Pierre Kemp: letter and manuscript collection
In 2002, Pierre Kemp’s letter and manuscript collection came into the hands of Maastricht University Library. In the years that followed, the collection was supplemented by donations. In 2003, archivist Frank Hovens, who works at the Limburg Regional Historical Center in Maastricht, made a classic archive inventory to make the collection accessible. Kemp’s manuscript collection consists of a considerable collection of handwritten and typed versions of his poems. In addition, this collection contains letters, drawings, sound fragments and even an egg.
Correspondence between Kemp and Prick
“Porituri to Salutant! Those who start to stink salute you!” Thus, on May 5, 1960, Pierre Kemp opens his letter to Dr. Harry G.M. Prick, then curator of the Literature Museum in The Hague. The letter, in response to a newspaper article entitled “Pierre Kemp: Ondergoed aan rijmend lijntje …”, is one of the fascinating examples of the correspondence between Kemp and Prick in the 1950s and 1960s. The correspondence collection is made digitally available for educational and research purposes, but also for the individual enthusiast.
Liber Amicorum
Pierre Kemp was gifted a liber amicorum (a Festschrift) on his seventieth birthday. In this unique book many well-known poets and artists expressed their admiration and affection for the Maastricht poet. Famous writers and poets such as S. Vestdijk, Gerrit Achterberg, J.C. Bloem, A. Roland Holst, Jan Engelman, Anton van Duinkerken, M. Vasalis, Hendrik de Vries, Bert Voeten and Lucebert contributed. It contains original drawings by a number of visual artists. The book was the result of the good care of Kemp’s friends, the Dutch teacher Fernand Lodewick and dermatologist and orientalist Harrie Tijdens.
Choreographic fantasies
In 1931, Pierre Kemp made twelve color drawings or what might be called ‘choreographic fantasies’. Eleven of these have been preserved, the twelfth fantasy, entitled “Ideal Baby Competition” has not yet been found. It is not known exactly what Pierre Kemp had in mind with these remarkable designs for revue or ballet. It can be concluded from his personal archive that he wanted to send them to America. The performances indeed seem to tie in with what innovative theater artists and scenographers produced in the United States in those days.
Consulting copies
This collection is not available for loan. You can request items from the closed stacks and consult these in the Parlour room at the Inner City Library. A part of this collection is also digitally available. In LibSearch you can browse the Pierre Kemp collection separately.