Correspondence 1946-1972 (bulk 1956-1958)
Scope and Content Note
Kenneth Patchen to Hortense Baer 1957-1958:
ALS, "I mislaid the loan slips the day the 2nd one came..." [2 pp + env.] Mar 15, 1958
A Info packet; 2 "Kenneth Patchen reads with the Chamber Jazz Sextet" brochures, and a reprint of a book review for "Hurrah for Anything" by John Holmes, New York Times + [env. postmarked Feb 18, 1958] Feb 2, 1958
TLS, "Please forgive me for not acknowledging your prompt sending..." Jan 17, 1958
ALS, "I am to conclude that if anything important comes..." [2 pp + clip+ env.] Jan 2, 1957
Miriam Patchen to Hortense Baer 1946-1970:
1960-70:
ALS, "Just one of those funny little interim things...", n.d.
ALS, "Shingles are a darned things. Hope they aren't near the eye..." [+ env.] Mar 1, 1972
Season Greeting card, signed [+ env.] Dec 17, 1970
ALS, "What a thrill we got today when Mr. Danese, in calling us..." [9 pp + env.] Nov 14, 1969
Season Greeting card, signed with Patchen's poem I have Lighted the Candles, Mary Dec 1967
APCS, "Miss you so - your letters were the life we had..." [post-Jul 1963]
APCS, "Kenneth is entering the hospital Sunday for intensive testing..." Oct 19, 1961
1958:
Season Greeting card, singed; with Two Poems for Christmas by Kenneth Patchen, [+ signed insert & env.] Dec [1958]
TLS, "Time has me but the ears. I leave the house at 8:30..." [+env.] Dec [10] 1958
TLS, "Nothing very extraordinary is a-foot here, but I wanted to send..." [2 pp + env.] Oct 15, 1958
TLS, "By now everything is only a glorious memory..." Oct 7, 1958
TLS, "How wonderful that you got away, even though it carried..." Aug 9, 1958
TLS, "So Kenneth is at home now for a while we believe..." Aug 2, 1958
TLS, "The patient surely is not to be allowed to go to..." Jun 22, 1958
TLS, "Just a moment between parents, wrappings..." [+ 2 comics, & env.] Jun 15, 1958
TLS, "It was only selfishness on our parts to call you..." [pre-Jun 1958]
TLS, "The letter which should have been in Wyncote by now..." [+ env.] May 27, 1958
Flyer and brochure announcing "3 New Painted Books... When We Where Here Together, Hurrah For Anything, Poemscapes..." [+ env.] May 26, 1958
TLS, "How wonderful to be home, even with all the everything feelings..." [2 pp + env.] May 5, 1958
TLS, "Good heavens, good heavens, what are you people doing..." [+ env.] May 5 [1958]
TLS, "How wonderful! What a remarkable, good girl you are!..." [+ env.] Apr 23, 1958
TLS, "The day is sooft [misspelling] and warm like a late July day..." [2 pp + env.] Apr 20, 1958
TLS, "It was with 'mixed feelings', as they say, that I read..." [2 pp + env.] Apr 14, 1958
TLS, "The rain doesn't come down in Spain. That I know..." [2 pp + env.] Mar 21, 1958
TLS, "A lull in the storm here, both figuratively and literally..." [2 pp + env.] Feb 18, 1958
TLS, "What darlings to send the wire to Kenneth..." [+ env.] Feb 9, 1958
TLS, "I've been back three days and haven't had a minute to myself..." [3 pp + env.] Jan 30, 1958
ALS, "Everything is so 'hung-up' here- with my parents on my hands..." [+ env.] Jan 2, 1958
1957:
TLS, "Your Krey letter came Friday, and I firmly meant to get..." [+env.] Dec 22, 1957
TLS, "Your letter came while I was at the house, where my folks..." [2 pp + env.] Dec 17, 1957
TLS, "The turmoil and rush and stuff left me with a tremendous..." [+ env.] Dec 9, 1957
TLS, "This is the way it is... and so time slips without making..." [2 pp + env.] Dec 3, 1957
ALS, "Everything has been so swirly that I've been able only to spin..." [2 pp + env.] Nov 5, 1957
TLS, "As usual so many things happen that I am not al all sure..." [2 pp + env.] Oct 27, 1957
TLS, "Last night was Gala Opening. It was something not imaginable..." [2 pp + env.] Oct 7, 1957
ALS, "Again we're been a little self-absorbed..." [4 pp + env.] Oct 1, 1957
TLS, "Whether we're here, there, or flying, I don't know..." [+env.] Sep 4, 1957
ALS, "It's a long time since your wonderfully re-assuring call..." [2 pp + env.] Aug 4, 1957
TLS, "Have been unable to write you details of Kenneth's medical picture..." [2 pp + env.] Jul 18, 1957
APCS, "It is ulcer; how bad, how extensive we don't yet know!..." Jul 10, 1957
TLS, "It doesn't seem as if we should have something to say..." [+ env.] Jul 8, 1958
TLS, "What on earth is the matter with my so-called mind?..." Jun 11, 1957
TLS, "How on earth some people (meaning you) can maintain..." [2 pp + env.] Jun 6, 1957
TLS, "They came! What an incredible wealth of beauties!..." [+ env.] May 1, 1957
TLS, "Every day passes with my promises to myself..." [+ env.] Apr 12, 1957
TLS, "If you are interested in snails, giant gruesome creatures..." [2 pp + env.] Apr 12, 1957
TLS, "It seems months ago since you telephoned..." [2 pp + env.] Mar 21, 1957
TLS, "After such a fine letter from you, the time-lapse..." [+env.] Feb 2, [1957]
ALS, "This folded sheet has been traveling back and forth..." [2 pp + env.] Jan 13, 1957
TLS, "Did I really not write you last week? Came across this..." [post-1957]
TLS, "Are you trying to get into the news-item class..." [1957]
1956:
ALS, "First the dull, but more important 'stuff'..." [3 pp + env.] Nov 3, 1956
ALS, "Suez Canal, Far East, Ike/Dick/Adlai etc., not withstanding..." [+env.] Oct 14, 1956
ALS, "It was such a pleasure hearing you - and such a surprise..." [2 pp + env.] Sep 29, 1956
ALS, "Just a note in case I alarmed you..." [2 pp + env.] Sep 19, 1956
ALS, "Well, the suspense is over. You were completely correct..." [2 pp , hospital bill and Blue Cross Claim Department statement, + env.] Sep [17], 1956
ALS, "Kenneth walks! Garbo may talk, but Kenneth walks..." [5 pp + env.] Aug 28, 1956
ALS, "Kenneth's cast is off! Yesterday two of the doctor's..." [3 pp + env.] Aug 17, 1956
ALS, "Kenneth is home- came yesterday evening..." [2 pp + env. + 4x5 black & white photo of Palo Alto residence] Jul 23, 1956
ALS, "Fits and starts of letters to you since you called..." [2 pp + env.] Jul 17, 1956
ALS, "Kenneth is getting much better; the penicillin reaction..." [+ env] Jul 11, 1956
ALS, "How good of you to come to the aid of the holing 'babes'!" [2 pp + env.] Jun 7, 1956
ALS, "Things are so confused - I never get the things done I should..." [3 pp + env.] Jun 6, 1956
ALS, "The fateful day has been set. Kenneth enters the hospital..." [+ env.] May 7, 1956
ALS, 'It's very confusing: Kenneth says he didn't mail a letter to you..." [3 pp + env.] Apr 29, 1956
ALS, "At last! Today Kenneth spent some time with doctors, test, etc..." [2 pp + env.] Apr 20, 1956
ALS, "Kenneth has not been checked yet. The doctors apparently..." [2 pp + env.] Apr 2, 1956
ALS, "It's been a crazy week. And to sit down to write you..." [2 pp + env.] Mar 21, 1956
ALS, "What a mass of rushing through your call..." [2 pp + env.] Mar 15, 1956
ALS, "What fun to get the pictures! I like even the dreadful tummy..." [+ env.] Mar 12, 1956
APCS, "Moved Saturday; all in great confusion, but very pleasant..." Feb 28, 1956
ALS, "From the 1st our address will be 852 BRYANT ST, Palo Alto..." [2 pp + env.] Feb 20, 1956
ALS, "There are no words to express our feelings..." [3 pp + env.] Jan 30, 1956
ALS, "It hasn't been difficulties or negligence, really..." [2 pp + env.] Jan 13, 1956
Telegrams (2) May 31, 1956 & [Mar 21, 1956]
1950-55:
ALS, "Your letter is so truly incredible, so hard to absorb into a belief..." [2 pp + env.] Nov 21, 1955
ALS, "Your order for a portfolio came some time ago and was filled..." [3 pp + env.] Nov 21, 1955
ALS, "You see from this what has happened!..." [+ env.] Dec 5, 1951
ALS, "Kenneth is at home and has been back for three weeks..." [3 pp + env.] Apr 27, 1951
ALS, "How grateful I am to you for your letter!..." [2 pp + env.] Nov 8, 1951
ALS, "If only you can come here! We'd be so very happy..." [+ env.] Aug 2, 1951
ALS, "Your lovely letters, generosity and good wishes..." [2 pp + env.] Mar 19, 1951
ALS, "The matter weighs so heavily on our minds that..." [+env.] May 2, 1950
1946-49:
Season Greeting card, "How you knew that the 'Appassionata'... [+ env.] Dec 28 1949
ALS, "What a nice letter! It made us feel so good..." [+ env.] Nov 26, 1949
ALS, "Your telegram just came. It is impossible to convey..." [+ env.] Oct 14, 1949
ALS, "This letter is so hard for me to write..." [includes 2 notes from H. Baer, 2 pp letter + env.] Oct 10, 1949
APCS, 'At last things are straightened out on Sleepers Awake, and..." Dec 14, 1946
ALS, "Thank you in deed for your order of a limited edition of Sleepers Awake..."[2 pp + env.] Jul 5, 1946
Empty envelopes (3), and a signed postcard "Just a spring-time 'Hello'"
Printed Material 1962-1972
Scope and Content Note
Postcards: Drawind-Poem Series R and RS, complete sets of 7 cards each 1962
Exhibition catalog Kenneth Patchen: Painter of Poems, The Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. 1969
Newspaper clippings; obituaries 1972