The Register of
Charles Vermont Papers
1965 - 1983

MSS 0036

Mandeville Special Collections Library
Geisel Library
University of California, San Diego

Extent: 0.40 linear feet (1 archives box)

Abstract

Papers of an American poet and editor which shed light on the careers of a group of writers who began publishing in the late 1960's. Vermont published three books of poetry: CHARLIE IS LAUGHING, TWO WOMEN, and SELECTED POEMS. He was also the editor of Two Charlies with Charles Walsh. The Vermont papers are dominated by correspondence with other poets which touch on both the correspondent's and Vermont's literary careers and personal lives. The earliest of the letters dates from the late 1960's, and the most recent is from the early 1980's--the majority were written in the mid-1970's. Writers with whom Vermont corresponded include Robert Creeley, Philip Whalen, Bobbie Louise Hawkins, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Tom Clark, Lewis Warsh, Larry Goodell, and Stephen Rodefer. Also included is a small group of original writings by Vermont.

Biography

Scope and Content

Accession Processed in 1987

The papers document the personal lives and literary careers of Charles Vermont and writers with whom he was associated from the late 1960's to early 1980's. The collection originally contained three groups of materials: correspondence, original writings, and assorted publications. These publications included various journals, newsletters, and books from Vermont's library; most of these are now a part of the ANP collection.

The bulk of material now in the collection consists of correspondence sent to Vermont by various writers. Most of these writers were also personal friends of Vermont's; therefore the letters often transcend professional matters and touch on Vermont's and the correspondent's lives. The letters of each correspondent are collected within a single folder, and the folders are arranged alphabetically with the name of the correspondent at the top. A few of the folders contain letters from companies, and they are also placed alphabetically in the box. Within each folder the letters are arranged chronologically when possible; letters that are not dated are at the back of the folder. Letters that could not be identified are collected at the end of the correspondence series in a folder titled "Miscellaneous Unidentified Correspondence." The largest collection of letters are those sent by Lewis Warsh, Charles Walsh, Bernadette Mayer, and Ken Irby. The collection is limited in scope by the absence of Vermont's own letters.

The second series--original manuscripts--consists of two manuscripts written by Vermont, and each is collected in a separate folder. These are titled "Bee Eye" and "Review of Jim Gustafson's Recent Book." A folder titled "Ephemera" --which contains photographs of Vermont and fliers--completes the collection.

Finding aid generated: 2005-10-31