Susan Howe Radio Program Sound Recordings
Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego Library
Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
Copyright 2023
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla 92093-0175
Business Number: 858-534-2533
Fax Number: 858-534-5950
spcoll@ucsd.edu
Descriptive Summary
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla 92093-0175
Title: Susan Howe Radio Program Sound Recordings
Creator:
Howe, Susan, 1937-
Identifier/Call Number: MSS 0190
Physical Description:
6.4 Linear feet
(6 record cartons and 1 archives box)
Date (inclusive): 1965, 1970-1981
Abstract: This collection consists of sound recordings from Susan Howe's radio program on WBAI New York spanning 1965, and 1970-1981.
Also includes other WBAI poetry-related recordings owned by Howe.
Languages:
English
.
Scope and Content of Collection
The majority of this collection contains original recordings from Susan Howe's radio program, referred to as "Susan Howe with
Poetry," "Poetry Today," and/or "Poetry." It was generally a thirty minute program, but special events would last upwards
of an hour and a half. Howe would interview and/or host guests, who would read on the program. She also edited and produced
the broadcast versions for radio. Notable guests include John Ashbery, Anne Waldman, Ron Padgett, Alice Notley, and Jerome
Rothenberg. The recording and editing decisions created a unique experience for each event due to Howe's belief that, similarly
to choosing interview questions, sound editing and final production requires choices that are different for each individual
being featured. The dates provided are either the creation date of the broadcast reel or the first broadcast date of the program,
with additional broadcast dates listed in the notes.
Supporting broadcast materials in Series 3 are unedited productions tapes that serve as the content source for WBAI roadcast
versions. However, these materials are largely duplicative of recordings in Series 1) SUSAN HOWE WITH POETRY, and contain
very little unique content.
Arranged in three series: 1) SUSAN HOWE WITH POETRY, 2) OTHER WBAI POETRY BROADCASTS, and 3) SUPPORTING BROADCAST MATERIALS.
Biography
Susan Howe (b. 1937) is an American artist, poet, and writer. Howe's poetry evolved from her painting and drawing career,
and her first major publication was the 1974 edition of Hinge Picture (New York, Telephone Books). Closely associated with
the late 1970s and 1980s Language Poets' movement, Susan Howe's poetry and scholarship are most accurately characterized as
language-based and experimental. In the 1970s, Howe produced a radio talk show for WBAI radio in which she interviewed and
hosted a wide range of American and European poets. Through producing and editing this show, Howe not only interviewed poets,
but introduced their readings, facillitated discussion, and read poetry of her own. Howe's sound editing work is echoed in
her authorial voice and her splicing and language use within her written works. Howe also wanted to create a program that
required participation and active listening on the part of the listener.
Preferred Citation
Susan Howe Radio Program Sound Recordings. MSS 190. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego Library.
Acquisition Information
Acquired 2001
Publication Rights
Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.
Restrictions
Original sound recordings are restricted. Listening copies of most recordings are available.
Related Materials
Susan Howe Papers. MSS 201. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego Library.
Digital Content
This collection has been digitized.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
American poetry -- 20th century
Poets -- Interviews
Howe, Susan, 1937-
WBAI Radio (New York, N.Y.)
SUSAN HOWE WITH POETRY/POETRY TODAY - WBAI SOUND RECORDINGS
Box 3, Folder 1
Discussion and reading of E. M. Forster's
A Passage to India
ca. 1971
Discussion and reading of E. M. Forster's A Passage to India
General note
Unedited, with reading mistakes, not a broadcast version.
Box 1, Folder 1
Charles North reading his poetry
ca. 1972-1977
Charles North reading his poetry
Box 1, Folder 2
Fanny Howe reads from
First Marriage and Other Loves
1975 March 8
Fanny Howe reads from First Marriage and Other Loves
General note
Also broadcast on 1975 August 8 and 1975 July 12.
Box 1, Folder 3
William Corbett reading his poetry
1975 April 13
William Corbett reading his poetry
Box 3, Folder 2
W. S. Merwin reading his poetry
1975 April 15
W. S. Merwin reading his poetry
General note
Also broadcast on 1975 July 3.
Box 1, Folder 4
John Hollander reading his poetry
1975 April 29
John Hollander reading his poetry
General note
Also broadcast on 1975 June 3, 7, and 12.
Box 1, Folder 5
Ron Padgett reading his poetry
1975 April
Ron Padgett reading his poetry
General note
Broadcast on 1975 June 17, 1975 September 9, 1976 February 8, and 1976 August 12.
Box 1, Folder 6
Bill Zavatsky reading his poetry
1975 April
Bill Zavatsky reading his poetry
General note
Broadcast on 1975 July 8 and 20.
Box 1, Folder 7, 10
John Ashbery reading his poetry
1975 May 14 and June 7
John Ashbery reading his poetry
General note
Includes poems from Self Portrait in a Convex Mirror, Business Personals, and Syringa. Also broadcast on 1975 July 30, 1976
January 11, and 1976 March 4. Also includes Daffy Duck in Hollywood, The Explanation, and other poems. Also broadcast on 1975
August 17.
Box 1, Folder 8
Anne Waldman reading her poetry
1975 May 27
Anne Waldman reading her poetry
General note
Also broadcast on 1975 June 5, 1975 July 27, 1975 August 21, and 1975 September 21.
Box 1, Folder 9
Janine Pommy-Vega reading her poetry
1975 May
Janine Pommy-Vega reading her poetry
General note
Broadcast on 1975 October 18.
Box 1, Folder 11
Muriel Rukeyser reading her poetry
1975 July 11
Muriel Rukeyser reading her poetry
General note
Also broadcast on 1975 July 12 and 14.
Box 1, Folder 12
Theodore Enslin reading his poetry
1975 August 19
Theodore Enslin reading his poetry
Box 1, Folder 13
Carter Ratcliff reading his poetry
ca. 1975 October 7
Carter Ratcliff reading his poetry
General note
Also broadcast on July 22 [year unknown].
Box 1, Folder 14
Mary Ferrari reading her poetry
1975 October 21
Mary Ferrari reading her poetry
Box 1, Folder 15
Helen Adam reading her poetry and singing
1975 November 18
Helen Adam reading her poetry and singing
General note
Also broadcast on 1975 November 30 and 1977 January 14. Part 1.
Box 4, Folder 7
Helen Adam reading her poetry and singing
1975 November 18
Helen Adam reading her poetry and singing
Box 1, Folder 16
Audre Lorde reading her poetry
1975 December 2
Audre Lorde reading her poetry
Box 1, Folder 17
Rochelle Owens reading her poetry
1975 December 30
Rochelle Owens reading her poetry
Box 1, Folder 18
Charles Reznikoff reading his poetry
ca. 1975
Charles Reznikoff reading his poetry
Box 3, Folder 3
George Oppen reading his poetry
ca. 1975
George Oppen reading his poetry
General note
Oppen reads from Of Being Numerous.
Box 3, Folder 4
Catharine R. Stimpson and Elsa Dixler interviewed by Susan Howe
ca. 1975
Catharine R. Stimpson and Elsa Dixler interviewed by Susan Howe
General note
Discuss work on the feminist journal,
Signs.
Box 1, Folder 19
Michael Brownstein reading his poetry
ca. 1975
Michael Brownstein reading his poetry
Box 1, Folder 20
Rebecca Wright reading her poems
ca. 1975
Rebecca Wright reading her poems
Box 1, Folder 21
David Antin at St. Mark's Poetry Project
ca. 1975
David Antin at St. Mark's Poetry Project
General note
Reading "Where is Sylvia."
Box 1, Folder 22
Tom Weatherly reading his poetry
1976 January 13
Tom Weatherly reading his poetry
General note
Also broadcast on 1976 September 9 and October 18.
Box 1, Folder 23
Larry Fagin reading his poetry
1976 January 27
Larry Fagin reading his poetry
Box 1, Folder 24-25
Poetry of A. O. Barnabooth - Translated and read by Ron Padgett and Bill Zavatsky
1976 February 10 and 24
Poetry of A. O. Barnabooth - Translated and read by Ron Padgett and Bill Zavatsky
General note
Part one also broadcast on 1976 February 25 and September 16. Part two also broadcast on 1976 September 23.
Box 3, Folder 5-6
Discussion of William Carlos Williams' work - Susan Howe, Charles Ruas, and William Eric Williams
1976 February 23
Discussion of William Carlos Williams' work - Susan Howe, Charles Ruas, and William Eric Williams
General note
Recordings of William Carlos Williams' poems are interspersed throughout the program.
Box 1, Folder 26-27
Robert Lax and David Gitin
1976 February, May 26
Robert Lax and David Gitin
General note
Part one 1976 February includes Lax reading his poetry and fables. Part two 1976 May 26 includes Lax and Gitun reading their
poetry.
Box 1, Folder 28
Susan Howe reading her poetry
1976 March 2
Susan Howe reading her poetry
General note
Also broadcast on 1976 July 12.
Box 1, Folder 29
Jamie MacInnis reading her poetry
1976 April 27
Jamie MacInnis reading her poetry
General note
Also broadcast on 1976 September 30
Box 1, Folder 30
Ishmael Reed reading his poetry
1976 October
Ishmael Reed reading his poetry
General note
Broadcast on 1976 November 6.
Box 1, Folder 31-38
John Hall Wheelock interviewed at his home by Susan Howe
1976 October 30
John Hall Wheelock interviewed at his home by Susan Howe
General note
Includes Wheelock reading his poetry and master reels with a full interview and a second broadcast version. Broadcast on 1976
December 16 and 1977 October 3.
Box 2, Folder 1
Barbara Guest reading her poetry
1976 December
Barbara Guest reading her poetry
Box 2, Folder 2
Judith Emlyn Johnson (formerly Johnson Sherwin) reading her poetry
ca. 1976
Judith Emlyn Johnson (formerly Johnson Sherwin) reading her poetry
Box 2, Folder 3
Alice Notley reading her poetry
ca. 1976
Alice Notley reading her poetry
Box 2, Folder 4
Gilbert Sorrentino reading his poetry
ca. 1976
Gilbert Sorrentino reading his poetry
Box 2, Folder 5
F.T. Prince reading his poetry
1977 March
F.T. Prince reading his poetry
General note
Originally recorded at St. Mark's Poetry Project and later broadcast on WBAI 1977 December 7.
Box 2, Folder 6-7
Elizabeth Bishop interviewed by Susan Howe and Charles Ruas
1977 April 19
Elizabeth Bishop interviewed by Susan Howe and Charles Ruas
General note
Bishop also reads from "Geography III." Also broadcast on 1977 June 14.
Box 3, Folder 7
May Sarton interviewed by Susan Howe and Robin Prising
1977 May 16
May Sarton interviewed by Susan Howe and Robin Prising
General note
Sarton also reads poetry. Also broadcast on 1977 June 8 and 1978 June 6.
Box 3, Folder 8
Helen Adam interviewed by Susan Howe; Reading by Charles Ruas, Daniel Haberman and Barbara Wise
1977 June
Helen Adam interviewed by Susan Howe and Charles Ruas
General note
Broadcast on 1977 July 15 and 1978 February 18.
Box 2, Folder 8-9
Women's Distribution Group interviewed by Susan Howe
1977 August
Women's Distribution Group interviewed by Susan Howe
General note
Women's Distribution Group is a group of small press women publishers. Members include: Barbara Barracks, Maureen Owen, Fran
Winant, Marty Potlinger, and Roberta Gould. Broadcast on 1977 September 14.
Box 2, Folder 10
Ann Lauterbach reading her poetry
1977 September 23
Ann Lauterbach reading her poetry
General note
Includes reading of "Chalk." Broadcast on 1977 October 12 and 1978 June 14.
Box 2, Folder 11
Harvey Shapiro reading his poetry
1977 October 26
Harvey Shapiro reading his poetry
Box 2, Folder 12
Paul Violi reading his poetry
1977 November 4
Paul Violi reading his poetry
General note
Reading from
Harmatan.
Box 2, Folder 13-15
Robert Creeley's Writers in Residence Free Writing Workshop, St. Mark's Poetry Project
1977 November 25
Robert Creeley's Writers in Residence Free Writing Workshop, St. Mark's Poetry Project
General note
Recorded on location and edited for broadcast by Susan Howe. Includes interview of Creeley by Allen Ginsberg and Peter Orlofsky.
Box 2, Folder 16
Kathleen Fraser reading her poetry
1977 October
Kathleen Fraser reading her poetry
General note
Music on intro/outro was done by Meredith Monk. Broadcast on 1977 December 19.
Box 2, Folder 17
Lyn Hejinian reading her poetry
1977 November
Lyn Hejinian reading her poetry
General note
Broadcast on 1978 January 11 and 13. Also broadcast on 1978 June 19 and 23.
Box 3, Folder 9
Rochelle Owens reading her poetry
1977 December
Rochelle Owens reading her poetry
General note
Recorded at the Audio Experimental Theatre. Owens reads from Joe 82 Creation Poems and Joe Chronicles. Broadcast on 1978 January
29.
Box 2, Folder 18
Robert Kelly reading his poetry
1978 January 25
Robert Kelly reading his poetry
General note
Kelly reads from In Tantra America.
Box 3, Folder 10
Maureen Owen interviewed by Susan Howe
1978 January
Maureen Owen interviewed by Susan Howe
General note
Owen also reads poetry. Broadcast on 1978 March 18 and 1978 July 11.
Box 2, Folder 19
Jim Harrison reading his poetry
1978 March 29
Jim Harrison reading his poetry
General note
Harrison reads from Returning to Earth.
Box 3, Folder 11
Barbara Guest interviewed by Susan Howe
1978 April 13
Barbara Guest interviewed by Susan Howe
Box 4, Folder 1
Ed Sanders - Investigative poetry
1978 July 18
Ed Sanders - Investigative poetry
General note
Workshop at St. Mark's Poetry Project. Also chants some Greek poems.
Box 2, Folder 20
Bill Berkson reading his poetry
1978 July 25
Bill Berkson reading his poetry
General note
Original recording took place at St. Mark's Poetry Project. Berkson also discusses the life and work of Frank O'Hara.
Box 2, Folder 21
Rose Lesniak reading her poems
1978 July
Rose Lesniak reading her poems
General note
Broadcast on 1978 September 13.
Box 2, Folder 22-23
Donald Hall reading his poetry
1978 October 22
Donald Hall reading his poetry
General note
Hall reads from
Kicking the Leaves.
Box 2, Folder 24-25
John Heath-Stubbs reading his poetry
1978 November 24
John Heath-Stubbs reading his poetry
Box 2, Folder 26
Jerome Rothenberg reading his poetry
1978 December 26
Jerome Rothenberg reading his poetry
General note
Broadcast on 1979 February 9th.
Box 2, Folder 27
Eileen Myles reading their poetry
1978 December
Eileen Myles reading their poetry
General note
Broadcast on 1979 January 26.
Box 2, Folder 28-29
Phyllis Rose interviewed by Susan Howe
ca. 1978
Phyllis Rose interviewed by Susan Howe
General note
Concerns Rose's book,
Woman of Letters: A Life of Virginia Woolf.
Box 2, Folder 30-32
Adrienne Rich reading her poetry with interview by Susan Howe
1979 January 31
Adrienne Rich reading her poetry with interview by Susan Howe
General note
Reads from
Dream of a Common Language.
Box 2, Folder 33-34
Charles Bernstein and Bruce Andrews
1979 January
Charles Bernstein and Bruce Andrews
General note
Broadcast on 1979 March 14 and June 4.
Box 4, Folder 2
Bernadette Mayer interviewed by Susan Howe
1979 April 22
Bernadette Mayer interviewed by Susan Howe
General note
Also broadcast on 1980 January 2
Box 2, Folder 35
Rae Armantrout reading her poetry
1979 June 20
Rae Armantrout reading her poetry
General note
Armantrout reads from Extremities and other works.
Box 2, Folder 36
Regina Beck reading her poetry and singing
1979 November
Regina Beck reading her poetry and singing
General note
Broadcast on 1979 December 30.
Box 2, Folder 37
Jerome Rothenberg at St. Mark's Poetry Project
ca. 1979
Jerome Rothenberg at St. Mark's Poetry Project
Box 2, Folder 38
John Ashbery and Ann Lauterbach reading their poetry
ca. 1979
John Ashbery and Ann Lauterbach reading their poetry
General note
Reading from
Litany.
Box 2, Folder 39
Ray di Palma reading his poems
1980 January 27
Ray di Palma reading his poems
Box 4, Folder 3
F.T. Prince interviewed by Susan Howe
ca. 1980
F.T. Prince interviewed by Susan Howe
General note
Part 1 [incomplete].
OTHER WBAI POETRY BROADCASTS
Box 5, Folder 1-6
Jack Spicer recordings on WBAI - Programs focused on Spicer's works, using recordings created before his death
1975-1976
Jack Spicer programs
Box 4, Folder 4
Jack Spicer talking about his poetry and reading from
Language
ca. 1965
Jack Spicer programs
Box 5, Folder 7
Charles Olson lecture at SUNY Cortland
1967
Charles Olson lecture at SUNY Cortland
Box 5, Folder 8, 14
George Oppen interviewed by Charles Amirkhanian and David Gitin
1970 March 30
George Oppen interviewed by Charles Amirkhanian and David Gitin
General note
Recorded at KPFA Radio in Berkeley, California.
Box 5, Folder 9-10
Readings from the Dorothy Wordsworth journals: Susan Howe reads from the Alfoxden journal, Clarissa Ainley reads from the
travel journals
1975 March
Readings from the Dorothy Wordsworth journals: Susan Howe reads from the Alfoxden journal, Clarissa Ainley reads from the
travel journals
Box 5, Folder 11-12
Bill Corbett interviews Jonathan Williams
1976 March 3
Bill Corbett interviews Jonathan Williams
General note
Also broadcast on 1976 September 20.
Box 5, Folder 13
Open discussion at Columbia University with Jorge Luis Borges
1976 April 29
Open discussion at Columbia University with Jorge Luis Borges
General note
Broadcast on 1976 October 25. Possible partial program. Missing Borges reading at 92nd St. YWHA.
Box 4, Folder 5-6
The Bostonian - Documentary about John Wheelwright
1981 November 23
The Bostonian - Documentary about John Wheelwright
General note
Participants include Quincy Howe, James Laughlin, Polly Thayer, Malcolm Cowley, Ray di Palma, Charles North, and Susan Howe.
SUPPORTING MATERIALS
Scope and Content of Series
Supporting broadcast materials in Series 3 are unedited production tapes that served as the content source for WBAI broadcast
versions. However, these materials are largely duplicative of recordings in Series 1) SUSAN HOWE WITH POETRY, and contain
very little unique content. Listening copies on audiocassette are stored in the box with the reels.
Box 6
John Ashbery reading his poetry
1975 May 14
General
Listening copy SPL-1069 is available.
Box 6
Robert Lax and David Gitin
ca. 1976
General
Listening copy SPL-1139 is available.
Box 6
Helen Adam interviewed by Susan Howe; Readings by Charles Ruas, Daniel Haberman and Barbara Wise
1977 June
General
Listening copy SPL-1120 is available.
Box 6
Robert Creeley's Writers in Residence Free Writing Workshop, St. Mark's Poetry Project
1977 October
General
Listening copy SPL-1097 is available.
Box 6
Adrienne Rich reading her poetry with interview by Susan Howe
1979 January 31
General
Listening copy SPL-1085 is available.
Box 6
John Ashbery and Ann Lauterbach reading their poetry
ca. 1979
General
Listening copy SPL-1073 is available.
Box 6
Jerome Rothenberg at St. Mark's Poetry Project
ca. 1979
General
Listening copy SPL-1115 is available.
Box 6
Charles Bernstein and Bruce Andrews
ca. 1979
General
Listening copy SPL-1030 is available.
Box 6
Documentary about John Wheelwright
1981 November
General
Listening copies SPL-1034 and SPL-1037 are available.
Box 7
Back-ups/Copies for Staff use only
Conditions Governing Access
Restrictions Apply
