Department of Special Collections and University Archives
McFarlin Library. University of Tulsa.  2933 E. 6th St.  Tulsa, OK.  74104-3123 (OKT - OkTU)

The Anna Kavan papers

Collection 1986-003

Dates:  1903-1977.

Extent:  (20 boxes, 1 oversize box, plus oversize items).

Level of Description:  Item level.

Name of creator(s): Anna Kavan.

Date of creation:  Undetermined.

Scope and Content: 

• Series 1: Writings: consist of autograph and typescript manuscripts and manuscript fragments of short stories, novels and novellas, poetry, book reviews, and an obituary for Karl Theodor Bluth, as well as 15 manuscript notebooks and two diaries.  Arranged alphabetically by title. Short story titles appearing in collected works are cross referenced to the collected work in which they were published. Notebooks and diaries follow the manuscripts. 

• Series 2: Correspondence: consists of
  • 258 poems, notes, and sketches from Karl Theodore Bluth to Kavan, dating from 1944-1963, including undated material; 
  • 74 autograph and typescript letters and notes from Kavan to George Bullock, dating from 1945-1958, including undated letters and 3 of Bullock's journals (1940-46, 1949-1958, 1951-1954); 
  • 28 autograph letters from Kavan to Rhys Davies, dating circa 1944-1954.
  • 847 autograph and typescript letters and notes from Kavan  to Raymond Marriott, dating from 1945-1968, including undated letters; miscellaneous correspondence between various individuals and Kavan including Kavan's great aunt, Lucy Woods, 5 autograph and 5 typescript letters from Rhys Davies and Raymond Marriott to Margaret Crosland, dating from 1910-1977.

The main body of correspondence is arranged alphabetically by correspondent, and chronologically within each correspondent's collection of letters; this is followed by the miscellaneous correspondence. 

• Series 3: Photographs:  Includes photos of Kavan as a child (Helen Emily Woods), as Mrs. Donald Ferguson and Mrs. Stuart Edmonds, and finally as Anna Kavan. Included are photos of various family members such as her son (Brian Ferguson), an unidentified baby girl (of Stuart Edmonds' time period), her mother (Mrs. Hugh (Helen) Tevis), her great aunt, Lucy Woods, as well as Kavan's friends, Karl Theodor Bluth and George Bullock. 

Also included in this series are four photo albums which contain family photos as well as snapshots of Kavan and her friends while on holidays. 

• Series 4: Art Work: 49 pieces, predominantly watercolors (a few pen and ink, and 1 unframed [oil]), 4 artist's sketchbooks, and oversize and plus oversize watercolors and a framed [oil]. 

• Series 5: Personal papers include a 19th century document tracing the Woods family history; a photostat of Kavan's will; and an address book and two passports.

Administrative/Biographical History:  The papers are grouped into five series:  Writings, Correspondence, Photographs, Art Work, Personal Papers, and Richard R. Centing Addenda. It is housed in 21 document boxes and a oversize box. Art work too large for the oversize box is housed in Map Case 5:Drawer 11.

Access and Copyright:

Language and Scripts:  English.

Finding aid/Inventory:  Finding aid is available online.

Provenance/Source of Acquisition:   The preponderance of the papers were purchased from Bertram Rota Ltd., Oct 1986.  Kavan's diaries, manuscript notebooks, and correspondence (to Raymond Marriott and George Bullock), as well as a few short story manuscripts purchased from Raymond Marriott through Bertram Rota Ltd., 1978.  Materials related to My Soul in China purchased from William Reese Co., Apr, 1986.  Unpublished manuscripts of "The Parson," "Hope Deferred," and "The Words of Mercury are Harsh After The Songs of Apollo" purchased from Peter Owen, Dec 1989. 

Date(s) of description:   Milissa Burkart, Oct 1991; rev Aug 1994.

Access Points:

Subject Headings 

 
Personal names 

Corporate names

Places

Anna Kavan papers
Chronology
Series 1:  Writings
Series 2:  Correspondence

• Bluth - Davies

• Raymond Marriott (dated)

• Raymond Marriott (undated)

• Raymond Marriott (undated) - miscellaneous

Series 3:  Photographs
Series 4:  Art work
Series 5:  Personal papers