Consists of correspondence, manuscripts of both his poetry and prose, and ephemera and business material related to Everson's work as a writer, printer, and university lecturer, as well as his collection of poetry and prose by other writers, and some personal papers. Contains only a few letters written by Everson; most letters are from friends, publishers, fellow writers and handprinters, students, and fans. The bulk of the collection consists of writings by Everson, including rough and final drafts, published copies, and rewritings of his poetry and prose, including materials on Robinson Jeffers and Walt Whitman, as well as handprintings of Everson's own works. Numerous notebooks also contain drafts and rewritings of his poetry, prose, and correspondence.

Audio visual material: one reel to reel tape, unidentified; one sound cassette of an untitled lecture. A transcript of the leture is housed in carton 24, folder 51. One VHS videocassette with title, "A conversation with William Everson-- Brother Antoninus-- with Bob Hawley" August 8, 1988.

Also contains a substantial collection of poetry, prose, and fiction by other writers, including their works about Everson; publicity, reviews, ephemera, and financial and business papers relating to his work as as writer, printer, and public speaker; autobiographical, biographical, and bibliographical materials; and records from the course he taught at University of Calif., Santa Cruz. Everson also collected biographical and publicity material, and ephemera related to other writers, handprinters, and publishers. His personal papers include only a small amount of family correspondence, as well as some legal documents and ephemera from throughout his life, including astrological charts.

William Oliver Everson was born on September 10, 1912 in Sacramento, California, to Louis Waldemar Everson and Francelia Marie Herber Everson. He was the second of three children; his siblings were Vera Louise Everson Shorey and Lloyd Waldemar Everson. Two years later, the family moved to Selma, Calif., where Everson spent the next seventeen years. He entered California State University, Fresno, following his high school sweetheart, Edwa Poulson. A year later, Everson withdrew from college and joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, but eventually returned to CSU Fresno. It was in the fall of 1934 that he discovered the poetry of Robinson Jeffers and published his first book of poems the following spring. It was not until 1938 that Everson and Edwa were married, but their marriage did not survive World War II. Everson was drafted as a conscientious objector and sent to a camp at Waldport, Oregon. He continued to write poetry in Oregon and also became involved in Untide Press, the fine printing press at the camp.

Number of containers: 20 boxes, 26 cartons, 6 oversize folders, 5 oversize boxes, and 1 volume Linear feet: ca. 42.2

Copyright has not been assigned to The Bancroft Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

Collection is open for research, with the following exceptions: