Lewis, C. S. (Lewis, Clive Staples)
Dates
- Existence: 1898-1963
Biographical Statement
A scholar and author, Clive Staples Lewis left his mark on the realms of literary criticism, Christian apologetics, and fantasy stories. While children know him best for the seven Chronicles of Narnia, his religious writings such as Mere Christianity and The Screwtape Letters remain popular today, and his work on Milton, A Preface to Paradise Lost, is considered a standard critical work.
Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Lewis was educated and lived most of his life in England. He served and was wounded in the trenches of World War I France, after which he completed his studies at Oxford University. In 1925, he was elected to a Fellowship in English Language and Literature at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he taught for thirty years. Beginning in the 1930s, Lewis and some friends often gathered informally to discuss their writings and other topics. This group known as "The Inklings" continued meeting regularly until the 1950s, and included such members as J.R.R.Tolkien, Owen Barfield, and Charles Williams. Lewis' popular success began in the 1940s with his BBC radio broadcasts (which later were compiled in written format as Mere Christianity) and publication of The Screwtape Letters. His autobiography, Surprised by Joy, is an engaging description of his journey to faith. In 1955, Lewis left Oxford for Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he was appointed Professor of Medieval and Renaissance Literature, a position he held for the rest of his life. It was also during the 1950s, that Lewis met and married Joy Davidman Gresham, an American writer, whose influence can be seen in Lewis' novel, Till We Have Faces as well as his study on the nature of love, The Four Loves. Joy's battle with cancer and her subsequent death were the subject of two different films both titled, Shadowlands. Lewis' own struggle with her loss is movingly captured in his book, A Grief Observed. After Joy's death in 1960, Lewis' health gradually declined. He died after an illness of several months in his home outside Oxford, on November 22, 1963, the same day President Kennedy was assassinated. Lewis was just a few days short of his 65th birthday.
Raised in a Christian home, Lewis abandoned his faith as a young man, but returned to God as an adult, acknowledging the deity of Christ after a long conversation with several of the Inklings on the nature of myth and truth. "I have just passed on from believing in God to definitely believing in Christ…" he wrote to a friend. "My long night talk with [Hugo] Dyson and Tolkien had a great deal to do with it." A member of the Anglican Church, Lewis' devout and vigorously reasoned faith is the subject of many of his works, and his impact on Christian thought during his life and after has been of tremendous significance.
Citation:
http://www.wheaton.edu/wadecenter/Authors/CS-LewisFound in 43 Collections and/or Records:
And God Came In / A Love Observed Archive
Arthur Greeves Diaries Collection
This archive contains the daily diary entries of Arthur Greeves from 1917-1922.
Author Societies Archive
The materials in this archive relate to groups and societies dedicated to promoting the works and lives of the seven authors in the Wade Center's collections.
C. S. and Warren Lewis, 1902
C. S. and Warren Lewis with bicycles
C. S. and Warren Lewis, youths standing in doorway
C. S. Lewis, child leaning on cane
C. S. Lewis, child with toy
C. S. Lewis, infant
Chad Walsh Papers
This archive contains Chad Walsh's personal letters to and from C.S. Lewis and Joy Davidman, as well as correspondence between Chad Walsh and others on the subject of the Lewis family. Correspondence relating to Walsh's book, C.S. Lewis: Apostle to the Skeptics (New York: Macmillan, 1949), is also included.
Christianity Today Records.
Correspondence, reports, minutes, audio tapes, films relating to the founding of Christianity Today, International (CTI), and its activities as a forum and voice for Evangelical Protestantism in the United States.
Persons featured include L. Nelson Bell, Billy Graham, Carl Henry, Kenneth Kantzer, Harold Lindsell, Harold Myra, Paul Robbins, and numerous other evangelical figures; subjects covered include social and theological issues.
Christopher W. Mitchell Papers
This archive includes papers from the career of Christopher W. Mitchell, who served as the third director of the Marion E. Wade Center from 1994 to 2013.
Colin Duriez Papers
This archive contains a typescript sampling the contents of The C.S. Lewis Handbook (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1990), given by Colin Duriez.
Collection 275 Papers of Charles W. Colson
Collection 582 Oral History Interviews with Michael A. Cassidy
C.S. Lewis: Images of His World Archive
C.S. Lewis Testimonies Archive
This archive contains letters and emails responding to three separate surveys done in 1986, 1996, and 2014 regarding the influence of C.S. Lewis.
Donald Swann Collection
The Donald Swann archive includes articles, reviews, publicity items and other materials related to Swann and his works.
Douglas and Merrie Gresham Family Archive
This archive of the Gresham Family contains manuscript material by family members and background information.
Events File Archive
This archive includes materials from various events related to the Wade authors, including dramatic performances, conferences, academic courses, exhibitions, etc. More additions may be included in this archive at any time.
Geoffrey Bles Publishers Archive
This archive contains business correspondence and miscellanea relating to Geoffrey Bles, the publisher of various works by C.S. Lewis.
George Sayer Manuscripts Collection
This archive includes the manuscript and typescript of an unpublished essay by Sayer called "On C.S. Lewis." Also included is the typescript of The Celestial Search: C.S. Lewis, His Life and Work by Sayer (later titled Jack: C.S. Lewis and his Times - 1988 ed., and Jack: A Life of C.S. Lewis - 1994 ed.).
Irita Kutchmy Collection
Joe R. Christopher Publications Archive
Publications containing bibliographies and other materials relating to the Wade authors by Joe R. Christopher.
Joel D. Heck Collection
Correspondence between Joel Heck and students or colleagues of C.S. Lewis in preparation for his book: Irrigating Deserts: C.S. Lewis on Education. Included in the correspondence are the Magdalen tutorial lists from 1926 to 1954, students' lecture notes, an essay, a diary, newspaper clippings concerning Lewis and a brochure about the play Shadowlands.
KJ Gilchrist Collection
This archive contains materials from KJ Gilchrist relating to research for his book on C.S. Lewis and World War I, A Morning after War (New York: Peter Lang Publishing, Inc., 2005). Also included in the archive are several pieces of WWI memorabilia / artifacts, gathered by Dr. Gilchrist near locations where C.S. Lewis served.
Letters to Children Archive
The book Letters to Children, edited by Lyle W. Dorsett and Marjorie Lamp Mead, was published in 1985. It is a collection of some of Lewis' many letters to children over the years, particularly relating to the Narnia Chronicles but also full of personal advice and goodwill. These papers represent Dorsett and Mead's working papers.
Lewis children, mother at Dundela Villa
Lewis family group at beach, Scotland
Lewis Library Inserts Archive
The items contained in this archive were found between the pages of the books in C.S. Lewis' personal library. A list and photocopies of some of the handwritten annotations in the books are also included.
Lindskoog Christianity and Literature Article Archive
This archive contains correspondence pertaining to the publication of the article "Some Problems in C.S. Lewis Scholarship" by Kathryn Lindskoog in the journal Christianity and Literature (27:4, Summer 1978). Also included are copies of the article and response letters that were published. Gift of J.H. Timmerman.
Mary McDermott Shideler Special Archive
This archive contains a typescript of The Theology of Romantic Love: A Study in the Writings of Charles Williams (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1962), with penciled notes by C.S. Lewis. It also contains a typescript of an index to the works of Charles Williams sent to Lewis, and a photocopy of a letter by Lewis.
Robert Havard Papers
The Robert Havard Papers is a collection of personal and professional papers by and about Dr. Robert Emlyn Havard, personal physician of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien and a member of the Inklings.
Schofield Correspondence Archive
Seeking the Secret Place Archive
This archive contains the materials related to the book Seeking the Secret Place: The Spiritual Formation of C.S. Lewis by Lyle W. Dorsett (Brazos Press, 2004).
Sheldon Vanauken Collection
Stella Aldwinckle Papers
This archive contains personal and professional papers relating to Stella Aldwinckle, the founder of the SocraticClub (which included C.S. Lewis) and member of the Oxford Pastorate staff at Oxford University.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (CTW/ER-TV) Animated Film Archive
This archive contains the press release folder used to promote the television special, the published script, and a teaching kit. There are more identical press release folders in the Wade Center’s Merchandise collection.
Warren H. Lewis Papers
This archive contains personal papers from Warren H. Lewis, brother of C.S. Lewis, as well as inserts removed from the Boxen manuscripts and the Lewis Family Papers or Memoirs of the Lewis Family (1850-1930). A draft of C.S. Lewis: A Biography edited by Warren Lewis is also included.
Warren H. Lewis Walking Tour Maps Collection
The maps and books contained within this archive belonged to Warren H. Lewis. These items contain information about areas in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland where Warren Lewis and his brother C.S. Lewis went on walking tours. There are handwritten markings on several of these items. The original maps are stored separately from the research copies of this archive.
William Griffin Collection
This archive includes the typescript of Clive Staples Lewis: A Dramatic Life, here tentatively titled Rum Thing: A Biography of C.S. Lewis.
William L. Knecht Papers
William Lindsay Gresham Correspondence
This archive contains correspondence to and from William (Bill) Lindsay Gresham. Others involved include C.S. Lewis, Joy Davidman, and Douglas and David Gresham. Also included is correspondence to Marj Mead from Lyle Dorsett concerning the acquisition of the Gresham letters.