James Gray fonds

Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

James Gray fonds

General material designation

  • Multiple media
  • Textual record

Parallel title

Other title information

Title statements of responsibility

Title notes

Level of description

Fonds

Reference code

MS-2-783

Edition area

Edition statement

Edition statement of responsibility

Class of material specific details area

Statement of scale (cartographic)

Statement of projection (cartographic)

Statement of coordinates (cartographic)

Statement of scale (architectural)

Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

Dates of creation area

Date(s)

  • 1941 - 2011 (Creation)

Physical description area

Physical description

3 m of textual records
11 photographs
18 audio cassettes
14 audio reels
1 audio disc

Publisher's series area

Title proper of publisher's series

Parallel titles of publisher's series

Other title information of publisher's series

Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series

Numbering within publisher's series

Note on publisher's series

Archival description area

Name of creator

(1932 - 2012)

Biographical history

James Gray was a scholar and professor of English literature and language at Dalhousie University. Born in Montrose, Scotland, he studied literature at the University of Aberdeen before serving in the Second World War from 1941-1946. After the war, he received a BA (1948) and MA (1951) in literature from Oxford University, where he studied at Balliol College. He moved to Quebec in 1951 to take up a teaching appointment at Bishop’s University, becoming head of their English department in 1958 and Chair of Humanities in 1971. During this period he also taught part time in the Canadian National Railways staff training course. He received his PhD in literature from the University of Montreal in 1970.

In 1975 Gray came to Dalhousie University as Dean of Faculty of Arts and Science. He wrote and lectured extensively about eighteenth-century studies, particularly on theatre and religious works. He was active in various literary and teaching associations, journals and publication initiatives, including the editorial committee of the Yale Edition of the Works of Samuel Johnson for over a decade. He was also a keen philatelist.

He was married to Pamela Gray, with whom he had one daughter. In 1980 James Gray retired to Kentville, Nova Scotia, as Thomas McCulloch Professor Emeritus. He died in 2012.

Custodial history

Records were donated to Dalhousie University Archives by Pamela Gray and Lloyd Melanson, executor of Pamela Gray's estate, in 2014 in accession (2015-024).

Scope and content

Fonds comprises records documenting James Gray's work s a scholar and teacher. Records include publications, manuscripts and lecture notes; audio recording of lectures; correspondence with colleagues and students; teaching materials; editorial and publishing correspondence and records; and personal correspondence and photographs.

Notes area

Physical condition

Immediate source of acquisition

Arrangement

Arrangement was imposed by the processing archivist.

Language of material

  • English
  • French

Script of material

    Location of originals

    Availability of other formats

    Restrictions on access

    There are no access restrictions on these materials. All materials are open for research.

    Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

    Materials do not circulate and must be used in the Dalhousie University Archives and Special Collections Reading Room. Materials may be under copyright. Contact departmental staff for guidance on reproduction.

    Finding aids

    Associated materials

    Related materials

    Accruals

    Alternative identifier(s)

    Standard number

    Standard number

    Access points

    Place access points

    Genre access points

    Control area

    Sources

    Description comes from the Dalhousie University Archives Catalog. The complete, original description is available there.

    Accession area