers and publishers, including members of the New Caledonia Times, the literary journal Araxis, the Allan and James Publishing Company, and the journalists' Association of Canada. The correspondence is arranged alphabetically by name.

2. Personal correspondence. - 1929-1964. - 20 cm.

The series consists of correspondence between Smythe and his wife, his friend Anna Dexter, parents, children, friends and acquaintances. The correspondence is arranged chronologically by date.

3. Journals. - 1932-1934, 1939-1942. - 5 cm.

The series consists of two journals kept by Smythe. The first documents his daily activities in New Caledonia, 1932-1934. The second documents the time he spent in Egypt, 1939-1942.

4. Manuscripts. - 1930-1964. - 70 cm.

The series consists of Smythe's literary writing, and includes poetry, articles, songs, plays and novels. The manuscripts are arranged chronologically by date.

An index of titles is available in Appendix A.

5. Newspaper articles and clippings. - 1950-1963. - 20 cm.

The series consists of a research collection of newspaper articles and clippings regarding journalism and literature in Canada. The files are arranged alphabetically by subject.

A file list is available in Appendix B.

 

APPENDIX A: Index of Manuscript Titles
Acc No. 987.024

TITLES BOX NO./FILE NO.
The Bastion of Front Street Box 8/File 5-6
Bell Ringer in the Moonlight Box 4/File 10
Cariboo Rush Box 4/File 1-6
Chance Meeting Box 7/File 1
The Dark Dawn Box 4/File 11-12
Fire and Reason Box 6/File 12-16
The Machine Age Box 6/File 11
Nanaimo Uprising Box 6/File 5-10
O Remember Box 5/File 7-9
Ode to the Sea Box 6/File 12
Princess Royal Pioneers Box 6/File 1-4
The Sea Has Tides Box 7/File 2-4
Silent Dreamer Box 5/File 1-6
Spike City Box 4/File 13-17
The Tiger of Desire Box 7/File 6-10
The Timber Bush Saga Box 5/File 14-17
The Tramp Box 7/File 5
Two Rivers Box 8/File 1-4
When the West was Won Box 4/File 7-9

 

APPENDIX B: File List of Newspaper Articles and Clippings

Acc. No. 987.024

FILE TITLE BOX NO./ FILE NO.
Communication Box 1/File 1-5
Information Age Box 1/File 6-10
Journalists, A-F Box 1/File 11 -14
Journalists, G-P Box 1/File 15-16
Journalists, Q-Z Box 1/File 17-25
Literary Theory Box 2/File 1-9
Psychology Box 2/File 10
Technology Box 2/File 11-20
Writers, A-0 Box 2/File 21-25
Writers, P-Z Box 2/File 26-35

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