mss0099_0833.xml Finding aid for Muriel Rukeyser letters to David Posner1942–1944 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 October 6) Finding aid encoded 2008 October 6 English Muriel Rukeyser letters to David Posner1942–1944 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/
 Rukeyser, Muriel, 1913-1980. Muriel Rukeyser letters to David Posner1942–1944 MSS 099, F833 14 items 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. Materials entirely in English. University of Delaware Library - Special Collections Source

Purchase, 2008.

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, F833, Muriel Rukeyser letters to David Posner, Special Collections, University of Delaware Library, Newark, Delaware.

 Shelving Summary Box 55, F833: Shelved in SPEC MSS 099 manuscript boxes Processing

Processed and encoded by Christiana Dobrzynski, October 2008.

 Biographical Notes Muriel Rukeyser

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, Theory of Flight, based on flying lessons she took at Roosevelt Aviation School, was selected for publication and the Yale Younger Poets prize.

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.

 David Posner

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).

 Scope and Content Note

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.

 Selected Search Terms Personal Names Posner, David Louis--Correspondence. Rukeyser, Muriel, 1913-1980--Correspondence. Topical TermsAmerican poetry--20th century.Poets, American--20th century--Correspondence. Form/Genre Terms Clippings (information artifacts)Letters (correspondence) Poems.Postcards.Manuscripts (document genre) Occupation Authors.Poets. Personal Contributors Rukeyser, Muriel, 1913-1980, correspondent. Related Materials in this Repository

This item forms part of MSS 099 Miscellaneous Literary and Historical Manuscripts.

MSS 614 David Louis Posner papers

 Detailed Contents List 55 F833 Muriel Rukeyser letters to David Posner1942–1944 14 items

Includes letters, postcards, manuscripts, clippings.