Call Number:

C0107

Repository:

Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division

Extent:

• 1 box
• 0.4 linear feet

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Collection on New Poems, 1943, Edited by Oscar Williams, Box and Folder Number; Special Collections, Princeton University Library.

Date:

1943-1944 (inclusive)

Creator:

Williams, Oscar, 1900-1964

Form:

Galley Proofs (Printing) -- 20th century., Manuscripts (for publication) -- 20th century., and Poems -- 20th century.

Abstract:

Consists of correspondence, galley proofs, and a typed manuscript relating to the poetry anthology New Poems, 1943 by the American poet and editor Oscar Williams (1900-1964).

Oscar Williams was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1900. He worked at various advertising agencies between 1921 and 1937. His first book of poetry, The Golden Darkness, won the Yale Series of Younger Poets Award in 1921. Williams continued to work as an editor and created several anthologies. His anthologies were frequently used as textbooks in university courses.

The collection consists of material relating to the publication of New Poems, 1943: An Anthology of British and American Verse (New York, N.Y.: Howell, Soskin, Publishers, 1943), a collection of war poetry edited by Williams. The majority of the collection is composed of correspondence by the contributing poets to Williams, and both corrected and uncorrected galley proofs of poems. Among those who wrote to Williams are John Berryman, e. e. cummings, Robert Lowell, Archibald MacLeish, Marianne Moore, Wallace Stevens, Allen Tate, and Mark Van Doren. There is also a complete typed manuscript of the anthology, including Williams' introduction and background material about the 40 poets represented.

The following standard abbreviations, or their variations, are used to identify materials in this collection: ALS = autograph letter signed, TLS = typed letter signed, TNS = typed note signed, and TMsS = typed manuscript signed.

The collection has been organized alphabetically by author, with miscellaneous material at the end.