mss0099_0824.xml Finding aid for Larry Eigner letters and poems1960-1978(bulk dates 1973-1976) University of Delaware Library, Special Collections University of Delaware Library
Newark, Delaware 19717-5267 Phone: 302-831-2229 Fax: 302-831-6003 URL: http://www.lib.udel.edu/ud/spec/
Date encoded (2008 June 11) Finding aid encoded 2008 June 11 English Larry Eigner letters and poems1960-1978(bulk dates 1973-1976) Special Collections Department, University of Delaware Library
Newark, Delaware 19717-5267 Phone: 302-831-2229 Fax: 302-831-6003 URL: http://www.lib.udel.edu/ud/spec/
 Eigner, Larry, 1927- Larry Eigner letters and poems1960-19781973-1976 MSS 099, F824 32 items (27 pp.) One typed card, one typed letter, and fifteen typed poems written by American poet Larry Eigner. Materials entirely in English. University of Delaware Library - Special Collections Source

Purchase, April 2008 and Gift, November 2010.

 Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

 Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

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 Department, University of Delaware Library, http://www.lib.udel.edu/cgi-bin/askspec.cgi

 Citation

MSS 099, F824, Larry Eigner letters and poems, Special Collections, University of Delaware Library, Newark, Delaware.

 Shelving Summary Box 55, F824: Shelved in SPEC MSS 099 manuscript boxes Processing

Processed and encoded by Anita Wellner, June 2008.

 Biographical Note

American poet Larry Eigner (Laurence Joel Eigner) was born August 7, 1927 in Lynn, Massachusetts. Although an injury at birth left Eigner palsied, the poet and writer spent his life describing the world around him, first from his glassed-in porch in a small town in Massachusetts and later from his home in Berkeley, California. Although most of his published work is poetry, he has also written a play, short stories and prose.

"Larry Eigner." Contemporary Poets, 6th ed. (reproduced in Biography Resource Center). http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC (accessed June 2008)

 Scope and Content Note

A small collection of typed material written by American poet Larry Eigner. Includes two typed postcards written by Larry Eigner to Leroi Jones (later known as Amiri Baraka) and Robert Hawley, three typed letters written by Eigner to David and Maria Gitin, and ten leaves of typescript numbered poems. Most sheets have multiple poems either on the recto or on the verso, with a total of twenty-four poems. Some poems bear the same number but vary in content and date.

 Arrangement

The letters are in chronological order, followed by the poems in order as numbered.

 Selected Search Terms Personal Names Baraka, Imamu Amiri, 1934- Gitin, David.Gitin, Maria.Hawley, Robert, 1929- Topical Terms Poets, American--20th century--Sources. American Poetry--20th century--Sources. Form/Genre Terms Letters (correspondence) Manuscripts.Poems. Occupation Poets. Detailed Contents List 55 F824 Larry Eigner postcard to Leroi Jones1960 January 29 1 item (1 leaf)

One typed postcard written by Eigner to poet Leroi Jones regarding "Projective Verse."

55 F824 Larry Eigner letter to David and Maria Gitin1973 February 23 1 item (3 leaves)

One typed letter written by Eigner to David and Maria Gitin regarding Gitin's book "Guitar Against the Wall," which he is reading, mentions other poets, poetry readings he has attended, putting together a manuscript of his work for John Martin, and concludes with a brief poem #761 (dated Feb 5, 1973).

 55 F824 Larry Eigner letter to David and Maria Gitin1974 January 29 1 item (2 leaves, with envelope)

One typed letter written by Eigner to David and Maria Gitin regarding books he's received, work he's sent out to various periodicals or persons, and what he's reading, and his return from Missouri, includes envelope. Typescript poems #830 to #836 were probably enclosed in this letter.

 55 F824 #8301973 December 30 1 item (1 leaf)

Eigner's typescript poem, "#830" (first line: "cable-car's"). This poem is on the same page with "#831" (First line: "change").

 55 F824 #8311974 January 11-14 1 item (1 leaf)

Eigner's typescript poem, "#831" (first line: "change"). This poem is on the same page with "#830" (First line: "cable-car's").

 55 F824 #8321974 January 17-20 1 item (1 leaf)

Eigner's typescript poem, "#832" (first line: "the pot of society"). This poem is on the same page with "#833" (First line: "Listen the ice sparkles").

 55 F824 #8331974 January 18-20 1 item (1 leaf)

Eigner's typescript poem, "#833" (first line: "Listen the ice sparkles"). This poem is on the same page with "#832" (First line: "the pot of society").

 55 F824 #8341974 January 26 1 item (1 leaf)

Eigner's typescript poem, "#834" (first line: "chamber-pot"). This poem is on the same page with "#835" (first line: "how does the clock strike") and "#836" (first line: "gleaming bands around the chimney").

 55 F824 #8351974 January 26 1 item (1 leaf)

Eigner's typescript poem, "#835" (first line: "how does the clock strike"). This poem is on the same page with "#834" (first line: "chamber-pot") and "#836" (first line: "gleaming bands around the chimney").

 55 F824 #8361974 January 27 1 item (1 leaf)

Eigner's typescript poem, "#836" (first line: "gleaming bands around the chimney"). This poem is on the same page with "#834" (first line: "chamber-pot") and "#835" (first line: "how does the clock strike").

 55 F824 Larry Eigner letter to David and Maria Gitin1974 July 26 1 item (2 leaves, with envelope)

One typed letter written by Eigner to David and Maria Gitin regarding poems he had previously sent to them, as well as family events, recording his poetry, and mentioning contacts with other poets. Many of poems mentioned in the letter are included in this collection, but it is unclear if these are the same copies sent to the Gitins.

 55 F824 #8631974 June 1 1 item (1 leaf)

Eigner's typescript poem, "#863" (first line: "here it"). This poem is on the verso of a sheet, on the front is "#868" (First line: "to strain against the wall").

55 F824 #8681974 June 9-10 1 item (1 leaf)

Eigner's typescript poem, "#868" (First line: "to strain against the wall"). This poem is on the front of a sheet, on the verso is "#863" (first line: "here it").

55 F824 #8691974 June 11-13 1 item (1 leaf)

Eigner's typescript poem, "#869" (first line: "whatever's entered").

55 F824 #8701974 June 17-22 1 item (1 leaf)

Eigner's typescript poem, "#870" (first line: "3/4 time"). On the same sheet are three other poems, "871" (first line: "Renoir"), "#872" (first line: "therefore"), and on the verso, "#873" (first line: man how a").

55 F824 #8711974 June 22 1 item (1 leaf)

Eigner's typescript poem, "871" (first line: "Renoir"). On the same sheet are three other poems, "#870" (first line: "3/4 time"), "#872" (first line: "therefore"), and on the verso, "#873" (first line: man how a").

55 F824 #8721974 June 22-23 1 item (1 leaf)

Eigner's typescript poem, "#872" (first line: "therefore"). On the same sheet are three other poems, "#870" (first line: "3/4 time"), "871" (first line: "Renoir"), and on the verso, "#873" (first line: man how a").

55 F824 #8731974 July 2 1 item (1 leaf)

Eigner's typescript poem, "#873" (first line: man how a"). On the verso of the same sheet are three other poems, "#870" (first line: "3/4 time"), "871" (first line: "Renoir"), and "#872" (first line: "therefore").

55 F824 #8731974 July 5-8 1 item (1 leaf)

Eigner's typescript poem, "#873" (first line: "outpouring"), varies from poem #873 dated July 2, 1974. On the same sheet with a second poem, "#874" (first line: "antenna").

 55 F824 #8741974 July 7-9 1 item (1 leaf)

Eigner's typescript poem, "#874" (first line: "antenna"). On the same sheet with a second poem, "#873" (first line: "outpouring").

55 F824 #8741974 July 9 1 item (1 leaf)

Eigner's typescript poem, "#874" (first line: "tall buildings"), varies from poem #874 dated July 7-9. On the same sheet with a two other poems, "#875" (first line: "rightside up and upside down") and "876" (first line: "faucet").

55 F824 #8751974 July 9-11 1 item (1 leaf)

Eigner's typescript poem, "#875" (first line: "rightside up and upside down"). On the same sheet with a two other poems, "#874" (first line: "tall buildings") and "876" (first line: "faucet").

55 F824 #8761974 July 10-11 1 item (1 leaf)

Eigner's typescript poem, "876" (first line: "faucet"). On the same sheet with a two other poems, "#874" (first line: "tall buildings") and "#875" (first line: "rightside up and upside down").

 55 F824 #8771974 July 17-23 1 item (1 leaf)

Eigner's typescript poem, "877" (first line: "To keep going"). On the same sheet with a two other poems, "#878" (first line: "insect") and on the verso, "#879" (first line: "lands").

55 F824 #8781974 July 24 1 item (1 leaf)

Eigner's typescript poem, "#878" (first line: "insect"). On the same sheet with a two other poems, "877" (first line: "To keep going") and on the verso, "#879" (first line: "lands").

 55 F824 #8791974 July 24-25 1 item (1 leaf)

Eigner's typescript poem, "#879" (first line: "lands"). On the verso of the same sheet are two other poems, "877" (first line: "To keep going") and "#878" (first line: "insect").

55 F824 Unnumbered poem1976 October 21 1 item (1 leaf)

Eigner's unnumbered typescript poem with the first line: "there go the books." This poem is on the verso of a sheet with two other poems: "#98(7?)" (first line: "all the things") and "#98(8?)" (first line: "faces faces faces"). The sheet also includes autograph notes about the poems made by Eigner and his signature.

 55 F824 #98(7?)1976 October 19 1 item (1 leaf)

Eigner's typescript poem with the first line: "all the things." This poem is on a sheet with two other poems: the first is unnumbered with the first line: "there go the books") and the second is poem #98(8?) (first line: "faces faces faces"). The sheet also includes autograph notes about the poems made by Eigner and his signature.

 55 F824 #98 (8?)1976 October 1 item (1 leaf)

Eigner's typescript poem #98(8?) with the first line: "faces faces faces all the things." This poem is on a sheet with two other poems: the first is unnumbered with the first line: "there go the books") and the second is poem #98(7?) (first line: "all the things"). The sheet also includes autograph notes about the poems made by Eigner and his signature.

 55 F824 Larry Eigner postcard to Robert Hawley1978 August 3 1 item (2 pp.)

One typed postcard written by Eigner to Robert Hawley thanking him for the recently received books, mentioning his father's death and his move to a commune in Berkeley.

 55 F824 Two miniature watercolor paintings[1970s] 21 items (2 pp.)

Two miniature watercolor painting on small slips of paper, one of sail boats on the water (with the autograph note: "Wed. 6:00 p.m.") and a second of a house by a body of water. The relationship of these two items to Eigner is unknown, as is the painter.