Call Number: Mss 216 (A.05-101)

Title: Donald K. Gordon Collection (A.J. Roden).

Dates: 1968-2003.

Extent: 0.01 m of textual records.

Biographical sketch: Donald K. Gordon was born on September 27, 1935.  He attended Calabar High School in Jamaica from 1948 to 1953. In 1969, Gordon recieved his Ph.D. from the University of Toronto in Spanish American Literature and went on to be employed by the University of Manitoba from 1970 to 2001.  Gordon became a Professor in 1984.  He retired on July 1, 2001. His publications include two books, several chapters in books and numerous articles. One notable article presented A.J. Roden's work for the first time in the North American Journal, Afro-Hispanic Review. Currently, Gordon lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and has been Professor Emeritus at the University of Manitoba since 2004.

A. J. (Alderman Johnson) Roden, “tailor poet,” was born March 28, 1893 in Jamaica, but his date and place of death are unknown. On August 14, 1911, Roden moved to Limon, Costa Rica where he was educated at a preparatory school whose headmistress was Maureen O’Shaughnessy, a graduate of Dublin University. Recognized as a good student, Roden began writing poetry at age twelve and won a scholarship to attend St. George’s College, but was prevented from attending by his father who disliked Catholicism. Instead, Roden became a tailor and set up shop in Port Limon, moving between Matina and Bataan as economic conditions necessitated. Unable to achieve his goal of publishing a collection of his poetry, in spite of gaining support from Professor Donald K. Gordon and the important Costa Rican writer Quince Duncan, Roden had a number of his poems published in local newspapers.

Custodial history: The collection was accumulated by Donald K. Gordon and donated to University of Manitoba Archives and Special Collections in 2005.

Scope and content: The collection consists of A.J. Roden's photographs, poems, as well as correspodence between A.J. Roden and D. K. Gordon.

Restrictions: There are no restrictions on this material.

Accruals: No further accruals to this collection are expected.

Finding aid: A printed finding aid is available in the Archives reading room and an on-line finding aid is available at the link below:

MSS 216 (A.05-101).