Register of the Wayne Holder papers
Finding aid prepared by Hoover Institution Library and Archives Staff
Hoover Institution Library and Archives
© 2009
434 Galvez Mall
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003
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Title: Wayne Holder papers
Date (inclusive): 1920-2007
Collection Number: 2006C39
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material: In English, Estonian and Russian
Physical Description:
7 manuscript boxes, 3 oversize boxes
(4.0 Linear Feet)
Abstract: Acquired in 2006, the papers consist primarily of correspondence, writings, and photographs relating to the history and literature
of Estonia. Of particular importance are the numerous photographs and writings in the papers that pertain to the struggle
for renewed independence for Estonia in the years leading up to the break up of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Creator:
Holder, Wayne, 1949-
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Access
The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual
or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.
Use
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Acquisition Information
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 2006.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Wayne Holder papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Biographical/Historical Note
1949 |
Born, Colorado |
1982-1983 |
With Toomas Ilves, runs The Literary Storefront, a cultural center in Vancouver, British Columbi |
1984 |
Travels to Estonia, then part of the Soviet Union. Meets with Estonian writers |
1988 |
Guest editor of
Cake, a literary journal. Issue has special section devoted to modern Estonian writing
|
1989-1990 |
Travels twice to Estonia, documents independence movement |
Scope and Content of Collection
Acquired in 2006, the Wayne Holder papers in the Hoover Institution Library & Archives consist primarily of correspondence,
writings, and photographs relating to the history and literature of Estonia. Of particular importance are the numerous photographs
and writings in the papers that pertain to the struggle for renewed independence for Estonia in the years leading up to the
break up of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Holder's interest in Estonia dates from the early 1980s, when he lived in Vancouver, B.C. and was close friends with Toomas
Ilves, an Estonian-American also living in Vancouver. Holder and Ilves collaborated on the translation of works by a number
of Estonian poets, including Marie Under. They were also for a time active in running the Literary Storefront, a cultural
center in Vancouver that hosted public readings by many authors.
Holder first visited Estonia in 1984, when it was still part of the Soviet Union, and he met with a number of Estonian writers.
He again visited Estonia in 1989 and 1990, when the independence movement there was gathering momentum, and both took and
collected numerous photographs documenting this phenomenon. He also met with various cultural figures, from established writers
to young members of the Estonian punk scene.
The
Correspondence series in the papers contains a significant number of letters from Toomas Ilves, who later repatriated to Estonia and became
that country's president, as well as from the Estonian writer, Juhan Habicht. The
Speeches and Writings series is comprised mainly of poems that reflect Holder's experiences in Estonia. The
Writings by others series consists largely of translations of works by Estonian writers. The
Photographs and
Oversize materials series contain many photographs that document the rise of the independence movement in Estonia during 1989-1990. There are
also a large number of photographs (in the
Oversize materials series) that originated in the photo services of the Union of Soviet Societies of Friendship and Cultural Relations with
Foreign Countries. These depict scenes of economic and political life in the Soviet Union, largely in the late 1970s.
The papers also contain a quantity of research materials from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and which consist of wire service
reports and articles from serial issues that relate to Estonia, Eastern Europe, and the Soviet Union. These materials were
sent to Holder by Toomas Ilves in the mid-1980s, when Ilves was head of the Estonian desk of Radio Free Europe in Munich.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into 11 series: Biographical file, Correspondence, Speeches and Writings, Notes and writing fragments,
Writings by others, Research materials, Subject file, Printed matter, Photographs, Sound recording, and Oversize materials
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Estonian literature
Estonia -- Civilization
Estonia -- Social conditions
Biographical file
1983-2007
General Physical Description note: 1
Scope and Contents note
Contains article, correspondence, and photocopies, relating to literary activities and travels of Holder, arranged by physical
form.
box 1, folder 1
Correspondence, maps of Tartu and Tallinn, and travel brochure
1983-1984
box 1, folder 2
History of The Literary Storefront, article
2007
box 1, folder 3
Passport pages and visa issued for the Soviet Union, photocopies, and letter of invitation from the Estonian Writers Union
1990
Correspondence
1983-2004
General Physical Description note: 1
Scope and Contents note
Contains letters and enclosures, arranged alphabetically by name of correspondent.
box 1, folder 8
Ilves, Toomas (Tom)
1983-1986
box 1, folder 17
Venclova, Tomas
1985-1990
Speeches and writings
1983-1991
General Physical Description note: 1-2
Scope and Contents note
Consists primarily of poems and other writings about Estonia.
box 1, folder 18
"An Age of Exile," poem
1983
box 1, folder 19
"The Astronomer's Wife," poem
1983
box 1, folder 20
"Born in Exile," poem
1984
box 1, folder 21
"Coming to Know," poem
1984
box 1, folder 23
"Dreaming on Our Feet," poem
1984
box 1, folder 25
George Orwell article
1984
box 1, folder 26
"Last Words to...," poem
1984
box 1, folder 27
"More Famous Last Words," poem
1984
box 1, folder 28
"Night Watchmen," poem
1984
box 1, folder 29
"On the Field of Mars," poem
1984
box 1, folder 30
"Revolt of the Schoolchildren," poem
1984
box 1, folder 32
"Table Talk in Tallinn," poem
1984
box 1, folder 33
"To the Flowers of Tallinn," poem
1984
box 1, folder 37
"Visit to a Small Country," poem
1984
box 1, folder 38
"Watching the Seagulls," poem
1984
box 1, folder 39
"The Word Was There Before Me," poem
1984
box 1, folder 40
"In Russian, To Be Silent Is an Active Verb," poem
1985
"The Fifteenth Official Language," Cake, vol. 2., no. 1
1988
Scope and Contents note
Issue contains a special section on Estonian literature edited by Holder
box 2, folder 1
Correspondence and typescript drafts
1988
box 2, folder 3-8
Autobiographical novel (incomplete)
1991
box 2, folder 9
To Be Remembered in the Kingdom of the Rats
1991
Notes and writing fragments
1984-1990
General Physical Description note: 2-3
Scope and Contents note
Consists of incomplete drafts of poems and notes, largely relating to Estonia.
box 3, folder 3-4
Notes and fragments
1984-1990
Writings by others
1936-1990
General Physical Description note: 3-4
Scope and Contents note
Contains original texts and translations of poems, largely by Estonian writers.
box 3, folder 6
Alver, Betti
1936-1939
Scope and Contents note
English translations by George Kurman.
box 3, folder 10
Kareva, Doris
1983-1985
Scope and Contents note
English translations by Toomas Ilves.
box 3, folder 11
Luik, Viivi
1968
Scope and Contents note
English translations by Riina Tamm.
box 3, folder 12
Rävää, Annus (pseudonym of Helmut Tarand)
1984
Scope and Contents note
In Estonian, with English translations by Wayne Holder and Toomas Ilves.
box 3, folder 14-16
Under, Marie
1958-1963
Scope and Contents note
In Estonian, with English translations by Wayne Holder and Toomas Ilves.
box 4, folder 1-2
Under, Marie
1958-1963
Scope and Contents note
(Contd.)
Research materials
1984-1992
General Physical Description note: 4-5
Scope and Contents note
Consists of wire service reports and articles, largely relating to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Eastern Europe, and the Soviet
Union.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
1984-1986
box 4, folder 6
Background reports
1984-1985
box 4, folder 7
Research bulletins
1984-1985
Wire service reports and articles from serial issues
1984-1986
box 5, folder 1-4
1985
Scope and Contents note
(Contd.)
Baltic Republics Discussion List
1991-1992
Subject File
1958-1991
General Physical Description note: 6
Scope and Contents note
Contains clippings and articles, largely relating to Estonia, Estonian literature, and the Soviet Union.
box 6, folder 3
Environment--Soviet Union
1992
box 6, folder 7
Kaplinski, Jaan
1978-1988
box 6, folder 8
Soviet Union--History
1988-1990
Printed matter
1985-1990
General Physical Description note: 6-7
Scope and Contents note
Consists of serial issues and monographs, largely relating to Estonia, Estonian-Americans, and Estonian culture.
box 6, folder 13
Esto America
1984 January-September/October
box 6, folder 14
Keel ja Kirjandus, no. 6
1988
box 7, folder 1
Siniland, Sirje, Viro Ja Venäjä
1985
Photographs
1920-1990
General Physical Description note: 7
Scope and Contents note
Consists of negatives, contact sheets, and prints, largely relating to scenes and personalities in Estonia.
box 7, folder 7
Independence movement
1989-1990
box 7, folder 8-11
Tallinn and Rocca-al-Mare
1990
box 7, folder 12
Estonian House and Estonian legation (former site), London, England
1990
box 7, folder 19
Sound recordings
1973-1983
General Physical Description note: 7
Scope and Contents note
Consists of one audio cassette of readings of Estonian poetry.
Oversize materials
1978-1990
General Physical Description note: 8-10
Scope and Contents note
Contains a poster, miscellaneous serial issues, a scrapbook of photographs taken in Estonia and compiled by Holder, and large-size
photographs depicting economic and political life in the Soviet Union.
box 8, folder 1
Holder, Wayne, scrapbook with numerous photographs depicting scenes and personalities in Estonia
1987-1990
box 8, folder 2
Kaplinski, Jaan, poster announcing publication of his book, The Same Sea in Us All
1985
box 8, folder 3
Miscellaneous serial issues
1985-1990
box 9, folder 1-4
"The USSR--A Society of True Democracy," exhibit of large-size photographs produced by the Union of Soviet Societies of Friendship
and Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, Moscow
1978
box 10, folder 1
"Socialist Economic Integration in Action," exhibit of large-size photographs produced by the Union of Soviet Societies of
Friendship and Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, Moscow
1978
box 10, folder 2
"Vladimir and Suzdal Historico-Architectural Preserve," exhibit of large-size photographs produced by the Union of Soviet
Societies of Friendship and Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, Moscow
1979