Showing 77 results

Archival Description
Leslie, Kenneth Poetry
Print preview View:
Ascending

3 results with digital objects Show results with digital objects

Andrew Merkel fonds

  • MS-2-326
  • Fonds
  • 1900-1954
Fonds contains records created and collected by Andrew Merkel, including correspondence with friends and associates such as Charles Bruce, Kenneth Leslie, and Robert Norwood; manuscripts; newspaper clippings; and copies of The Song Fishermens’ Song Sheet and The Order of Good Cheer.

Merkel, Andrew Doane

The problem of the bridge : [manuscript]

File contains an undated (presumably 1913 or 1914, while a student at the University of Nebraska) typed manuscript entitled "The problem of the bridge", written by Kenneth Leslie, and submitted to his professor as part of a course in philosophy. The "bridge" of which Leslie writes is discussing the "problem of metaphysical knowledge". File discusses the Eleatics, Aristotle, Descartes, Spinoza, Locke, Berkeley, Hume and Kant in relation to metaphysical knowledge.

The social aspect of the idea of truth and reality : [manuscript]

File contains an undated typed manuscript entitled "The social aspect of the idea of truth and reality", presumably written in 1915, by Kenneth Leslie, when he was a student at Harvard University. File addresses Leslie's notions of perception, conception, and interpretation.
The Song Fishermen's song sheet, number 6

The Song Fishermen's song sheet, number 6

Item is a copy of issue number six of the Song Fishermen's Song Sheet, a poetry newsletter issued "every so often" and published by Andrew Merkel on behalf of the Song Fishermen. This issue contains verses by Martha Ann, Mollie Beresford, W.K. Carew, Nathanial A. Benson, Stuart McCawley, Charles Bruce, Bob Leslie and Joe Wallace, and notes about the whereabouts and doings of some members.
The Song Fishermens' song sheet, number 4

The Song Fishermens' song sheet, number 4

Item is a copy of issue number four of the Song Fishermens' Song Sheet, a poetry newsletter issued "every so often" and published by Andrew Merkel on behalf of the Song Fishermen. This issue contains verses by Kenneth Leslie, R.V. Bannon, J.P.P. Llwyd, and Molly Beresford.
The Song Fishermen's song sheet, number 15

The Song Fishermen's song sheet, number 15

Item is a copy of issue number 15 of the Song Fishermen's Song Sheet, a poetry newsletter issued "every so often" and published by Andrew Merkel on behalf of the Song Fishermen. This issue contains an announcement of the song sheet's upcoming first year anniversary, an essay on the rewards of living in Nova Scotia and having the leisure to think and write, and poems by Robert Leslie and Joe Wallace.

Music notebook

File contains a bound notebook used by Kenneth Leslie for the purposes of writing musical notations and scores, presumably from the 1930s. The notebook is largely blank, with only four pages used by Leslie. The first page contains an untitled melody fragment four bars long in the F-major key, written in pencil, with notations in both bass and treble. The second page contains a fragment of a song entitled "Sheep and Lambs", with music by Kenneth Leslie and words by Katharine Tynan (misspelled "Katherine"), with treble notations, in 3/4 metre and the F-major key. The third entry is a song entitled "So It Rises So It Soars", with words and music by Leslie, written in G-major key, the first two lines being "Builder of my growing soul / Found in deeply as you must". The fourth and final entry is an eight-bar fragment, in G-major, following a leaf that was torn out.

Davis, Mary

File contains a typed letter unsigned by Kenneth Leslie, written on March 19, 1931 to be sent to Mary Davis of Summit, New Jersey. File addresses outlining an evening of Gaelic dance and music, organized by Kenneth and his first wife, Elizabeth Moir, mentioning the potential of his three young daughters assisting in the dancing. The goal of the program is to display the "instrumental music, song, and dance, expressive of the classic culture of Gaeldom. File also contains a facsimile of Leslie's letter.

My love she walks not with me : [manuscript]

File contains a handwritten manuscript of a song entitled "My love she walks not with me", with words and music by Kenneth Leslie, undated (but written presumably in the mid-1930s, after the collapse of his first marriage). The song is written in F-major, contains 24 bars of music in treble, and begins with the lines "The fragrance of the hawthorn and the rose after rain / Makes my misery completer". Music and words are written on only one page.

Kenneth Leslie's sketchbook

File contains an undated No. 7191 "Monterery" drawing spiral sketch book, containing pencil drawings by Kenneth Leslie, with artwork created presumably in the late 1930s or early 1940s. The sketchbook is largely blank, however, there are pencil drawings on the first three pages. The first is a 45° side-on portrait of "R. Currie" signed by Leslie. The second is an untitled study of a woman's face as she leans forward. The third is also untitled, the beginnings of a rural scene with a cabin at the end of a roadway.

Promotional materials for poetry readings

File contains two undated promotional leaflets (likely from the late 1930s or early 1940s, promoting Kenneth Leslie poetry readings and discussions. The earliest of the two leaflets, on off-white paper, is entitled "Kenneth Leslie / Poetry Readings -- Discussions / Mr. Leslie / Reads His Own Poetry / Discusses Contemporary Poetry / Helps you Develop Your Poetry" and contains a small portrait of a youthful Leslie wearing a fedora. It contains testimonials from Charles G.D. Roberts, Robert Norwood, and Lawrence H. Conrad on the verso. The second leaflet, printed on yellow paper, also undated, but after 1938, is entitled "Kenneth Leslie : Singer-Composer / Poet", contains a portrait of Leslie to the upper left corner, with a short bibliography (ending in "By Stubborn Stars". The front contains words promoting Leslie's talent from 'Voices', 'London Times', Sir Charles Roberts, 'N.Y. Herald Tribune', 'Halifax Chronicle', Reverend Sister Maura, 'Charlottetown Guardian', and Shaemas O'Sheel, while the verso has further testimonials under the heading "What they say of Kenneth Leslie's poetry...." with the sub-headings "In London, England", "In Toronto", "In New York", and "In Charlottetown".

Such a din! : poems

File contains Kenneth Leslie's personal copy of his collection of poems, 'Such a din!', published in 1936. Leslie used this copy as a working copy when compiling his anthology of poems, 'O'Malley to the Reds and other poems" in 1972. File contains inked corrections, additions, and excisions in Leslie's hand (addition of dedications -- largely to Robert Norwood -- for a few poems, as well as a few title and spelling changes, with poems not be included in the anthology crossed out).

Translations of Aslaug Vaa poems : [draft manuscripts]

File contains three undated (likely in the 1940s) partial translations of poems originally written by the Norwegian poet Aslaug Vaa (b. Rauland,25 August 1889; d. Oslo, 28 November 1965) and translated by Kenneth Leslie.

File contains translations of the following poems:
- twenty-three lines of the poem "Skinnvengbrev," which begins "Eg tredde eingong du hadde gøymt deg, / at baade du og Gud ha gløymt meg, / og eg blei minst av dei skapte ting.", which Leslie has translated as "I thought one time you had forsaken me / that you and God had forgotten me / and I was least of created things." The header of this leaf has the title "So 6847 Pauline", and the English translation is written directly below the Norwegian original ;
- eight lines of translation of a fourteen line untitled poem, also presumably by Aslaug Vaa, which begins "A, so det vesle båmet reeddest / når det møter det ukjende. / Ein gong i eit framandt land, / sto eg og var dette ukjende for ein liten kropp", which Leslie has translated as "Of course a little child is frightened / when he meets with an unknown one. / Once upon a time on strange soil / I stood and was this unknown one for a little body." The Norwegian text and English translation are written on separate leaves ; and
- four stanzas of the poem 'Duva og Dropen,' which begins "Det kurra ei duve / med bekken Mahala / i skuggen av palmur / og driv kvite kala", which Leslie has translated as "A dove coos so warmly / where murmurs Mahala / In shade of the palm trees / and drifts of white kalla". This item also contains notes for a sermon about avarice written on the verso.

Brief biographical notes : [manuscripts]

File contains undated fragments of biographical notes written by Kenneth Leslie. File contains a ~100-word piece entitled "Short biography of Edward Bellamy, translated from the Dutch", written presumable in the spring of 1950, based off of articles which appeared in the March 22 1950 (volume 17, number 6) of "Bellamy: Officieel sociaal-economisch orgaan van de Internationale Verniging Bellamy"; with the verso containing a note about a request for an article for the Liverpool Advocate newspaper. File also contains ~130 words about Jean-Jacques Rousseau and humanism, as well as basic genealogical information about Alexander Leslie and Walter L.[eslie].

Radio interview fragments : [manuscripts]

File contains two fragments of radio interviews (one dated March 14, 1940, the other undated) involving Kenneth Leslie. The first, titled "Radio Script : Leslie-Merchant" -- discusses Leslie's involvement in the Protestant Digest, and Protestantism in general. The second untitled and undated fragment discusses science and mathematics.

Aslaug Vaa translations : [manuscripts]

File contains several handwritten drafts of translations of two poems originally written by Aslaug Vaa and translated by Nora Steenerson Smith (later Nora Leslie), fourth wife of Kenneth Leslie. There are six handwritten drafts of a translation of Duva og dropen (with minor variations and corrections), and seven drafts of a translation of the Skinnvengbrev (with minor variations and corrections).

God and the intellectuals : [manuscript]

File contains a typed draft manuscript (with a few inked corrections) of a sermon delivered by Kenneth Leslie, likely in the early 1940s, entitled "God and the Intellectual". File addresses the role of colleges in teaching metaphysics, before moving on to the threat posed by "the sickness of America [and the] whole modern world. [...] Call it transcendentalism. Call it idealism" during the Second World War, wherein the motto "transcendentalism : greed' was the antiphonal change for the burying of [early] New England", much as it has been in the run-up to war, and the efforts to prevent the acceptance of "absolute ideas as substitutes for organic thinking", as in fascism, which demands "all or nothing" answers.

Letter written by Kenneth Leslie regarding the threat posed by fascism and antisemitism in the United States

Item is a two-page typed letter written by Kenneth Leslie on December 17, 1942. The letter addresses the threat posed by the fascist movement and antisemitism in the United States, both at present during the war, as well as the threats posed "after the war is over", where "this Fascistic movement will let loose with its first barrage, to consist of a wave of terror against the Jew". The letter, which an accompanying index card suggests should be sent "first to Presidents of colleges and then to professors of education, philosophy, psychology, historical and sociological sciences", urges educators join the "Protestant Digest"-supported Textbook Commission to eliminate anti-Semitic statements in American textbooks as a means of warding off fascism and antisemitism "not in the name of any church but in the name of democracy".

Roosevelt, Franklin Delano

File contains a draft of an undated (presumably spring 1943) letter to be sent to American President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, written by Kenneth Leslie. The file addresses concerns raised by the Textbook Commission about a "most regretful anti-Semitic foot note" that appeared in the Roman Catholic version of the New Testament that was issued to all "Catholic personnel of the Army". The offending passage, that the Commission requested be removed from all editions, appeared on page 559: "the Jews are the Synagogues of Satan". The First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, had previously been an ardent admirer of Kenneth Leslie's work, giving invaluable endorsements to Leslie on several occasions.

Sermon delivered at Abyssinian Baptist Church, Harlem, New York : [manuscript]

File contains an undated, untitled fragment (lacking the first of seven pages) of a sermon delivered by Kenneth Leslie at Abyssinian Baptist Church, Harlem, New York. The sermon was likely given October 24th, 1943, entitled "God -- Empty Church", a later version of which appeared in the December 1943 issue of The Protestant. File addresses the threat posed by both the Papacy and Martin Luther to the Baptists, stating that Luther was not "for the people" and that "Baptists ... were massacred with the people by both Luther and the Pope". File expresses the notion that since the success of the Russian Revolution and communism, "the opportunity for free religion is here, [...as] religion has not, nor can be free under capitalism". File also addresses the role in Leslie's 'The Protestant' (The pastor of Abyssinian Baptist Church, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., was serving on the editorial board of 'The Protestant' at this time) in ensuring the opportunity for free religion in a American capitalist socioeconomic system that prevents it.

Open publicity is the weapon of democracy : confused liberals get unconfused, now let them get going : [manuscript]

File contains a draft typed manuscript, undated (but probably from 1943) written by Kenneth Leslie. File consists of a letter to American liberals and those who wish "the world had joined together against Fascism", rallying them to join the Protestant's Textbook Commission to Eliminate Anti-Semitic Statements in American Textbooks.

Garber, Paul

File contains two letters written by Bishop Paul N. Garber (of Geneva, Switzerland), and one response from Kenneth Leslie, dated March and April 1946. The first letter, dated March 7, 1946, from Garber, informs Leslie of his meeting in Warsaw with Stefan Molski, a correspondent for Leslie's publication The Protestant, and discusses the current tenuous Polish political situation. The response from Leslie, dated April 11, 1946, inquires as to whether Bishop Garber would be willing contribute an article to The Protestant, and gauging Garber's interest in serving as an adviser of the publication's Editorial Board. Garber's response, dated April 17, 1946. affirms his interest in serving as an editorial adviser, but warns that he will also be "very busy" given his need to attend "four annual conferences [held] in rapid succession in Switzerland, Belgium, Czechoslovakia and Poland."

Chicago Ministerial Action Committee

File contains typed correspondence dated November 22, 1946, about a resolution passed at a meeting of the Chicago Ministerial Action Committee of The Protestant, at a meeting on November 19, 1946, following questioning of Kenneth Leslie's leadership. The resolution states that "We [...] sincerely deprecate the action of those who have endangered our whole endeavor by placing your position of leadership in a false light, [and] unanimously go on record expressing our complete and sincere loyalty to you." File includes a list of the signatories of the resolution.

Latham, Harold S.

File contains an undated Christmas card, likely from the 1950s or early-1960s, sent by Harold S. Latham, of Kearny, NJ (formerly chief editor of Macmillan Publishing Company), to Kenneth Leslie. File briefly recounts Latham's recent trip to Nova Scotia to visit "Five Islands on Minas Basin, Bay of Fundy", and expresses regret at not having heard from Leslie recently. Latham was Leslie's editor when he published his first collection of poems, "Windward Rock" (Macmillan, 1934).

Letter and card to Kenneth Leslie from Rosaleen Dickson

File contains an undated typed letter from his daughter Rosaleen regarding sending a selection of typed copies of poems to Mr. [Patrick] Crean at McClelland and Stewart and also mentions that Sean Haldane, publisher of The Collected Poems of Kenneth Leslie, had not been informed of the efforts to publish an alternate collection of Leslie's works. File also contains a facsimile family photograph of the Dickson children: Jennifer, Elizabeth, Marjorie, Ross, and Charles.

Correspondence of Nora Leslie

File contains correspondence sent to Nora Leslie (née Nora Steenerson Smith, Nora Totten), fourth wife of Kenneth Leslie, from the 1950s to the 1970s. File includes letters and cards sent by Emilie Laraway, Mary Lewis, Helene Mullins, and Elizabeth and John Robertson. File also includes an undated note written by Nora Leslie after Kenneth Leslie's death, regarding a disagreement with Kenneth's daughter Rosaleen. File also includes a photocopy of a clipping of Nora's obituary.

Ashley, Ruth

File contains handwritten correspondence written by Mrs. Ruth H. Ashley (of Wabash, Indiana), dated January 25, 1963, and sent to Kenneth Leslie. File mentioned Ashley's appreciation of Leslie's contributions to Protestant scholarship in his periodical publications The Protestant and The New Christian, and discusses her discovery of related publications and musings on the "close relationship between the philosophy of Jesus and the economic program of Marxism" as well as contemporary Chinese/Soviet relations.

Notes, articles and clippings related to fluoridation

File contains research notes and articles collected by Kenneth Leslie in the mid-1960s related to fluoridation. File contains correspondence written by Miss Jean M. Ross submitted to The Rt. Hon. L[ester] B. Pearson and The Hon. Judy LaMarch, as well as Dr. G.D.W. Cameron [Deputy Minister of National Health], a copy of Miss Ross's 12-page publication 'The fluoridation fraud', as well as pamphlets and articles from the the Fraser Burgh Herald, the New York Times, Pure Water Association of Santa Clara County, and the Greater Milwaukee Committee Against Fluoridation.

Unidentified correspondence

File contains handwritten correspondence, written between 1966 and 1973, by unidentified authors sent to Kenneth Leslie. File contains 11 different pieces of correspondence by ten different authors. There is a letter written by a Clark H.(Centerville, IA) dated May 11, 1973; an unsigned note about one of Leslie's songs being featured on the Max Ferguson program (dated December 12, 1972); a facsimile letter dated Christmas 1970, providing family updates for "Marge, Eric [not Leslie's brother], and family"; a letter from "L." dated January 14, 1973, acknowledging that it "was very heartwarming to receive the book of poems"; undated from "Fred" (Montclair, NJ); two letters from "Frank" dated December 29th 1965 and January 14, 1966, about strychnine tablets, fluoridation, and general health discussion; an undated unsigned note about enclosure of payment for books and inquiring about Nora's health; a 1972 Christmas card from Deb, Mike, and John, nieces and nephews of Ken and Nora [but unclear as to what part of the family]; a two-page typed letter from "Harold" (Pittsburgh, PA) dated March 22nd, 1973, regarding attendance at the Rationalist Convention in Chicago, about the "destruction and slaughter" in Vietnam, the Pittsburgh highway system, and future issues of New Man; and two undated short notes by "Alice B." including appreciation at receipt of a "gratis" copy of Leslie's book of poems.

Card to Kenneth Leslie from Gloria McHugh

Item is an undated Christmas card from Gloria McHugh to her father, Kenneth Leslie, expressing hopes for "good health" and "satisfaction from your much needed work" and regret about delays in writing due to her own illness over the previous summer.

McQuinn, Marion and John

File contains an undated Christmas card (presumably early 1970s) sent by Marion and John McQueen to Kenneth Leslie.

Letter and card to Kenneth Leslie from Nanette Bowditch

File consists of a letter (dated February 1, 1973, from Success, Saskatchewan) and an undated Christmas card [ca. early-1970s] written by Nanette Bowditch, daughter of Kenneth Leslie's brother Eric. The letter discusses the activities of her children, George and Emily, the recent publication of his book of poetry, and Kenneth's relationship with his sisters, Marjorie and Emily. The Christmas card contains a brief letter and is signed by Nanette, her husband Walter, and their two children.

Swanson, Rosa

File contains undated handwritten correspondence (presumably 1972 or 1973) written by Mrs. Rosa Swanson (Edmonton, AB) and sent to Kenneth Leslie. File contains the author's confirmation of enclosure of payment to renew subscription to The New Man.

Steinmetz, Harry and Doris

File contains typed correspondence written by Harry and Doris Steinmetz (San Diego, CA), from 1971 and 1973, sent to Kenneth Leslie. The first letter is a fragment, presumably from early 1971, where Harry laments at the quickness of the passing year and his plans for 1971. The second letter, dated January 29, 1973, celebrates Leslie's poetry upon the Steinmetz' receipt of a copy of 'O'Malley to the Reds', as well as discussion on future talks and publications (and was typed on the verso of a promotional flyer "commemorating 50th anniversary of the foudning of the USSR [and the] 40th anniversary of the American Russian Institute" in San Francisco. The third item is a copy of the December 1972 issue of The Gadfly, which contains an excerpt by Harry Steinmetz entitled "Around the world in 66 days with thanks" about his visit to Volgograd.

New-Man records

File contains textual records pertaining to Kenneth Leslie's religio-political publication New-Man.

Ashworth, Joseph

File contains handwritten correspondence sent by Joseph Ashworth (of Calgary, Alberta) to Kenneth Leslie, dated September 5, 1972. File acknowledges a $5.00 payment for the purchase of one of Leslie's publications, as well as confirming a new mailing address.

Bilainkin, George

File contains two pieces of correspondence written on Royal Commonwealth Society letterhead by George [Bilainkin] in 1972 and 1973 and sent to Kenneth Leslie. The first letter, handwritten and dated September 26, 1972, derides a £220,000 football transfer fee while "pilots are to get £10,3000 a year, [...] railmen are criticized for demanding [a raise of] £20 a week, [and the] chief gets £2500 rise on his lunatic salary of £20,000". The second letter, typed and dated May 19, 1973, derides the "US gangsters" for spreading "inconceivable evil [...] so widely round innocent, harmless creatures, in India and Pakistan, Cyprus and Cuba", the "hoodlum fraud" of the US courts re: Cambodia, the murders which "our BBC and press do not even mention", with the mournful refrain that "this country smells as fearfully as yours -- and none of the citizenry suspects!" Bilainkin was a foreign correspondent and biographer.

Sackley, Ralph

File contains a typed letter dated May 20th, 1972, and written by Ralph Sackley (of Evanston, IL), sent to Kenneth Leslie. File addresses current reading habits and belief in McGovern in the forthcoming election, before discussing his "oxypheric" nature after Leslie had suffered "lots of strokes" and Sackley's opinions of the mind, deep breathing, and getting "away from self".

Williams, Claude

File contains typed correspondence dated April 20, 1972, written by Claude Williams (Alabaster, AL) and sent to Kenneth Leslie. File expresses thanks for Leslie's handwritten note and for receipt of issues of New Man, and "Glory be! for David Lord coming to the rescue and getting out an issue of New Man" when Leslie was ill the previous year. File states Leslie is "as great a prophet today as Jeremiah was in his day", while expressing opinions about Marxist-Christian dialogue. Williams previously served on the editorial board of The Protestant.

Bell, Jim

File contains a piece of handwritten correspondence sent by Jim K. Bell (Halifax), dated December 28, 1972, to Kenneth Lesile. File acknowledges enclosure of a cheque covering the cost of four copies of Leslie's self-published poetry anthology "O'Malley and the Reds and other poems", as well as a new subscription to The New Man. File also praises Leslie's "determination to resist and fight the fascist bastards" through his continued social-minded publications.

Chapman, G. C.

File contains typed correspondence written by G.C. Chapman (from New Westminster, BC), dated May 11, 1972, and sent to Kenneth Leslie. File acknowledges enclosure of a cheque to ensure renewal of a subscription to Leslie's periodical The New Man.

Hester, Hugh B.

File contains fourteen draft typed manuscripts columns and handwritten letters, written by Brigadier-General Hugh B. Hester, a noted critic of American foreign policy, written in 1972 and 1973, submitted to numerous newspapers with copies (as well as a couple of personal handwritten letters) sent to Kenneth Leslie. The topics of the letters include the ongoing "disastrous mistake" of the Vietnam War, the "most ballyhooed" nuclear agreements between Nixon and Brezhnev, the 1972 Presidential Election (declaring that Americans "could not psychologically bring themselves to vote for McGovern because his election would have proven true all those crimes committed by Washington [against the Vietnamese people]" and the developing Watergate scandal.

File contains correspondence sent to the Charlotte Observer, the New York Times, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Senator Michael Mansfield (D-MT), The Nation Magazine, the Asheville Citizen, the Chicago Sun-Times, the Greenville News, and Meyer Robert Field.

The letter written to Leslie, dated July 4, 1973, expresses regret at not yet discussing Hester's recent trip to China, as well as demanding that Nixon should "be dismissed and tried" for his actions regarding the escalating Watergate scandal. The file also includes a draft manuscript of a letter "to the Editor" of Leslie's "New Man Magazine", dated November 27, 1972, responding to newspaper magnate John S. Knight proclamation that the "two-party system will continue to be strong and stable" being incorrect following McGovern's defeat, suggesting that "there were no 1972 presidential elections in any meaningful sense".

Results 1 to 50 of 77