The content from this webpage has migrated to a new digital asset management system. You can find the digital objects at http://canlit.library.usask.ca with improved searchability and faceting!

Al W. Purdy Digital Archive

Welcome to the A.W. Purdy Digital Archive hosted by the University of Saskatchewan Special Collection Library. In 1966 the University of Saskatchewan was fortunate enough to acquire a collection of Al Purdy's work through literary agent Laurie Hill. It comprises a significant part of his early work and includes: manuscripts; drafts; journal publications; monographs; articles and reviews of his work; volumes of other poets work; personal correspondence and poems from the likes of Margaret Atwood, Milton Acorn, Earle Birney and Irving Layton; photos; vinyl cuts; and audio recordings.

The digital archive is a work-in-progress, an attempt to represent as much of this collection as possible in an online format available for all to access. Initially the site will exist as a simple repository of digitized objects divided into relevant format catagories: manuscripts, published work, correspondence, images, and audio. In addition, materials devoted to scholarship or analysis related to the collection will be included in the Analysis section. Finally, resources such as bibliographies, external links and print resources will be continually updated to provide the interested researcher with every opportunity to locate information related, in particular, to Purdy's early career.

It is our hope that over time this project will evolve to include a more comprehensive archive of digitized items and increased functionality.

A finding aid to the University of Saskatchewan Special Collections Al Purdy Collection is available in pdf format.

Click here to browse the Al Purdy collection database, or find sorted links to digized files under the navigation header links along the top of this page.