Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1932 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
Printed and typed
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Name of creator
Biographical history
Name of creator
Biographical history
George Michael Wickens was a distinguished Canadian-British Persianist as well as Arabist, translator and a University lecturer. Wickens was born in London, England and attended Trinity College, Cambridge, where he received his BA in 1939 and MA in 1946, respectively. During the Second World War, he served with the Royal Army Pay Corp from 1939 to 1941 and the Intelligence Corps from 1941 to 1946, rising to the rank of captain. Following his wartime service, most of which was spent in Iran, Wickens resumed academic life, teaching at the University of London for three years before accepting an invitation to return to Cambridge. He taught there until 1957 when he was offered an associate professorship at University of Toronto. He became a full professor in 1960 and founding chair of the Department of Islamic Studies (predecessor to today’s Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations) in 1961. A prolific and distinguished humanities scholar, Wickens was the author of 'Avicenna: Scientist and Philosopher' (1952) and he translated several masterpieces of Persian literature such as Boostan of Sa'di into English. Wickens died in Toronto, Ontario in 2006 from a stroke
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Publications by other people found within the Storey archive (his bequest included many pamphlets associated with his research. These have been kept separately):
- Photographic plates for an unknown publications produced by the 'Bombay Art Printing Works, Fort' and photographer, 'S. Vasudeorao, Indore'. There are 7 plates showing the Patlia people, 17 plates of the Bhil people, 14 plates showing weapons, ceremonies and domestic scenes, and 7 plates showing the Bhilala people. These are all in black and white and each section is preceded by a written index.
- Plate of a portrait of George Borrow produced from the painting by Henry Wyndham Phillips by permission of Mr Murray. A black and white print mounted on green paper.
- Ecole Nationale des Langues Orientales Vivantes, Programme des Cours de L'annee Scolaire, 1933-1936, printed pamphlet advertising courses available with the school.
- Proceeding of the Iran Society, Vol. II Part 3, 'Iraqi, Mystic Poet of Iran' by Arthur J. Arberry, 18 April 1939, printed pamphlet.
- Review by H. Ritter of Storey's 'Persian Literature: A bio-bibliographical Survey' published by Luzac in 1953. This is from an unknown German publication.
- Bulletin of C.I.V.I.C. Council for Investigation of Vatican Influence and Censorship, Vol. 1 No. 8, 15 October 1941, printed pamphlet
- The Literary Guide and Rationalist Review Vol. LXII, No.2, February 1947 and Vol. LXII No.3 March 1947, Printed pamphlets.
- 'Intiqād al-I'Tirād', article written by G.M. Wickens to rebuff criticisms of his previous article on the poetry of Hafiq. Typed, 15 pages.
- Selected bibliography: The Study of International affairs compiled by Lt. Colonel J.V. Delahaye, typed, 4 pieces.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
- English
- German