KEYES, Sidney Arthur Kilworth (1922-1943)

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 2121 Keyes
Held at	: University of Greenwich   Click here to find out how to view this collection at http://www2.gre.ac.uk/ ›
Full title	: KEYES, Sidney Arthur Kilworth (1922-1943)
Date(s)	: 1920s-1943
Level of description	: Collection (fonds)
Extent	: 1 file
Name of creator(s)	: Keyes | Sidney Arthur Kilworth | 1922-1943 | poet

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

Keyes was born in Dartford in 1922, the son of an army officer. He was brought up largely by his grandfather and was educated at Dartford Grammar School, Tonbridge School and at Oxford University. He began to write poetry whilst at school, and at Oxford became friendly with the poet John Heath-Stubbs. He joined the army in 1942 as a lieutenant in the West Kent Regiment. He was killed in action in Tunisia during a raid on 19th April 1943. He was awarded the Hawthornden Prize posthumously in 1944.
Publications: Co-editor with Michael Meyer, Eight Oxford Poets (1941), which contains some of his own work; The Iron Laurel (1942); The Cruel Solstice (1943); Collected Poems (1945) with a Memoir by Michael Meyer.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Papers of and relating to Sidney Keyes, 1920s-1943, comprising correspondence relating to an exhibition of his work at Dartford Grammar School; press cuttings and reviews of his work;

letters of condolence on Keyes' death, including from Vita Sackville-West, [1943]; letters by Keyes, 1931, 1941-1943; examination certificates, including from Queen's College, Oxford; letters relating to Keyes' manuscripts; bills and financial papers; papers relating to the War Graves Commission; memorial service, [1943]; letters from Keyes to Michael Meyer, John Heath-Stubbs and Herbert Read; manuscripts of poems and plays, [1930s-1942]; loose typescripts; notebooks containing essays written whilst at Tonbridge School including some poetry; folder of work returned by the Royal Airforce;

reminiscences of Sidney Keyes by Alistair Dennis Goodwin; letters from Keyes to J D Fage, 1938-1942; photographs, manuscripts and notebooks of Keyes, [1930s]; photocopies of papers of Keyes from the British Library, including letters to Milein Cosman, 1941-1942;

photographs of Sidney Keyes, including portraits and groups whilst in the army, [1942-1943]; in plays, 1938; his gravestone; as a child and at Dartford Grammar School, 1920s; books of poetry by Keyes; books, magazines and periodicals of poetry by other poets.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

The papers are arranged as follows: Press cuttings/reviews; letters of condolence; letters and personal documents; manuscripts; books; Mr Meyer's files and folders; Various donations; miscellaneous /photos etc.

Conditions governing access:

Researchers wishing to consult the archives should contact Ann Murphy, Head of Information Services, University of Greenwich

Conditions governing reproduction:

Photocopying is permitted at the discretion of the Librarian.

Finding aids:

A list is available at the University of Greenwich Archives.

Archival Information

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Donated to the University of Greenwich from several sources, including the Keyes family.

Allied Materials

Related material:

A Manuscript poem entitled 'Ulster soldier', 1942, by Keyes is held at University College London (reference: MS ADD 60).

National Register of Archives: Click here to view NRA record

Publication note:

Description Notes

Archivist's note:
Sources: The Oxford Companion to English Literature Margaret Drabble (Oxford University Press, 1995) from xrefer website: http://www.xrefer.com/entry/372014. Compiled by Julie Tancell as part of the RSLP AIM25 project.

Rules or conventions:
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal Place and Corporate Names 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions:
August 2002