Philip Hobsbaum Collection

Papers of Professor Philip Hobsbaum (1932-2005), teacher, critic and poet. Hobsbaum was lecturer and reader in English Literature at the University of Glasgow from 1966 to 1985, and Professor of English Literature from 1985 to 1997.

This collection, currently housed in over 300 file boxes, contains a range of material documenting Hobsbaum's activities and achievements in literature and education. It includes correspondence, manuscript poems, drafts of published and unpublished writing (articles, reviews and books) and teaching materials. There are also papers relating to the literary reading groups which Hobsbaum established while working in London, Belfast and Glasgow. In this and other activities he fostered new talent and amongst the impressive roll-call of writers who came under his influence are Alasdair Gray, Seamus Heaney, James Kelman, Tom Leonard, Liz Lochhead and Michael Longley.

 

How to find material in the Hobsbaum Collection

 

• The manuscript material (MS Hobsbaum) is in the process of being catalogued. Access is currently restricted and by appointment only. Enquiries should be made regarding availability of material in advance of any visit.
• Professor Hobsbaum also bequeathed a collection of over 10,000 books. These are located in the Library Research Annexe with the shelf-mark Hobsbaum