Collection Summary
Okigbo, Christopher, 1932-1967
Christopher Okigbo Papers
1955-1967
Manuscript Collection MS-54144
4 document boxes (1.68 linear feet), 1 galley folder (gf)
Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin
The Christopher Okigbo Papers contain
poetry, correspondence and other related materials of the Nigerian poet, including works by
other Nigerian poets, authors, and scholars.
English and Igbo
Scope and Contents
Poet Christopher Okigbo was born in the Anambra State in Nigeria in 1932. He graduated from
the Univarsity of Idadan in 1956 and worked as a librarian, teacher, editor and publisher.
He published three volumes of poetry before his death in 1967 fighting for Biafra in the
Nigerian Civil War:
Heavensgate (1962), Limits (1964), and Silences
(1965).
The Christopher Okigbo Papers contain poetry, correspondence, and other related materials
of the Nigerian poet, including works by other Nigerian poets, authors, and scholars. The
papers are arranged in three series: I. Works, 1959-1966; II. Correspondence, 1957-1966; and
III. Other Related Materials, 1955-1967. Series I is further divided into two subseries: A.
Poetry and B. Acknowledgements, Introductions, and Other Book Elements. Additionally, Series
III is divided into three subseries: A. Reference Materials, B. Personal and Professional
Activities, and C. Works by Others. Many of the papers are in fragile condition and show
signs of insect or other damage. Special handling my be required.
Acquisition:
Purchase, 2019 (2019-01-003-P)
Access:
Open for research. Some materials restricted due to fragile condition; digital facsimiles
are available. Researchers must create an online Research Account and agree to the Materials
Use Policy before using archival materials.
Use Policies:
Ransom Center collections may contain material with sensitive or confidential information
that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Researchers
are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living
individuals represented in the collections without the consent of those individuals may have
legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may
arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed
highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the Ransom Center and The University of
Texas at Austin assume no responsibility.
Restrictions on Use:
Authorization for publication is given on behalf of the University of Texas as the owner of
the collection and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder
which must be obtained by the researcher. For more information please see the Ransom
Centers' Open Access and Use Policies.
Preferred Citation
Christopher Okigbo Papers (Manuscript Collection MS-54144). Harry Ransom Center, The
University of Texas at Austin.
Processed by:
Christine Bethke, 2019
Related Material
Related Materials at the Harry Ransom Center are located in the Amos Tutuola Collection,
the Robert M. Wren Collection, the Charles R. Larson Papers, the Transcription Centre
Collection, and the Commonwealth Arts Festival Records.
Okigbo materials are present at Harvard University's Houghton Library. Additional
information on Okigbo is available from the Christopher Okigbo
Foundation
Container List
Series I. Works 1959-1966
Subseries A. Poetry
1.1
Dance of the Painted Maidens, typed drafts, undated
1.2
Dance of the Painted Maidens / Distances, handwritten fragments and
doodles, undated
1.3
Distances, handwritten and typed drafts, undated
1.4
Elegy of the Waters, typed fragments, undated
1.5
Elegy of Twilight, New Society Perspectives Journal of African Literature,
typed draft, undated
1.6
Four Canzones, handwritten and typed fragments, undated
1.7
Heavensgate, handwritten fragments, undated
1.8
Labyrinths, typed draft preliminary pages, undated
Limits
1.9
Typed verse draft, undated
1.10
Handwritten and typed draft fragments, undated
Path of Thunder
1.11
Typed verse drafts, 1964-1966
1.12
Handwritten and typed draft fragments, undated
1.13
Typed table of contents, 1965-1966
1.14
Three typed drafts, 1965
1.15
Silences, handwritten and typed drafts, 1962, undated
1.16
Silences / Lament of the Mariner, early typed drafts, 1964-1965
1.17
Violences, typed drafts, 1966
1.18
Unpublished poetry in English, handwritten and typed drafts, 1959-1961,
undated
1.19
Experimental poetry in Igbo, handwritten draft, undated
Subseries B. Acknowledgements, Introductions, and Other Book
Elements
1.20
Acknowledgements for a poetry collection, typed draft, May 1966
1.21
Heavensgate, printed page proof with drawing by Demas Nwoko,
1962
1.22
Ibo Oral Traditions, typed abstract, 1965
Labyrinths
1.23
Introduction, typed draft, undated
1.24
Prefaces, typed draft, undated
Lists
1.25
Poetry, handwritten drafts, undated
1.26
Sequences for Elegies of Thunder, handwritten notes,
1965-1966
1.27
Sequences for a poetry collection, handwritten notes, undated
1.28
Introduction to a poetry collection, handwritten notes, undated
1.29
Path of Thunder, handwritten table of contents, 1964-1966
1.30
Studies in African Literature, undated
Series II. Correspondence 1957-1966
3.1
To Okigbo’s attention, 1961-1965, undated
3.2
To Okigbo, 1959-1966
3.3
University applications, 1957-1959
General correspondence
3.4-3.7
1957-1962
3.8
1962-1966
4.1
Invitations and responses, 1962-1966
Series III. Other Related Materials 1955-1967
Subseries A. Reference Materials
4.2
Echeruo, M. J. C. The African Writer: Journal of African Authors
Association of Nigeria, No. 1, August 1962.
4.3
Ferguson. The Living Past, 21 November 1960
4.4
Graves, Robert. The Integrity of the Poet, 31 March 1955
4.5
Jennings. Africa and African Culture, 6 June 1961
4.6
Lewis, W. Arthur. Beyond African Dictatorship: The Crisis of the One-Party
State, August 1965
4.7
Shokefun, Remi. Ekwensi’s ’Ol man Forest’, National T.V. newspaper
clipping, 1964
4.8
Siertsema, B. Problems of Phonemic Interpretation, October 1964
Subseries B. Personal and Professional Activities
4.9
Bank of West Africa Limited, 1962-1964
4.10
Doodles, undated
4.11
Letterhead: Cambridge University Press and Citadel Press, Ltd.,
undated
Lists
4.12
Future topics, undated
4.13
Poets, including Okigbo, undated
4.14
Pocket notebook, undated
4.15
The African Writers and Artists Club, meeting announcement,
1964
4.16
Citadel Press, meeting minutes, 2 April 1967
4.17
Travel paperwork, 1963-1966
4.18
Unidentified scrap, undated
4.19
University brochures, University of London and the Association of
Incorporated Statisticians Ltd., 1959-1960
Subseries C. Works by Others
Anonymous
1.31-33
Typed fragments, undated
1.34
Egba National Charter, typed draft fragment, undated
1.35
The Fulanis, typed draft fragment, undated
2.1
Germany’s Model Colony, Chapter 2, typed draft with edits,
undated
2.2
Counting Colours in the Rainbow, typed verse, undated
2.3
Land and Climate, Chapter 1, typed draft with edits, undated
2.4
Youth, handwritten verse fragment, undated
Anozie, Sunday O.
2.5
Tone, Image, and Structure in Okigbo’s Limits I and II, typed draft with
handwritten note, [1962-1964]
2.6
A Decade of Nigerian Poetry, 1951-1961, Vol. 1, typed draft, 30 April
1961
2.7
Beier, Ulli. Contemporary African Poetry in English, typed draft, June
1962
Clark, J. P.
2.8
Night Rain, typed verse fragment, undated
2.9
Ozidi, typed draft, undated
2.10
Song of a Goat, incomplete typd draft, undated
2.11
Echeruo, Michael. The Sophistication of Chinua Achebe, handwritten and
typed draft, 1963
gf
Ezera. Index, galley proofs, undated
2.12
Obi, Chike. An Abandoned Plan?, typed draft, undated
2.13
Okara, Gabriel. The Mystic Drum Beat in My Inside, typed verse,
undated
2.14
Okeke, Uche. Exercise book, undated [original RESTRICTED - printout
facsimiles available]
2.15
Oko, Akomaye. Tell Us What God Said, typed draft, 1965-1966
2.16
Rukeyser, Muriel. Two African Poets, Forum: A Quarterly Journal of
Contemporary Affairs, 1965
2.17
[Soyinka, Wole]. Invocation Dance, typed verse, undated
2.18
The Times Literary Supplement. Under Ben Bulben, typed draft, 21 January
1965
2.19
Van Sertima, [Ivan]. Typed transcript of interview with Christopher Okigbo,
24 September 1964
2.20
Worlu, S. O. Poems, typed verse, undated