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Sir Joseph Gold literary manuscript collection
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Held at: University of Delaware Library Special Collections [Contact Us]181 South College Avenue, Newark, DE 19717-5267
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the University of Delaware Library Special Collections. 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
British attorney and author Sir Joseph Gold (1912-2000) was a respected collector of modern first editions of British and American writers and poets.
Among the authors that interested Gold most were Welsh poet Dylan Thomas (1914-1953), American poet and critic Ezra Pound (1885-1972), British playwright Harold Pinter (1930-2008), English poet Ted Hughes (1930-1998), and especially Irish author Samuel Beckett (1906-1989).
Gold spent the majority of his career working for the International Monetary Fund (IMF)'s legal department. He joined the IMF in 1946 as a counselor and served in several senior positions before becoming General Counsel and Director of the IMF's Legal Department in 1960. A prolific scholar on financial law, Gold published over twenty volumes of work on the interpretation of the IMF's Articles of Agreement and other legal aspects of the Fund. He retired in 1979, but served as Senior Counsel until shortly before his death. In 1980, Joseph Gold was knighted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for his contributions as an international civil servant.
Gold also served as a legal lecturer at several universities, including Southern Methodist University, University of Michigan, and Columbia School of Law. Gold's scholarly work was well respected by the legal and academic communities, and he served on the editorial board of several legal journals.
The Complete Marquis Who's WhoTM. Marquis Who's Who, 2001. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Michigan.: The Gale Group, 2001 (accessed November 2012).Joseph Gold obituary, International Monetary Fund, www.imf.org (accessed November 2012).
The Sir Joseph Gold literary manuscript collection comprises 1.6 linear feet of correspondence, manuscripts, publishing files, and publications of mid-twentieth century British and American poets, publishers, and scholars.
The collection includes material from notable figures representing several nationalities and literary schools; it contains a particularly significant amount of material by and about Black Mountain poets Ed Dorn (1929-1999) and John Wieners (1934-2002), as well as British poets Barry MacSweeney (1948-2000) and George MacBeth (1932-1992). The collection also includes typescripts by Beat poets Lawrence Ferlinghetti (born 1919) and Philip Whalen (1923-2002).
The collection was compiled by Sir Joseph Gold and contains materials that demonstrate his process as a collector. Many items throughout the collection are accompanied by documentation of the item's purchase and acquisition, and the correspondence in the collection also references prior and future purchases.
The Sir Joseph Gold literary manuscript collection is arranged in three series: I. Correspondence; II. Manuscripts and notebooks; and III. Publishing files and publications. Series I. contains incoming and outgoing correspondence of mid-twentieth century British and American poets, publishers, and scholars. Many of the letters are accompanied by enclosed manuscript material; topics among the literary correspondents include current projects, public readings, and publications. There is a significant amount of correspondence from Ed Dorn to John Wieners; between British poets George MacBeth and Michael Horovitz (born 1935); and both incoming and outgoing correspondence of British poet Barry MacSweeney (1948-2000). Also included is correspondence to Pound Press editor Peter Russell (1921-2003) from Ezra Pound's (1885-1972) friends and family members, including Omar Pound (1926-2010) and Olga Rudge (1885-1986), all of it related to or concerning Ezra Pound's activities between 1949 and 1950. Series I. also includes individual pieces of correspondence from Samuel Beckett (1906-1989), American poets Allen Ginsberg (1926-1997) and Theodore Roethke (1908-1963), and British critic Bertrand Russell (1872-1970).
Series II. contains manuscripts and poetry notebooks, dating mostly from the 1960s and 1970s. The poetry notebooks of Goan writer Dom Moraes (1938-2004) and Barry MacSweeney, contain personal notes, sketches, and drafts of letters, in addition to handwritten poems. The work of MacSweeney is heavily represented in this series, which includes seven of his poetry notebooks and several manuscripts and typescripts. Series II. also contains signed manuscripts and typescripts of individual poems by authors such as Anthony Hecht (1923-2004), Elizabeth Jennings (1926-2001), Donald Justice (1925-2004), and David Wevill (born 1937), as well as an extensively corrected typescript of
Un Regard sur le Monde, the French translation of Lawrence Ferlinghetti's Pictures of the Gone World (1955).Series III. contains copies of publications as well as materials toward their production, including correspondence, manuscripts, typescripts, notes, and proofs. Publications found in Series III. include several hand-produced poetry books by Barry MacSweeney, poetry books of Tony Connor (born 1930), Roy Fisher (born 1930), Bertrand Russell, and Philip Whalen. Also included are six issues of
The New English Weekly (London) dated 1933-1940. Publishing files are included for publications-in-process such as the Poetry Book Society's Bulletin number 56 (1968) as well as its 1967 Christmas supplement, Twelve Poets, which was edited by Charles Osborne (born 1927). There are also publishing files for early (1960-61) issues of the SUNY Buffalo literary magazine Audit, then under the editorship of founder Ralph Maud (born 1928). In addition to publication files for periodicals, Series III. also includes two typescripts for Braincandy, a collection of Whalen's poetry that was ultimately never published after Whalen withdrew it from Poet's Press in 1967 due to slow publication.- Box 1: Shelved in SPEC MSS record center cartons
- Box 2: Shelved in SPEC MSS manuscript boxes
- Box 3: Shelved in SPEC MSS manuscript boxes (1 inch)
- Removals: Shelved in MAD MSS oversize mapcases
Gift of Richard Gold, April 2006.
Processed and encoded by Elyse Brown, November 2012.
The collection includes a signed and numbered copy of
Sightings I-IX & Red Easy a Color, poems by Jerome Rothenberg with ten prints by Ian Tyson, which has been cataloged separately with imprints in Special Collections.People
- Gold, Joseph, 1912-
- MacSweeney, Barry
- Pound, Ezra, 1885-1972
- Dorn, Edward
- Ferlinghetti, Lawrence
- Horovitz, Michael, 1935-
- MacBeth, George
- Maud, Ralph
- Moraes, Dom, 1938-2004
- Osborne, Charles
- Pound, Omar S.
- Russell, Peter, 1921-2003
- Whalen, Philip
Organization
Subject
- American poetry--20th century
- Beat generation--Poetry
- English poetry--20th century
- Poets, American--20th century--Correspondence
- Poets, English--20th century--Correspondence
Occupation
- Publisher
- University of Delaware Library Special Collections
- Finding Aid Author
- University of Delaware Library, Special Collections
- Finding Aid Date
- 2012 November 9
- Access Restrictions
-
The collection is open for research.
- Use Restrictions
-
Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. Please contact Special Collections, University of Delaware Library, http://library.udel.edu/spec/askspec/
Collection Inventory
Series I. contains incoming and outgoing correspondence of a variety of mid-twentieth century British and American poets, publishers, and scholars. Topics of the letters include current projects, public readings, and publications; many of the letters also contain enclosed manuscript material. Also included in this series is the correspondence of Sir Joseph Gold (1912-2000), much of which pertains to the acquisition of the items in this collection. This series is arranged alphabetically by the surname of the primary literary figure to whom the correspondence relates.
Approximately 30 letters from Ed Dorn (1929-1999) to John Wieners (1934-2002), many with the original mailing envelopes. The letters were both typed and handwritten and often accompanied by Dorn's poetry and/or were embellished with sketches and caricatures drawn by Dorn.
Five letters or postcards to Geoffrey Hazard (born 1929) from Samuel Beckett (1906-1989), Allen Ginsberg (1926-1997), Vernon Watkins (1906-1967), Herbert Read (1893-1968), and Rosemary Tonks (born 1932).
Fourteen letters, on BBC letterhead, from George MacBeth (1932-1992) to Michael Horovitz (born 1935) concerning poems Horovitz submitted to
Poetry Now and a proposed reading by Horowitz on the BBC, as well as other literary matters. Several of the letters contain extensive notes in the hand of Horovitz.Letters from Barry MacSweeney (1948-2000) to Andrew Crozier (1943-2008), which are accompanied by approximately 50 pages of MacSweeney's poetry. Also included is a letter from Brian Patten (born 1943) to Crozier containing criticism of MacSweeney. Following the Crozier letters is correspondence, both incoming and outgoing, between MacSweeney and others, notably Lee Harwood (born 1939), Ed Dorn, Tom Pickard (born 1946), and Brian Patten.
Also includes the catalog from which Gold purchased the letter in 1969.
Contains correspondence received by Peter Russell, all of it related to or concerning Ezra Pound (1885-1972). Much of the correspondence is from circa 1949-1950, when Russell was in the process of editing
Ezra Pound: A Collection of Essays (New Directions, 1950) and concerned Russell's requests for information and contributions from Pound's close friends. There are also letters referencing Pound's later years and his incarceration at St. Elizabeth's Hospital.Two letters, one handwritten and one typed, the latter of which is accompanied by a 21-page typescript titled "A Chronological List of Publications of Ezra Pound," which Creekmore mentions to Russell is the first "reasonably complete biblio of E. P."
Handwritten, signed note on a business card. Undated and informed Russell that "Ezra said I should look you up at once."
Typed, signed letter on "Cultural Division of the Italian Embassy" letterhead. Concerned Pound's release from St. Elizabeth's and Donini's contribution to the situation.
Both letters concerned Drummond's contribution to Russell's collection of essays.
The letters regarded Russell's apparent request for information about her relationship with Pound and his family.
Typed letter (1957), signed, concerning Russell sending "Pound items" and Laughlin hoping to visit Pound soon. Also included is a carbon of a three-page, typed letter from Russell to Laughlin dated June 24, 1949.
Concerned Pound's proposed submission of an epitaph to Russell's magazine
Nine : "Here Lies the Idaho Kid/The Only Time He Ever Did."Typed letter, signed. Pearson mentioned visiting Ezra Pound in the hospital.
The letters concerned Pound and several projects relating to him, including giving Russell a copy of Pound's abandoned collection of articles in Italian,
Orientamenti (1944). Also included is a typed, signed letter (1967) from Omar Pound to John James concerning Pound's declining state.Six-page unsigned letter to Peter Russell in which the author recounted his visits to Pound at St. Elizabeth's in great detail. The author appears to have had some connection to
Nine .Typed letter on
New Statesman & Nation letterhead asking Russell to review the Pisan Cantos .The letters concerned Pound, his incarceration, and various writing projects.
Three handwritten letters from Charles Tomlinson (born 1927) to Bernard Stone regarding Tomlinson's wish to sell some letters by Eliot, Stevens, and Williams.
Series II. contains manuscripts and poetry notebooks of British and American poets, mostly from the 1960s and 1970s. The poetry notebooks contain personal notes, sketches, drafts of letters, in addition to drafts of poems. The work of MacSweeney is heavily represented in this series. Some of the items in the series also contain correspondence or information related to their original purchase by Gold.
Typescript of the French translation. The typescript contains extensive corrections to the text in the hand of Ferlinghetti. Also included is Phoenix Bookshop catalog #97, from which Gold purchased the manuscript.
Also included is the "Paul C. Richards Autographs" envelope addressed to Gold, in which Gold received his purchase of this poem as well as Donald Justice's "A Dream Sestina" (see F15).
Autograph copy of the poem.
Signed typescript.
Handwritten manuscript of the poem, signed by George MacBeth.
Included are a lined notebook containing handwritten poems and some sketches as well as an extensively hand-corrected typescript, approximately 90 pages, of a manuscript of a book on cricket.
F18-F26 contain manuscripts and several poetry notebooks created by Barry MacSweeney. These files contain unpublished work, such as the long poem
Toad Church (1972-1973) as well as work that was published in limited runs such as Elegy for January (1970).Included are handwritten and revised manuscripts of the
7 Odes , as well as a final, signed and dated typescript of each poem.The notebook contains drafts of poems, sketches, and drafts of personal letters.
Notebook with sketches and handwritten poetry, much of it dated. Includes poetry from
Brother Wolf as well as other works.Small notebook with drafts of material that would become MacSweeney's book
Elegy for January (1970), which honored 18th century English poet Thomas Chatterton (1752-1770).Two poetry notebooks, containing drafts and notes, from MacSweeney's material pertaining to his long poem
Toad Church .Typescripts for
Toad Church . Includes extensive authorial corrections and two staple-bound typescripts containing portions of the work. Also included is MacSweeney's envelope which originally housed all Toad Church materials.Four typescript poems, prepared for a BBC radio broadcast, signed by David Wevill (born 1937).
Five handwritten poems, some with corrections.
Series III. contains copies of publications as well as materials toward their production, including correspondence, manuscripts, typescripts, notes, and proofs. Material in this series include hand-produced poetry books, mimeograph reproductions, and limited-run publications.
Uncorrected proof copy of the collection with minor autograph corrections in the text.
Editorial and publication materials for the issue, which features
Kon in Springtime as the "Spring Recommendation." Includes corrected typescripts of Charles Causley's (1917-2003) and Tony Connor's (born 1930) responses to their nominations, as well as photocopied proof sheets of the issue and some editorial correspondence.Mimeograph publication of
The Ceremonial Poems . Included is a handwritten, signed letter from Roy Fisher (born 1930).Published by MacSweeney's Blacksuede Boot Press, number 2 of 25 copies, signed by MacSweeney. Typescript photocopy stapled into folders.
Typescript with autograph corrections to most of the poems. Stapled into a cardboard binder, with a colored drawing on the front cover. Inscribed by MacSweeney, "For Jeremy."
Privately printed, mimeographed edition of 100 copies.
Mimeograph publication issued as
The Curiously Strong 3.10, June 28, 1971. Signed by Barry MacSweeney on the front cover.Final mimeograph publication published as
The Curiously Strong 4.3-4, November 30, 1971. Two copies, one of them signed by Barry MacSweeney.Two copies. One printed in an edition of 400 copies and inscribed "For Joe Gold" by MacSweeney. The other copy is number 3 in a series of 25 signed copies with an extra holograph poem by MacSweeney and original drawing by artist Michael Rudston. Also included is an early, handwritten draft of the title poem.
Typescript with stapled covers, signed by MacSweeney. Also included is the letter from Wallrich to Gold offering to sell him this copy.
Commemorative book inscribed by Bertrand Russell to Michael Vipers.
Correspondence to Ralph Maud (born 1928) regarding submissions to
Audit , which also includes typescripts of submissions. Much of the correspondence referenced materials for the issues of the magazine which can be found in F41.Published copies of
Audit as well as publication materials such as corrected typescripts, proofs, and some correspondence in context. Most notably, the file contains the archive for Volume 1, Number 2 (March 1960), which includes a signed, typed note and poem from Philip Larkin (1922-1985) to Ralph Maud.The March 1934 issue contains a contribution from Ezra Pound writing under the name Alfred Venison.
Twelve Poets , edited by Charles Osborne (born 1927), was the 1967 Christmas supplement published by the Poetry Book Society (London).
Correspondence between Ted Hughes (1930-1998) and Eric White (1905-1985). All correspondence to Osborne is accompanied by carbon copies of Osborne's replies and/or of his original letters.
Contains revised proofs, corrected typescripts, Osborne's notes, and individual typescripts for every poem in the collection except Matthew Mead's "Lean Man." In place of Mead's poem is "Grass," a poem by Gavin Bantock (born 1939) which was not in the final publication.
A galley proof of the publication which contains Bantock's poem, which was not in the final publication.
Physical LocationShelved in MAD MSS oversize mapcases
Braincandy was a collection of Philip Whalen's (1923-2002) poems submitted in 1964 for publication by Poet's Press (New York), run by Diane di Prima (born 1934) and Alan Marlowe (born 1937).
Typescript of
Braincandy , including the proposed cover design hand-drawn by Whalen and editorial markings in red pencil throughout the text.Contains red pencil corrections by Whalen with his initials "OK PW" on each page, apparently prepared as a setting copy.
Contains promotional material related to
Braincandy as well as a typed and signed letter from Whalen to Marlowe.Book of poems, published by Coyote's Journal (Eugene, OR).