A. C. Jacobs Collection
Details
Type of record: Archive
Title: A. C. Jacobs Collection
Classmark: MS 2065
Creator(s): Jacobs, A C; Bialik, Hayyim Nahman (1873-1934); Vogel, David (1891-1944)
Date(s): 1955-2000
Language: English; Hebrew
Size and medium: manuscript papers; manuscript notebooks; typescript papers; diaries; journals; photocopies; newspapers; newspaper cuttings; postcards; address book; volumes; 6 boxes; 5 volumes
Persistent link: https://explore.library.leeds.ac.uk/special-collections-explore/611643
Collection group(s): English Literature
Description
The collection represents the works of Arthur C. Jacobs, a Scottish Jewish Poet. It includes 6 boxes of archival material (MS 2065/1) and 5 volumes of printed works (MS 2065/2). The archival material is primarily comprised of Jacobs’ work as a poet and translator from Hebrew into English. Box one contains an incomplete run of copies of the Jewish Quarterly (1964-1990), alongside cuttings from various other Jewish publications, largely written in Hebrew. The following four boxes largely contain drafts of poetry and writings relating to Jacobs’ work as a translator. The majority of Jacobs’ poetry concerns his life and upbringing as a Jew in Britain, relating to diasporic identities, perspectives on war, and his experiences with life and death. There are also drafts of articles and reviews concerning other writers, namely Jon Silkin, a fellow British Jewish Poet and founder of Stand magazine. The final box contains further drafts and notebooks, alongside correspondence relating to specific translations, submissions for publication, poetry groups, and responses to reviews and edits of work. This correspondence is from a variety of publishers, authors, and Jewish organisations.
Biography or history
The poet and translator Arthur C. Jacobs (1937-1994) was born in Glasgow to a traditional Jewish family. His grandparents had earlier immigrated from Tsarist Russia. In 1951 Jacobs' family moved to London. Jacobs bcame a member of the Group, a number of poets who met at Philip Hobsbaum's flat. It was here that he encountered Jon Silkin, with whom he later shared a flat. Silkin published some of Jacobs' early poems in the Leeds magazine 'Stand'. Jacobs' poetry explores questions of nationality and language in particular. Jacobs lived in Jerusalem for 3 years, where he translated poems by modern Hebrew writers. In 1976 Jacob's first collection 'The proper blessing' was published and also 'The dark gate'. The latter is a volume of translations of the work of the Hebrew poet David Vogel. Jacobs published a pamphlet of poetry 'A bit of dialect' in 1991. He died unexpectedly in 1994 in Madrid. Jacobs never married.
Provenance
Purchased from Sheila Gilbert, December 2016.
Catalogue description updated as part of Yerusha Project in 2025.
Access and usage
Reproduction
Access
This collection has not been listed in detail and access to parts of it may be protected under the Data Protection Act and other relevant legislation. If you would like to request access to any part of this collection, please contact Special Collections. Upon receipt of your request, a member of the team will discuss your requirements with you and review relevant material accordingly
Material in this collection is in copyright. Photocopies or digital images can only be supplied by the Library for research or private study within the terms of copyright legislation. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain the copyright holder's permission to reproduce for any other purpose. Guidance is available on tracing copyright status and ownership.
Material in this collection is in copyright. Photocopies or digital images can only be supplied by the Library for research or private study within the terms of copyright legislation. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain the copyright holder's permission to reproduce for any other purpose. Guidance is available on tracing copyright status and ownership.