The papers of British writer A. L. Barker reflect her literary life as a novelist, short story writer, free-lance writer, BBC sub-editor for
The papers are arranged in four series: Series I. Works and Related Material, 1940s-1990s; Series II. Correspondence, 1946-1998; Series III. Career-Related Material; and Series IV. Personal.
Series I. Works and Related Material, 1940s-1990s, is divided into Subseries A. Writings, and Subseries B. Works-Related Material. Arranged in alphabetical order, drafts or page proofs of novels in Subseries A include
Other writings in Subseries A. include story sketches, poems, and reviews from the 1940s; a typescript transcription of Stella Benson's letters to Laura Hutton that Barker sought to have published; a contribution on George Eliot for
Subseries B. Works-Related Material, contains primarily notes for her writing, and research on such topics as photography, plants, themes, quotes, and writers and writing. Barker was a prolific scribbler of ideas on scraps of paper and this subseries contains a substantial number of these notes.
Series II. Correspondence, 1946-1998, is divided into Subseries A. Literary, arranged chronologically; and Subseries B. Personal, arranged alphabetically. The literary correspondence includes letters to and from Barker's agent Jennifer Kavanagh, publishers, the BBC, and literary societies. The personal correspondence includes a small amount of Barker's outgoing correspondence, as well as letters from Sybille Bedford, John Brathy, Penelope Fitzgerald, Jane Gardam, Mary Hocking, Francis King, Pauline Neville, and Isobel Quigly, among others.
The career-related material in Series III reflects her literary activities with organizations such as the Cheltenham Festival of Literature, Lumb Bank, and the English P.E.N., as well as readings and judging for literary awards such as the Katherine Mansfield Prize and the Silver P.E.N. Award. Barker's receipt of the inaugural Somerset Maugham Prize in 1947, and nomination for the 1970 Booker Prize, are also represented.
Series IV. Personal, contains address books, biographical information, a long run of daybooks from 1955-1998, family papers, BBC-related employment material, divorce decree, membership cards, and photographs.
Purchase, 2003 (Reg. no. 15201)
Open for research
Liz Murray, 2004
Audio cassettes received with the papers, including Barker's public readings and BBC broadcasts, were transferred to the Ransom Center's Sound Recordings collection.
Sound Recordings were transferred to the Ransom Center's Sound Recording collection and are
described individually in a list at the end of this finding aid and in a