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Finding Aid to the Thom Gunn Papers, 1930-2004, bulk 1950-2004
BANC MSS 2006/235
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Table of contents
Description
The Thom Gunn Papers consist of correspondence, personal papers (diaries and scrapbooks detailing his life and career), notebooks
of poetry and prose, writings (both poetry and prose), professional papers, teaching materials, writings by other poets and
authors, and a small collection of alternative (mostly gay) newspapers.
Background
Thom Gunn [Thomas William Gunn] was born in Gravesend, England in 1929. His father, Herbert Smith, and his mother, Ann Charlotte
Thompson Gunn, were both journalists. His parents divorced when he was nine. At the age of 15, Gunn and his younger brother
Ander found their mother dead from suicide. Gunn served in the British Army for two years, from 1948 to 1950. After serving
in the army, Gunn lived in Paris for a year and began to write seriously. He then attended Trinity College at Cambridge, where
he focused on writing poetry.
Extent
Number of containers: 11 cartons, 1 box, 2 oversize boxes, 22 oversize folders, and 6 volumes
Linear feet: 19.15
Restrictions
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Head
of Public Services, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, 94720-6000. Consent is given on behalf of The
Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright
owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner. See: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/reference/permissions.html.
Availability
Collection is open for research.