After Daves death it was rumoured that his vast collection of Soul related artifacts and memorabilia was left to a Manchester Library and whilst I checked with some I never located his collection

 

After a recent Article in the Guardian which was featured on SS I contacted Chethams Library

Whilst they make it clear they have what remains I am amazed that a lot of Daves collection appears to have been destroyed

 

Dear Phil, Thanks for your message. Whilst the Mail online article is correct in saying that we holds some of Dave Godin’s papers it’s not quite as straightforward as it appeared. After Dave Godin’s death a friend of the Library who knew him arranged for us to receive a small collection of papers belonging to Dave before they were thrown away. I took some items from the Godin household after his death in 2007. This was in response to a friend of mine who knew Godin, who was concerned that this material would simply be thrown away. When the half a dozen boxes arrived it was clear that very little remained of Godin's archive. His music had been dispersed and most of the photographs and letters had been removed; quite a few of them apeared on ebay soon after. Most of the stuff relating to his involvement with Tamla Motown has gone (we know that there was a fairly lengthy correspondence with Berry Gordy) and there's hardly anything about Northern Soul. Instead there are some things about his work at the Anvil Cinema and also about his interest in film and film censorship. We have looked to depositing this in an archive that can properly look after this better than us but so far without luck. You are welcome to visit the Library to look through the boxes but I should say that those who have gone through the collection have always ended up disappointed that there is so little relating to Dave’s chief interest in soul music. All the best, Michael

Looks like the 'Vultures' got there first. Sad news

That's amazing. He must have had tons of stuff. Records, correspondence, Christmas cards from Bessie Banks... How was it that all this stuff was 'spirited away' before being hand over to the library in question, if those were his wishes? I imagine most of this stuff is now in "permanent loan collections". How sad. 

In Scotland somewhere I heard

thanks Phil for passing on your follow  up

 

was that the extent of the 'northern' collection that was reported in the papers or was there mention of anything else there?

 

In Scotland somewhere I heard

in Scotland?

as a "scot", i would be interested in the who, what where?

Jim just waiting on a name back from a pal but think it was someone who ran southern fried soul. I don't know if there is any credence in it, but apparently he was friends with Dave and he left him his collection or part of it. 

thanks Phil for passing on your follow  up

 

was that the extent of the 'northern' collection that was reported in the papers or was there mention of anything else there?

 

Mike I've sent them a further email asking the same question and to make arrangements to view it..

I will let you know their response

This is the catalogue of what Chethams have in the Dave Godin Collection.. Anyone wishing to view it will need to contact the library in advance

 

Dave Godin papers (summary list)

Box 1. (Labelled Film 1)

Folder 1 Folder labelled Forbidden film.

 Comprises mainly black and white film stills

Folder 2 Labelled Photocopying.

 Mainly film stills, photocopies of articles re censorship.

Folder 3 Labelled Film

 Papers, correspondence, re Anvil Cinema Sheffield Season of

Anti- Fascist themed films to coincide with Anne Frank in the world

exhibition at the Graves Art Gallery Sheffield 1987

Folder 4 Labelled Beecool Film Project Special Stills

Scrapbook (lacking front cover)

 Newspaper cuttings on film censorship 1973

Remainder of box comprises loose material along the lines of the above, i.e.

correspondence, film stills, cuttings re censorship, together with Anvil Cinema

programmes, etc.

Box 2. (Labelled Film 2 and Anvil)

Files 1 & 2 Cuttings of film reviews, magazines etc., and reports re censorship

Folder 3 Labelled Anvil

 Papers, council memoranda re Anvil Cinema 1987-

Folder 4 Labelled Anvil

 Programmes, publicity material, photographs, esp. re closure of Anvil

 cinema 1990

Folder 5 Labelled Forbidden Film

 Photostats, press books etc.

Remainder of box loose material re above themes, including press books, publicity

material, correspondence, cutting esp. censorship. Includes some letters to Godin from

British Board of Film Censors Secretaries — Stephen Murphy and James Ferman, and

also typescripts of articles/reports by DG on history of film censorship in UKBox 3

Folder 1 Labelled Rathaus articles

 Copies of articles by DG on Karol Rathaus and correspondence re

 article for v. 4 of International Dictionary of Films and Filmakers for

St James Press.

Folder 2 Labelled Fedor Ozep

 Articles on Ozep by DG, copies of letters by DG and some to him

 including copy of one from director Michael Powell, papers re

Campaign for abolition of Film Censorship for Adults (CAFCA), Film stills

 Brothers Karamazov (1931), letters from British Board of Film

Censors Secretaries — Stephen Murphy and James Ferman.

Folder 3 Labelled The Hidden Cinema Film Censorship

 (Photocopy of book of that title by James C. Robertson (1989)

Folder 4 Letters, articles by D.G. background information, press releases re Ozep

 and Rathaus

File 5 Cuttings, articles mainly on censorship

File 6 Labelled Mrs Ozep

 Cuttings correspondence re Soviet cinema

Remainder of box as above — mainly Ozep

Box 4

File 1 Labelled General Politics

 Cuttings re censorship, application for post of Cinema Manager Irish

 Film Institute (1992), Memorandum & articles of Association

 Right on Records 1975

File 2 Labelled Esperanto

 Magazine, cuttings, letters in Esperanto

File 3 Labelled Brigid Brophy

 Small collection of letters, postcards from Brigid Brophy, also copies of

 letters to her from DG (1975-76)

 

File 4 Labelled Sheffield Misc.

 Mainly newspaper cuttings on and by DG, also closure of Anvil Cinema

File 5 Labelled Misc.

 Newspaper cuttings, articles re healing, circumcision etc.

File 6 Labelled Freedom

 Freedom : Anarchist Weekly 1966-72 (incomplete)File 7 Labelled Freedom

 Freedom : Anarchist Weekly 1972-73 (incomplete)

File 8 Labelled Politics

 Copies of Freedom, and other anarchist magazines and newsletters, some

 correspondence and articles by DG

File 9 Labelled SAM

 Articles by DG and mailing list for SAM

File 10 Labelled To be sorted

 Letters from John Scudamore, articles, extracts re sexual health, copies of

 Blues and Soul, articles by DG from Soul Music Magazine, some letters

 to and from Brigid Brophy (1974), article by BB on censorship.

File 11 Labelled Important mixed documents (top films etc.)

 Correspondence with Zenith North TV re TV programmes, publicity

 material soul acts, press cuttings.

File 12 Labelled Gilo Pontecorvo

 Correspondence, cuttings articles, magazines.

File 13 Labelled Misc.

 Miscellaneous article, magazines

Loose folders

.1 Includes papers, article by DG for BBC production The Day that

changed my life, including six page account by DG

5.2 Labelled Personal papers, cuttings

 Cuttings of articles By DG for the Star (2000)

5.3 Labelled Writing oddments

 Copies of articles by DG including some music articles

5.4 Copies of articles by DG including some music articles

5.5 Labelled Sheffield Press cuttings

 Newspaper cuttings, copies of articles by DG, papers re Anvil and

 Sheffield Council

5.6 Labelled Censorship photos

 Film stills

5.7 Labelled Censorship Film material

 Publicity material, magazines

5.8 Labelled Anvil material 3 folders: Press clippings (Mounted originals); Anvil material; Anvil Press

 cuttings book

5.9 Folder of letters re closure of Anvil cinema

5.10 File of copies of Get on the Right track (Ace records 1995-99) and Anvil

 cinema promotional material

 

Black A4 magazine folder

 Containing newspaper and magazine cuttings, magazines

Grey A4 magazine folder

 Containing magazines, some anarchist, some cinema

Carrier bag

 Right track magazines, Ace catalogues, promotional material for Deep

 Soul Treasures v. 3, etc.

Small box

 Postcards, birthday cards, invitations etc. sent to DG , mostly 1990s,

 2000s (some from Martha Reeves, Brigid Brophy)

Cardboard box 1

 Anvil cinema programmes, some correspondence, Private Eye mags, etc.

Cardboard box 2

1. Scrapbook of cuttings re Anvil cinema, 1981-83

2. Album of autographs (DG’s retirement)

3. Scrapbook of cuttings of letters to press by DG re censorship, 1974-79

4. Folder marked Top copies - letters and drafts of articles in DG’s hand

5. Scrapbook of cuttings of letters to press by DG, 1988-90

6. Scrapbook of cuttings on Pontecorvo

Remainder of box, letters, postcards, photocopies, magazine articles by DG, includes

Oz School kids issue, Motownopoly game

Other material

1. Framed picture of assorted badges

2. Framed picture of assorted postcards, photographs (2)

3. Framed Anvil cinema poster

4. Assorted rolled posters, pictures

5. Bag of personal effects, spectacles, ashtrays, etc.

Thanks for that information. The whole dispersion of his possessions was chaotic. His LPs went to Scotland and were subsequently sold. I've got a file of censorship letters and a couple of nice Motown telegrams. I'll contact the museum and arrange to check out the boxes, give them relevant stuff from me and discuss what should be done.

 

This is the catalogue of what Chethams have in the Dave Godin Collection.. Anyone wishing to view it will need to contact the library in advance

 

Dave Godin papers (summary list)

Box 1. (Labelled Film 1)

Folder 1 Folder labelled Forbidden film.

 Comprises mainly black and white film stills

Folder 2 Labelled Photocopying.

 Mainly film stills, photocopies of articles re censorship.

Folder 3 Labelled Film

 Papers, correspondence, re Anvil Cinema Sheffield Season of

Anti- Fascist themed films to coincide with Anne Frank in the world

exhibition at the Graves Art Gallery Sheffield 1987

Folder 4 Labelled Beecool Film Project Special Stills

Scrapbook (lacking front cover)

 Newspaper cuttings on film censorship 1973

Remainder of box comprises loose material along the lines of the above, i.e.

correspondence, film stills, cuttings re censorship, together with Anvil Cinema

programmes, etc.

Box 2. (Labelled Film 2 and Anvil)

Files 1 & 2 Cuttings of film reviews, magazines etc., and reports re censorship

Folder 3 Labelled Anvil

 Papers, council memoranda re Anvil Cinema 1987-

Folder 4 Labelled Anvil

 Programmes, publicity material, photographs, esp. re closure of Anvil

 cinema 1990

Folder 5 Labelled Forbidden Film

 Photostats, press books etc.

Remainder of box loose material re above themes, including press books, publicity

material, correspondence, cutting esp. censorship. Includes some letters to Godin from

British Board of Film Censors Secretaries — Stephen Murphy and James Ferman, and

also typescripts of articles/reports by DG on history of film censorship in UKBox 3

Folder 1 Labelled Rathaus articles

 Copies of articles by DG on Karol Rathaus and correspondence re

 article for v. 4 of International Dictionary of Films and Filmakers for

St James Press.

Folder 2 Labelled Fedor Ozep

 Articles on Ozep by DG, copies of letters by DG and some to him

 including copy of one from director Michael Powell, papers re

Campaign for abolition of Film Censorship for Adults (CAFCA), Film stills

 Brothers Karamazov (1931), letters from British Board of Film

Censors Secretaries — Stephen Murphy and James Ferman.

Folder 3 Labelled The Hidden Cinema Film Censorship

 (Photocopy of book of that title by James C. Robertson (1989)

Folder 4 Letters, articles by D.G. background information, press releases re Ozep

 and Rathaus

File 5 Cuttings, articles mainly on censorship

File 6 Labelled Mrs Ozep

 Cuttings correspondence re Soviet cinema

Remainder of box as above — mainly Ozep

Box 4

File 1 Labelled General Politics

 Cuttings re censorship, application for post of Cinema Manager Irish

 Film Institute (1992), Memorandum & articles of Association

 Right on Records 1975

File 2 Labelled Esperanto

 Magazine, cuttings, letters in Esperanto

File 3 Labelled Brigid Brophy

 Small collection of letters, postcards from Brigid Brophy, also copies of

 letters to her from DG (1975-76)

 

File 4 Labelled Sheffield Misc.

 Mainly newspaper cuttings on and by DG, also closure of Anvil Cinema

File 5 Labelled Misc.

 Newspaper cuttings, articles re healing, circumcision etc.

File 6 Labelled Freedom

 Freedom : Anarchist Weekly 1966-72 (incomplete)File 7 Labelled Freedom

 Freedom : Anarchist Weekly 1972-73 (incomplete)

File 8 Labelled Politics

 Copies of Freedom, and other anarchist magazines and newsletters, some

 correspondence and articles by DG

File 9 Labelled SAM

 Articles by DG and mailing list for SAM

File 10 Labelled To be sorted

 Letters from John Scudamore, articles, extracts re sexual health, copies of

 Blues and Soul, articles by DG from Soul Music Magazine, some letters

 to and from Brigid Brophy (1974), article by BB on censorship.

File 11 Labelled Important mixed documents (top films etc.)

 Correspondence with Zenith North TV re TV programmes, publicity

 material soul acts, press cuttings.

File 12 Labelled Gilo Pontecorvo

 Correspondence, cuttings articles, magazines.

File 13 Labelled Misc.

 Miscellaneous article, magazines

Loose folders

.1 Includes papers, article by DG for BBC production The Day that

changed my life, including six page account by DG

5.2 Labelled Personal papers, cuttings

 Cuttings of articles By DG for the Star (2000)

5.3 Labelled Writing oddments

 Copies of articles by DG including some music articles

5.4 Copies of articles by DG including some music articles

5.5 Labelled Sheffield Press cuttings

 Newspaper cuttings, copies of articles by DG, papers re Anvil and

 Sheffield Council

5.6 Labelled Censorship photos

 Film stills

5.7 Labelled Censorship Film material

 Publicity material, magazines

5.8 Labelled Anvil material 3 folders: Press clippings (Mounted originals); Anvil material; Anvil Press

 cuttings book

5.9 Folder of letters re closure of Anvil cinema

5.10 File of copies of Get on the Right track (Ace records 1995-99) and Anvil

 cinema promotional material

 

Black A4 magazine folder

 Containing newspaper and magazine cuttings, magazines

Grey A4 magazine folder

 Containing magazines, some anarchist, some cinema

Carrier bag

 Right track magazines, Ace catalogues, promotional material for Deep

 Soul Treasures v. 3, etc.

Small box

 Postcards, birthday cards, invitations etc. sent to DG , mostly 1990s,

 2000s (some from Martha Reeves, Brigid Brophy)

Cardboard box 1

 Anvil cinema programmes, some correspondence, Private Eye mags, etc.

Cardboard box 2

1. Scrapbook of cuttings re Anvil cinema, 1981-83

2. Album of autographs (DG’s retirement)

3. Scrapbook of cuttings of letters to press by DG re censorship, 1974-79

4. Folder marked Top copies - letters and drafts of articles in DG’s hand

5. Scrapbook of cuttings of letters to press by DG, 1988-90

6. Scrapbook of cuttings on Pontecorvo

Remainder of box, letters, postcards, photocopies, magazine articles by DG, includes

Oz School kids issue, Motownopoly game

Other material

1. Framed picture of assorted badges

2. Framed picture of assorted postcards, photographs (2)

3. Framed Anvil cinema poster

4. Assorted rolled posters, pictures

5. Bag of personal effects, spectacles, ashtrays, etc.

 

 

Certainly missing from that list are copies of Soulful Kinda Music magazine which I know he had because he contributed on a regular basis.

 

I wonder where they went ?

Some of his 45 were also sold on ebay by a guy from Glasgow who got them after his death as he was a friend and corresponded with him . His name escapes me at the moment. I was interested in a few uk demos but they mainly had the centre dinked.

I seem to remember there being a discussion on here about it at the time.

Some of his 45 were also sold on ebay by a guy from Glasgow who got them after his death as he was a friend and corresponded with him . His name escapes me at the moment. I was interested in a few uk demos but they mainly had the centre dinked.

I seem to remember there being a discussion on here about it at the time.

yes there was a thread about it on here couple years ago or more i think

jason

Happens all the time, stuff gets spirited away after death, very rarely is it kept intact.  Everyone wants a piece.  At best it goes to people the person left pieces to, at worst, it's theft.  There was a case here a while back where a well known DJ was left in a vegetative state & his records were in a lock up.  Turned out, one of his friends was going around to check on the wife & kids, lifting the key to the lock up, nicking records & returning the key over a number of months/years.  The DJs records were turning up in used record stores all over the place & no one could work it out.  The family decided to hold an auction of the record collection to raise funds for his ongoing care only to find the guts had be ripped out of it.  Super sad.

Regarding the Motown stuff (thinking about the formation of the TM Appreciation Society) it is a shame that Dave's early correspondence wasn't sent to the Motown Museum in Detroit.

Very sad to read this,just shows there's low life among so call friends to make a few bucks really,really sad

Thread from Kevin McCardle re Dave Godin from a few years back

 

Edited January 20, 201510 yr by Dave Turner

It may add nothing to this thread but in case it does I just ordered a copy of Dave Godin's Will.

 

Nothing underhand or disrespectful about that - EVERY Will is in the PUBLIC DOMAIN. You just need to know where to order it from and pay a small admin fee.

 

If nothing else should spell out the executors and any specific bequests. Hopefully.

 

Anyway it is what it is. Takes up to 10 working days so I'll let you guys know.

I can't imagine that Dave Godin was a man who cared much for 'chattels' and I don't believe raking over this will do any good.   

 

He was a long time away from the Soul scene and had many interests outside Soul including cinema obviously and this is apparent in the Chetham 'collection'.     His extensive and greatly influential writings on Soul music are still readily available in Blues & Soul and Black Music and that's how I care to remember him.

I can't imagine that Dave Godin was a man who cared much for 'chattels' and I don't believe raking over this will do any good.   

 

He was a long time away from the Soul scene and had many interests outside Soul including cinema obviously and this is apparent in the Chetham 'collection'.     His extensive and greatly influential writings on Soul music are still readily available in Blues & Soul and Black Music and that's how I care to remember him.

That's very true Mike and a lot of his best stuff had been borrowed over the previous 40 years. Raking up and recrimination won't particularly help but it might give the impetus to put together something of a tribute or at least document what is left which will spur on other contributions to Dave's work. He certainly gave stuff away or lent it out on a whim.

in Scotland?

as a "scot", i would be interested in the who, what where?

They went to Kev McCardle from Glasgow, Kev and his wife Helena sold up everything including their home a couple of years ago and went travelling ....

If I had been given Dave Godin's records ,there is no way on earth I would ever sell them .Just saying .....

They went to Kev McCardle from Glasgow, Kev and his wife Helena sold up everything including their home a couple of years ago and went travelling ....

I djed for Kevin at his last night shortly before they went away traveling, I'm farely sure the guy who helped Kev run the night is minding the records until he gets back. He djed with them that night 100%

He was very honoured that the records were left to him, I don't think he sold them but I could be wrong.

Hope this helps

Atb n Ktf

Clint

I was staying round at Kevs on night and he told me about his freindship with Dave, he then opens a cupboard to show me the collection he got from Dave after his death.. I was gobsmacked, a wonderful story indeed.. Kev did say that certain people got there before him and a lot of stuff was taken away.. Kev got to write the sleeve notes on the final "Dave Godin" deep soul treasures No 4, a fitting tribute to two me brought together by soul.. I am sure many if you have the cd, check the sleeve notes..

I don't think he sold them but I could be wrong.

Hope this helps

Atb n Ktf

Clint

They were sold and advertised as coming from Dave's collection. Check the link put in above.

I was staying round at Kevs on night and he told me about his freindship with Dave, he then opens a cupboard to show me the collection he got from Dave after his death.. I was gobsmacked, a wonderful story indeed.. Kev did say that certain people got there before him and a lot of stuff was taken away.. Kev got to write the sleeve notes on the final "Dave Godin" deep soul treasures No 4, a fitting tribute to two me brought together by soul.. I am sure many if you have the cd, check the sleeve notes..

Steve, Kevin did the introduction. Dave dictated the sleevenotes to me when I visited him in Rotherham shortly before his death. Ady

Steve, Kevin did the introduction. Dave dictated the sleevenotes to me when I visited him in Rotherham shortly before his death. Ady

Thanks for that Ady, I will dig the cd out and have a read again, I remember it struck a chord.. On the subject or " deep soul treasures cd's" have they been up there in the best sales if Kent CDs over the years?? A wonderful collection indeed for every collector..

Thanks for that Ady, I will dig the cd out and have a read again, I remember it struck a chord.. On the subject or " deep soul treasures cd's" have they been up there in the best sales if Kent CDs over the years?? A wonderful collection indeed for every collector..

Yes the best selling comps we've ever done, only Mod Jazz splits off Vol 4 from the other three in sales. In case you missed it we will be doing a Vol 5 later this year. All tracks Dave wanted for the series and hopefully we can find his words on the songs for the sleevenotes.

Essential collection, like being bathed in emotion.

Who was the executor of Dave's estate and where was the executor when Dave's possessions were being dealt with, so to speak? 

Edited January 28, 201510 yr by sunnysoul

They were sold and advertised as coming from Dave's collection. Check the link put in above.

So Sorry! My reply was just an observation from the time. I completely missed that link. Never got the impression they were being sold. I stand corrected.

That is a shame! Not what most would do but if they were left to him? I suppose it is his choice.

Respectfully

Clint

I am currently researching and writing Dave's biography to be published later this year. It's taken longer than expected, four years so far, mainly due to the many false facts and stories surrounding Dave's colourful life and his many beliefs. He was a complex character but what would have made my job easier would have been if his fantastic and comprehensive archive had been intact when I began this project. Dave used to contribute a column to a magazine I published in the 1990s (which is how we first met) and I know he kept copies of everything he was connected with, housed in a bank of filing cabinets. There's a sad paragraph in my book where  several of these filing cabinets (still full of paperwork) are just thrown into a skip as his house was cleared. Other objects were cherry picked shortly before and after his death, the most interesting and valuable purchased by collectors. As well as the biography I am also in the process of attempting to rebuild as much of Dave's archive as possible to make available on-line to anyone who wishes to access the documents. Although articles disappeared without Dave's permission I am not interested in retrieving 'originals' from collectors who bought them in good faith, but I would like copies for the archive so Dave's original wishes of an open archive for all who wished to view his work and past history be possible. So, if anyone out there would like to be involved in either providing a few anecdotes about Dave for the book or copies of documents or photographs for the archive please contact me at  stevlor@hotmail.co.uk  Many thanks and as Dave would always say  Keep The Faith, Right On Now!

I've got a lot of correspondence from him. You can scan what you want from those. He gave Ace his collection of master tapes and I can send you photocopies of the boxes

18 hours ago, Stevlor said:

I am currently researching and writing Dave's biography to be published later this year. It's taken longer than expected, four years so far, mainly due to the many false facts and stories surrounding Dave's colourful life and his many beliefs. He was a complex character but what would have made my job easier would have been if his fantastic and comprehensive archive had been intact when I began this project. Dave used to contribute a column to a magazine I published in the 1990s (which is how we first met) and I know he kept copies of everything he was connected with, housed in a bank of filing cabinets. There's a sad paragraph in my book where  several of these filing cabinets (still full of paperwork) are just thrown into a skip as his house was cleared. Other objects were cherry picked shortly before and after his death, the most interesting and valuable purchased by collectors. As well as the biography I am also in the process of attempting to rebuild as much of Dave's archive as possible to make available on-line to anyone who wishes to access the documents. Although articles disappeared without Dave's permission I am not interested in retrieving 'originals' from collectors who bought them in good faith, but I would like copies for the archive so Dave's original wishes of an open archive for all who wished to view his work and past history be possible. So, if anyone out there would like to be involved in either providing a few anecdotes about Dave for the book or copies of documents or photographs for the archive please contact me at  stevlor@hotmail.co.uk  Many thanks and as Dave would always say  Keep The Faith, Right On Now!

Pm'd you

Just seen this . Will Pm you tomorrow with details of some things I have you might be interested in.

John

Now sent a PM