John Newlove: : Archives & Special Collections : Libraries : University of Manitoba

John Newlove was born in Regina on June 13, 1938. His father, Thomas Harold Newlove, was a lawyer and his mother, Mary Constant (Monteith) Newlove, was a teacher. John Newlove grew up in a number of small towns in Saskatchewan, including Ituna, Yellowgrass, Lloydminster, Grenfell, Veregin, and from 1949 to 1956, in Kamsack. He graduated from the Kamsack Collegiate Institute in 1956 and spent the following year at the University of Saskatchewan.

While enrolled at university John Newlove began writing poetry and he continued his writing while employed at a variety of jobs. He worked as a high school teacher in Birtle, Manitoba, a social worker in Yorkton and in radio in Weyburn, Regina, and Swift Current. He also held numerous jobs in British Columbia and on the Prairies.

From 1960 to 1967 he lived in Vancouver from which he made many hitch-hiking trips to the prairies, Toronto, Montreal, and Chicago. He was married in 1966 to Susan Mary Phillips and had two step-children, Jeremy and Tamsin. He spent most of 1967 in eastern California and Portugese Cove, Halifax, and Wolfville, Nova Scotia. He lived in Prince George and Terrace, British Columbia, until 1970, when he moved to Toronto. The following years were spent in Quebec, Ontario and Saskatchewan in writer-in-residence appointments. In 1982 he moved to Nelson, British Columbia, and taught at the David Thompson University Centre. He lived in Ottawa in his later years.

John Newlove was the senior trade editor for McClelland and Stewart from 1970 to 1974, where he was involved in editing, budget, design and production control. He edited a variety of books, including verse, fiction, non-fiction, picture books and calendars. Books of verse by Ralph Gustafson and F.R. Scott and a novel by Rudy Weibe edited by John Newlove received Governor General Awards.

He has also consulted and/or edited on a freelance basis for McClelland and Stewart, Jonathon Jones Books, Hurtig Publishers, Thistledown Press, the Governor General's Awards Committee, the Canada Council, the Manitoba Arts Council and the Saskatchewan Arts Board.

He was the writer-in-residence at Loyola College, Montreal (1974-1975), where he consulted with students and taught two credit classes in Creative Writing. In the summer of 1975 he worked as a writer in the Communications Branch of the Office of the Prime Minister. He was the writer-in-residence at the University of Western Ontario (1975-1976), Massey College, University of Toronto, (1976-1977) and the Regina Public Library (1979-1980). All of these residencies included personal consultations, seminars, workshops, public and private readings and lectures.

From 1982-1983 he was an instructor at the David Thompson University Centre giving creative writing workshops for first, second and third year students. John Newlove also read and lectured at many universities, and literary societies throughout North America. As a freelance editor, writer, researcher in Ottawa, he did extensive work for the Office of the Commissioners of Official Languages and contracted with the Complaints Commission of the RCMP, the National Library and the Debates Branch of the Senate.

John Newlove received a Koerner Foundation Grant (1964), several Canada Council grants, the Governor General's Award (1972), The Founder's Award of the Saskatchewan Writers' Guild in 1984, the Literary Press Group Award (1988) and the Archibald Lampman Award (1993).

His poems have been published in numerous magazines and anthologies in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Chile, England, France, Belgium, Germany, Romania, India, Australia, Italy, the former Yugoslavia and Hungary.

John Newlove had thirteen chapbooks and published books:Grave Sirs (Vancouver: Robert Reid and Takao Tanabe, 1962);Elephants, Mothers & Others (Vancouver: Periwinkle Press, 1963. 31 pp.);Moving in Alone (Toronto: Contact, 1965. 83 pp.) 2nd edition (Lantzvelle, British Columbia: Oolichan Books, 1977. 88 pp.);Notebook Pages (Portfolio, Toronto: Charles Pachter, 1966);What They Say (Kitchener: Weed/Flower, 1967. 23 pp.) 2nd printing, 1968;Black Night Window (Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1968. 112 pp.);The Cave (Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1970. 85 pp.);7 Disaster, 3 Theses, and Welcome Home, Click. (Vancouver: Very Stone House, 1971);Lies (Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1973. 96 pp.);The Fat Man: Selected Poems, 1962-1972 (Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1971. 127 pp.);Canadian Poetry: The Modern Era (Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1977). editor & contributor;The Green Plain (Lantzville, British Columbia: Oolichan Books, 1981); andThe Night the Dog Smiled (Toronto: ECW Press, 1986. 78 pp.)

Newlove's poetry was most popular in the 1960s and 1970s when he and Eli Mandel were considered to be among the dominant voices of Canadian prairie poetry. John Newlove died suddenly in Ottawa on December 23, 2003. He was 65.

Return to Top

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The fonds has been arranged into 7 series. They include: Biographical Materials, Journals, Books, Anthologies, Literary Career, and Correspondence. The fonds also includes a photograph collection consisting of 84 photographs, 4 drawings, 1 slide and 271 negatives.

Return to Top

Restrictions on Access

There are no restrictions on access

Return to Top

Restrictions on Use

There are no restrictions on use.

Return to Top

Detailed Description of the Collection


BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS 1971-2000 16 folders
	Box	Folder
	1	1	The Newlove Family Tree 1971
	Box	Folder
	1	2	Biographical sketch from the League of Canadian Poets 1980
		3	Resumes 1983-1997
		4	A History of the Monteiths (Newlove's maternal family) 1984
		5	The Annotated Bibliography of Canada's Major Authors. Volume Six 1985
	Box	Folder
	2	1	Passports, business cards, and membership cards 1985-1998
		2	Biographical sketches by "Canadian Who's Who" 1987-1998
		3	Biographical sketches by various publishers 1987-1998
		4	Biographical sketch from "Who's Who in the League of Canadian Poets 1988
		5	Various certificates 1992-1994
		6	Inventory of Newlove's music collection ca.1995
		7	Newlove's music and video inventory ca. 1998
		8	List of contacts and addresses compiled by Newlove ca. 1998
		9	Inventory of Newlove's financial accounts and membership numbers ca.1998
		10	Inventory of Newlove's book, coins and antiquities, and computer programs ca. 1998
		11	Inventory of Newlove's book collection ca. 1998

Return to Top


JOURNALS 1985-1998 10 folders
	Box	Folder
	3	1	Journal 1985
		2	Journal 1986
		3	Journal 1987
		4	Journal 1988
	Box	Folder
	4	1	Journal 1989
		2	Journal 1990-1991
		3	Day Planners 1990-1992
		4	Journals 1991-1993
		5	Journals 1993-1994
		6	Journals 1994-1998

Return to Top


BOOKS 1968-1993 9 folders
	Box	Folder
	5	1	Moving in Alone 1965
		2	Black Night Window 1968
		3	The Cave 1970
		4	Lies 1972
		5	Moving in Alone 1977
		6	Dreams Surround Us: Fiction and Poetry by John Metcalf and John Newlove 1977
		7	The Green Plain 1981
		8	The Night the Dog Smiled 1986
		9	Apology for Absence 1993

Return to Top


ANTHOLOGIES 1963-1998 57 folders
	Box	Folder
	6	1	Poetry 64 1963
		2	72 New Canadian Stories 1997-1998
		3	Quarry 1973
		4	Jewish Dialog 1975
		5	Ellipse 10 1977
		6	Waves 1977
		7	The Headless Angel 1977
		8	Event: Journal of Contemporary Arts 1978
		9	Fort Sanity VI 1980
		10	Island 10 1981
		11	Island 11 1982
		12	Essays on Canadian Writing, 1982
		13	Grain 1982
		14	Island 1983-1984
		15	Windscript 1983
		16	Zest 1983
		17	Zest 1983
		18	Zest 1983
		19	Grain 1983
		20	Writing 8 1984
		21	Poetry Agenda Calendar 1984
	Box	Folder
	7	1	Canadian Literature 1985
		2	De Tweede Ronde: Canadees nummer 1985
		3	The Capilano Review 1985
		4	Grain 1986
		5	The Malahat Review 1986
		6	The Malahat Review 1986
		7	The Kingfisher Book of Comic Verse 1986
		8	Arrivals-Canadian Poetry in the Eighties 1986
		9	Descant 53 1986
		10	A Sudden Reliance: Saskatchewan Poetry 1987
		11	Verse 1987
		12	Quarry-General Issue 1987
		13	Grain 1987
		14	Quarry-Fiction Issue, 1987
	Box	Folder
	8	1	The Malahat Review 1988
		2	The Macmillan Anthology 1988
		3	The Second Macmillan Anthology 1988
		4	Capital Poets: An Ottawa Anthology 1989
		5	Spiegel vande Engelese poezie uit de gehele wereld 1989
		6	The Malahat Review 1989
		7	A Labour of Love-An Anthology of Poetrty on Pregnancy and Childbirth 1989
		8	Singularities 1990
		9	La Verde Piana 1990
		10	Grain 1990
		11	Quarry-Fortieth Anniversary Issue 1991
		12	Antologia n.4 1991
		13	Poetry Alive: Perspectives 1991
		14	Loon Lake Reflections and Meditations 1991
	Box	Folder
	9	1	Lives and Works 1992
		2	Inscriptions: A Prairie Poetery Anthology 1992
		3	Canadian Ethnic Studies 1996
		4	Canadian Literature 1995
		5	The Malahat Review 1996
		6	Uncommon Wealth: An Anthology of Poetry in English 1997
		7	Gorillas on the Dance Floor and Other Poems from the First 100 PGIs- Penned by the Petro-Canada Laureates of the Peter Gzowski Invitational Golf Tournaments for Literacy 1997
		8	Written in the Skin-A Poetic Response to Aids 1998

Return to Top


LITERARY CAREER 1964-1998 63 folders
	Box	Folder
	10	1	The Collected Poems of Earle Birney 1975
		2	Canadian Poetry-The Modern Era 1977
		3	Language and Society, No. 19 1987
		4	Language and Society, No. 23 1988
		5	Canada Made Me 1993
	Box	Folder
	11	1	Selected poems by Earle Birney- edited by Newlove. includes correspondence. ca.1969-1978
		2	Selected Poems 1977
		3	Fall by Fury 1978
		4	Fall by Fury Other Markings 1978
	Box	Folder
	12	1	Collected poems ca.1981
		2	Silk Trail 1985
		3	Short stories by Charles Haines edited by Newlove 1987
		4	Poems 1989
		5	The Guest Touches Only Those Who Prepare 1990
		6	Burning Store 1994-1995
		7	Comments by Newlove regarding written test for writer/editor position 1998
	Box	Folder
	13	1	The Several Masks of John Newlove: A Study of the Confressional and Non-Confessional Poetic Stances of John Newlove 1975
		2	Everyone Leans, Each On each Other: Words for John newlove on His Fiftieth Birthday 1988
		3	Replacing - p. 256-280. 1980
		4	John Newlove and His Works 1980
		5	Essays on Canadian Writing, No.2. p. 9-53. 1975
		6	Grain, Vol.XIV, No.2. p. 5, 56. 1986
		7	The Capilano Review, No.32 1983
		8	Writers News, Volume II, No.1 1979
	Box	Folder
	14	1	Drafts and photocopies of poems. 1964-1993
		2	Drafts of essays. 1968-1989
		3	Drafts of poems- no titles. ca.1970-1986
		4	Short stories ca.1970-1980
		5	Published poems. 1971-1994
		6	Poems and writing excerpts, includes drafts. 1981-1998
		7	Draft Quatrains. ca.1986
		8	Winner Take All ca. 1991
		9	Drafts of two poems for Leonard Cohen tribute. Includes correspondence. 1993
		10	Apology of Absence-Selected Poems 1993
	Box	Folder
	15	1	Miscellaneous notes and research materials. 1965-1998
		2	Royalty statements from published works. Includes correspondence. 1980-1995
		3	List of writing references. ca. 1985-1995
		4	Royalty statements from Public Lending Right Commission. 1986-1998.
		5	Research materials-Lexicon. ca. 1990
		6	Collection of literary quotes. ca.1994
	Box	Folder
	16	1	Books in Canada, 1983
		2	The Porcupine's Quill, 1993
		3	The Porcupine's Quill, 1996
		4	Brick-A Journal of Reviews, 1982
		5	The Literary Press Group, 1982
		6	The Literary Press Group Catalogue, 1982
		7	The Poetry review-Journal of Canadian Poetry, 1986
		8	Essays on Canadian Writing, 1988
		9	The Antigonish Review 95, 1993
		10	Quarry 27/2, 1978
		11	The Rideau Review, 1987
		12	Quarry 27/1, 1978
		13	Canadian Literature, 1983
		14	The Malahat Review, 1986
		15	Rubicon, 1987
		16	Brick 19, 1983
		17	Saturday Night, 1982
		18	Camrose Review, 1981
	Box	Folder
	17	1	Articles, references to, and commentary about Newlove. 1969-1995
		2	Announcements and references to Newlove and his poetry. 1972-1998
		3	Reviews of Newlove's work. Includes correspondence. 1980-1993
		4	Literary reviews by Newlove. ca. 1985-1987
		5	Reviews and commentary about Newlove and his work. 1988-1996

Return to Top


CORRESPONDENCE 1966-1998 127 folders
	Box	Folder
	17	6	Nelson Ball (Weed/flower Press) 1966-1984
		7	John Taggart 1966-1967
		8	Arthur (A.G.) Smith 1966-1967
		9	Bobby Byrd 1966-1998
		10	Carlos Reyes 1966-1967
		11	John Gill 1966
		12	Irving Layton 1966-1989
		13	Margaret Atwood 1966-1995
		14	Michael Ondaatje 1966-1067
		15	Charles Pachter 1966-1967
		16	Miscellaneous correspondence 1966-1986
		17	George Bowering 1967-1991
		18	Lee Harwood 1967
		19	Ralph Gustafson 1967
		20	Anselm Hollo 1967
		21	Harbourfront Reading Series 1968
		22	Newlove's mother n.d.
		23	Miscellaneous correspondence n.d.
	Box	Folder
	18	1	Frank R. Scott 1972-1981
		2	Personalized Chapbooks and reading announcements by various poets. 1972-1993
		3	Susan Newlove 1976-1998
		4	Peter Milroy 1979-1991
		5	Foster Parents Plan. Includes photographs. 1979-1998
		6	John Metcalf. Includes related newsclippings. 1979-1998
		7	Barry McKinnon 1979-1995
		8	The Canada Council 1980-1991
		9	The League of Canadian Poets. Includes a photograph. 1981-1988
		10	Patrick Lane 1982-1998
		11	Michael Keefers 1982-1985
		12	Al Moritz 1982-1985
		13	Correspondence relating to requests fro Newlove to participate in literary readings, workshops, and lectures. 1982-1992
		14	Health and Insurance 1983-1998
		15	Saskatchewan Writers Guild 1983-1995
		16	Art catalogue sent by Pierre Coupey 1983
		17	Harry Hill 1984-1994
	Box	Folder
	19	1	Correspondence with various literary organizations. 1985-1998
		2	Jeremy Gilbert 1985-1998
		3	Greg Cook 1985-1994
		4	Job inquiries and responses. Includes C.V. 1985-1998
		5	Grain 1985-1990
		6	The Council of Canadians 1985-1987
		7	Correspondence regarding permission to use Newlove's poems. 1986-1997
		8	Correspondence relating to Newlove's work with the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages (OCOL),Government of Canada. Includes samples of work. 1986-1989
		9	Robert Bringhurst 1986-1989
		10	Jack McClelland 1986-1987
		11	W.M. Hoffer 1986-1987
		12	Earle Birney 1986
		13	Sid Marty 1986-1996
		14	George Johnston 1986-1991
		15	Colin Morton 1986-1994
		16	Ken Norris 1986-1997
		17	Rienzi Crusz 1986-1991
		18	Hazelle Bergstrom 1986-1987
		19	Peter Cummings 1986-1987
		20	Connie Rooke 1986-1988
	Box	Folder
	20	1	Brian Fisher 1986-1998
		2	Joe Rosenblatt 1986-1998
		3	Mike Estok 1986
		4	Invitations to literary events. 1986-1995
		5	Archeveche de Sherbrooke 1986
		6	Correspondence concerning literary awards. 1986-1995
		7	Richard Bennett and the University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections 1986-1998
		8	Caroline Heath 1986-1990
		9	A.W. Purdy. Includes Chapbook. 1986-1994
		10	Farley Mowat 1986
		11	Eli Mandel 1986
		12	ECW Press 1986-1997
		13	McClelland and Stewart Publishers 1986-1996
		14	The Quarry Press 1986-1991
		15	Correspondence with students 1986-1995
		16	Allan Safarik 1986-1995
		17	Barney Childs 1986-1994
		18	Glen Sorestad 1986-1998
		19	Miscellaneous correspondence relating to Newlove's book, map, music, and coin collections. 1986-1989
		20	Selected Poems 1987
		21	The Big Life Painting 1987
		22	Correspondence relating to Newlove's role as Juror for various literary selection committees 1987-1995
		23	Tim Struthers 1987-1988
		24	Svend Robinson 1987
		25	Cancopy 1987-1996
		26	Hugh Hood 1987-1992
		27	Les Editions du Ble 1987
	Box	Folder
	21	1	League of Canadian Poets. Includes newsletters. 1987-1988
		2	Miscellaneous correspondence 1987-1989
		3	Various contracts between Newlove and the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages 1987-1997
		4	Correspondence with newspapers, magazines, and listservs 1987-1998
		5	Leon Rooke 1988
		6	Wayne State University Press 1988
		7	Correspondence regarding appointment of Michael harris as Writer in Residence 1988-1989
		8	Hakluyt Society 1988-1994
		9	Society for the History of Discoveries 1989-1991
		10	Tamsin Gilbert and family 1989-1997
		11	Zoe Landale 1989-1995
		12	Carla Comellini 1989-1996
		13	Festival of the/des Arts 1989
		14	Various correspondence relating to Newlove's book, map, music, and coin collections 1990-1994
	Box	Folder
	22	1	Miscellaneous correspondence 1990-1998
		2	Correspondence relating to newlove's work with the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages 1990-1994
		3	Paul Wolf 1990-1998
		4	Festival franco-anglais de poesie 1990
		5	Bulletin of the Asia Institute. Includes newsletter. 1990-1991
		6	Ontario Arts Council 1990
		7	Ed and Judi Jewinsky 1990-1998
		8	The Champlain Society 1991-1997
		9	Oolichan Books 1992-1993
		10	Turnstone press 1992
		11	Le Groupe Ville-Marie Literarature 1992-1993
		12	Writer's Union of Canada 1993-1994
		13	Susan Musgrave 1993-1994
		14	Endre Farkas 1993-1997
		15	Malaspina College 1993-1998
		16	Rob Mclennan 1993-1998
		17	Allan Rock 1994-1995
		18	The Writers' Union of Canada. Includes newsletters. 1994-1996
	Box	Folder
	23	1	J. Michael Yates 1994-1998
		2	Correspondence regarding Newlove's book, map, music, and coin collections 1995-1998
		3	Request by Canadian Ethnic Studies Journal for article on Doukhobors 1995
		4	Correspondence relating to Newlove's work with the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages 1995-1998
		5	Summary of e-mail correspondence 1996-1998
		6	Miscellaneous e-mail messages 1996-1998
		7	Sheila Copps 1996
	Box	Folder
	24	1	Miscellaneous faxes 1997-1998
		2	Robert McTavish 1998
		3	University of manitoba Archives & Special Collections 1998
		4	Copyediting of Rob McLennan manuscript. Includes correspondence. 1998
		5	Janet Hughson 1998
		6	Address and Phone directories ca.1980-1990
		7C	Financial and Housekeeping Records-Tax Returns and Banking Statements. RESTRICTED 1984-1998

Return to Top


PHOTOGRAPHS 1962-1995 10 folders
	Box	Folder
	1	1	Various photographs of Newlove, including one contact sheet. 1972-1989
		2	Newlove with stepchuldren Jeremy and Tamsin Gilbert 1967
		3	Publicity shots and photographs from various readings. Includes two sketches. 1969-1988
		4	Two sketches by Joe Rosenblatt 1974-1975
		5	Photographs of prints by Ric Gomez 1983
		6	Susan Newlove ca.1974-1990
		7	Various photographs of family, friends, and co-workers ca. 1985-1995
		8	Deer Springs, California 1962-1970
		9	Photographs of friends, family, and home ca. 1970-1995
			Moving in Alone n.d.

Return to Top