Correspondence [textual record]. -- 1961 - 1992. -- 66 cm of textual records

Scope and content: This series contains incoming and outgoing correspondence between Raymond Fraser and his publishers, business associates, family, and friends, most notably Alden Nowlan, Leo Ferrari, Fred Cogswell, Elizabeth Brewster, Al Pittman, Louis Cormier, Sharon (Johnston) Fraser, and David Butler. Personal letters discuss works in progress, publishing prospects, the Canadian literary scene, reviews, and personal and family matters. Correspondence from family and friends often contains reviews of literary works or copies of poems or articles written by them. Communications between Fraser and Butler comment on Miramichi events, including the Allan Legere murder case. Several letters between Ray Fraser and Sharon (Johnston) Fraser also comment on the Legere case, as well as on his escape from jail and his temporary success in eluding authorities.

The bulk of business correspondence is between Fraser and various publishers, agents, editors, and the Canada Council. Letters deal with applications for grants, submissions to contests, literary readings, literary awards, and details surrounding the preparation of works for publication. Also included are a few letters between Ray Fraser and Todd Matchett, subject of Confessions of a Young Criminal (1994), which discuss the Allan Legere murder case, and several letters pertaining to The Flat Earth Society.

This series consists of 3 sub-series:
1. General correspondence
2. Business correspondence
3. General and business correspondence

Title based on contents.

Sub-series 1, general correspondence and sub-series 2, business correspondence were acquired in 1988 and are arranged alphabetically.

Sub-series 3, general and business correspondence was acquired in February 1993. The creator arranged this material chronologically, and this order has been retained.

Archives and Special Collections houses Winston Andrew Steeves's MA thesis, "Alden Nowlan's Letters to Raymond Fraser" (English, Acadia University, 1996), which includes transcriptions of the 164 letters from Nowlan to Fraser located in this fonds, along with scholarly notes and an introduction (PS8527 O798 Z544 1996).

A few additional pieces of correspondence are located in series 2, manuscripts and typescripts and series 4, personal and business records.

An alphabetical index to correspondence contained in sub-series 1 and sub-series 2 is located in Appendix A attached.

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