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Peter Burton papers

 Collection
Identifier: 7758

COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

A significant accumulation of correspondence with British and U.S. authors, including correspondence, manuscripts, and typescripts by Robin Maugham. Also, clippings of Burton's own writing in periodicals; material documenting the creation and production of other writing including "Leaving It All Behind" and "The Killing of Georgie," a screenplay based on a Rod Stewart song; some of Burton's diaries; and files relating to the day-to-day running of Millivres Books. Also included is Burton's alphabetical reference collection of photographs, publicity stills, postcards, clippings, obituaries, and some of his own interviews with literary figures.

Dates

  • circa 1960-2008.

Creator

Language of Materials

Collection material in English

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Journalist for various periodicals (JEREMY, GAY TIMES, HIM) and editor at gay or gay-friendly publishing companies including Gay Men's Press and Millivres, Peter Burton has been integrally involved in aspects of the gay literary world in Great Britain since the 1960s when an open, uncloseted gay press was becoming possible. Burton met Robin Maugham in 1968 and worked with him on many projects until Maugham's death in 1981. Among Burton's own writing are articles, introductions to new editions of works by J.R. Ackerley and E.F. Benson, his 1977 biography of Rod Stewart, and "Leaving It All Behind," his one-act play inspired by the early life and writings of Christopher Isherwood, which was published in 1989 in "The Freezer counter: stories by gay men." Over his career, Burton helped discover and nurture gay writers, compiled several anthologies, and spoke on gay writing at conferences.

Extent

14 cubic feet. (14 cubic feet.)

Abstract

Correspondence with British and U.S. authors, articles on Burton's writing, materials documenting Burton's writing, records of Millivres Books, and Burton's alphbetical reference collection.

COLLECTION ARRANGEMENT

Materials are arranged according to the original folder headings, when present, which are the primary level of access.

SERIES LIST

<ref target="s4ss1">Alphabetical by Name</ref>
Boxes 8-12, 15
<ref target="s4ss2">Alphabetical by Subject</ref>
Boxes 12-13
<ref target="s4ss3">Press Cuttings</ref>
Box 14
<ref target="s4ss4">Additional Oversized Materials</ref>
Box 15

Physical Description

Correspondence, subject files, manuscripts, typescripts, photographs.

NOTES

Collecting Program: Human Sexuality Collection.

Status
Completed
Author
Compiled by Sara McDermott
Date
July 2009
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Part of the Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections Repository

Contact:
2B Carl A. Kroch Library
Cornell University
Ithaca NY 14853
607-255-3530
607-255-9524 (Fax)