Hamish Henderson Correspondence

This page offers a guide to highlights of the correspondence in Edinburgh University Library's Hamish Henderson Archive (Coll-1438).

Further correspondence is listed in Hamish Henderson Materials in Other EUL Collections, including letters from Henderson to Helen Cruickshank, Maurice Lindsay, Hugh MacDiarmid, and Tom Scott.

Correspondence with Scottish Writers

The Hamish Henderson Archive include letters from the following Scottish writers:

J. K. (James King) Annand

  • 5 letters, 1953-74 (E2013.07, Box 6, Folder 3)
  • Letter, 7 September 1966 (E2013.07, Box 1, Folder 5)

Thurso Berwick (Morris Blythman)

  • 6 letters, 1948-73 (E2013.07, Box 7, Folder 3)

Alan Bold

  • 10 letters, 1964-82 (E2013.07, Box 7, Folder 4)

George Mackay Brown

  • Letter, 8 January 1968 (E2013.07, Box 7, Folder 7)

George Bruce

  • 21 letters, 1952-68 (all in his capacity as BBC Programme Assistant/Producer) (E2013.07, Box 8, Folder 3)
  • Reference copies of 2 letters from Henderson to Bruce, 7 and 10 February 1967 (E2013.07, Box 8, Folder 3)
  • Copy of letter from Henderson to Bruce, 19 February 1968 (E2013.07, Box 8, Folder 3)

Bill Bryden

  • 2 letters, 6 and 14 September 1972 (E2013.07, Box 7, Folder 7)

Angus Calder

  • 5 letters, 1983-1994, and postcard, [1992] (E2013.07, Box 8, Folder 5)
  • Letter, 17 May 2001 (E2013.07, Box 3, Folder 3)
  • Copy of letter from Angus Calder to Larry Meyers (E2013.07, Box 8, Folder 5)

Angus Peter Campbell

  • Letter, 13 July 1984 (in his capacity as Programme Editor, Grampian Television) (E2013.07, Box 8, Folder 5)

Jo Clifford

  • Letter, 13 December 1983 (congratulating Henderson on turning down an O.B.E.) (E2013.07, Box 2, Folder 4)

Joe Corrie

  • 6 letters, 1959-68 (E2013.07, Box 9, Folder 2)

Robert Crawford

  • Letter inviting Henderson to subscribe to periodical Verse, [1984] (E2013.07, Box 9, Folder 3)

Helen B. Cruickshank

  • 19 letters and 7 cards, 1952-74 (E2013.07, Box 9, Folder 4)
  • Letter from Henderson to Cruickshank, undated (E2013.07, Box 9, Folder 4)

Catherine Lucy Czerkawska

  • 2 letters, 10 November 1974 and 4 April 1975 (E2013.07, Box 9, Folder 4)
  • Christmas Card, 1983 (congratulating Henderson on turning down an O.B.E.) (E2013.07, Box 2, Folder 4)

David Daiches

  • 4 letters, 1975-78 (E2013.07, Box 9, Folder 5)

Douglas Dunn

  • Letter, 4 March 1979 (E2013.07, Box 10, Folder 4)

G. F. (Geoffrey John Fraser) Dutton

  • Letter, 12 November 1980 (E2013.07, Box 2, Folder 6)
  • Letter, 26 July 1979 (E2013.07, Box 10, Folder 4)

Ian Hamilton Finlay

  • 12 letters, 1960-89 (E2013.07, Box 11, Folder 2)
  • Copy of letter from Finlay to William Feaver, 14 June 1978 (E2013.07, Box 11, Folder 2)
  • Copy of letter from Finlay to Timothy Neat, 1 March 1988 (E2013.07, Box 11, Folder 2)
  • Copy of open letter from Finlay to Simons Muirhead & Burton, Solicitors, and to the Legal Department of Times Newspapers, 18 November 1988 (E2013.07, Box 11, Folder 2)
  • Copy of letter from Serge Grünberg to Finlay, 8 August 1988 (E2013.07, Box 11, Folder 2)
  • 2 copies of open letter from supporters of Finlay protesting  legal action taken against him by Strathclyde Regional Council, 16 February 1988 (E2013.07, Box 11, Folder 2)

G. S. (George Sutherland) Fraser

  • 6 letters, 13 August, 1942-77 (E2013.07, Box 11, Folder 3)
  • Copies of 2 letters from Henderson to Fraser, 22 September 1965 and 3 March 1967 (E2013.07, Box 11, Folder 3)

Raymond Friel

  • Letter, 31 August 1999 (E2013.07, Box 11, Folder 4)

Robin Fulton

  • 5 letters and 1 postcard, 1970-82 (E2013.07, Box 11, Folder 4)
  • Copy of letter from Henderson to Fulton, 12 February 1970 (E2013.07, Box 11, Folder 4)

Robert Garioch

  • Letters, 3 December 1947 and 10 September 1955 (E2013.07, Box 11, Folder 7)
  • Letter, 9 November 1980 (E2013.07, Box 2, Folder 6)
  • Copy of letter of recommendation for student, 7 October 1969 (E2013.07, Box 53, Folder 1)
  • Copies of 3 letters, 2 October 1955, 12 December 1966, 25 June 1980 (E2013.07, Box 11, Folder 7)
  • Copies of 7 letters from Garioch to Alastair Mackie (E2013.07, Box 11, Folder 7)
  • Copy of letter from Garioch to Secretary, Lili Marleen Club, 3 December 1947 (E2013.07, Box 28, Folder 3)

Flora Garry

  • 7 letters, 1975-88 (E2013.07, Box 11, Folder 7)
  • Card, 9 November 1980 (E2013.07, Box 2, Folder 6)

Rody Gorman

  • 3 letters, 14 January 1986, 7 January and 16 December 1987 (E2013.07, Box 12, Folder 2)

W. S. (William Sydney) Graham

  • Copies of 2 letters, 24 January 1966 and 3 September 1981 (E2013.07, Box 12, Folder 3)

Alasdair Gray

  • Letter, 13 May 1987 (E2013.07, Box 12, Folder 4)

Sir Alexander Gray

  • 2 letters from Gray to Henderson, 7 and 19 February 1948 (E2013.07, Box 12, Folder 4)
  • Letter from Henderson to Gray, 16 February 1948 (AAF)

Stanley Roger Green

  • Letter, 4 November 1986 (E2013.07, Box 12, Folder 5)

George Gunn

  • 6 letters and 1 postcard, 1987-97 (E2013.07, Box 12, Folder 5)
  • Copy of letter, [1993] (E2013.07, Box 12, Folder 5)

George Campbell Hay

  • 3 letters , 29 March 1962, 2 March and 1 October 1983, and 1 letter from Catherine Hay, the poet’s wife, 8 April 1964 (Gen. 1733/102-105)
  • Christmas card, undated (Gen. 1733/116)
  • Letter, 23 December 1966 and undated Christmas card (E2013.07, Box 13, Folder 3)
  • Copies of 5 letters, 1962-83 (E2013.07, Box 13, Folder 3)

Tom Hubbard

  • Letter, 27 February 1986 (on behalf of Scottish Poetry Library) (E2013.07, Box 14, Folder 3)

Alexander Hutchison

  • 5 letters and 1 card, 1986-88 (E2013.07, Box 14, Folder 3)
  • Postcard, undated (but stamped 21 May 2001) (E2013.07, Box 3, Folder 2)

Alan Jackson

  • Undated letter (E2013.07, Box 14, Folder 4)

James Kelman

  • Letter, 5 March [198-?] (E2013.07, Box 14, Folder 5)

Robert Kemp

  • Letter, 28 April 1951 (in his capacity as BBC Features Producer)

T. T. Kilbucho (Tom Todd)

  • 2 letters, undated (1 incomplete) (E2013.07, Box 14, Folder 6)
  • Letter, 15 March [196-?] (incomplete) (E2013.07, Box 1, Folder 5)
  • Copy of fragment of letter (E2013.07, Box 24, Folder 6)

Alanna Knight

  • Letter, 21 February 1973 (E2013.07, Box 14, Folder 6)

T. S. (Thomas Sturdy) Law

  • 14 letters, 1967-87 (E2013.07, Box 15, Folder 2)
  • Christmas Card, 12 December 1983 (congratulating Henderson on turning down an O.B.E.) (E2013.07, Box 2, Folder 5)

Tom Leonard

  • 6 letters, 1974-86 (E2013.07, Box 15, Folder 5)
  • Christmas card, 24 December 1986 (E2013.07, Box 2, Folder 2)
  • Postcard, 6 June 1987 (E2013.07, Box 1, Folder 2)
  • Letter, undated (E2013.07, Box 2, Folder 1)

Eddie S. Linden

  • 5 letters and 2 postcards, 1971-98 (E2013.07, Box 15, Folder 6)
  • Letter (with photocopy of Guardian obituary of Alan Bold), [April 1998] (E2013.07, Box 59, Folder 1
  • Copy of letter from Eddie S. Linden and Sebastian Barker to Martin Green, 8 September 1994 (E2013.07, Box 15, Folder 6)

Maurice Lindsay

  • 3 letters, 1 October 1975, 14 November 1985, 1 February 2001 (E2013.07, Box 15, Folder 6)

Joan Lingard

  • Letter, 4 April 1983 (E2013.07, Box 15, Folder 6)
  • Letter, 17 December 1983 (congratulating Henderson for turning down an O.B.E.) (E2013.07, Box 2, Folder 4)

Bessie J. B. MacArthur

  • Letter, 28 July 1965 (E2013.07, Box 16, Folder 2)

Norman MacCaig

  • 4 letters, 1967-89 (E2013.07, Box 16, Folder 3)
  • Copy of letter from Henderson to MacCaig, 13 March 1967 (E2013.07, Box 16, Folder 3)

Alexander McCall Smith

  • Letter, 29 October 1975 (E2013.07, Box 16, Folder 3)

Ewan MacColl

  • 6 letters, 4 copies of letters, and two New Year’s greeting cards (co-signed by Peggy Seeger), 1948-85 (E2013.07, Box 16, Folder 3)
  • Postcard from Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger (congratulating Henderson on turning down an O.B.E.) (E2013.07, Box 2, Folder 5)
  • Copy of letter from Henderson to McColl, 6 March [198-?] (E2013.07, Box 16, Folder 3)

Fionn MacColla

  • Letter, 16 March 1962 (Gen. 1733/107) and copy of same (E2013.07, Box 16, Folder 7)

Hugh MacDiarmid

  • 15 letters from MacDiarmid to Henderson, 1949-70 (E84.67)
  • 6 letters from MacDiarmid to Henderson, 1957-75 (E89.90)
  • Letter from MacDiarmid to Henderson, 9 April 1958 (E93.70)
  • Copies of 8 letters from MacDiarmid to Henderson, 1951-1975 (E2013.07, Box 16, Folder 4)
  • Copies of 3 letters from Henderson to MacDiarmid, 17 March & 9 June 1970, 16 July 1972 (E2013.07, Box 16, Folder 3)
  • Copy of letter from MacDiarmid to Forbes Macgregor, 12 February 1964 (E2013.07, Box 16, Folder 3)
  • Copies of letters on MacDiarmid from Henderson to Erich Heller, 5 July 1969 and 19 March 1970 (E2013.07, Box 16, Folder 3)

John McGrath

  • 2 letters, 11 April 1973 and 18 August 1988 (E2013.07, Box 16, Folder 8)

Forbes MacGregor

  • 7 letters, 1964-72 (E2013.07, Box 16, Folder 8)

Stuart MacGregor

  • Undated letter, [1963], and copy of letter, 18 September 1961 (E2013.07, Box 16, Folder 8)

Lorn Macintyre

  • 3 letters, 9 April 1964, 18 March & 19 April 1967 (E2013.07, Box 16, Folder 8)

Moray McLaren

  • 2 letters, 31 July 1964 and 6 May 1969 (E2013.07, Box 17, Folder 1)

Allan Campbell McLean

  • 4 undated letters (E2013.07, Box 17, Folder 1)
  • Letter, 14 November 1980 (E2013.07, Box 2, Folder 6)

Duncan McLean

  • Letter, [1984?] (incomplete) (E2013.07, Box 1, Folder 1)

Sorley MacLean

  • Postcard from Renee and Sorley MacLean, 29 September 1987 (E2013.07, Box 17, Folder 1)
  • Copy of letter, 11 November 1993 (E2013.07, Box 17, Folder 1)

F. Marian McNeill

  • 2 letters, 27 March 1963 and 2 November 1967 (E2013.07, Box 17, Folder 3)
  • Letter, 17 March 1970 (E2013.07, Box 2, Folder 2)

A. D. (Albert David) Mackie

  • Letter, 2 March 1963 (E2013.07, Box 17, Folder 4)

Alastair Mackie

  • Letter from Alastair and Bet Mackie, 23 August {198-?] (E2013.07, Box 17, Folder 4)
  • Letter, 11 March [198-?] (E2013.07, Box 2, Folder 2 and Box 11, Folder 7)
  • Copies of 7 letters from Robert Garioch to Alastair Mackie (E2013.07, Box 11, Folder 7)

Gerald Mangan

  • 6 letters, 1977-81 (E2013.07, Box 17, Folder 4)

John Manson

  • 2 letters, 10 November 1981 and 5 May 1992 (E2013.07, Box 17, Folder 4)
  • Letter, 13 November 1980 (E2013.07, Box 2, Folder 6)
  • Letter, 13 December 1983 (congratulating Henderson on turning down an O.B.E.) (E2013.07, Box 2, Folder 4)

James Meek

  • Letter, [December 1983] (with translation of Russian interview with Henderson in Izvestiya on his turning down the OBE) (E2013.07, Box 2, Folder 5)

Naomi Mitchison

  • 30 letters, 8 poetic Christmas cards, and 3 postcards, [1940s-1990s] (E2013.07, Box 18, Folder 3)
  • Letter, 9 November 1980 (E2013.07, Box 2, Folder 6)

William Montgomerie

  • 7 letters, 1957-77 (E2013.07, Box 18, Folder 5)

Edwin Morgan

  • 6 letters, 2 postcards, and 1 poetic Christmas card, 1958-85 (E2013.07, Box 18, Folder 5)

David Morrison

  • 2 letters, 13 March 1968 and 19 September 1996 (E2013.07, Box 18, Folder 5)

Willa Muir

  • Letter, 16 May 1960 (E2013.07, Box 19, Folder 1)

Tom Nairn

  • Christmas Card, 13 December 1983 (congratulating Henderson on turning down an O.B.E.) (E2013.07, Box 2, Folder 5)

William Neill

  • 2 letters, 6 January 1984 and 24 April 1986 (E2013.07, Box 19, Folder 4)
  • Letter, 22 July 1983 (E2013.07, Box 1, Folder 2)

Tom Pow

  • 2 undated letters to Henderson, [ca. 1983] (E2013.07, Box 21, Folder 2)      
  • Letter to Alan Bruford, 25 April 1983 (E2013.07, Box 21, Folder 2)               

Tessa Ransford

  • 7 letters, 1984-96 (E2013.07, Box 21, Folder 4)
  • Card, [December 1983] (congratulating Henderson on turning down an O.B.E.) (E2013.07, Box 2, Folder 5)
  • Letter (incomplete, without date)  (E2013.07, Box 1, Folder 1)

Alastair Reid

  • Postcard, 24 May 1966 (E2013.07, Box 21, Folder 4)

Alan Riach

  • 6 letters and 2 postcards, 1980-88 (E2013.07, Box 21, Folder 5)

Alexander Scott

  • 5 letters, 1964-72 (E2013.07, Box 22, Folder 4)
  • Letter, 8 December 1964 (E2013.07, Box 1, Folder 3)
  • Letter, 9 October 1970 (E2013.07, Box 1, Folder 3)

Tom Scott

  • 25 letters from Scott to Henderson, 1953-84 (E2013.07, Box 22, Folder 4)
  • Copies of 9 letters from Henderson to Scott, 1964-73 (E2013.07, Box 22, Folder 4)
  • Copy of unpublished letter from Scott to The Scotsman, 18 May 1973 (E2013.07, Box 22, Folder 4)
  • Copy of letter from Scott to Otto Schönfeldt, 1 December 1972 (E2013.07, Box 22, Folder 4)
  • Transcript of letter from Scott to The Scotsman supporting Henderson’s decision to turn down an O.B.E., 13 December 1983 (E2013.07, Box 2, Folder 4)

George Scott-Moncrieff

  • Letter from W. H. Mackinlay to George Scott-Moncrieff (concerning Jeanie Robertson), 25 September 1958 (E2013.07, Box 16, Folder 8)

Burns Singer

  • 2 letters, 10 August 1961 and undated (1962?) (E2013.07, Box 23, Folder 2)

Iain Crichton Smith

  • 3 undated letters, [1960s] (E2013.07, Box 23, Folder 2)
  • Letter, 2 December 1966 (E2013.07, Box 2, Folder 2)

Sydney Goodsir Smith

  • 2 letters from Sydney Goodsir Smith, 21 November 1966 and undated (Gen. 1733/108-109)
  • Copy of letter, 21 November 1966 (E2013.07, Box 23, Folder 3)
  • 2 copies of letter of recommendation for student from Sydney Goodsir Smith (E2013.07, Box 23, Folder 3 and Box 53, Folder 1)

Ian Stephen

  • Letter, 25 October 1988 and 4 undated [1980s?] (E2013.07, Box 23, Folder

Bob Tait

  • Letters, 18 July 1972, 23 May 1974, and 2 undated (E2013.07, Box 24, Folder 5)
  • Letter, 10 November 1980 (E2013.07, Box 2, Folder 6)

Derick S. Thomson

  • Letter, 2 February 1952 (E2013.07, Box 24, Folder 5)

Gael Turnbull

  • Letter, [2001] (E2013.07, Box 3, Folder 2)

W. (William) Price Turner

  • Letter, 13 December 1995 (E2013.07, Box 25, Folder 1)

Raymond Vettese

  • Letter, 23 April 1990 (E2013.07, Box 25, Folder 1)

Kenneth White

  • 2 letters, 28 August 1985 and 10 September 1987, and 1 incomplete, undated letter (E2013.07, Box 25, Folder 4)

Douglas Young

  • 2 letters, 11 March, 1 April 1949 (E2013.07, Box 25, Folder 2)
  • Copies of 6 letters and 1 postcard, 1949-67 (E2013.07, Box 25, Folder 2)

Other Correspondence

The Hamish Henderson Archive contains a wealth of correspondence from:

  • Writers including Dominic Behan (Box 7 but also E93.34, E93.69), John Berger (Boxes 7 and 59), Charles Causley (Box 8), Alex Comfort (Box 9), Tony Harrison (Box 13), Christopher Logue (Box 15), Louis MacNeice (Box 17), Sean O’Casey (Box 20), Brian Patten (Box 20), Cesare Pavese (Box 20), Miodrag Pavlović (Box 20), Tom Pickard (Box 21), Kathleen Raine (Box 21 and Gen. 1733/106), Michael Rosen (Box 22), John Wain (Box 25),
  • Singers and musicians including Kathleen Behan (Box 7 and E93.35), Martyn Bennett (Box 7), Anne Briggs (Box 7), Shirley Collins (Box 9), Bella Higgins (Box 13), Lizzie Higgins (Box 13 and E94.74, E96.33), Jimmie MacGregor (Box 16), Rab Noakes (Box 19), Mary O’Hara (Box 20), Maddy Prior (Box 21), Jean Redpath (Box 21), Jean Ritchie (Box 21), Jeannie Robertson (Box 21), Peggy Seeger (Box 22), Pete Seeger (Box 22 and E93.32), Isla St Clair (Box 23), Belle Stewart (Box 24 and E94.75), Sheena Wellington (Box 25), and Robin Williamson (Box 25)
  • Folklorists and song-collectors including Margaret Bennett (Box 7), John Lorne Campbell (Box 8), Peter Kennedy (Box 15), A. L. ‘Bert’ Lloyd (Box 15), Alan Lomax (Box 15), Iona and Peter Opie (Box 20), Roy Palmer (Box 20), and Duncan and Linda Williamson (Box 25)
  • Figures from the world of screen and theatre including Joan Littlewood (Box 15), Dolina Maclennan (Box 17), Jonathan Miller (Box 18), and Peter Sellers (in the style of William McGonagall) (Box 22).
  • Political figures including Gordon Brown (Box 7), Robin Cook (Box 8), and Tom Driberg (Box 10).
  • Historians and cultural commentators such as Richard Hoggart (Box 14), Tom Nairn (Box 19), John Prebble (Box 21), E. P. Thompson (Box 24), Philip Toynbee (Box 24), and Raymond Williams (Box 25).

Further Details

For further details, see the Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue below.

Related Links

 

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