National Library of Scotland Acquires Literary Archive of Former Makar Jackie Kay
Poet and novelist Jackie Kay at the National Library of Scotland with National Librarian Amina Shah (left)
The Jackie Kay archive runs to 34 boxes of material that offers a unique insight into Kay’s life and writing and a record of her personal journey including personal letters, manuscripts of poems, novels, short stories, plays, diaries and press articles, as well as schoolbooks and university writing, early essays, family papers, notebooks, photographs, audio cassettes, prizes, awards and honours.
Jackie Kay who was born in Edinburgh and brought up in Glasgow is the author of The Adoption Papers (which won the Forward Prize), Red Dust Road (winner of the Scottish Book of the Year Award), Trumpet, and the Costa-shortlisted Fiere. She was the third Makar, theNational Poet for Scotland (2016–2021) and is a Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Salford.
“The National Library has the literary archives of some of Scotland’s most renowned authors, and now we’ve added another treasure to sit alongside them," said National Librarian Amina Shah. “This collection offers abundant insight into Kay’s work and life, which are often inseparable. As a former Makar, prize-winning author and major literary figure, Kay’s writing is widely known and in demand, and her archive is of significant research value to academics, students, biographers, historians and all fans of Kay’s work.
Jackie Kay said: “I’d never have thought, having kept all my old notebooks, jotters and letters for years, moved them from house to house to live in various attics or cellars, that they would finally end up in the best of all homes, the National Library of Scotland. And in the very best of company too, with Alasdair Gray, Muriel Spark, Nan Shepherd and Burns among many beloved others. It’s a comfort and an honour to know that years after I’m gone people will still be able to have a good old rummage amongst my things.”
