Arrangement
For the most part, this collection retains the original order established by Joseph Parisi but has been divided into eight series by Special Collections staff. Series 1. Correspondence (Boxes 1-3); Series 2. Articles, Lectures, Educational Projects, and Speeches (Boxes 3-12) with four subseries: Subseries A: Articles & Reviews (Boxes 3-9), Subseries B: Education Projects (Boxes 9-11), Subseries C: Lectures (Boxes 11-12), and Subseries D: Speeches (Box 12); Series 3. Financial Records and Fundraising Efforts for PoetryMagazine (Boxes 12-13); Series 4. Papers concerning Dear Editor research, typescript, and publication (Boxes 14-24); Series 5. Papers concerning Between the Lines research, typescript, and publication (Boxes 24-31); Series 6. Primary Research Documents (copies) for Dear Editorand Between the Lines (Boxes 32-42) with three subseries: Subseries A: Primary Research Documents for Dear Editor (Boxes 32-36), Subseries B: Primary Research Documents for Between the Lines (Boxes 37-41); Subseries C: Primary Research Documents for Dear Editor and Between the Lines not included in the books (Boxes 41-42); and Series 7. Restricted Organizational Papers concerning Poetry and the Poetry Foundation (Boxes 43-45); Series 8. Joseph Parisi addition of typescripts, offprints, and galley proofs.
Biographical / Historical
Joseph Parisi joined Poetrymagazine in 1976 and was its editor from 1983 to 2003, the longest tenure after that of the magazine's founder, Harriet Monroe. He also served as executive director of Poetry'sparent organization, the Modern Poetry Association (now the Poetry Foundation). His most recent books are Dear Editor: A History of Poetry in Letters Part I: 1912-1962,Between the Lines: A History of Poetry in Letters: Part II: 1962-2002andThe Poetry Anthology, 1912-2002, all co-edited with Stephen Young. Mr. Parisi was born in Duluth, Minnesota, and received a Ph.D. in English from the University of Chicago.
Content Description
The papers of Joseph Parisi, editor of Poetry from 1983-2008, ca. 15,750 items, 45 document boxes,23 cubic feet, include speeches, lectures, and introductions by Parisi; journal articles and reviews; literary correspondence; principally with poets, literary editors, and critics; miscellaneous materials related to the history of Poetry magazine; research materials, drafts and proofs related to publicaton of Dear Editor:a history of Poetry in letters: the first fifty years,1912-1962,; Between the lines: a history of Poetry in letters; and The Poetry anthology,1912-2002:ninety years of America's most distinguished verse magazine; documents by or about John Frederick Nims, including copies of letters, articles, and manuscripts; documents related to educational programs and large national projects with the American Library Association and the National Endowment for the Humanities; and, miscellaneous printed materials.
The Addition in Series 8 (Box 46) contains typescripts, offprints, cards, and galley proofs. Folder 1 includes a signed offprint of Karl Shapiro, "The Jewish Problem, a typescript of Albert Goldbarth, "The Lake" with pink cover sheet. There is a New Year's card from Richard Foerster and Steve Miller, a New Year's card from Erica Jong and family, and an annotated note signed from Nickole Brown.
Folder 2 contains proofs of Alice Fulton, "Powers of Congress," and proofs of Gary Soto, "Black Hair," and Proofs of Gary Soto, "Who Will Know Us?"