Scope and contents
The Ted Allan fonds is arranged in 20 series, and includes: correspondence, manuscripts, and research materials relating to his work on Norman Bethune; radio, stage, television, and film manuscripts; clippings; and personal files. The series "Norman Bethune projects -- correspondence" contains correspondence with McClelland & Stewart (1965-1989), and with Progress Books (1970-1971). The series "Manuscripts -- prose" includes correspondence, manuscript notes, and page proofs of some of Allan's prose writings.
BRS Assigned Accession Number
000001412
Birth or creation dates
1916
Death or termination dates
1995
Inclusive dates of creator
1916-1995
Start date of records
1921
Date of creation of records
1921-1991
Extent of descriptive unit
3.245 m
Physical description
Includes textual records and other materials.
Linear metric measurement
3.2 m approx.
Type of publishing represented
drama; humour; literature -- fiction
Telephone number - main
(613) 995-5138
Telephone number - fax
(613) 995-6274
Street address
395 Wellington Street
City and province
Ottawa, Ontario
Postal code and email
K1A 0N3
Biographical sketch
Ted Allan was born Ted Allan Herman in Montreal in 1921. He began his writing career as a journalist, acting as a correspondent for the Toronto DAILY WORKER. In 1936, he joined the International Brigade in Spain, where he served with the Canadian doctor Norman Bethune. He later co-authored a biography of Bethune, THE SCALPEL, THE SWORD (1955) with Sydney Gordon.** Allan wrote scripts for CBC radio and television in the 1940s and 1950s; after moving to England in 1954, he also wrote for British television. Among his CBC television scripts was FOR WHOM THE HORSES RUN, which was later developed into the novel LOVE IS A LONG SHOT (1948), which won the Stephen Leacock award for humour. Allan also wrote stage plays, beginning with THE MONEY MAKERS (1952), and including the original script for the British production OH WHAT A LOVELY WAR. In the 1970s, he left England and began working as a script writer on Canadian and U.S. film projects, including LIES MY FATHER TOLD ME (1975), and BETHUNE: THE MAKING OF A HERO (1990). He is the author of two other novels, THIS TIME A BETTER EARTH (1939), and QUEST FOR PAJARO (under the pseudonym Edward Maxwell, 1970), a short story collection, and a children's book. Allan died in Toronto in 1995.
Name of repository
National Archives of Canada
Fonda identification number
MG 30 D 388
Finding aids
An inventory is available. A partial copy has been obtained by CPRD.
