Special Collections Department
Janine Pommy -
Vega
Manuscripts
1967 - 1980
Manuscript Collection Number: 456
Accessioned: Purchase, 2002
Extent: 1 linear ft.
Content: Manuscripts, correspondence
Access: The collection is open for research.
Processed: January 2003, by
Kevin Burke
Special Collections, University of Delaware Library
Newark, Delaware 19717-5267
(302) 831-2229
Table of Contents
Introductory Note
The American poet Janine Pommy-Vega was born in 1942 in Jersey City, New Jersey. During the early 1960s she moved to Greenwich Village, became acquainted with the Beat writers Gregory Corso, Allen Ginsberg, and Jack Kerouac, and married the Peruvian painter Fernando Vega. Following Vega’s death from a drug overdose in 1965, Pommy-Vega wrote and published her first book, Poems to Fernando, with City Lights Books in 1968. She has traveled extensively in North and South America, and in Europe. An extended stay at Lake Titicaca in Peru resulted in the material for two of the books included in this collection, Journal of a Hermit (1974) and Morning Passage (1976).
Pommy-Vega has published nine volumes of poetry over the course of her career. Since 1975 she has been involved with the New York Poets in the Schools program. She has also been involved in poetry in the prisons programs and is a co-founder and coordinator for the poetry workshop at Sing Sing, the state prison at Ossining, New York.
The Janine Pommy-Vega Manuscripts collection includes autograph and typescript drafts, galleys, and correspondence related to the publication of three of Pommy-Vega’s books: Morning Passage (1976), Journal of a Hermit (both the original 1974 edition, and the reprinting with new material published as Journal of a Hermit & in 1979), and The Bard Owl (1980). Also included are the manuscripts for and a printed copy of the broadside Star Treatise.
Source:
Contemporary Authors Online, Gale, 2003. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: The Gale Group. 2003. Retrieved January 14, 2003 from http://www.galenet.com/servlet/BioRC.
Related Collections:
Mss 457 Charles Plymell Manuscripts
Contents List
Box -- Folder -- Contents
Morning Passage (1976)
Includes all drafts for twenty poems, copies of the
manuscript, galleys, correspondence with the publisher,
and a review of the book from the Woodstock Times. A
copy of the book has been removed from the collection
and cataloged separately by the University of Delaware
Special Collections Library.
F1 “Morning Passage Archives”
Pommy-Vega’s typed catalog of the material related to the
composition and publication of Morning Passage.
F2 Drafts of Poems
Includes autograph and typed drafts with corrections of
“Morning Passage,” “Song on the Lake,” “I Set My Heart on
the Road To Find You,” “Drought,” and “Aurora,” each
arranged successively with latest version on top.
F3 Drafts of Poems
Includes autograph and typed drafts with corrections of “New
Year’s Crossing,” “Sunset Under Clouds and Luminous,”
“Deepening Twilight, Wind From the North,” “Jungle
Vegetation,” and “Return,” each arranged successively with
latest version on top.
F4 Drafts of Poems
Includes autograph and typed drafts with corrections of
“Eclipse of the Archer Moon,” “The Butterfly of Fire,”
“Dawn, a Turtle Dove,” “Winter Solstice,” and “Island
Legend,” each arranged successively with latest version on
top.
F5 Drafts of Poems
Includes autograph and typed drafts with corrections of
“Sitting in a Lantern House,” Song in a Snowstorm,” “Goodbye
Again,” “Birthday Cake,” and “Song of Departure,” each
arranged successively with latest version on top.
F6 Copies of Manuscript of Morning Passages
Includes Pommy-Vega’s original typed manuscript, the
photocopy of the manuscript sent to the publisher, Maureen
Owen of Telephone Books, and correspondence between the
author and the publisher.
F7 Working Copy Manuscript of Morning Passage
Includes carbon copy of TLS from Pommy-Vega to Maureen Owen
regarding dedication and magazine credits for the book,
Pommy-Vega’s notes on cover art and layout, and the working
copy of the manuscript.
F8 Galleys for Morning Passage (includes envelope)
F9 Review of Morning Passage
Note: Photocopy of a review of Morning Passage by John Eskow
in the Woodstock Times (14 Apr 77). Original shelved
separately.
Star Treatise
F10 Autograph and typescript drafts with corrections of the
prose poem Star Treatise, final draft dated 1973. Envelope
addressed to Janine Pommy-Vega from Lita Hornick that
apparently contained printed broadside version of the poem
(postmarked 1980). Photocopy of broadside (original shelved
separately).
Journal of a Hermit (1974) and Journal of a Hermit & (1979)
Includes drafts for the long poem Journal of a Hermit
and for other poems that were included in the second
printing Journal of a Hermit &, manuscripts,
correspondence with the publishers (Charles and Pamela
Plymell of Cherry Valley Editions, Cherry Valley, New
York), a work copy of the first printing used for
proofing the second printing, and covers from the
second printing.
F11 “Journal of a Hermit Archives”
Pommy-Vega’s typed catalog of the material related to the
composition and publication of Journal of a Hermit.
F12 Journal of a Hermit I – XI, Drafts
Includes autograph and typed drafts with corrections of the
first eleven sections of Journal of a Hermit. Drafts for
each section are arranged successively with latest version
on top. Section II includes an undated letter from Carol
Berg, apparently an editor at Center in Woodstock, New York,
commenting on sections of the poem Pommy-Vega had submitted
for publication.
F13 Journal of a Hermit XII – XXII, Drafts
Includes autograph and typed drafts with corrections of
sections twelve through twenty-two of Journal of a Hermit.
Drafts for each section are arranged successively with
latest version on top.
F14 Journal of a Hermit, Drafts of unnumbered and miscellaneous
sections.
F15 Drafts of poems included in Journal of a Hermit &
Includes autograph and typed drafts with corrections of
“Poem to Pitt/ If That Is Your Name,” “Junksick
Dirge/Abandonment,” “We Are All One,” “Song in the
Nightwind,” “Song of the Soul to Itself on a Rooftop,” each
arranged successively with latest version on top.
F16 Drafts of Poems included in Journal of a Hermit &
Includes autograph and typed drafts with corrections of
“Simplified Legend,” “Poem to David, the Psalmster,”
“Birthday Poem,” “Song of the Solitude Sleek-footed Bird,”
“Return to My Birthplace and First Sixteen Years/47th
Street, Union City,” each arranged successively with latest
version on top.
F17 Drafts of Poems included in Journal of a Hermit &
Includes autograph and typed drafts with corrections of
“Poem to the Viking Warrior Angel,” “Song for Mad Marcus the
Dark,” “Eli the Collie,” “La Puna,” “Twenty-eighth
Birthday,” each arranged successively with latest on top.
F18 Working Manuscript for Poems included in Journal of a Hermit &
Includes two ALS from the publisher, Pamela Plymell of
Cherry Valley Editions, Cherry Valley, New York.
F19 Working Manuscript for Journal of a Hermit &
Includes carbon copies of two TLS from Pommy-Vega to her
publishers and autograph notes on revisions and publication
details.
F20 Correspondence of Janine Pommy-Vega related to publication
of Journal of a Hermit and Journal of a Hermit &
From Pamela Plymell to Janine Pommy-Vega
1974 Aug 2 ALS 1 p
1974 Sep 12 ALS 1 p
1974 Oct 9 ALS 1 p
[1976] ALS 1 p
Note: Includes envelope.
From Charles Plymell to Janine Pommy-Vega
[1976] ALS 1 p
Note: Includes flyer for Maryland Writers Conference.
From Janine Pommy-Vega to “Clifford”
1975 June 18 TLS(c) 1 p
From Janine Pommy-Vega to Pamela Plymell
1978 Feb 22 ALS 1 p
Note : Includes envelope.
From Janine Pommy-Vega to Pamela and Charles Plymell
1978 Sep 19 TLS(c) 2 p
[n.d.] ACS
1978 Dec 25 TLS 1 p
F21 Material related to publication of Journal of a Hermit &
Includes copy of first printing of Journal of a Hermit used
for proofing Journal of a Hermit &, layout mock-ups and
cover for Journal of a Hermit &.
The Bard Owl (1980)
Includes drafts of poems, versions of the manuscript
and covers letters sent to Harper & Row, Kulcher Press
(which published the book), and other presses,
correspondence and other material related to
publication.
F22 “The Bard Owl Archives”
Includes Pommy-Vega’s catalog of materials related to the
composition and publication of The Bard Owl and an
unaddressed TLS(c) dated 13 Feb 81.
F23 The Bard Owl, Drafts
Includes typed and autograph drafts with corrections of
“Invocation,” “San Francisco Shuffle,” “Ranging the
Headlands,” “The Expected One,” “Impressionists,” “Gypsy
Players,” “Lunar Eclipse,” “Roots Revisited.” Drafts are
arranged successively with final version on top.
F24 The Bard Owl, Drafts
Includes typed and autograph drafts with corrections of
“Song for Aunt May,” “Blues,” “The Poet’s Gown,” “The
Traveler,” “Stargazer,” “Tale of the Hunter,” “Winter,”
“Song for the Lady.” Drafts are arranged successively with
latest version on top.
F25 The Bard Owl, Drafts
Includes typed and autograph drafts with corrections of “The
Merchant Poet,” “Song for My Father” (Parts I – VII),
“Spring,” “Leaving Town In a Hurry,” “Song for Csar,”
“Panama Airport,” “Trainride,” “Little Song.” Drafts are
arranged successively with final version on top.
F26 The Bard Owl, Drafts
Includes typed and autograph drafts with corrections of
“Exhortation,” “The Empress,” “The Lover,” “The Regular,”
“The Poster,” “The Birds,” “The Hermit,” “Serenade.” Drafts
are arranged successively with final version on top.
F27 The Bard Owl, Drafts
Includes typed and autograph drafts with corrections of “For
the Bard Owl,” “Promise of a Day,” “Companion on the Path,”
“The Ritual,” “Aer Lingus,” “Preview,” “Your Song,”
“Walker.” Drafts are arranged successively with latest
version on top.
F28 The Bard Owl, Drafts
Includes typed and autograph drafts with corrections of
“Ring Fort,” “Druid Theatre,” “Jameson’s Whiskey,” “November
Landscape,” “Take on Your Poem,” “Dracula’s Imprint,” “The
Geminids,” “Himalayan Air in the City.” Drafts are arranged
successively with latest version on top.
F29 The Bard Owl, Drafts
Includes typed and autograph drafts with corrections of
“Document,” “John Garfield’s Favorite Song,” “Eric Zamm
Rides Again,” “Aurora Borealis/Fourth of July,” “Willow,”
“Yourself,” “Equinox,” “Where Are You?” Drafts are arranged
successively with latest on top.
F30 The Bard Owl, Drafts
Includes typed and autograph drafts with corrections of “
The Thaw,” “Nocturne,” “Peter, Your Poems,” “March 30th,
1979,” “Blue Hills at Dusk,” “Temple Built in a Museum,”
“Home,” “Re-entry.” Drafts are arranged successively with
latest version on top.
F31 The Bard Owl, Manuscript Sent to Harper & Row (1977 – 1978)
F32 Correspondence Related to Publication of The Bard Owl
Includes cover letters by Janine Pommy-Vega and rejection
notices by Houghton Mifflin Company, Princeton University
Press, and The University of Massachusetts Press.
F33 The Bard Owl, Manuscript Sent to Kulcher Press (the
publishers)
Corrected manuscript used for publication.
F34 Material Related to the Publication of The Bard Owl by
Kulcher Press
Includes typed manuscript of dedication by Paul Metcalf, a
TLS from the publisher Lita Hornick, and autograph notes
pertaining to the layout of the book and other matters.
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