Collection GB 2108 KUAS49 - Dunbar, Scott (d 2006): papers

Identity area

Reference code

GB 2108 KUAS49

Title

Dunbar, Scott (d 2006): papers

Date(s)

  • [1977-1984] (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

2 boxes

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Scott Dunbar was a teacher, philosopher and theologian from Canada. Dunbar led a difficult life, experiencing a near death experience due to an alcohol overdose, later ending up an Alcoholics Anonymous member, 1975; became a bio-ethicist via the Cleveland Clinic and wrote on many aspects of bio-ethics; later moving to Toronto, 1997, only to return to Montreal unemployed. He then worked, teaching English as a second language. Scott, a profound thinker and skilled writer met Iris Murdoch in 1966; Scott became arguably the most important 'gay' friend she had, one of the many including Roly Cochrane and Andrew Harvey. Scott Dunbar died 1 March 2006.

Archival history

GB 2108 KUAS49 [1977-1984] collection 2 boxes Dunbar , Scott , d 2006 , philosopher, theologian and teacher

Scott Dunbar was a teacher, philosopher and theologian from Canada. Dunbar led a difficult life, experiencing a near death experience due to an alcohol overdose, later ending up an Alcoholics Anonymous member, 1975; became a bio-ethicist via the Cleveland Clinic and wrote on many aspects of bio-ethics; later moving to Toronto, 1997, only to return to Montreal unemployed. He then worked, teaching English as a second language. Scott, a profound thinker and skilled writer met Iris Murdoch in 1966; Scott became arguably the most important 'gay' friend she had, one of the many including Roly Cochrane and Andrew Harvey. Scott Dunbar died 1 March 2006.

Acquired in 2008.

Papers of Scott Dunbar, [1977-1984], largely comprise letters from Iris Murdoch to Dr Scott Dunbar and copies of his work. Letters from Iris Murdoch to Dunbar raise issues including religion, politics, structuralism, philosophy and also more personal matters including her mother's illness. The collection also includes an itinerary listing a series of ten lectures to be given by Iris Murdoch in October 1982 at the University of Edinburgh, the Gifford Lectureship in Natural Theology entitled 'Metaphysics as a guide to morals', possibly attended by Dunbar and a photocopy of a letter from Scott Dunbar to Murdoch answering a question at length: 'why are gay bars so sad?'.

The collection also contains letters from other individuals to Dunbar including Duncan Averbach, 1989, discussing Dunbar's thesis and the difference between the human being and person; letter from Theodore Brotsis, enclosing a photograph of Theodore, 1986; published works by Dunbar including 'On art, morals, and religion: some reflections on the work of Iris Murdoch', Scott Dunbar, Religious Studies, Vol 14, No 4, 1978; typescript copies of works including 'Alcoholics Anonymous and Alcohol Dependency' Part One and Part Two and handwritten notes, presumably by Dunbar, including notes titled 'IVF and all that' and lecture notes including 'The Iliad Lectures'.

Uncatalogued, arranged in original order.

Open. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment.

Contact archive for information concerning reproduction at archives@kingston.ac.uk.

English

No additional finding aids currently exist.

Sources: Scott Dunbar acquisitions file (Archives and Special Collections reading room, Kingston University).
Entry compiled by Samantha Velumyl, AIM25 cataloguer.

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

May 2008. Addiction Alcoholism Diseases Dunbar , Scott , d 2006 , philosopher, theologian and teacher Homosexuality Murdoch , Dame , Jean Iris , 1919-1999 , author x Murdoch , Iris Pathology Philosophy Political science Politics Religion Sexuality Social problems Theology

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Acquired in 2008.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Papers of Scott Dunbar, [1977-1984], largely comprise letters from Iris Murdoch to Dr Scott Dunbar and copies of his work. Letters from Iris Murdoch to Dunbar raise issues including religion, politics, structuralism, philosophy and also more personal matters including her mother's illness. The collection also includes an itinerary listing a series of ten lectures to be given by Iris Murdoch in October 1982 at the University of Edinburgh, the Gifford Lectureship in Natural Theology entitled 'Metaphysics as a guide to morals', possibly attended by Dunbar and a photocopy of a letter from Scott Dunbar to Murdoch answering a question at length: 'why are gay bars so sad?'.

The collection also contains letters from other individuals to Dunbar including Duncan Averbach, 1989, discussing Dunbar's thesis and the difference between the human being and person; letter from Theodore Brotsis, enclosing a photograph of Theodore, 1986; published works by Dunbar including 'On art, morals, and religion: some reflections on the work of Iris Murdoch', Scott Dunbar, Religious Studies, Vol 14, No 4, 1978; typescript copies of works including 'Alcoholics Anonymous and Alcohol Dependency' Part One and Part Two and handwritten notes, presumably by Dunbar, including notes titled 'IVF and all that' and lecture notes including 'The Iliad Lectures'.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Uncatalogued, arranged in original order.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Open. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment.

Conditions governing reproduction

Contact archive for information concerning reproduction at archives@kingston.ac.uk.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

No additional finding aids currently exist.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Kingston University

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area