Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

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Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Jonathan Williams Papers, 1962-1967, Accession #10894, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

This collection was purchased by the Library from Charles Apfelbaum Rare Books and Collections, Valley Stream, New York, on January 4, 1990.

Biographical/Historical Information

Jonathan Williams (1929- ) founded The Jargon Society ("a poet's press") in Highlands, North Carolina in 1951, and has remained its executive director, editor, publisher, and designer; he became president of The Nantahala Foundation in Highlands in 1960; and, was poet-in-residence during the summer of 1962 and scholar-in-residence during 1967-1968 at the Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies. The letters and other items were sent to his friend and fellow poet, Felix Pollak (1909- ). Pollak, born in Vienna, Austria, came to America as a refugee prior to World War II. He was curator of rare books at Northwestern University from 1949-1959 and at the University of Wisconsin--Madison from 1959-1974.

Scope and Content Information

There are thirteen items, correspondence and printed material, 1962-1967, relating to American poet Jonathan Williams (1929- ).

Topics discussed in the letters include various literary matters such as works in progress, reading tours, The Jargon Society, The Nantahala Foundatioin, the publishing business, and several poets and authors. During 1962, Williams refers to a project on Mina Loy (1882-1966), and mentions S[amuel] F[rench] Morse (1916-1969), T[imothy] Reynolds (1936- ), and Jackson [Robert] Bryer (1937- ) in relation to the project. Also, in late 1962, he mentions Dave Haselwood and Auerhan [Press]. A printed letter, January 1, 1963, concern's "Jargon's extreme discouragement with readers, writers, foundations, poetry societies, those able to be patrons and subscribers, et al.," explaining the importance of Jargon in introducing the avant-garde to the public, and requesting contributions to keep it in business. On November 2 and 14, 1964, Williams writes while on a reading trip, mentioning Ronald Johnson (1935- ), Edward Kamarck, Jackson Bryer, Lorine Niedecker (1903-1970), and plans to be with them in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on the 20th; and, writes the "Vachel-Lindsay VW Special still on schedule." On November 18, 1966, he mentions Paul Goodman (1911-1972), his appointment at the Aspen Institute as writer-in-residence for 18 months beginning in April, and a reading tour scheduled for February and March and asking for a date at Madison. Letters on April 28, May 4 and 12, 1967, are from the Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies. The April 28 letter is headed "Invitation to a Festschrift in Honor of Edward Dahlberg's Achievement at his 67th Birthday, July 22, 1967," and requests a form of writing in honor of Dahlberg (1900-1977) and lists the invited participants. The May 4 letter (copy) to The New York Times and its response concern an article about the Russian poet, Andrei Voznesensky (1933- ). The May 12 letter refers to a quote from Geoffrey Grigson (1905- ) about poems men write, a request from Tony Godwin, editor of Penquin , for an anthology, and Guy Davenport. On May 15, 1967, Williams mentions Ronald [Johnson], and reveals that he is busy with the Dahlberg and Penquin projects.