Call Number:

Ms. Coll.1353

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts

Extent:

3.5 linear feet (4 boxes)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Stephen Berg papers, 1971-2014 Ms. Coll.1353, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania

Date:

1971-2014 (inclusive)

Creator:

Berg, Stephen

Form:

Translations (documents) and Poetry

Abstract:

Stephen Berg was a Philadelphia born poet, professor, and editor who made that city his home for the majority of his career. A prolific writer and publisher, he was awarded several prizes throughout his lifetime including a Guggenheim Fellowship, Rockefeller Fellowship, Pew Fellowship, PEN Translation Fellowship, and the Frank O'Hara Prize. This collection includes poetry manuscripts and published poetry collections by Berg, many of them in annotated typescript, proof, and published versions.

Stephen Berg was a Philadelphia born poet, professor, and editor who made that city his home for the majority of his career. Born on August 2, 1934, he briefly attended the University of Pennsylvania in addition to other colleges before graduating from the University of Iowa in 1959.

He went on to co-found the American Poetry Review in 1972, based in Philadelphia, and continued on as editor until his death. He also taught at several area institutions including Temple University, Princeton University, Haverford College, and the University of the Arts.

A prolific writer and publisher, he was awarded several prizes throughout his lifetime including a Guggenheim Fellowship, Rockefeller Fellowship, Pew Fellowship, PEN Translation Fellowship, and the Frank O'Hara Prize.

Berg was married to Millie Lane and had three daughters: Margot, Clair, and Emily. He died on June 12, 2014, after struggling with declining health due to a cancer diagnosis.

This collection includes poetry manuscripts and published poetry and nonfiction books by Stephen Berg. In some cases, such as the poetry collections Halo (1999), In It (1986), Oblivion (1995), Porno Diva Numero Uno (2000), With Akhmatova at the Black Gates (1981), and X= (2002), the collection includes early typescript versions and proofs, often with the author's annotations, as well as the final published version of each work. In others, such as Crow with No Mouth (1989), Cuckoo's Blood (2007), The Daughters (1971), and Here (2013), there is no published version included. In others, such as The Elegy on Hats (2005), New and Selected Poems (1992), and The Poetry Does Not Matter (2010), only the published version is included.

The collection is arranged alphabetically by title of published work, with the drafts of a given work arranged chronologically. In some cases, such as various typescript versions of a given manuscript, the chronology can be difficult to pinpoint; in such cases, similar typescript versions have been placed together.