Celebrating the brilliant talent of Alice Munro, 1931-2024 | News

Alice Munro, the celebrated author and master of the short story, died this week. This is a great loss for the literary world, especially for Canadian literature. The University of Calgary's Archives and Special Collections is re-examining its unique and enduring connection to “Canadian Chekhov.”

In November 1981, Alice Munro visited the University of Calgary to present her piece. literary archive To Alan MacDonald, University Librarian.

How did the University of Calgary come to preserve the literary archive of a future Nobel laureate with deep ties to Ontario?

Seven years ago, noted Canadian author Mordecai Richler suggested that Kenneth Glaser (then the university librarian) search Munro's archives to bolster the university's growing collection of archival documents. The university has taken the documents Hugh McLennan, WO Mitchell and Mordecai Richler.

Richler considered Alice Munro to be one of the outstanding Canadian writers of her time. Munro agreed to place his archive at the University of Calgary and made several donations between 1980 and 2003.

The archive contains all the letters he received, correspondence with his editors and publishers and colleagues, his manuscripts, notebooks and physical copies of each draft.

“Our collection of articles by Canadian authors is the best in the world, and Munro is a jewel in that collection,” explains Jason Nisenson, Literary Collections Archivist.

Munro's natural affinity for storytelling began at an early age. He grew up outside of Wingham, Ontario, walking long distances to school. He invented stories to pass the time and started writing them at the age of 10-11. He studied English and journalism at (now) Western University before moving to British Columbia in his 20s.

His story, strangers, In 1951, it was broadcast on CBC Radio's “Anthology” program. He published his first collection of short stories. Dance of Happy Shades In 1968, the book won the Governor General's Award for English Fiction. In 2013, at the age of 82, he received the Nobel Prize in Literature for his lifetime achievement. To date, he is the only Canadian to receive this global honor.

“Munro developed the short story wonderfully. It encouraged reader engagement,” explains Annie Murray, rare books and special collections librarian. “She also raised children and ran a bookstore with her husband, so she was a very relatable person, but also a genius.”

Munro used practical, roll-bound notebooks to write many of his early stories. In the notebooks there are evidences of his family life, sketches and drawings of his daughters appear from time to time.

“This was in the era of handwriting and typewriters, so (the archive) has a physical copy of every project,” explains Annie Murray.

Indeed, this literary archive provides a wonderful opportunity for scholars and fans alike to learn how these remarkable stories unfolded.