Preliminary Inventory to the Toby Olson Papers, 1970-2000
M1296
Special Collections Staff, David Krah
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
2002, 2023 (survey)
Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford 94305-6064
specialcollections@stanford.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Toby Olson papers
Identifier/Call Number: M1296
Physical Description:
30 Linear Feet
22 cartons, 6 boxes
Date (inclusive): 1970-2000
Abstract: Manuscript drafts, proofs, notes,
correspondence, and publications.
Collection Scope and Content Summary
Manuscript drafts, proofs, notes, correspondence, and publications.
Acquisition Information
Purchased, 2002
Preferred Citation
Toby Olson Papers. M1296. Dept. of Special Collections, Stanford University Libraries,
Stanford, Calif.
Publication Rights
Property rights reside with the repository. Literary rights reside with the creators of the
documents or their heirs. To obtain permission to publish or reproduce, please contact the
Public Services Librarian of the Dept. of Special Collections.
Access
Access restricted until processing is completed. Please check with the department.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
American literature -- 20th century.
American poetry -- 20th century.
Sorrentino, Gilbert
Hamady, Walter
Tarn, Nathaniel
Taggart, John, 1942-
Accessions 2001-267 and 2002-10 Box-level survey
Scope and Contents
Box-level listing of the unprocessed Toby Olson papers. Includes the materials listed
in boxes 1-8 as well as additional papers not previously listed. The survey was
conducted after the existing listing and may be more accurate, as materials have been
reboxed.
carton 1
Correspondence; Life of Jesus proof; Seaview drafts and notes
1970s-1990s
Box 2
The Life of Jesus proof; Dorit in Lesbos first draft
circa 1976, 1988
carton 3
Human Nature draft; Certain Women draft; At Sea draft; Tampico draft; Billy
draft, other drafts and miscellaneous materials
1990s - 2000s
carton 4
Coffee House Press correspondence from 2000; The Life of Jesus correspondence
from 1970s - 1990s; Utah correspondence 1980s - 1990s; At Sea correspondence 1990s;
Dorit (Opera) newspaper clippings, correspondence, rehersal schedule, libretto drafts
and misc.; Human Nature correspondence, newspaper clippings; Dorit in Lesbos misc.
material 1980s, Seaview correspondence 1980s - 1990s, Write Letter to Billy
correspondence 2000, The Florence Poem and Unfinished Building correspondence, misc.;
We Are the Fire draft, We Are the Fire misc. correspondence, The Wrestlers and other
poems; The Woman Who Escaped from Shame correspondence; grant and fellowship
information removed and placed in restricted box; letters and misc. materials related
to reading trips; royalty statements
1970s - 2000s
carton 5
Miscellaneous correspondence
1990s - 2000s
carton 6
Dorit in Lesbos: orginal manuscript;second and third drafts. Notes and
research materials, early manuscript materials. Drafts of poems (1972)
1970s - 1990s
Box 7
Uncorrected manuscript Dorit in Lesbos; Wakoski Symposium
correspondence
1970s-1990s
carton 8
Woman Who Escaped From Shame: first, second drafts w. some ed. notes, third
draft, typescript with "some revisions", other draft. Drafts of Excursion, Brace's
Cover, Slow Song for Mark Rothko. Correspondence - John Taggart.
1970s-1990s
carton 10
Friends' poems and fiction - various manuscripts. Nathaniel Tarn; Dennis
Barone; Karl Young; Harold Jaffe; Toby Olson; Bobby Byrd; David Allen
Stark
1960s-1990s
carton 11
Correspondence: Dennis Barone; Thayler, Mathow, Jonathan Williams, Mossonli,
Transtromer, Montag, Metcalf, Schwerner, Lewis, OTT, Openheimer, Oppen, Olivarez,
Morrow, Veasey, Silkin, Joy Williams, DeLillo, Davenport, Warkoski,
Olivares.
undated
carton 12
Correspondence: Tam, Sherman, misc., Epstein, Owens, Economon, Hoepffner,
Noledo, Low, Creeley, Wiley, Loover, Autin
carton 13
Manuscripts: "The Brand"; Correspondence-- misc., Peacock, New Directions,
Glusman, Galassi, Levine, Abrams, Ray, Randal, Berge, Betts, Banks, Bernard,
Braverman, Broumas, Porter, Gurganus, Joris, Low, Gaddis, Gangemi, Hamady,
Kaposcinski, Major, Ignatow, Lapate, Fisher, Purdy, Ducornet, Blackburn,
Spielberg
1970-1990s
carton 14
Correspondence: misc., Hoffman, Sanders, Scalapino, Rosenblum, Rothenberg,
Gurney, Hollo, Hecht, Styron, Logan, Jaffe, Foss,Heller, Howe, Tarn, Byrd, Bugin,
Coover, Colescott,
Box 15
Correspondence: Sorrentino, Leventov, Batchelor, Karl Young (1972-1973),
Enslin, Absin, Autin, Armantrout, Austen, Barthelme, Balitas, Eshleman, Creeley
Contoski
1990s
carton 16
Poetry, Tampico 3 Drafts, Certain Women Notes, Certain Women 3 Drafts, Human
Nature drafts and notes, Newspaper (The Advocate 5/17/1990),
undated
carton 17
Poetry, Travel memorablia (Catalina Island), Research Notes, 3 drafts of
novel Write Letter to Billy, Certain Women notes and draft
1990s
carton 18
Correspondence personal, University of Wisconsin, personal notes, copies of
articals, correspondence with Walter Hamady, The friends of the Wesley Library Fall
Meeting invite, letters, postcards, PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction correspondence and
notes, flyer
1969-1998
carton 19
Utah: copyedited MS; - 1st draft finished July 1985, 2nd draft (yellow); Utah
3rd draft (white), final draft, galleys. Road maps, tourist guides, notes, clippings.
Write Letter to Billy: copyedited proof; Notes - bitter half; Billy drafts
6/99;
1985 - 2000
carton 20
Pen/Faulkner material: Pen/Faulkner award 1983; Mysterious Barricades 1; "The
13"; The Nation, December 1, 1969 and August 31, 1974; Tracks volume 5 number 1, Fall
1976 & Volume 6 number 1, Fall 1977; Intrepid, 11/12 fifth anniversary issue &
18/19;
1983 - 2000
carton 21
Tampico Revison, drafts, Dorit in Lesbos draft and flyers, Chihuahua, poetry,
Fiction, Washington Post and articles, Contemporary Authors Autobiography Series,
Revisions, Vilas Associaties Fellowship Proposal and Resume
1970-1997
carton 22
Personal card catalog; Fine press prints; Toby Olson reading Home section
26-36 (cassette); Time Marches On (Poems by Toby Olson) (CD); Relache: On Edge.
Chamber works by Epstein, Albert and Tenney (text by Toby Olson) (CD); Photos
1937-1960; Photos 1960-2000; Large photos; Dorit [chamber opera] - cassette tape and
libretto; Chihuahua [chamber opera] - cassette tape and libretto;
circa 1937-2000
carton 23
Poetry in public places; Poetry in motion - large prints for public poetry
projects in NY and SF
1990s
carton 24
Chihuahua opera, Human Nature drafts, poems, Unfinished Building - Poems by
Toby Olson,
1990s
Box 25
Paul Blackburn: 12 letters and cards; other correspondence
undated
carton 26
Typescripts, poems, and short stories
1960s-80s
carton 27
Poetry posters
circa 1980s
Box 28
RESTRICTED: Grants and fellowships documentation; Last will of Armand
Schwerner
undated
Access Restrictions
This file contains personal information and is restricted until 2070.
Box 1
Seaview Accession no. 2001-267
Scope and Contents note
First and second drafts ; A draft with notes ; Final draft ; Letter: Bernard Hoepffner,
regarding French translation
Box 1
The Life of Jesus Accession no. 2001-267
Scope and Contents note
First draft, with roughs and notes ; Rough manuscript ; Third draft ; Proof
Box 2
At Sea Accession no. 2001-267
Scope and Contents note
First called "Angle of Repose," then "Certain Women". Various drafts ; Research
materials
Box 2
Tampico and Write Letter to Billy Accession no. 2001-267
Scope and Contents note
Various drafts and notes ; Some false starts
Box 3
Dorit [Opera] Accession no. 2001-267
Scope and Contents note
Drafts ; Materials ; Programs ; Reviews
Box 3
Chihuahua [Opera] Accession no. 2001-267
Scope and Contents note
Drafts and notes
Box 3
The Bitter Half Accession no. 2001-267
Scope and Contents note
Drafts and notes
Box 3
Poetry manuscripts and revisions Accession no. 2001-267
Box 3
Susanna Styron movie correspondence and her screenplay Accession no. 2001-267
Box 3
Gale Research autobiography correspondence Accession no. 2001-267
Box 4
Dorit in Lesbos Accession no. 2001-267
Scope and Contents note
First draft ; Notes and research materials ; Raw, early manuscript material ; Second
and third drafts ; Proof and edited manuscript ; Final manuscript ; Poem copies
Box 4
Diane Wakoski: Symposium [edited by Olson] Accession no. 2001-267
Scope and Contents note
Correspondence and materials ; Wakoski correspondence
Box 5
The Woman Who Escaped From Shame Accession no. 2001-267
Scope and Contents note
First and second drafts ; Notes ; Third draft ; Other drafts and revisions ; Some
correspondence ; John Taggart Correspondence
Box 6
Manuscripts from Friends Accession no. 2001-267
Box 6
Correspondence Accession no. 2001-267
Box 7
Review of Contemporary Fiction: Barthelme/Olson Issue Accession no. 2001-267
Scope and Contents note
Correspondence and materials
Box 7
Misc. Correspondence. Accession no. 2001-267
Box 7
Correspondence: Various Writers Accession no. 2001-267
Box 8
Correspondence, Editors Accession no. 2001-267
Scope and Contents note
Ellen Levine Literary Agency ; New Directions ; James Laughlin ; Jonathan Galassi ;
John Glussman ; Alan Peacock
Box 8
Correspondence: Various Writers and Others Accession no. 2001-267
Box 9
At Sea [called Certain Women] Accession no. 2001-267
Scope and Contents note
Drafts and notes
Box 9
Human Nature Accession no. 2001-267
Scope and Contents note
Drafts and notes
Box 9
Tampico Accession no. 2001-267
Scope and Contents note
Drafts and notes
Box 10
At Sea Accession no. 2001-267
Scope and Contents note
Edited draft
Box 10
Write Letter to Billy Accession no. 2001-267
Scope and Contents note
First, second, third drafts, notes
Box 10
Unfinished Building Accession no. 2001-267
Scope and Contents note
Copyedited copy
Box 11
Walter Hamady correspondence Accession no. 2001-267
Box 12
Utah Accession no. 2001-267
Scope and Contents note
First draft ; Notes and materials ; Second and third drafts ; Copyedited manuscript ;
Last draft, with some work ; Galleys
Box 13
The Bitter Half Accession no. 2001-267
Scope and Contents note
Notes
Box 13
Write Letter to Billy Accession no. 2001-267
Scope and Contents note
Copyedited proof ; Drafts and notes
Box 14
BOOKS Accession no. 2001-267
Scope and Contents note
Dorit in Lesbos ; Utah ; The Woman Who Escaped From Shame ; Seaview ; At Sea ; The Life
of Jesus ; Write Letter to Billy ; We Are the Fire ; Human Nature ; Unfinished Buildinq
; Changing Appearance ; Home ; The Florence Poems ; Vectors ; City ; The Hawk-Foot Poems
; Writing Talks ; Standard--4, Aviator Press [broadside] ; Anima [off-print of
poems]
Box 14
Magazines Accession no. 2001-267
Scope and Contents note
Center #6 ; Philadelphia magazine, Nov. 1986 ; Inquirer magazine, July, 1993 ; Margins
[Diane Wakoski Symposium 1/2/3, 1976 ; New Directions #29 ; New Directions #35 ; New
Directions #40 ; Loves, Etc. ; Inside Outer Space ; Boundary 2, 1980 ; Intrepid
Anthology, 1976 ; The Paris Review #99 ; The American Experience: A Radical Reader, 1970
; Contemporary American Fiction, 1983 ; Caterpillar #5 ; New Letters, 1981-82 ; Sumac,
1971 ; Handbook #111 ; The Falcon#4 ; Stations #2 ; Mulch #1 ; Occurrence #6 ; The
Gettysburg Review, Vol.2 #1 ; The Painted Bride, Vol. 3 #2 ; The Painted Bride, Vol. 4
#1 ; The Painted Bride, 1975-1993 ; The Painted Bride #45 ; Sumac: An Active Anthology,
1974 ; Perfect Lies ; The review of Contemporary Fiction [Barthelme/Olson issue] ;
Washington Square #6 ; Colorado Review #2, Fall, 1992 ; Colorado Review #1, 1999 ;
Denver Quarterly, Vol. 34 #4, 2000 ; Conjunctions #3 ; Conjuctions #13 ; Conjunctions
#28 ;
Box 1
Miscellaneous letters -113 Accession no. 2002-010
Box 1
Letters: Accession no. 2002-010
Scope and Contents note
Walter Hamady -38, John Taggart -15, Gil Sorrentino -17, Nathaniel Tarn -16
Box 1
Letters, Reviews, etc.: related to the following: Accession no. 2002-010
Scope and Contents note
We Are the Fire and The Wrestlers and Other Poems ; The Florence Poems and Unfinished
Building ; The Life of Jesus ; Write Letter to Billy ; Seaview ; The Woman Who Escaped
From Shame ; Dorit In Lesbos ; Utah ; Dorit (opera)
Box 1
Other Materials Accession no. 2002-010
Scope and Contents note
Grants and Fellowships ; Reading Trips ; Royalty Statements
Box 2
Reviews Accession no. 2002-010
Box 2
PEN/Faulkner Award materials Accession no. 2002-010
Box 2
Some magazine publications Accession no. 2002-010
Box 3
Magazine Publications Accession no. 2002-010
Box 4
Revision Pages: Writer Letter to Billy Accession no. 2002-010
Box 4
Proof: Unfinished Building Accession no. 2002-010
Box 4
Proof: "Reading" Accession no. 2002-010
Box 4
Revision pages: Human Nature Accession no. 2002-010
Box 4
Revision pages: "Seeing Duchamp" [essay] Accession no. 2002-010
Box 4
Libretto, review program: "Chihuahua" Accession no. 2002-010
Box 4
The Occidental Review, edited by Olson in Undergraduate school at
Occidental
Accession no. 2002-010
Scope and Contents note
Two issues
Box 5
Broadsides Accession no. 2002-010
Scope and Contents note
"Another Popular Song" ; "Tools" ; "Just This" ; "from Home" ; "From El Monte" ; :A
Very Cold Day" ; "The Trumpet Vine" ; "Cold House" [Perishable Press] ; "Priorities"
[post card] ; "A Kind of Psychology" [post card]
Box 5
CD: "Birdsongs" Accession no. 2002-010
Box 5
CD: "Three Songs From Home" Accession no. 2002-010
Box 5
Tape: Olson Reading Home Accession no. 2002-010
Box 5
Books Accession no. 2002-010
Scope and Contents note
La Vida de Jesus [translation of The Life of Jesus] ; Seaview [English Publication] ;
Seaview, U.S.A. [French translation] ; Sitting in Guesvik. Black Mesa press. ; Reading.
Friend of Typography. ; Tow Standards. Salient Seedling Press. ; Still/Quiet. Landlocked
Press. ; Aesthetics. Membrane Press. ; Pig/s Book. Dr. Generosity press. ; The Wrestlers
and Other Poems. Barlenmir House.
Box 5
Books: the perishable press Accession no. 2002-010
Scope and Contents note
Fishing ; BirdSongs ; Maps ; The Pool ; Worms into Nails ; Doctor Miriam ; The Brand ;
Three and One
Box 6
A few magazine publications Accession no. 2002-010
Box 6
Card Catalogue of all publications: 1965-1987 Accession no. 2002-010
Box 6
Dorit [chamber opera]: tape and libretto Accession no. 2002-010
Box 6
Chihuahua [chamber opera]: tape and libretto Accession no. 2002-010
Box 6
CD: Olson reading, 10-6-01, Woodland Patterns, Milwaukee Accession no. 2002-010
Box 6
TAPE: musical pieces: Accession no. 2002-010
Scope and Contents note
Reading [short story] ; Facing [poem] ; John Leonard NPR review of Dorit in Lesbos ;
NPR interview with Epstein and Olson, re. Dorit [opera]
Box 6
Photographs Accession no. 2002-010
Box 7
Correspondence Accession no. 2002-010
Scope and Contents note
Includes important letter from Denise Levertov re her divorce
Box 8
Untitled : typescript poems, Accession no. 2002-010
1966 - 1973
Container Summary: 1 typed
manuscript
Box 8
Unfinished business : poems / by Toby Olson, Accession no. 2002-010
circa 1990
Container Summary: 1 typed
manuscript
Box 8
We are the fire : a selection of poem, 1970 - 1984 / by Toby Olson, Accession no. 2002-010
circa 1984
Container Summary: 1 typed
manuscript
Box 8
Untitled : typescript poems, Accession no. 2002-010
1967 - 1985
Container Summary: 1 typed
manuscript
Box 8
Untitled : typescript poems, Accession no. 2002-010
1972 - 1973 ; n.d.
Container Summary: 1 typed
manuscript
Box 8
Untitled : typescript poems, Accession no. 2002-010
1972 - 1985
Container Summary: 1 typed
manuscript
Box 8
The sky is a big circle, and we are in the center, safe / by Toby
Olson,
Accession no. 2002-010
undated
Container Summary: 1 typed
manuscript