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A Gathering of Poets records

Special Collections and Archives

A Gathering of Poets records

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Special Collections and Archives

A Gathering of Poets records

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A Gathering of Poets records

May 4 Collection - Boxes 75, 76, 76A, 76B

Finding Aid

Prepared by Nancy Birk and Gail Redmann, February 1994; Revised January 2018; Last Updated: August 2020


Inclusive Dates: 1989-1993
Extent: 2.33 cubic feet (2 record storage boxes + 2 slim document cases)
Physical Location: 12th floor


Historical Note: On May 4-6, 1990 A Gathering of Poets was held at Kent State University in conjunction with the Kent State shootings 20th annual commemoration events. Approximately 125 poets from all over the United States responded to personal invitations or to the open call to poets to come to Kent State on May 4 and remember the four students left dead and the nine others wounded by the Ohio National Guard. Organizers of the Gathering included Maggie Anderson, Ray Craig, Kathe Davis, Virginia Dunn, Tiff Holland, Judy Platz, and Major Ragain. In addition to the poets who attended in person, many others who were not able to attend sent poems or messages to be read.


Scope and Content: This collection includes planning and logistical files associated with the Gathering of Poets event, poetry prepared as part of the event, recordings of readings and other events part of the 1990 Gathering, and finally files associated with the published anthology A Gathering of Poets, published in 1992.


Arrangement: The collection is organized into the following series. The first three series pertain to the 1990 Gathering event and the final series contains records related to the anthology that was subsequently published.


Restrictions on Access: Some information included in this collection is restricted due to the presence of information protected by privacy laws. This information has been redacted where present on documents in the collection. Un-redacted originals, in all cases, have been retained by Special Collections and Archives.


Sponsor: Digitization of portions of this collection was funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.


Series 1: A Gathering of Poets: Event Files

Related Material: Correspondence with specific poets attending the gathering and/or participating in the published anthology is found in Series 2: Poet Files.

May 4 Collection - Box 75
Folder -- Contents

  1. Gathering of Poets: Article: A Gathering of Poets at Kent State, 1990
    Author: Chase, Stacey
    Scope and Content: Includes a typescript of the article as originally written by Chase and submitted to Poets & Writers, correspondence from Chase to Maggie Anderson, and eight black and white photographs by Chase of the 1990 Gathering and other commemoration events. An edited version of the article appeared in the November/December 1990 issue of Poets & Writers.
  2. Gathering of Poets: Clippings, 1990
  3. Gathering of Poets: Correspondence: Davis, Kathe, 1989; 1990
  4. Gathering of Poets: Correspondence: Food Committee, April 1990
  5. Gathering of Poets: Correspondence: Invitation, 1989-1990
  6. Gathering of Poets: Correspondence: Thank-yous, 1990
  7. Gathering of Poets: Correspondence: to Poets Attending, 1990
  8. Gathering of Poets: Correspondence: to Poets Not Attending, 1990
  9. Gathering of Poets: Essay: The Problem With This World, undated
    Author: Jaeger, Lowell
    Scope and Content: An essay about experiences at A Gathering of Poets. Full title: The Problem With This World (Kent State University, May 1990).
  10. Gathering of Poets: Event Ribbons, undated
  11. Gathering of Poets: Flyer: Kent Statement, undated
  12. Gathering of Poets: Flyer: Plum Creek Picnic and Poetry, May 1990
  13. Gathering of Poets: Flyer: Schedule, May 1990
  14. Gathering of Poets: Lists of Poets and Readers, 1989-1990
  15. Gathering of Poets: Notes and Meeting Agendas, 1990
  16. Gathering of Poets: Photographs, 1990
    Scope and Content: Six color photographs of Gathering of Poets events, but lacking specific identifications. Photographer is unknown.
  17. Gathering of Poets: Press Release, undated (but likely 1990)
  18. Gathering of Poets: Programs, 1990
    Scope and Content: Includes an hourly schedule of readings.
  19. Gathering of Poets: Schedules of Events, 1990
  20. Gathering of Poets: Transportation Committee records, 1990

Series 2: A Gathering of Poets: Poet Files

Scope and Content: This series includes poetry and correspondence by poets who participated in or where invited to participate in A Gathering of Poets and its associated anthology. Most of the material in this series dates from 1990.

May 4 Collection - Box 76
Folder -- Contents

  1. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Ahshaad, Dahmaad
  2. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Anderson, Maggie
  3. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Arthwell, Bill
  4. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Baker, Michael
  5. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Bakken, Dick
  6. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Beatty, Jan
  7. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Becker, Robin
  8. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Beckett, Tom
  9. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Bell, Marvin
  10. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Bernikow, Louise
  11. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Bertolino, James
  12. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Bilia, Angela
  13. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Bill, Jim
  14. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Bloch, Chana
  15. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Bloch, Mark
  16. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Bourne, Daniel
  17. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Boyer, Margot F.
  18. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Brandler, Marcielle
  19. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Brooks, Gwendolyn
  20. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Broughton, James
  21. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Browne, Michael Dennis
  22. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Bruchac III, Joseph
  23. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Bryll, Ernest
  24. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Bryner, Jeane
  25. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Burton, Leesa
  26. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Butts, Walter
  27. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Carlsen, Susan
  28. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Carson, Jo
  29. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Casey, Michael
  30. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Chadbourne, Mary
  31. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Chase, Stacey
  32. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Cherry, Kelly
  33. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Clampitt, Amy
  34. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Clark, Kevin
  35. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Clifton, Louise
  36. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Cohen, Andy
  37. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Cooper, Jane
  38. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Craig, Ray
  39. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Crawford, Sophie
  40. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Crawford, Tom
  41. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Cvetic, Jim
  42. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Daniels, Jim
  43. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Daniels, Kate
  44. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: David, Gary
  45. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Davis, Kathe
  46. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Davis, Marilyn
  47. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Derricotte, Toi
  48. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: DiPrima, Diane
  49. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Dobler, Patricia
  50. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Doubiago, Sharon
  51. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Dove, Rita
  52. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Drees Kenneth
  53. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Dunn, Virginia
  54. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Emanuel, Lynn
  55. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Emir, Sara
  56. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Evans, Laurie
  57. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Fay, Julie
  58. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Field Edward
  59. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Forche, Carolyn
  60. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Franke, Chris
  61. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Gallagher, Tess
  62. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Gawun, Luba
  63. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Gertler, Pesha
  64. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Gildzen, Alex
  65. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Ginsberg, Allen
  66. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Goedlicke, Patricia
  67. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Hall, Donald
  68. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Hansen, Joseph
  69. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Hardenbrook, Yvonne Moore
  70. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Harjo, Joy
  71. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Harshman, Marc
  72. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Hassler, David
  73. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Hassler, Donald
  74. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Hillman, Brenda
  75. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Hikmet, Nazim
  76. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Holland, Tiff
  77. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Horvath, Brooke
  78. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Howell, Christopher
  79. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Huerta, David
  80. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Huffman, Todd
  81. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Hutchinson, Jenifer
  82. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Ignatow, David
  83. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Inado, Lawson Fusao
  84. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Jackson State Students
  85. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Jacobson, Susan
  86. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Jaeger, Lowell
  87. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Jakiela, Lori
  88. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Jamison, Mark
  89. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Janik, Nell
  90. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Jones, Mark
  91. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Jones, Richard
  92. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Joseph, Lawrence

Series 2: A Gathering of Poets: Poet Files (continued)

Scope and Content: This series includes poetry and correspondence by poets who participated in or where invited to participate in A Gathering of Poets and its associated anthology. Most of the material in this series dates from 1990.

May 4 Collection - Box 76A
Folder -- Contents

  1. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Kaminsky, Marc
  2. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Keatts, Charles
  3. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Kerman, Judith
  4. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Kinnell, Galway
  5. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Komunyakaa, Yusef
  6. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Kovacik, Karen
  7. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Krahling, Mort
  8. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Kumin, Maxine
  9. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Lammon, Martin
  10. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Leed, Jacob
  11. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Leon, Peter,
  12. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Levertov, Peter
  13. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Liebler, M.L.
  14. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Lindberg, Judy
  15. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Lipman, Joel
  16. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Makuck, Peter
  17. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Marcus, Morton
  18. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Matthews, William
  19. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Matzel, James
  20. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: McCafferty, Michael
  21. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: McCarthy, Jim
  22. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: McFadden, Larry
  23. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: McKinney, Irene
  24. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: McNamara, Devon
  25. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: McNeill, Louise
  26. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Metcalf, Paul
  27. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Meyer, Thomas
  28. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Mihaly, Elizabeth
  29. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Monson, Connie
  30. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Moore, Honor
  31. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Moore, Todd
  32. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Morrison, Jeffrey
  33. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Moses, Jill
  34. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Mueller, Lisel
  35. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Murcko, Terry
  36. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Muska, Nick
  37. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Napier, Alan
  38. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Napora, Joe
  39. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Oaks, Jeff
  40. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Ochester, Ed
  41. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Olds, Sharon
  42. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Oresick, Peter
  43. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Ostriker, Alicia
  44. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Pacosz, Christina
  45. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Patten, Karl
  46. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Paulenich, Craig
  47. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Perreault, John
  48. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Platz, Judith
  49. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Plumly, Stanley
  50. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Polite, Frank
  51. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Posti, Steve
  52. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Pursifull, Deb
  53. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Ragain, Major
  54. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Ragan, James
  55. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Ravikovitch, Dahlia
  56. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Roche, Judith
  57. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Roffman, Rosaly
  58. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Romito, Whitney
  59. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Rossiter, Charles
  60. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Rutsala, Vern
  61. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Rylant, Cynthia
  62. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Scates, Maxine
  63. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Scott, Gary
  64. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Sesto, Cameron
  65. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Shearer, Branton
  66. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Shelly, Louise
  67. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Shelton, Richard
  68. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Shevin, David
  69. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Snyder, Richard
  70. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Sobiesko, Dorota
  71. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Sollers, John
  72. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Somerville, Jane
  73. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Stafford, William
  74. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Stamm, Geoffrey
  75. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Stanford, Ann
  76. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Stein, Dona Luongo
  77. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Stein, Kevin
  78. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Stern, Gerald
  79. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Stevenson, Gerald
  80. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Strange, Aralee
  81. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Studebaker, William
  82. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Takahashi, Shinkichi
  83. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Thompson, Daniel
  84. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Thornberry, Dave and Jackie
  85. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Tidrick, Darrin
  86. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Trale, Marianne
  87. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Tremblay, Bill
  88. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Trigilio, Tony
  89. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Tulencik, Wendell
  90. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Tyler, Steve
  91. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Umrigar, Thirty
  92. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Valentine, Jean
  93. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: van Itallie, Jean-Claude
  94. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Van Riper, Craig
  95. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Vollmer, Judith
  96. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Walker, Alice
  97. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Waters, Michael
  98. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Wei, Eva
  99. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Weigl, Bruce
  100. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Weiler, Robert A.
  101. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Whitcome, Lee
  102. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Wikle, Lynn
  103. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Wilkens, Jim
  104. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Williams, C.K.
  105. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Williams, Jonathan
  106. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Williams, Sandra
  107. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Williamson, Alan
  108. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Wohlken, Gayle
  109. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Wright, C.D.
  110. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Yasutome, Kay
  111. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Zimmer, Paul

Series 3: A Gathering of Poets: Audio Recordings

Scope and Content: This series is comprised of 14 audio cassette recordings of readings performed as part of A Gathering of Poets in May 1990. Poems, poets, and readers are in the process of being identified at this time. More detailed information on content will be provided in future. Please note that the sound quality of most of these recordings is very poor.

Contents

  1. Gathering of Poets: Readings: Tape 1, 1990
  2. Gathering of Poets: Readings: Tape 2, 1990
  3. Gathering of Poets: Readings: Tape 3, 1990
  4. Gathering of Poets: Readings: Tape 4, 1990
  5. Gathering of Poets: Readings: Tape 5, 1990
  6. Gathering of Poets: Readings: Tape 6, 1990
  7. Gathering of Poets: Readings: Tape 7, 1990
  8. Gathering of Poets: Readings: Tape 8, 1990
  9. Gathering of Poets: Readings: Tape 9, 1990
  10. Gathering of Poets: Readings: Tape 10, 1990
  11. Gathering of Poets: Readings: Tape 11, 1990
  12. Gathering of Poets: Readings: Tape 12, 1990
  13. Gathering of Poets: Readings: Tape 13, 1990
  14. Gathering of Poets: Readings: Tape 14, 1990

Series 4: A Gathering of Poets: Published Anthology

May 4 Collection - Box 76B
Folder -- Contents

  1. Gathering of Poets Anthology: Clippings and Publicity, 1992-1993
    Scope and Content: Clippings, press releases, flyers, blurbs, and other promotional and publicity materials related to the anthology and associated readings performed in conjunction with the book's release.
  2. Gathering of Poets Anthology: Correspondence to Contributors, 1991-1993
    Scope and Content: Form letters sent to potential contributors and letters sent to contributors after the book was published.
  3. Gathering of Poets Anthology: Correspondence to/from KSU Press, 1990-1992
    Scope and Content: Includes the book proposal for the anthology.
  4. Gathering of Poets Anthology: Editors' Files, 1990-1992
    Scope and Content: Includes correspondence, outlines, notes, and other planning documents produced by the editors of the anthology.
  5. Gathering of Poets Anthology: Reviews, 1992-1993