General correspondence, 1969

Boxes 1-8

The original donation of the Dennis Brutus Papers comprise correspondence, papers associated with specific organizations and events, and numerous drafts of poems, both handwritten and typed.

The bulk of Brutus's correspondence falls within the period 1960-1973, and consists of family and other personal correspondence, correspondence related to teaching positions, and individual folders for correspondence with key persons. The Papers also contain much sports-related material, including but not limited to the International Committee Against Racism In Sport (ICARIS) and the South African Non-Racial Olympic Committee (SAN-ROC). Brutus's work with the International Defense and Aid Fund and other anti-racial groups is documented as well. There are also a number of notebooks and daybooks with poetry and journal entries from the 1960s. A large portion of the Papers consists of manuscript drafts and typescripts of Brutus's poetry, including a small number of complete manuscripts of published poetry works.

A separate index is available listing the first lines of poetry in Boxes 7-8.

Additions, boxes 9-22, and 23-41

Two additions contain substantial biographical material (including diaries), correspondence, teaching files, writings, and cassette tapes.