Title and statement of responsibility area
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- Multiple media
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Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
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1944-2018 (Creation)
- Creator
- Kemp, Penn, b. August 4, 1944
Physical description area
Physical description
4.4 m of textual records; 8 volumes of textual records; ca. 140 photographs : col.; 37 photographs : b&w; 52 photographs, reproductions; ca. 230 compact discs; 38 DVDs; 31 audio cassettes; 12 videocassettes; 5 computer disks ; 9 x 9 cm; 1 compact disc ; 8 x 8 cm; 6 CD-ROMs (photographs); 1 DVD-ROM (photographs); 71 posters; 8 drawings
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Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Penn Kemp is a London, Ontario based poet, playwright, performer, editor, and educator.
Penn Kemp was born Patricia Penn Anne Kemp in Strathroy, Ontario on August 4, 1944. Raised in London, Ontario by parents, artist James (Jim) Kemp and Anne Kemp, Penn Kemp went on to complete a BA (Hon.) in English Language and Literature at the University of Western Ontario in 1966 and an Ontario Teacher’s Certificate at Althouse College in 1967. After graduating, Kemp taught English at high schools in Timmins and North York until 1970 when she began performing, giving readings, and leading creativity workshops. In 1988, Kemp completed a M.Ed. at the University of Toronto’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education with a thesis entitled "Invenio: The Source of a Biography in Mythology." After living in Toronto for many years, Kemp returned to London, Ontario in 2001 where she has since been active in the local literary community. In 2010, Kemp became the inaugural Poet Laureate for London.
Kemp has published over 30 volumes of poetry and drama both through her own company, Pendas Productions, and other publishers. A frequent collaborator, Kemp has also produced plays, CDs, videopoems, participatory performances, and "Sound Operas." Kemp has travelled to Europe, North Africa, Mexico, South America and India giving readings, performances, and workshops, with tours in India and Brazil through the Association of Canadian Studies with supported by Canada Council for the Arts. She served as The University of Western Ontario’s Writer-in-Residence for 2009-10 and has been the writer-in-residence in many communities in North America, India, and Scotland.
Kemp was awarded the League of Canadian Poets’ Life Membership Award in 2012 and the Sheri-D Wilson Golden Beret Award for excellence and innovation in spoken word poetry in 2015. Kemp was also awarded a QEII Diamond Jubilee medal for service to arts and culture in London.
Kemp runs Pendas Productions with husband, Gavin Stairs. She has two children, Amanda and Jake Chalmers.
Custodial history
Donated by Penn Kemp in 2011, 2017, and 2018
Scope and content
Fonds consists of records illustrating Kemp’s career as a poet, playwright, performer and educator as well as the activities of Pendas Productions. It also contains personal materials. It includes personal and professional correspondence, manuscripts and drafts, proofs of publications and CDs/DVDs, recordings of performances in various audiovisual formats, photographs, posters, drawings, clippings, ephemera, publicity materials, and published material.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Arrangement
Series 1 Personal Records
Series 2 Correspondence
Series 3 Professional Records
Subseries 1 Pendas Productions
Subseries 2 Writers’ Organizations and Granting Agencies
Subseries 3 Financial and Related Material
Series 4 Poetry and Performances
Series 5 Drama
Series 6 Prose and Editorial Work
Series 7 Teaching and Literary Activities
Subseries 1 Workshops and Conferences
Subseries 2 Readings, Tours, and Related Material
Subseries 3 Gathering Voices
Series 8 Poet Laureate
Series 9 Writer in Residence
Series 10 Publicity, Reviews, and Related Material
Series 11 Audiovisual and Graphic Material
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script note
Material is predominantly in English, with some translations of poems into multiple languages.
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
Access to certain records is restricted. Requests for access must be made by submitting a Research Access Request.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Copyright held by the donor.
Finding aids
Associated materials
- Penn Kemp's earlier records were donated to McGill University Archives. The last deposit was made in 2002.
- Published material can be found in collections held by Western Libraries and the Affiliated College Libraries as well as Western Archives' Special Collections.
Accruals
Further accruals are expected.
Conservation
Material in boxes 2 and 3 have sustained water damage.