Fonds MSS 334 - Birk Sproxton fonds

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Birk Sproxton fonds

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  • Multiple media

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Fonds

Reference code

CA UMASC MSS 334

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Physical description

10.43 m of textual records
9 photographs
1 videocassette
28 audiocassettes
188 computer discs
5 compact discs

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Archival description area

Name of creator

(1943-2007)

Biographical history

Birk Sproxton was born in 1943 in Flin Flon, Manitoba. He was educated at United College (now the University of Winnipeg), and then continued at the University of Manitoba where he earned his B.A., M.A., and a Ph.D in Modern Literature. He taught at a number of institutions, including high school in Boissevain, Manitoba, the University of Regina, the University of Winnipeg, and the University of Manitoba. Most notable in his career was his 31 years teaching creative writing at Red Deer College in Alberta.

Sproxton was a prolific and award-winning writer and editor. His book Phantom Lake: North of 54 (University of Alberta Press, 2005) earned the Margaret McWilliams Local History Award for excellence in the study and interpretation of Manitoba history and also the $25,000 Grant MacEwan Alberta Author Award. His novel titled Red Headed Woman with the Black, Black Heart (Turnstone Press, 1997) won an Honorable Mention for Best Historical Fiction from the Manitoba Historical Society.

He edited a number of literature volumes, including: Sounds Assembling: The Poetry of Bertram Brooker (Turnstone Press, 1980); Trace: Prairie Writers on Writing (Turnstone Press, 1986); and Great Stories from the Prairies (Red Deer Press, 2003); and The Winnipeg Connection: Writing Lives at Mid-Century (Prairie Fire Press, 2006).

Sproxton was directly involved in founding The Sphinx: A Magazine of Literature and Society at the University of Saskatchewan. He served as a member of the editorial staff of the journal from its inception in 1974 until the early 1980s.

Soon before his death, Sproxton returned to the University of Manitoba to give the 25th Annual Marjorie Ward Lecture March 8, 2007 at St. John's College. Birk Sproxton passed away in Red Deer on March 14, 2007.

Custodial history

The fonds was donated to University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections in 2005 (A2005-079) by Birk Sproxton and in 2010 (A2010-007) and 2011 (A2011-013) by Sproxton's son, Mark Sproxton.

Scope and content

The first accession (A2005-79) consists of two series: research and writings regarding Bertram Brooker; and research materials and notes.

The second accession (A2010-07) consists of correspondence regarding The Sphinx magazine and 16 issues of The Sphinx.

The third accession (A2011-013) accession includes 13 series. They include: biographical information; Masters and Ph.D. material; books written and edited by Sproxton; published articles; manuscript drafts and publicity material; writing journals and day planners; Red Deer College and academic correspondence; writing correspondence; writing notes; teaching notes; photograph collection (PC 315); tape collection (TC 162); and electronic records (EL 32).

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There are no restrictions on this material.

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A finding aid can be downloaded by clicking on the “Download’ link under “Finding Aid” on the right hand side of the screen.

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Alternative identifier(s)

PC

315

TC

162

EL

32

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Status

Draft

Level of detail

Partial

Dates of creation, revision and deletion

A2005-079 and A2010-007 finding aid created and encoded by Andrea Martin (2010). A2011-013 finding aid created and encoded by Lewis St. George Stubbs (2012). Revised by N. Courrier (September 2019).

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