Collection of Poems by William Soutar
Scope and Contents
The collection is composed of: four bundles of poems, each simply bound, with titlesConflict,Earth,Quest, andEpigrams; 4 separate signed poems; 1 letter to William Morrison, editor ofThe Scots Observersubmitting the typescript of some poems, 1934; and, six news cuttings giving a background to his life and poetry.
Dates
- Creation: 1923-1943
Language of Materials
English.
Conditions Governing Access
Generally open for consultation to bona fide researchers, but please contact repository for details in advance.
Biographical / Historical
William Soutar was born on 28 April 1898. He was the son of John Soutar, a Perth joiner and contractor. He was educated at the Southern District School and at Perth Academy. From 1916 he served in the navy and was demobilised in 1919. Soutar then went to Edinburgh University and graduated in 1923 and it was during this period that his poetry emerged, his first collection beingGleanings by an undergraduate(1923). Soutar 'invented' the 'whigmaleerie', a poetical 'whim, a fantastical notion'. He was crippled during his life with spondylitis and was bedridden by 1930. William Soutar died of tubercolosis in Perth on 15 October 1943.
Extent
1 bound file (with 4 bundles, 4 signed poems, 1 letter, newspaper cuttings).
Physical Location
Gen 2005
Other Finding Aids
Important finding aids generally are: the alphabetical Index to Manuscripts held at Edinburgh University Library, Special Collections and Archives, consisting of typed slips in sheaf binders and to which additions were made until 1987; and the Index to Accessions Since 1987.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Material purchased from Updike, 1976, Accession no. E76.33.
Accruals
Check the local Indexes for details of any additions.
Subject
- Soutar, William, 1898-1943, Poet (Person)
- Title
- Collection of Poems by William Soutar (1898-1943)
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
heritagecollections@ed.ac.uk