James Wright papers
Scope and Content Note
The collection contains correspondence, journals, manuscripts, typescripts and galley proofs of James Wright's poetry and prose works. Among his correspondence were noted American poets such as Robert Bly, James Dickey, James Crowe Ransome (also a professor of Wright's at Kenyon College), Anne Sexton, and Leslie Silko. Also included in the collection is correspondence with Wright's biographer, Peter Stitt. In addition, there are photographs, clippings and other writings about Wright, plus teaching notes from his various academic posts.
Dates
- 1943-1985
Language of Materials
English
Restrictions on Access
Access to this collection is restricted. Researchers must obtain written permission to use these materials and should contact the curator of the Manuscripts Division for further information.
Restrictions on Use
Copyright is retained by Wright's widow.
Biographical Note
James Arlington Wright was born in 1927 in Martin's Ferry, Ohio. After serving in the Army in Japan, Wright attended college on the G.I. Bill, graduating from Kenyon College in 1952. He received a Fulbright Fellowship and studied at the University of Vienna before returning to the U.S. and completing his M.A. (1954) and Ph.D. (1957) at the University of Washington. Wright taught in the English Department at the University of Minnesota from 1957 to 1963 and received subsequent appointments at Macalester College (St. Paul) and Hunter College (New York City).
Wright was elected a fellow of The Academy of American Poets in 1971 and received the Pulitzer Prize in poetry for his Collected Poemsin 1972.Wright died in New York in 1980.
Biographical information from the The Academy of American Poets Web site.
Extent
33 Cubic Feet
Abstract
Collection contains correspondence, journals, manuscripts, typescripts and galley proofs of James Wright's poetry and prose works. In addition, there are photographs, clippings and other writings about Wright, plus teaching notes from his various academic posts.
Arrangement
The collection is organized into nineteen series:
- Correspondence
- Financial
- Contracts
- Correspondence -- Publishers
- Correspondence -- Poetry
- Teaching Notes
- Education
- Reviews
- Wright Festival
- Personal
- Poetry
- Early Poetry
- Poetry -- University of Washington
- Poetry 1954-1963
- Poetry 1961-1975
- Prose & Poetry
- Prose
- Poetry by Others
- Books
Physical Location
AV (R1, D1, S4); Mezz (R68, D1-D3, S4; R79, D6, S1-7)
Other Finding Aid
An unpublished finding aid with detailed contents is available. Please contact the Upper Midwest Literary Archives for details.
Acquisition
Purchased, 1992.
Processing Information
The collection was processed and the finding aid written by Alan Lathrop, 1992.
- Bly, Robert
- Dickey, James
- Poets, American -- 20th century -- Sources Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Ransome, John Crowe
- Sexton, Anne
- Silko, Leslie Marmon, 1948-
- Stitt, Peter
- Wright, James Arlington, 1927-1980
- Title
- James Wright papers
- Author
- Alan Lathrop
- Date
- April 2004
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
Collecting Area Details
Contact The Upper Midwest Literary Archives Collecting Area
