Call Number:

F0833

Repository:

University of Delaware Library Special Collections

Extent:

14 item

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

MSS 0099, F0833, Muriel Rukeyser letters to David Posner, Special Collections, University of Delaware Library, Newark, Delaware.

Date:

1942-1944 (inclusive)

Creator:

Rukeyser, Muriel, 1913-1980

Form:

Clippings (information artifacts), Letters (correspondence), Poems, Postcards, and Manuscripts (document genre)

Abstract:

This small collection of letters and miscellaneous items from American poet Muriel Rukeyser to David Posner reflects their shared interests in poetry and spans the dates of 1942 to 1944.

American poet and political activist Muriel Rukeyser was born December 15, 1913, in New York, New York.

She began her five-decade literary career in 1935 when her book of poetry,

Rukeyser's published works include more than a dozen poetry collections that often had themes of social activism or social protest, which reflected her personal involvement with many political causes throughout the world, such as the Spanish Civil War, Vietnam War, and death penalty cases. She died February 12, 1980, in her home city of New York.

American poet David Louis Posner was born August 6, 1921, in New York to Nell and Louis S. Posner.

Although his father was born in Britain, he worked as a lawyer on Wall Street and later became Commissioner of Education for New York City. In 1945, Posner received his B.A. from Kenyon College where he majored in French and in 1947 he received his M.A. in English Literature from Harvard. Posner studied at the Sorbonne, worked for French radio, and pursed an interest in archeology. He published seven books of poetry.

"Muriel Rukeyser" in Literature Resource Center. http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/LitRC?locID=udel_main (accessed October 2008)."David Posner" in Literature Resource Center. http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/LitRC?locID=udel_main (accessed October 2008).

This small collection of letters and miscellaneous items from American poet Muriel Rukeyser to David Posner reflects their shared interests in poetry and spans the dates of 1942 to 1944.

The letters mostly concern planned meetings between Rukeyser and Posner as well as discussion of upcoming events in the poetry world. The earliest dated letter was written in 1942, when Posner was still a student at Kenyon, and it offers encouragement to the young author. The collection also includes a two-stanza autograph poem, "Song," and a longer manuscript copy titled, "The Structure of the Plane." Both fair copy items are signed by Rukeyser and "Song" is inscribed "for David." Additional items in this small collection include a scrap of notes and two clippings.