Special Collections Department

Rudi Holzapfel Papers

1953 - 1990

Manuscript Collection Number: 245
Accessioned: Purchased March 1991
Extent: <.3 linear ft. (70 items)
Content: Manuscripts, letters, photographs, notebook, printed materials.
Access: The collection is open for research.
Processed: Spring 1991 by Wendy Van Wyck.

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Biographical Note
Scope and Contents Note
Series Outline
Contents List

Biographical Note

The Irish poet Rudolph Patrick Holzapfel was born in Paris, France, on December 11, 1938. Holzapfel lived in California from 1946 to 1956 and was graduated from Santa Barbara Catholic High School. From 1956 to 1970 he worked various jobs in England and Ireland, and studied at Trinity College in Dublin. It was during these years that Holzapfel began to identify with Ireland and the cause of Irish nationalism; he has said he would like to be considered "a true inheritor of the spiritual legacy of the Gaelic Bards." From 1970 to the late 1980s, Holzapfel lived in Germany, teaching English and literature. Holzapfel has published with the Irish authors Brendan Kennelly, Oliver Snoddy, and John Farrell, and his work has been anthologized in the Penguin Book of Irish Verse and Modern Irish Poets.

Scope and Content Note

The Rudi Holzapfel Papers, spanning 1953 to 1990, consist of approximately 40 poetry and prose manuscripts, most of which contain numerous autograph corrections and additions. Also included are approximately 30 miscellaneous personal items, including promotional material relating to his 1985-86 tour of the United States, material relating to his position as an English teacher in Germany, drafts of letters, photographs, and a personal notebook. Some of the manuscripts are signed by the author, and his autograph notes addressed to "Oliver" (perhaps Irish poet Oliver Snoddy) also appear on some of the items.

Series Outline

I.   Poetry, 1965-1988.
II.  Prose.
III. Miscellaneous, 1953-1990.

Contents List

Folder -- Contents


     Series I.  Poetry, 1965-1988. 
          31 items.
          Included are autograph and typescript drafts of titled and
          untitled poems.  The manuscripts contain numerous autograph
          corrections and additions, and occasionally two drafts of the same
          poem are present.  The poems are arranged alphabetically by title;
          dates are provided when available.

F1   After the Light of Loss [n.d.] AMs, 1p (1 leaf).  Untitled  draft of
     poem on verso, dated "Nov. - Dec. 1987."

     Along the Beach [n.d.] Ts, 1p (l leaf).  Another draft of the same poem
     on verso.

     Amazona [n.d.] AMs, 2p (2 leaves).  Two drafts.

     Bargain Day at Beulah's [n.d.] AMs, 1p (1 leaf).  Draft of poem entitled
     "A Poet Replies in Like" on verso.

     The Battle of the Vices [n.d.] AMs, 1p (1 leaf).  Draft of poem entitled
     "The Habits" on verso.

F2   The Cologne Art Market. . . [n.d.] AMs, 1p (1 leaf).  Untitled prose
     piece on verso.

     December 88 [n.d.] AMs and Ts, 4p (4 leaves).  Four drafts.  On versos
     are draft of letter "To Judy" and a poem entitled "Down and Out."

     A Distant Wind [n.d.] AMs, 1p (1 leaf).  Untitled poem on verso.

F3   February Days.  Feb 21, 1982.  Ts, 1p (1 leaf).

     For Frances Farmer[?] [n.d.] AMs, 1p (1 leaf).  Untitled drafts of poems
     on verso.

     The Hitchhiker [n.d.] Ts, 1p (1 leaf).  With another draft of same poem
     on verso.

     In My Coat of White [n.d.] AMs, 1p (1 leaf).  Untitled draft of poem on
     verso.

     The Litany of the Lousy Bastards [n.d.] Ts, 1p (1 leaf).  Untitled draft
     of poem on verso.

     New Pharisee's Prayer [n.d.] Ts, 1p (1 leaf).

     Series I.  Poetry (cont'd)

F4   The Old Families [n.d.] Ts, 1p (1 leaf).  Prose piece entitled
     "Important Notice To All Readers Under Forty" on verso.

     Pain [n.d.] Ts, 1p (1 leaf).  Draft of poem entitled "And Yet There Is
     More" on verso.

     Right Up Hairy Mountain [n.d.] Ts and AMs, 2p (2 leaves).

     The Scientwists [n.d.] Ts and AMs, 1p (1 leaf).

F5   Selected Poem [n.d.] AMs, 2p (2 leaves).  Draft of poem entitled "Inner
     Damage" on verso.

     Sexuality (for men only) [n.d.] AMs, 1p (1 leaf).

     To Francie[?] from Ireland [n.d.] AMs, 1p (1 leaf).  Untitled draft of
     poem on verso.

     To the Confederate Dead.  Dec 26, 1965.  Ts, 2p (2 leaves).  Draft of
     "Selected Poem" on verso.

F6   Untitled drafts of poems.  Ts and AMs, 7 items.

     
     Series II.  Prose.
          18 items.
          Includes "Whim-Whams" or "The Masque of the Red Life" and "Tribute
          to Behan," both signed by the author.  Also present are untitled
          prose pieces and drafts of prefatory material for various works. 
          The author's autograph notes and corrections appear on most of the
          manuscripts.  The prose pieces are arranged alphabetically by
          title; dates are provided when available.

F7   The Story of a One Night Stand [n.d.] Ts, 1p (1 leaf).

     Tribute to Behan. Summer 1964.  Ts[mimeo], 2p (2 leaves).  Article for
     Modern Language Review, signed by the author.

F8   Whim-Whams or Masque of the Red Life [n.d.] Ts[x], 17p (17 leaves). 
     Includes Holzapfel's signature and autograph note to "Oliver."

F9   Miscellaneous prefatory material [n.d.] AMs and Ts, 7p (5 leaves).  3
     items.  Includes dedications and acknowledgements.
  
F10  Untitled Prose Pieces [n.d.] Ts and AMs.

F11  Untitled Prose Pieces [n.d.] Ts and Ams.


     Series III.  Miscellaneous, 1953-1990.
          30 items.
          Includes miscellaneous personal materials, such as Holzapfel's
          wedding announcement, a postcard, membership cards, receipts,
          material relating to his position as an English teacher in
          Germany, drafts of letters (written in German), photographs, a
          personal notebook, and promotional material for Holzapfel's 
         1985-86 tour of the United States.  Autograph notes addressed to
          "Oliver" (perhaps Irish poet Oliver Snoddy) appear on some of the
          items.  Items are arranged chronologically with undated material
          at the end of the series.

F12  Miscellaneous.  1953-1963.  3 items.

F13  Miscellaneous.  1979-1985.  6 items.

F14  Miscellaneous.  1986-1990.  6 items.

F15  Miscellaneous [n.d.]

F16  Miscellaneous [n.d.]

F17  Notebook [n.d.]

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