Finding aid for the Ian Hamilton Finlay papers, 1948-1992 890144
Lesley Walker and Jocelyn Gibbs.
Special Collections
1998
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1100
Los Angeles 90049-1688
Business Number: (310) 440-7390
Fax Number: (310) 440-7780
reference@getty.edu
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections
Title: Ian Hamilton Finlay papers
Creator:
Cutts, Simon, 1944-
Creator:
Duncan, Ronnie
Creator:
Finlay, Ian Hamilton
Creator:
Gardner, Ian
Creator:
Murray, Graeme
Creator:
Stanford, Derek
Creator:
Torok, Karl
Identifier/Call Number: 890144
Physical Description:
10 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1948-1992
Abstract: This collection details the career and work of Scottish concrete poet/artist, Ian Hamilton Finlay. It includes manuscripts,
correspondence, printed materials, garden designs, photographs, project files, clippings, catalogs, and other materials related
to his work, his family, colleagues, friends, and the controversies that surrounded him. Materials collected by Simon Cutts,
publisher of the Coracle Press.
Physical Location: Request access to the physical materials described in this inventory through the
catalog record for this collection. Click here for the
access policy .
Language of Material:
English
.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Ian Hamilton Finlay archive provides a record, through letters, manuscripts and printed pieces, of the work of the Scottish
concrete poet, garden designer and controversialist.
The collection primarily contains printed works by Finlay: mail art cards, pamphlets, posters and broadsides, and small books,
most printed at his Wild Hawthorn Press, 1958-1989, and correspondence, 1948-1993, with friends, collectors, and fellow artists
such as Derek Stanford (1948-1952), Simon Cutts (1968-77), Ronnie Duncan (1978-1986), Graeme Murray (1972-1988), Karl Torok
(1972-1977). Manuscripts, maquettes, dummies and models for projects, 1963-1989, with photographs and transparencies of early
and abandoned works and works in progress, 1965-1989, document the creation of a range of his projects, mostly printed works.
Reviews and press clippings of Finlay's "polemical affairs, wars and battles," along with printed works he created while fighting
his battles, illustrate the dispute over the publication by the Fulcrum Press of his "The Dancers Inherit the Party," his
dispute with the local authorities over the designation of his "garden temple" as an art gallery, and the controversy accompanying
Finlay's commission, subsequently revoked, to design a bicentennial garden at Versailles, 1969-1989. Also included in the
archive are catalogues and invitations for exhibitions, contributions by Finlay to magazines, books and exhibition catalogues,
and critical writings by others on Finlay.
Arrangement note
The papers are organized in 7 series:
Series I: Correspondence 1948-1992;
Series II: Manuscripts and mock-ups;
Series III: Project Files of Art Work and Ensuing Controversies;
Series IV: Finlay's Printed Cards;
Series V: Photographs, 1967-1989;
Series VI: Published Materials: by and about Finlay;
Series VII: Oversize printed pieces, by Finlay
Biographical/Historical Note
Ian Hamilton Finlay is a Scottish artist best known for his concrete poetry, his gardens which incorporate poetry and sculpture,
and his penchant for controversy. He was born in 1925 in the Bahamas. His family returned to Scotland when he was a child
and he was, briefly, educated there. He left school at 13, and served in the army (RASC) beginning in 1942. After WWII, Finlay
began to write short stories and poetry. His first publication was
The Sea-Bed and Other Stories (1958); his first book of poems,
Dancers Inherit the Party, was published in 1960 (republished by the Fulcrum Press in 1969).
In 1961 Finlay founded the Wild Hawthorne Press (with Jessie McGuffie). The press published contemporary artists, although
it increasingly concentrated on the work of Finlay, in innovative and kinetic forms. In 1962 Finlay started the periodical,
Poor. Old. Tired. Horse. Edited by Finlay, the title comprised 25 issues when it ended in 1968.
It was during the early 1960s that Finlay turned from rhymed poetry to concrete poetry. 1963 marked the publication of his
first collection of concrete poems,
Rapel, and his first poem/card,
Standing Poem I. He participated in the First International Exhibition of Concrete and Kinetic Poetry, held in Cambridge in 1964, and the
ICA's exhibit,
Between Poetry and Painting, in 1965.
In 1966 Ian and Sue Finlay settled at Stonypath (in the southern uplands of Scotland) and began building their famous garden.
They turned one of the buildings on their ca. 4 acre site into a gallery. This subsequently became the Garden Temple, and
the source of Finlay's battles with the Strathclyde Region Council when they refused to give him a rate exemption for a religious
building. Finlay's protracted skirmishes with the Scottish Arts Council began in 1978 and became known as the Little Spartan
War. (Stonypath was renamed Little Sparta.) This "war" included several "battles" between the SAC and the group of Finlay
supporters known as the Saint-Just Vigilantes. These and other battles have been memorialized in Finlay's printed and sculptural
works. Finlay was shortlisted for the Turner Prize in 1985.
Acquisition Information
Acquired in 1989.
Preferred Citation
Ian Hamilton Finlay papers 1948-1992, The Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles, Accession no. 890144.
http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa890144
Access
Open for use by qualified researchers.
Publication Rights
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Photographic prints
Poetry -- Periodicals
Artists books -- Scotland
Gardens -- Design
Concrete poetry, English
Posters
Mail art
Transparencies
Cutts, Simon, 1944-
Finlay, Ian Hamilton
Correspondence, Series I.
1948-1992
Physical Description:
4 box(es)
Scope and Contents note
Arranged chronologically. Includes some printed items and photographs.
box 1, folder 1-11
Correspondence,
1948-1972
box 1, folder 1
Finlay to Derek Stanford,
1948-1952
Scope and Contents note
Some fragments, photocopies.
box 1, folder 2
Finlay to Derek Stanford,
1948-1952
Scope and Contents note
Some fragments.
box 1, folder 3
Finlay to Simon Cutts,
1968
box 1, folder 4
Easter greetings from Finlay,
1969
box 1, folder 5
Finlay to Simon Cutts and Ian Gardner, Stuart Mills, and others,
1970
box 1, folder 6
Finlay to Simon Cutts, Ian Gardner and Karl Torok,
1971
box 1, folder 7
Finlay to Simon Cutts, Ian Gardner, Graeme Murray, Tom Clark and Karl Torok,
Jan-Jun 1972
box 1, folder 8
Finlay to Simon Cutts, Ian Gardner, Graeme Murray, Stuart Mills and Karl Torok,
Jul-Dec 1972
box 1, folder 9
Finlay to Tom Phillips, Graeme Murray, Karl Torok, Simon Cutts, and others
Jan-May 1973
box 1, folder 10
Finlay to Tom and Laurie Phillips, Graeme Murray, Karl Torok and Simon Cutts,
Jun-Aug 1973
box 1, folder 11
Finlay to Tom Phillips, Ian Gardner, Graeme Murray, Karl Torok and Simon Cutts,
Sep-Dec 1973
box 2, folder 1-9
Correspondence,
1974-1976
box 2, folder 1
Finlay to Tom Phillips, Graeme Murray, Karl Torok, Anne and Ian Gardner and Simon Cutts,
Jan-Mar 1974
box 2, folder 2
Finlay to Tom Phillips, Graeme Murray, Karl Torok and Simon Cutts,
Apr-May 1974
box 2, folder 3
Finlay to Tom Phillips, to and from Graeme Murray, Karl Torok and Simon Cutts,
Jun-Dec 1974
box 2, folder 4
Finlay to and from Tom Phillips, Graeme Murray, Karl Torok, Stuart Mills and Simon Cutts,
Jan-Jun 1975
box 2, folder 5
Finlay to Tom Phillips, Graeme Murray, Karl Torok, Ronnie Duncan, the Gardners (Ian and Ann) and Simon Cutts,
Jul-Dec 1975
box 2, folder 6
Finlay to and from Simon Cutts, Karl Torok, Ronnie Duncan, Ian Gardner, Graeme Murray and Tom Phillips,
Jan-May 1976
box 2, folder 7
Finlay to and from Ronnie Duncan, Ian Gardner, Simon Cutts, Graeme Murray and Tom Phillips,
Jun-Aug 1976
box 2, folder 8
Finlay to Ian Gardner, Ronnie Duncan, Simon Cutts, Graeme Murray and Tom Phillips,
Sep-Dec 1976
box 2, folder 9
Finlay to Simon Cutts, Tom Phillips, Karl Torok, Graeme Murray and Clark,
Jan 1977
box 3, folder 1-10
Correspondence,
1977-1981
box 3, folder 1
Finlay to Simon Cutts, Tom Phillips, Karl Torok, and Clark,
Feb-Aug 1977
box 3, folder 2
Finlay to Simon Cutts, Tom Phillips, Karl Torok, Ronnie Duncan and Clark,
Sep-Dec 1977
box 3, folder 3
Correspondence between Finlay and Ronnie Duncan, and to and from Graeme Murray,
Jan-Jun 1978
box 3, folder 4
Correspondence between Finlay and Ronnie Duncan, and with Tom and Laurie Phillips,
Jul-Dec 1978
box 3, folder 5
Finlay with Ronnie Duncan, Clark, and Ian Gardner,
Jan-May 1979
box 3, folder 6
Finlay with Ronnie Duncan and Clark, Graeme Murray,
Jun-Dec 1979
box 3, folder 7
Finlay to Ronnie Duncan, Ian Gardner and Clark,
Jan-Jul 1980
box 3, folder 8
Finlay with Ronnie Duncan and Clark, also Graeme Murray and Ian Gardner,
Aug-Dec 1980
box 3, folder 9
Finlay with Ronnie Duncan, Graeme Murray, Ian Gardner and Clark,
Jan-May 1981
box 3, folder 10
Finlay to Ronnie Duncan, Graeme Murray, Ian Gardner and Clark,
Jun-Dec 1981
box 4, folder 1-20
Correspondence,
1982-1989
box 4, folder 1
Finlay to Ronnie Duncan, Graeme Murray and Clark,
Jan-Jul 1982
box 4, folder 2
Finlay to Ronnie Duncan, Graeme Murray and Clark,
Aug-Dec 1982
box 4, folder 3
Finlay to Ronnie Duncan and Graeme Murray,
1983
box 4, folder 4
Finlay to Ronnie Duncan and Graeme Murray,
1984
box 4, folder 5
Finlay to Graeme Murray, Ronnie Duncan, Clark and Pindar,
Jan-Jun 1985
box 4, folder 6
Finlay to Graeme Murray, Ronnie Duncan, Clark and Pindar,
Jul-Dec 1985
box 4, folder 7
Finlay to Ronnie Duncan, Clark, Simon Cutts and Graeme Murray,
1986
box 4, folder 8
Finlay to Clark and Graeme Murray,
Jan-Jun 1987
box 4, folder 9
Finlay to Clark and Graeme Murray,
Jul-Dec 1987
box 4, folder 10
Correspondence between Finlay, Grame Murray and Simon Cutts,
1988
box 4, folder 11
Correspondence between Finlay and Simon Cutts,
1989
box 4, folder 12
Finlay to Simon Cutts,
1992
box 4, folder 13
Finlay to Ian Gardner,
undated
box 4, folder 14
Finlay to Ian Gardner,
1991-1993
box 4, folder 15
Sue Finlay to Ian Hamilton Finlay
box 4, folder 16
Sue Finlay to Stuart Mills
box 4, folder 17
Correspondence between Manson and Graeme Murray,
1978
box 4, folder 18
Letters from Ronnie Duncan to Finlay
box 4, folder 19
Letters from Richard Aaron to Ronnie Duncan
box 4, folder 20
Envelopes of letters to Ronnie Duncan, from Ian Hamilton Finlay
Scope and Contents note
Most of the envelopes have stamped slogans on them.
Manuscripts and mock-ups, Series II.
undated
Physical Description:
1 box(es)
Scope and Contents note
Arranged by titles.
box 5, folder 7
Homage to Walter Reekie's
box 5, folder 9
Sketch of Fountain Design
box 5, folder 10
Preliminary Sketch of Carrier Sculpture
box 5, folder 20
A New Arcadian Dictionary
box 5, folder 22
Notes on a Finlay bibliography
box 5, folder 27
Study for Talisman & Signifiers
box 5, folder 28
Reflections on the French Revolution
box 5, folder 31
Mock-up for a Temple of Bara
box 5, folder 34
Detached Sentences on Lanes and Stiles
box 5, folder 35
Allotements: manuscripts and maquettes
box 5, folder 36
Allotements: manuscripts and maquettes 2
box 5, folder 37
Various mock-ups for cards and pamphlets
box 5, folder 38
Design & photographs of a "Popoffka"
Project files of art work and ensuing controversies, Series III.
ca. 1969-ca. 1992
Physical Description:
3 box(es)
Scope and Contents note
Printed matter, clippings, some photographs.
box 6, folder 2-3
Coincidence in the Work of Ian Hamilton Finlay,
1980
box 6, folder 5
Flyers for Two Exhibitions,
1981-1982
box 6, folder 6
Talisman & Signifiers,
1984
box 6, folder 7
Talisman & Signifiers: photographs,
1984
box 6, folder 9
Reflections on the French Revolution,
1985
box 7, folder 1
Fulcrum Affair,
1969-1977
box 7, folder 2
Scottish Art Council Battle,
1978-
box 7, folder 3
Coracle Battle,
1977-1978
box 7, folder 6
First Battle of Little Sparta,
1983
box 7, folder 7
Little Spartan Wars
Scope and Contents note
Pamphlets and flyers.
box 7, folder 8
Scottish Art Council Battles,
1980-1983
box 7, folder 10
French Wars 1, aka the Versailles Battle,
1987-
box 8, folder 4
Signatures in support of Finlay's Versailles Project
box 8, folder 5
"A Walled Garden" (photocopy)
box 8, folder 6
Newspaper clippings,
1969-1975
box 8, folder 7
Newspaper clippings,
1977-1982
box 8, folder 8
Newspaper clippings,
1983-1986
box 8, folder 9
Newspaper clippings,
1987-1989
box 8, folder 10
Newspaper clippings,
1989
box 8, folder 11
Photocopies of articles about Finlay
box 8, folder 12
Articles about Finlay,
1985-1992
box 8, folder 13
"Garden on the Hill"
ARTS Magazine,
Feb 1990
Scope and Contents note
Finley's article.
Finlay's printed cards, Series IV.
ca. 1963-1992
Physical Description:
2 box(es)
ca. 1 lin. ft.
Scope and Contents note
Printed matter, primarily printed cards, arranged in rough chronological order. Simon Cutts supplied the card dates given.
Includes bookplates, also watercolors and notebooks.
box 10, folder 7
Invitation Cards,
1990-1992
box 10, folder 8
Invitations to gallery openings
box 10, folder 10
Cartier exhibition cards,
1987
box 10, folder 11
"The Atlantic Wall," including eight original watercolors by Ian Gardener
box 10, folder 12
Notebooks by Finlay
Physical Description:
2 vols.
Photographs, Series V.
1967-1989
Physical Description:
2 box(es)
Scope and Contents note
Images of Finlay's work. Black-and-white photographs and color transparencies, arranged chronologically. Most items are black-and-white
photographs, unless otherwise stated.
box 11, folder 2
Stonypath and surroundings,
1968
Physical Description:
4 photographs
box 11, folder 7
The Four Seasons in Sail,
1968
box 11, folder 8
Lochan Eck,
1969
Physical Description:
2 photographs
box 11, folder 9
Cloud poem,
1969
Physical Description:
1 color transparency
box 11, folder 9
The Cloud's Anchor,
1967
Physical Description:
1 color transparency
box 11, folder 9
One Orange Arm,
1976
Physical Description:
1 color transparency
box 11, folder 9
Wave/Rock,
1969
Physical Description:
1 color transparency
box 11, folder 9
KY,
1969
Physical Description:
1 color transparency
box 11, folder 9
Unidentified,
undated
Physical Description:
1 color transparency
box 11, folder 9
Azure + Son,
1970
Physical Description:
1 color transparency
box 11, folder 9
Le Circus,
1964
Physical Description:
1 color transparency
box 11, folder 9
Marine,
1968
Physical Description:
1 color transparency
box 11, folder 10
The Gallery, Stonepath,
1969
box 11, folder 11
Arc/Ark,
1969
Physical Description:
2 photographs
box 11, folder 12
Purse-Net Poem,
1969
Physical Description:
3 photographs
box 11, folder 13
The Boat's Blueprint,
1969
box 11, folder 16
Installation, Dunfermline Park,
1969
Physical Description:
5 photographs
box 11, folder 17
The Pond, Stonypath,
1970
box 11, folder 20
Homage to Watteau,
1976
Physical Description:
5 photographs
box 11, folder 21
Three Ceramic Tiles,
1977
Physical Description:
1 color transparency
box 11, folder 22
Eternelle Action du Paras,
1977
Physical Description:
1 color transparency
box 11, folder 23
SF Box,
1979
Physical Description:
2 photographs
box 11, folder 24
Dryads (The Seasons),
1980
box 11, folder 25
Triumphal Arch,
1980
Physical Description:
1 color transparency
box 11, folder 26
Unnatural Pebbles,
1981
Container Summary: 4 photographs and negatives
box 11, folder 27
Demonstration at the Scottish Arts Council,
1982
Physical Description:
20 photographs
box 11, folder 30
Talisman & Signifiers,
1984
Physical Description:
28 photographs
box 12, folder 1
Talisman & Signifiers,
1984
Physical Description:
2 color photographs
box 12, folder 2
Oak/Rock,
1984
Physical Description:
1 color transparency
box 12, folder 3
No. 4 of Talisman and Signifiers,
1984
Physical Description:
1 color transparency
box 12, folder 4
Anagramatical Bust: Saint Just,
1985
box 12, folder 5
The Words We Have Spoken,
1985
box 12, folder 6
Schweitzergarten,
1985
Physical Description:
2 photocopies
box 12, folder 7
Italy Casts a Shadow,
1977
Physical Description:
1 color transparency
box 12, folder 7
In Revolution,
1980
Physical Description:
2 color transparencies
box 12, folder 7
Ehrentempel,
1980
Physical Description:
1 color transparency
box 12, folder 7
Three Sails,
1972
Physical Description:
1 color transparency
box 12, folder 7
Japanese Stacks,
1979
Physical Description:
1 color transparency
box 12, folder 7
Installation, ARC Paris,
1987
Physical Description:
1 color transparency
box 12, folder 7
Arrosoir,
1984
Physical Description:
1 color transparency
box 12, folder 7
Two Tree Plaques,
1985
Physical Description:
1 color transparency
box 12, folder 7
Homage to Finlay,
1987
Physical Description:
1 color transparency
box 12, folder 8
Tree Plaques,
1986
Physical Description:
11 photocopies
box 12, folder 10
L'Idylle des Cerises,
1986
box 12, folder 11
Vitruvius/Augustus,
1986
Physical Description:
4 photographs
box 12, folder 12
Marat Assasiné,
1986
Physical Description:
1 color transparency
box 12, folder 13
A Shaded Path,
1987
Physical Description:
1 color transparency
box 12, folder 14
Installation, "Homage to Finlay,"
1987
Physical Description:
4 color transparencies
box 12, folder 15
Installation, Foundation Cartier,
1987
Physical Description:
3 poraroids
box 12, folder 16
Guillotine Blades,
1987
Scope and Contents note
Color transparencies.
box 12, folder 17
Inscribed Altar Stone,
1987
Physical Description:
4 color transparencies
box 12, folder 18
The Versailles Project,
1987
Physical Description:
13 items
Scope and Contents note
Maquette, twelve transparencies.
box 12, folder 19
The Garden, Little Sparta,
1987
Physical Description:
8 photographs
box 12, folder 20
A Country Lane,
1988
Physical Description:
34 photographs
box 12, folder 21
The Desmoulin Connection,
1988
Physical Description:
1 color transparency
box 12, folder 22
Inter Artes Et Naturam,
1988
box 12, folder 23
Inter Artes Et Naturam,
1988
Physical Description:
3 color transparencies
box 12, folder 24
The Garden Temple and Pond, Little Sparta,
1989
box 12, folder 25
First Gallery at Stonypath with works installed,
ca. 1970
Physical Description:
5 photographs
Published Materials: by and about Finlay, Series VI.
ca. 1974-ca. 1992 undated
Physical Description:
10 box(es)
ca. 5 lin. ft.
Scope and Contents note
Printed works, ephemera, articles, journals, objects, and other documents.
box 13, folder 2
Price list for Finlay's work
box 13, folder 3
"Art, Power and Anxiety" by David Reason
1988
box 13, folder 4
Draft of an essay by Yves Abrioux
box 13, folder 5
Articles on Finlay's work
box 13, folder 6
Articles on Finlay's work,
1988
box 13, folder 7
Articles on Finlay work,
1984-1988
box 13, folder 8
Articles on French Wars,
1985-1988
box 14
Maquette of 30 Ovals by Ian Hamilton Finlay and Ian Gardener
Scope and Contents note
Also included are the 30 matted illustrations which comprise the book and 5 postcards of the same illustrations.
box 15
Anthologies and journals
Scope and Contents note
Contain poems by Ian Hamilton Finlay as well as articles analyzing his poetic practices (19 items).
box 16
Small books and pamphlets that either contain Finlay's work or are dedicated to it
Scope and Contents note
Of particular interest are the few examples of Finlay's Wild Hawthorne Press pamphlet-poems. Also included are several issues
of the New Arcadian Journal as well as four numbers from the Tarasque Press. (36 items)
box 17
Journals
Scope and Contents note
Contain articles about Finlay's artistic production (16 items)
box 18
Journals,
1990
Scope and Contents note
Contain articles about Finlay's artistic production. Two anthologies which contain a play and short story by Finlay as well
as Ian Hamilton Finlay: printed works by the Victoria Miro Gallery (12 items).
box 19
Ephemera for Finlay's exhibitions,
Scope and Contents note
Art objects: Arcadian Glider, Butterfly Garden bookmarks, Board Wargame for Two Players, Twine Art with Inscriptions.
box 20
Art objects
Scope and Contents note
5 pins (to wear) with inscriptions, and one mobile.
box 21
"A Proposal for a Tree-Plaque," "Proposal for a Pair of Gate Piers and Finials" and one posterboard
box 22
Art object: sweatshirt with a Finlay illustration and inscriptions
Oversize printed pieces, by Finlay, Series VII.
ca. 1967-ca. 1969 undated
Physical Description:
2 box(es)
ca. 1 lin. ft.
Scope and Contents note
Posters, prints, and broadsides.
box 23, folder 1-14
Posters, prints and broadsides
box 23, folder 6
3 items
Scope and Contents note
Ulysses was here, Classical landscape, Apollo & Daphne after Bernini
box 23, folder 7
6 items
Scope and Contents note
Archangel of Archangel, Sailing barge redwing, Scottish Zulu, Catameringue, Semi-idiotic poem, Errata
box 23, folder 8
5 items
Scope and Contents note
Family group, Stationary, Seashells, Fauve poem, Glossary
box 23, folder 9
1 item
Scope and Contents note
poster: KY115
box 23, folder 10
1 item
Scope and Contents note
poster: 'star, steer'
box 23, folder 11
1 item
Scope and Contents note
poster: 'acrobats'
box 23, folder 12
1 item
Scope and Contents note
'8 pages from Headlines Evelines,' Openings Press, 1967, a portfolio #49 of 50.
box 23, folder 13
1 item
Scope and Contents note
Jargon 68/69 calendar with poems by Finlay
box 23, folder 14
2 items
Scope and Contents note
'WHP 70,' copies 55 and 66 of an edition of 70
box 24, folder 1-7
Posters, prints and broadsides
box 24, folder 1
'Un espace parlé: a spoken space,'
Scope and Contents note
Also, record album (without record) + printed booklet of contents, and several photocopies of letters, lists.
box 24, folder 2
7 items
Scope and Contents note
Includes partial copy of 'Six proposals for the improvement of Stockwood Park Nurseries. . .'
Posters, prints and broadsides
