Teaching

Files relating to Philip Hobsbaum's teaching activities. Most of the material consists of handouts and text produced in support of teaching or lecturing in English Literature at the University of Glasgow. Also present are reports on pieces of writing by students and peers; references and notes relating to former students; material relating to the teaching of creative writing; and teaching aids for Speech and Drama classes.

Philip Hobsbaum studied English at Downing College, Cambridge, under F R Leavis, whose approach to teaching and literary theory proved a strong influence on Hobsbaum’s own writing and teaching. Hobsbaum began his academic career at Queen’s University, Belfast, in 1962, and gained his PhD from the University of Sheffield in 1968.

Philip Hobsbaum began teaching at the University of Glasgow in 1966 as a lecturer in the English department and this is perhaps where his impact was felt most as a teacher. He advanced to become Senior Lecturer in 1972, Reader in 1979, and finally Professor of English Literature from 1985-1997. During this time, Hobsbaum continued hosting the informal writing groups he had helmed in London and Belfast, starting the Glasgow Group in 1972.

In 1995 Hobsbaum set up the MLitt programme in Creative Writing with Professor Willy Maley, an achievement that reflects the success of Hobsbaum’s dedication to his creative writing groups and his passionate mentoring of students in the University of Glasgow.
“I still remember vividly Philip reading texts in tutorial, keeping the rhythm (enacting it) with a sharpened pencil swung loosely between finger and thumb. He was eager, restless, and absolutely committed as a teacher.”
[See J McGonigal, ‘Coming Out Teaching: Philip Hobsbaum in the 1960s’ in The Dark Horse Magazine, Summer 2002]

Access to records within this file may be restricted in accordance with data protection legislation as they may contain information about potentially living individuals. Please email Archives and Special Collections for advice: library-asc@glasgow.ac.uk

See also University of Glasgow Collections

See also MS Hobsbaum F/5/1: Speech & Drama Qualifications and Practice; MS Hobsbaum F/5/2: Tulse Hill; MS Hobsbaum F/7/1: Queens University Belfast; and MS Hobsbaum F/8/2: University of Glasgow