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John Heath-Stubbs Collection, 1946-2000

By Emily Koelzer

Collection Overview

Title: John Heath-Stubbs Collection, 1946-2000

Predominant Dates:1964-1994

ID: COLL/587

Creator: Heath-Stubbs, John

Extent: 2.2 Cubic Feet. More info below.

Arrangement: The Published Works series is housed with the Rare Books in Heritage Hall, separate from the manuscript portion of this collection. All the materials in this collection are organized chronologically when possible.

Date Acquired: 06/05/2019

Languages: English [eng]

Abstract

The John Heath-Stubbs collection measures 2.2 cubic feet and dates from 1946 to 2000. This collection was donated by John E. Van Domelen, an English professor and Calvin College alumnus, who became acquainted with Heath-Stubbs in 1960. John Van Domelen was immediately captivated by Heath-Stubbs and his work. Van Domelen published a book of essays on Heath-Stubbs’ poetry in 1993. The materials in this collection are evidentiary of Von Domelen’s preparation for his book of essays as well as his friendship with Heath-Stubbs. The collection is composed of correspondence between Van Domelen and Heath-Stubbs, Christmas cards, a list of works that influenced Heath-Stubbs, an uncorrected proof of Heath-Stubbs’ autobiography, books and publications authored, edited, translated, and introduced by Heath-Stubbs, and essays written about Heath-Stubbs by Van Domelen.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The John Heath-Stubbs collection houses the personal papers and published works of John Heath-Stubbs. This collection, which dates from 1942 to 2000, consists of correspondence, published writings, art, advertisements, articles, and cassette tapes which evidence the later part of Heath-Stubbs’ career, preparation of John Van Domelen’s book of essays on the poetry of John Heath-Stubbs as well as the friendship between Van Domelen and Heath-Stubbs.

John Heath-Stubbs was a noted English poet, editor, and translator. This collection contains selections from his extensive bibliography and includes poems written, translated, edited and introduced by Heath-Stubbs. Some poems, such as the long Arthurian poem Artorious are published as works of their own, while other poems are published together in collections. Some of the published works are from limited prints. Some of the limited prints are signed and numbered copies. The Heath-Stubbs collection also includes a copy of The Faber Book of Twentieth Century Verse which was edited by Heath-Stubbs and David Wright. This collection contains some copies of publications in which Heath-Stubbs was published.

The Heath-Stubbs collection was donated by John E. Van Domelen and as such includes much of the correspondence sent to Van Domelen from Heath-Stubbs. The correspondence dates from 1964 to 1997. These letters exhibit the friendship between the two men and sometimes offer some insight into the professional career of Heath-Stubbs. This collection contains Christmas cards that were sent to Van Domelen from Heath-Stubbs from 1973 – 2000. Several of the cards are undated. The cards often include original poetry from Heath-Stubbs and sometimes feature paintings and drawings from other artists.

Further insight into Heath-Stubs’ literary career can be found in a list of works he considered influential. This list was written in the mid-1960s in his own hand. At this point in his life Heath-Stubbs’ eyesight had deteriorated significantly. The list may be difficult to read as a result.

This collection contains the third of 25 copies of John Heath-Stubbs’ The Twelve Labours of Hercules which is composed of twelve poems and accompanying engraved prints by Michael Amey. This collection also contains an uncorrected proof of Heath-Stubbs’ autobiography titled Hindsights.

Several works of John Van Domelen’s are included in this collection: John Heath-Stubbs. A Checklist and The Haunted Heart. Nine Essays on the Poetry of John Heath-Stubbs. Two shorter literary essays are also included in the collection.

Administrative Information

Alternate Extent Statement: 3 Boxes

Physical Access Note: Collection held in Heritage Hall; materials are not available for circulation

Acquisition Source: John E. Van Domelen

Acquisition Method: Gift

Separated Materials: The 'Published Works' series is housed with the rare book collection.

Preferred Citation: [item], folder, box, John Heath-Stubbs Collection, Heritage Hall (Hekman Library), Calvin University

Box and Folder Listing

Series 1: Manuscript
Box 1
Folder 1: Outgoing Correspondence --- 1964 - 1969
Folder 2: Outgoing Correspondence --- 1970-1978
Folder 3: Outgoing Correspondence --- 1983-1989
Folder 4: Outgoing Correspondence --- 1990-1997
Folder 5: Christmas Cards --- 1973-2000
Folder 6: Works that influenced John Heath-Stubbs
Folder 7: Uncorrected Proof of Hindsights --- 1993
Folder 8: Advertisements and Articles
Folder 9: Analyses by John Van Domelen
Folder 10: Aquarius Advertisements and Correspondence --- 1972-1998
Folder 11: Aquarius Issues 5-10 --- 1972-1978
Box 2
Folder 1: Aquarius Issues 12 - 16, 23/24 --- 1980-1988
Folder 2: Select Issues of Interim --- 1988-1996
Folder 3: Periodicals featuring John Heath-Stubbs --- 1973-1989
Loose 4: Cassette Tapes (13)
Box 3: The Twelve Labours of Hercules --- 1974
12 Poems and engraved plate drawings.
Series 2: Published Works
Item 1: Wounded Thammuz --- 1942
Item 2: Beauty and the Beast --- 1943
Item 3: The Best Poems of 1943 --- 1944
Item 4: The Divided Ways --- 1946
Item 5: New Road, No. 4 --- 1946
Item 6: Poems from Giacomo Leopardi, transl. and introduced by John Heath-Stubbs --- 1946
Item 7: The Swarming of the Bees --- 1950
Item 8: Mountains Beneath the Horizon: Poems by William Bell, edited with an introduction by John Heath-Stubbs --- 1950
Item 9: The Darkling Plain --- 1950
Item 10: Hafiz of Shiraz, transl. by Peter Avery and John Heath-Stubbs --- 1952
Item 11: Images of Tomorrow, ed. By John Heath-Stubbs --- 1953
Item 12: The Faber Book of Twentieth Century Verse, ed. By John Heath-Stubbs and David Wright --- 1953
Item 13: A Charm Against the Toothache --- 1954
Item 14: Charles Williams (Writers and their Work: No. 63) --- 1955
Item 15: The Triumph of the Muse --- 1958
Item 16: Helen in Egypt --- 1958
Item 17: The Blue-Fly in his Head --- 1962
Item 18: Charles Williams: Collected Plays, introduction by John Heath-Stubbs --- 1963
Item 19: Alexander Pope. Selected Poems, ed. By John Heath-Stubbs --- 1964
Item 20: Offprint from The Modern Churchman, Vol. VIII, No. 1, New Series, Oct. 1964: "The Use of Contemporary English," pp. 26-32. --- 1964
Item 21: John Heath-Stubbs. Selected Poems --- 1965
Item 22: Leopardi. Selected Prose and Poetry. Edited, translated and introduced by Iris Origo and John Heath-Stubbs --- 1966
Item 23: The Poetry Review, LVIII Winter 1967, 288. (JHS's poems "the beast" and "Woodstock") --- 1967
Item 24: Satires and Epigrams. --- 1968
Item 25: The Ode --- 1969
Item 26: Artorius. Book One --- 1970
Item 27: Homage to George Barker, boxed, ed. By John Heath-Stubbs and Martin Green --- 1973
Item 28: Artorius, 1973 --- 1973
Item 29: Artorius, 2nd ed. Revised and corrected --- 1974
Item 30: Burnal Charles Lane Poems, with an introduction by John Heath-Stubbs --- 1975
Item 31: Palomides through Logres, 20-26, TR, No. 3 --- 1976
Item 32: Dust and Carnations, transl. by John Heath-Stubbs and Shafik H. Megally --- 1977
Item 33: The Watchman's Flute --- 1978
Item 34: Birds Reconvened --- 1980
Item 35: Naming the Beasts --- 1982
Item 36: New Poems, Limited ed. --- 1983
Item 37: The Immolation of Aleph --- 1985
Item 38: Cat's Parnassus --- 1987
Item 39: Anyte, transl. from the Greek by Carol Whiteside and John Heath-Stubbs. --- 1985
Item 40: Collected Poems --- 1988
Item 41: Time Pieces, illus. by Emily Johns --- 1988
Item 42: A Partridge in a Pear Tree --- 1988
Item 43: A Ninefold of Charms --- 1989
Item 44: Selected Poems, Carcanet Press --- 1990
Item 45: The Game of Love and Death --- 1990
Item 46: In the Shadows. David Gray 1838-1861 introduced by John Heath-Stubbs --- 1991
Item 47: The Parson's Cat --- 1992
Item 48: Sweetapple Earth --- 1993
Item 49: Chimaeras --- 1994
Item 50: Galileo's Salad --- 1996
Item 51: The Torriano Sequences --- 1997
Item 52: At St. Pancras Station --- 2000