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Carl W. Gatter collection on Ezra Pound

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Held at: University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts [Contact Us]3420 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6206

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Though the American poet Ezra Pound (1885-1972) was born in Idaho, he spent most of his formative years—from 1889 to 1907—living in Pennsylvania, in or around the city of Philadelphia. This period of the poet's life serves as the focal point of this collection of research material.

Carl W. Gatter has lived for many years at the childhood home of Ezra Pound at 166 Fernbrook Ave., Wyncote, Pa. As a result of this connection to the poet, Carl Gatter and his mother Elsie K. Gatter established a correspondence with Ezra Pound between the years of 1956 and 1966. During this time Carl Gatter became interested in taking what Pound called a "census report" of the poet's childhood acquaintances. Based on references in Pound's letters, Gatter began to collect printed material and photographs relating to Pound's youth in Pennsylvania. He also interviewed Wyncote residents who had known Pound as a child. In 1958, when Pound was released from St. Elizabeths Hospital, he visited the Gatter's in their Wyncote home before returning to Italy. Gatter used this visit as an opportunity to interview the poet about his early life in Wyncote, and to take photographs.

As Gatter's research on Pound's early life became known to the larger community of Pound scholars, his collection served as a resource for Pound biographers, several of whom have credited Gatter and used his photographs to illustrate their works. The culmination of this research was Gatter's collaboration with Noel Stock on Ezra Pound's Pennsylvania, published in 1976 by The Friends of the University of Toledo Libraries. The title page of this work reads: "Compiled for the most part from Mr. Carl Gatter's researches into original sources and documents." In fact, almost all of Gatter's significant research and photographs have been published in this work.

While this collection contains very little original Pound material, it does offer a unique resource for scholars researching the details of Pound's youth, by conveniently gathering together diverse secondary material relating to the poet's life in Pennsylvania. This collection has been reorganized with consideration for the researcher's need to quickly and easily access the most pertinent material. In order to facilitate research, and to insure proper storage, all photographs have been moved to albums at the end of the collection.

Gift of Carl W. Gatter, 1976

People
Subject
Occupation

Publisher
University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts
Finding Aid Author
Rebecca C. Smith
Finding Aid Date
1996
Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research use.

Use Restrictions

Copyright restrictions may exist. For most library holdings, the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania do not hold copyright. It is the responsibility of the requester to seek permission from the holder of the copyright to reproduce material from the Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts.

Collection Inventory

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Series Description

Photocopied correspondence from Ezra Pound to various correspondents, primarily from the period when Pound was institutionalized at St. Elizabeths Hospital; several letters written for Ezra Pound by his wife Dorothy; hand-written transcriptions of selected portions of letters from Pound to Mary Moore (originals now held by the Rare Book and Manuscript Library of the University of Pennsylvania); typed notes by Gatter elucidating the context of each letter, and the references they contain. Arranged alphabetically by correspondent.

Physical Description

6 Folder(s)

Doolittle, Margaret, 1955. 1 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 1
Physical Description

1 Item(s)3 leaves

Gatter, Carl and Elsie, 1956-1966. 24 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 2-5
Description

Includes letters from Dorothy Pound.

Physical Description

24 Item(s)(95 leaves)

Moore, Mary, 1907. 24 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 6
Note

Partially transcribed.

Physical Description

24 Item(s)26 leaves

Ridpath, Florence, 1958. 3 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 7
Physical Description

3 Item(s)8 leaves

Series Description

Correspondence to Carl Gatter relating to the early life of Ezra Pound. Correspondents are primarily Pound scholars seeking information, or individuals who knew Pound as a child. Also includes letters addressed to Elsie Gatter, and several drafts of outgoing responses by Carl or Elsie Gatter. Arranged alphabetically by correspondent.

Physical Description

22 Folder(s)

Davenport, Guy, 1963-1964. 6 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 8
Physical Description

6 Item(s)20 leaves

Edwards, John, 1958. 1 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 9
Physical Description

1 Item(s)2 leaves

Feldman, Bronson, 1971. 1 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 10
Physical Description

1 Item(s)1 leaf

Flint, Diana, 1979. 4 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 11
Physical Description

4 Item(s)12 leaves

Gyorgy, Novak, 1974. 1 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 12
Physical Description

1 Item(s)2 leaves

Heymann, David, 1973. 5 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 13
Physical Description

5 Item(s)7 leaves

Kodama, Sanhide, 1976. 1 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 14
Physical Description

1 Item(s)4 leaves

Lorch, Elsie B., 1969. 1 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 15
Physical Description

1 Item(s)1 leaf

Moore, Mary [a.k.a. Mary Moore Cross], 1969-1976. 11 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 16
Physical Description

11 Item(s)32 leaves

Moore, Sam, 1969-1970. 4 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 17
Physical Description

4 Item(s)5 leaves

Nichols, Bruce, 1970. 2 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 18
Physical Description

2 Item(s)4 leaves

Norman, Charles, 1970. 1 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 19
Physical Description

1 Item(s)2 leaves

Place, David, 1977. 5 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 20
Physical Description

5 Item(s)12 leaves

Quinn, Bernetta, 1975. 1 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 21
Physical Description

1 Item(s)2 leaves

de Rachewiltz, Mary, 1958-1976. 8 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 22
Physical Description

8 Item(s)16 leaves

Ridpath, Grace, 1970. 2 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 23
Physical Description

2 Item(s)4 leaves

Stock, Noel, 1966-1976. 39 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 24
Physical Description

39 Item(s)43 leaves

Todd, G. Hall, 1966. 1 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 25
Physical Description

1 Item(s)1 leaf

Whitehead, Cintra, 1975. 2 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 26
Physical Description

2 Item(s)4 leaves

Yoder, Clare, 1971. 2 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 27
Physical Description

2 Item(s)4 leaves

Young, William, 1975. 1 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 28
Physical Description

1 Item(s)2 leaves

Physical Description

51 Folder(s)

Description & Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically, contains notes on individuals Pound knew in his early life, primarily those he mentioned in his letters to Carl Gatter; interviews, publications, maps, directories, and correspondence related to these individuals.

Physical Description

38 Folder(s)

Ankenbrand, Frank Jr., 1971. 9 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 29
Physical Description

9 Item(s)13 leaves

Bean, Levi, 1973, [undated]. 4 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 30
Description

Photo in album.

Physical Description

4 Item(s)6 leaves

Bennet, Michael Smith, [undated]. 1 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 31
Physical Description

1 Item(s)1 leaf

Berger, William Henry, [undated]. 2 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 32
Physical Description

2 Item(s)3 leaves

Breckenridge, Hugh, [undated]. 2 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 33
Physical Description

2 Item(s)4 leaves

Cochran, Tommy, 1978, [undated]. 3 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 34
Physical Description

3 Item(s)3 leaves

Comfort, Edmund, [undated]. 1 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 35
Physical Description

1 Item(s)1 leaf

Corts, Anna, 1964-1976. 4 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 36
Physical Description

4 Item(s)6 leaves

Doolittle, Frederick James, [undated]. 3 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 37
Description

Photos in album.

Physical Description

3 Item(s)3 leaves

Dutton, Lucille, 1976, [undated]. 4 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 38
Description

Photo of residence in album.

Physical Description

4 Item(s)6 leaves

Eckman, Hensel, 1969-1970. 2 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 39
Physical Description

2 Item(s)3 leaves

Ellis, William T., [undated]. 6 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 40
Physical Description

6 Item(s)7 leaves

Foote, Florence, [undated]. 2 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 41
Physical Description

2 Item(s)2 leaves

Hackenburg, William B., [undated]. 1 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 42
Physical Description

1 Item(s)1 leaf

Halsey, James Biddle, 1966, [undated]. 2 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 43
Physical Description

2 Item(s)7 leaves + 1 booklet

Hare, T. Truxton, [undated]. 1 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 44
Physical Description

1 Item(s)1 leaf

Heacock, Edward, 1964, undated. 2 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 45
Description

Photo in album.

Physical Description

2 Item(s)63 leaves

Heacock family, 1900, 1907, 1965-1971. 17 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 46
Description

Photos in album; diplomas in oversize.

Physical Description

17 Item(s)26 leaves

Heyman, Katherine, undated. 2 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 47
Physical Description

2 Item(s)2 leaves

Lorimer, George Horace, 1936, undated. 1 Item(s).
Box 1 Folder 48
Physical Description

1 Item(s)60 leaves

Lovell, Mary.
Box see Whitechurch Folder unknown container
Moore, Mary, 1968-1969. 11 Item(s).
Box 2 Folder 49
Description

Photos in album.

Physical Description

11 Item(s)55 leaves

Nice, Sue, 1976. 1 Item(s).
Box 2 Folder 50
Physical Description

1 Item(s)1 leaf

Parry, Edward, 1973-1974. 5 Item(s).
Box 2 Folder 51
Description

Photos in album.

Physical Description

5 Item(s)11 leaves

Polk, Adele, 1970. 3 Item(s).
Box 2 Folder 52
Description

Photos in album.

Physical Description

3 Item(s)3 leaves

Pound, Homer, 1973, [undated]. 11 Item(s).
Box 2 Folder 53
Description

Photos in album.

Physical Description

11 Item(s)69 leaves

Pound, Isabel, 1971, [undated]. 11 Item(s).
Box 2 Folder 54
Physical Description

11 Item(s)29 leaves

Pound, Thaddeus and Angevine S. Pound, [undated]. 9 Item(s).
Box 2 Folder 55
Description

Photo of residence in album.

Physical Description

9 Item(s)9 leaves

Reed, Mai, 1969, [undated]. 4 Item(s).
Box 2 Folder 56
Physical Description

4 Item(s)8 leaves

Scudder, John, [undated]. 2 Item(s).
Box 2 Folder 57
Physical Description

2 Item(s)2 leaves

Smith, William B., 1975-1976, [undated]. 17 Item(s).
Box 2 Folder 58
Physical Description

17 Item(s)19 leaves

Spann, Marcella, 1970. 1 Item(s).
Box 2 Folder 59
Physical Description

1 Item(s)1 leaf

Vance, Fred, [undated]. 2 Item(s).
Box 2 Folder 60
Physical Description

2 Item(s)2 leaves

Wallis Family, 1949, 1954, 1973. 4 Item(s).
Box 2 Folder 61
Physical Description

4 Item(s)7 leaves

Weeks, Henry or Stephen, [undated]. 1 Item(s).
Box 2 Folder 62
Physical Description

1 Item(s)1 leaf

Weston, Frances A., [undated]. 3 Item(s).
Box 2 Folder 63
Physical Description

3 Item(s)6 leaves

Whitechurch, Margaret, [undated]. 3 Item(s).
Box 2 Folder 64
Description

Photos in album.

Physical Description

3 Item(s)3 leaves

Whiteside, Frank, 1976, [undated]. 3 Item(s).
Box 2 Folder 65
Description

Photos in album.

Physical Description

3 Item(s)3 leaves

Williams, William Carlos, 1967, undated. 3 Item(s).
Box 2 Folder 66
Description

Photographs in album.

Physical Description

3 Item(s)15 leaves

Description

Notes, directory listings, and maps of the Pound family residences in Pennsylvania; schematic drawings of the interior of 166 Fernbrook Ave., and its furnishings.

Physical Description

1 Folder(s)

Pound family residences, [concerning 1890-1925].
Box 2 Folder 67
Description

Notes on Pound's early education, at Miss Elliot's School, Chelten Hills School, Cheltenham Military Academy, Cheltenham High School, the University of Pennsylvania, and Hamilton College; school catalogs, class records, and student publications.

Physical Description

4 Folder(s)

Miss Elliot's School.
Box 2 Folder 68
Chelten Hills School, [concerning 1894-1897].
Box 2 Folder 68
Cheltenham Military Academy, [1897-1901].
Box 2 Folder 69
Cheltenham High School.
Box 2 Folder 69
University of Pennsylvania, [1901-1903 and 1905-1907].
Box 2 Folder 70
Hamilton College, [1903-1905].
Box 2 Folder 71
Description

Notes on the churches the Pound family attended, including information of church leaders, copies of meeting minutes, and copies of church newsletters.

Physical Description

4 Folder(s)

Calvary Presbyterian Church, Wyncote, Pennsylvania.
Box 2 Folder 72
Ministry.
Box 2 Folder 73
"Wyncote Outlines", 1893-1899.
Box 2 Folder 74
Grace Presbyterian Church, Italian Presbyterian Church, Eastburn Mariners Bethel.
Box 2 Folder 75
Description

Notes on various clubs and organizations; information on the burning of the Wanamaker mansion; maps and directories.

Physical Description

4 Folder(s)

Clubs and organizations.
Box 2 Folder 76
Wanamaker's mansion.
Box 2 Folder 77
Maps and directories.
Box 2 Folder 78
Miscellaneous research notes.
Box 2 Folder 79

Series Description

Pound's early writings; drafts and final copy of Gatter's articles "Ezra Pound in Wyncote" and "Wyncote Revisited;" newspaper and magazine clippings relating to Pound and his family.

Physical Description

4 Folder(s)

Ezra Pound's early publications, [concerning 1902-1909].
Box 3 Folder 80
Drafts of "Ezra Pound in Wyncote," and "Wyncote revisited," by Carl W. Gatter.
Box 3 Folder 81
Description

Based on Pound's 1958 visit.

Clippings from newspapers and magazines, regarding Ezra Pound, 1909-1986.
Box 3 Folder 82-83
Clippings, regarding the Pound family, 1894-1928.
Box 3 Folder 84

Series Description

Photographs and negatives relating to Pound; a framed tinted photograph once belonging to the Pounds; two books given to Carl Gatter by Pound and David Horton.

Physical Description

3 Box(es)+ 2 albums

Pound's family and friends.
Box 4
Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically.

Contents

* Bean, Levi and Wife
* Doolittle, Frederick J.
* Heacock, Edward
* Heacock, Esther and Priscilla with Pound and Olga Rudge
* Hessler, Lewis
* Lovell, Mary
* Moore, Mary
* Polk, Adele
* Pound, Homer
* Pound, Isabel
* Pound, Omar Shakespear
* Ridpath, Florence
* Whitechurch, Margaret
* Whiteside, Frank
* Williams, William Carlos

Pound's family residences; Pound's education, [concerning 1894-1901].
Box 4
Pound's education (cont.), Churches; U.S. Mint; Early Wyncote; "Wyncote revisited", [concerning 1901-1907].
Box 5
Duplicate photographs.
Box 6
Negatives.
Box 7
Williamsburg guidebook given to Carl Gatter by Ezra Pound, 1958.
Box 8
Square $ book given to Carl Gatter by David Horton, 1958.
Box 8
"The Pergola, Amalfi".
Box 9
Description

Framed tinted photograph once owned by Homer Pound.

Physical Description

1 Box(es)

Clippings; college diplomas of Esther and Priscilla Heacock.
Box 10

Print, Suggest