Wayne Holder papers, 1920-2007

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Summary

Creators:
Holder, Wayne, 1949-
Abstract:
Acquired in 2006, the papers consist primarily of correspondence, writings, and photographs relating to the history and literature of Estonia. Of particular importance are the numerous photographs and writings in the papers that pertain to the struggle for renewed independence for Estonia in the years leading up to the break up of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Extent:
7 manuscript boxes, 3 oversize boxes (4.0 Linear Feet)
Language:
In English, Estonian and Russian
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Wayne Holder papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

Acquired in 2006, the Wayne Holder papers in the Hoover Institution Library & Archives consist primarily of correspondence, writings, and photographs relating to the history and literature of Estonia. Of particular importance are the numerous photographs and writings in the papers that pertain to the struggle for renewed independence for Estonia in the years leading up to the break up of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Holder's interest in Estonia dates from the early 1980s, when he lived in Vancouver, B.C. and was close friends with Toomas Ilves, an Estonian-American also living in Vancouver. Holder and Ilves collaborated on the translation of works by a number of Estonian poets, including Marie Under. They were also for a time active in running the Literary Storefront, a cultural center in Vancouver that hosted public readings by many authors.

Holder first visited Estonia in 1984, when it was still part of the Soviet Union, and he met with a number of Estonian writers. He again visited Estonia in 1989 and 1990, when the independence movement there was gathering momentum, and both took and collected numerous photographs documenting this phenomenon. He also met with various cultural figures, from established writers to young members of the Estonian punk scene.

The Correspondence series in the papers contains a significant number of letters from Toomas Ilves, who later repatriated to Estonia and became that country's president, as well as from the Estonian writer, Juhan Habicht. The Speeches and Writings series is comprised mainly of poems that reflect Holder's experiences in Estonia. The Writings by others series consists largely of translations of works by Estonian writers. The Photographs and Oversize materials series contain many photographs that document the rise of the independence movement in Estonia during 1989-1990. There are also a large number of photographs (in the Oversize materials series) that originated in the photo services of the Union of Soviet Societies of Friendship and Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries. These depict scenes of economic and political life in the Soviet Union, largely in the late 1970s.

The papers also contain a quantity of research materials from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and which consist of wire service reports and articles from serial issues that relate to Estonia, Eastern Europe, and the Soviet Union. These materials were sent to Holder by Toomas Ilves in the mid-1980s, when Ilves was head of the Estonian desk of Radio Free Europe in Munich.

Biographical / historical:
Date Event
1949
Born, Colorado
1982-1983
With Toomas Ilves, runs The Literary Storefront, a cultural center in Vancouver, British Columbi
1984
Travels to Estonia, then part of the Soviet Union. Meets with Estonian writers
1988
Guest editor of Cake, a literary journal. Issue has special section devoted to modern Estonian writing
1989-1990
Travels twice to Estonia, documents independence movement
Acquisition information:
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 2006.
Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into 11 series: Biographical file, Correspondence, Speeches and Writings, Notes and writing fragments, Writings by others, Research materials, Subject file, Printed matter, Photographs, Sound recording, and Oversize materials

Physical location:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.

Terms of access:

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Wayne Holder papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Location of this collection:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003, US
Contact:
(650) 723-3563
hooverarchives@stanford.edu
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