Call Number: Mss 111, Tc 69 (A.90-66)

Title: David Arnason and Wayne Tefs fonds (Canadian Writers Symposium Radio Program).

Dates: 1975-1977.

Extent: 45 audio reels.

Biographical sketch: Professor David Arnason was born in Gimli, Manitoba, in 1940. He graduated with a B.A. and M.A. from the University of Manitoba and a Ph.D. from the University of New Brunswick. He returned to join the faculty of the University of Manitoba in 1972. Arnason founded the Journal of Canadian Fiction, which he edited for several years, and was one of the founders of Turnstone Press. Among his best-known books are The Happiest Man in the World and Other Stories (1989), Fifty Stories and a Piece of Advice (1982), The Circus Performers' Bar (1984) and The Pagan Wall (1992).

Wayne Tefs obtained his B.A. at the University of Manitoba, his M.A. from the University of Toronto and his Ph.D. from the University of Manitoba. He has taught at St. John's Ravenscourt School, the University of Regina, McGill University and the University of Winnipeg. He was a founder of The Sphynx literary magazine and of Turnstone Press. He has published four novels including Figures on a Wharf (1983), The Cartier Street Contract (1985), The Canaster Players (1990) and Dickie (1993).

Custodial history: The fonds was donated to University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections by David Arnason and Wayne Tefs in 1990.

Scope and content: The fonds consists of 45 one-hour audiotaped interviews of several well-known Canadian writers. Professor David Arnason and Wayne Tefs conducted these interviews between 1975 and 1977 for the radio program Canadian Writers Symposium. Many of the interviews are distinctly biographical in nature and revealing of the life and creativity of the individual writers. A few of the interviews have been transcribed. Included are interviews of Milton Acorn, George Bowering, Paul Hiebert, Pat Lane, Daphne Marlott, W.O. Mitchell, P.K. Page, Al Purdy, William Valgardson, Adele Wiseman, and many more.

Related material: David Arnason fonds (MSS SC 171, MSS 197, PC 183).

Finding aid: Preliminary inventory available in Archives reading room.