Accrual includes manuscripts of several of John Newlove's poetry books and short stories. Of his twelve publications, this fonds contains literary manuscripts of nine of them along with the related correspondence. Typescripts of publications included are Grave Sirs (1962), Moving in Alone (1965), The Cave (1968), Lies (1972), and The Night the Dog Smiled (1986). An unpublished manuscript is also included. Most of the collection is comprised of journals, correspondence, manuscripts and notes from the mid-1960s to 1986.
There is a large amount of correspondence, both private and business. The private correspondence includes letters to and from Newlove's family, friends and writers. The correspondence includes substantial communications between Newlove and other writers such as Earle Birney, Irving Layton, Al Purdy, John Metcalf, Alden Nowlan, Bernie Childs, Patrick Lane, and others. The business correspondence deals with publishers, universities, various magazines and organizations. The correspondence is essential in understanding how the Canadian literary and publishing scenes "work".
John Newlove's literary essays are also included as are a number of others about Newlove. Also included are John Newlove's opinions and reports and manuscripts and their authors which he edited or was asked to advise on.
Most of this fonds deals with the literary and personal development of John Newlove as reflected in the journals, manuscripts, edited revisions, reviews, reports, essays and correspondence.