The series consists of business correspondence. This series complements the National Archives' existing series of Davies' business correspondence.
The files illustrate the day-to-day activities associated with being a writer of Davies' stature. They include fan letters, demands for permission to use material, invitations to make public appearances and requests to give donations to a variety of causes. Files demonstrate the breadth of Davies' interests and involvements, including his activities with PEN, The Playwright's Union of Canada, Massey College, the Stratford Festival the C.G. Jung Foundation, among others.
The series includes correspondence with prominent members of the Canadian cultural community. Correspondents include writers Pierre Berton, Margaret Atwood, June Callwood, Marian Engel, Timothy Findley; classical guitarist Leona Boyd; conductor Richard Bradshaw; photographer Yousuf Karsh; University of Toronto president Claude Bissell; actress Barbara Chilcott; and Davies' biographer Judith Skelton Grant. Davies also corresponded with figures of international reputation, including American authors John Irving, Joyce Carol Oates and Norman Mailer.
Series contains nominal files, including substantial correspondence between Davies and publishers Viking Press, Penguin Books, Macmillan, Sinclair-Stevenson and McClelland and Stewart, pertaining to contractual agreements, editorial revision, arrangements for book tours and cover art. It also contains communications from Davies' literary agents Curtis Brown, Felicity Bryan and Lucinda Vardey regarding copyright, foreign rights and publication fees.
Davies' correspondence with students interested in his work discusses his writing habits, attitudes and inspirations. He answers specific questions about specific novels, he discusses books, authors and ideas that have influenced him and he reflects on issues of Canadian culture and identity among many other issues.
The series contains rough caricatures of Rembrandt and Shakespeare done by Davies for various charitable causes.
One file was sent by Lucinda Vardey to Judith Skelton Grant after Davies' death and forwarded to Davies' estate is included in the series.
