Seamus Heaney Papers and Related Collections

The Seamus Heaney papers (MSS960) comprise the most complete research collection for the study of one of the finest contemporary English language poets and winner of the 1995 Nobel Prize in Literature. The most extensive portion of the papers consists of Heaney's correspondence with friends, editors and fellow writers, spanning his career from 1963 to 2002.

The papers also include a small group of poems and prose written by Heaney and many manuscripts sent to him by other literary figures and by aspiring writers. Clippings and other printed material that detail the reception and influence of his work, video and audio recordings of readings and lectures, and photographs are also available.

A second Seamus Heaney collection (MSS653), artificially created from other sources, includes handwritten drafts and video recordings of several lectures delivered in the 1980s, as well as drafts of other essays and poems. Together with several related collections in MARBL, such as the papers of Ciaran Carson papers, Peter Fallon , Michael Longley, Medbh McGuckian, and Paul Muldoon, the Seamus Heaney materials form an integral part of Emory's rich documentation of Irish literature.

More detailed descriptions of these collections are available in the EmoryFindingAids database. Finding aids for both MSS960 and MSS653 are available.