Daniel Day-Lewis gives poet dad's work to Oxford University

Daniel Day-Lewis speaks onstage at Time's screening of "Lincoln" and Q&A on Oct. 25, 2012, in New York. / Getty

Actor Daniel Day-Lewis is donating papers belonging to his father, the poet Cecil Day-Lewis, to Oxford University.

The archive, which fills 54 boxes, includes early drafts of the poet's work, as well as letters from actor John Gielgud and famous literary figures such as W.H. Auden, Robert Graves and Philip Larkin.

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The Oscar-winner and his sister, Tamasin, said Tuesday that they are thrilled that their father's papers will be housed at Oxford's Bodleian Libraries and become accessible to students and researchers.

Cecil Day-Lewis, who studied classics and became poetry professor at Oxford, was appointed the U.K. poet laureate in 1968. He also wrote mystery novels and stories under the name of Nicholas Blake. He died in 1972.

Daniel Day-Lewis will be seen next playing the title role in Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln," about the assassinated U.S. president, which arrives in theaters on Nov. 9.