Robert Grenier papers, bulk 1941-2003

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Summary

Creators:
Grenier, Robert
Abstract:
This collection includes book and poetry manuscripts, notebooks, correspondence, personal material, teaching material, and audiovisual material produced and collected by American poet and professor Robert Grenier, spanning mostly from 1941 to 2003.
Extent:
68 Linear Feet
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

Robert Grenier papers, 1941-2003 (M1082). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

Background

Scope and content:

The Robert Grenier papers consist of mostly his notebooks of poems and other writings, correspondence, other writers' works reviewed by Grenier, his critical essays and papers, poetry and book manuscripts, periodicals, and color slides made from working with photographer Ken Botto among other materials.

Many of Grenier's literary correspondence, reviews, critical writings, and poetry talks are related to fellow writers John Batki, Charles Bernstein, David Bromige, Robert Creeley, Larry Eigner, Lyn Hejinian, Anselm Hollo, Kenneth Irby, Joanne Kyger, Leslie Scalapino, and Ron Silliman. The initial inventory listing was made in detail by Grenier so titles, file names, and comments are retained.

Biographical / historical:

Robert Grenier was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on August 4, 1941. He attended and graduated from Harvard University from 1957 to 1965, then earned his MFA from the University of Iowa Writers' Workshop Program. Grenier is a poet who contributed to the founding of the language writing movement in American poetry. He cofounded This magazine alongside writer Barrett Watten, one of the first journals associated with what later became known as Language poetry. In many of his works, Grenier experiments with conventional reading practices, plays with the boundary between writing and drawing, and features handwritten poems. His works include Sentences, Series: Poems 1967–1971, and A Day at the Beach among others. Grenier also taught literature and poetry writing at the University of California at Berkeley, Tufts University, Franconia College, New College of California, and Mills College.

Acquisition information:
This collection purchased by Stanford University, Special Collections in July 1999. Three additions accessioned in 2000, 2001, and 2003.
Arrangement:

The collection is made up of 16 series:

  • 1. RG Notebooks, 1968-1996
  • 2. Literary Correspondence/Family Correspondence, 1948-2003
  • 3. Others' Manuscripts, 1950-2003
  • 4. RG Youth and Early Development, 1941-1965
  • 5. RG Talks, 1982-2003
  • 6. RG Critical Writings, 1960-2002
  • 7. Miscellaneous RG Poetry Manuscripts, 1966-2003
  • 8. RG Book Manuscripts, 1971-2001
  • 9. Histories of Making/Production of RG Works, 1971-1997
  • 10. Magazines RG In and/or Associated With, 1959-2003
  • 11. Color Slides Made by Ken Botto and RG
  • 12. RG Published Works, 1967-2003
  • 13. RG Teaching Materials, 1968-2003
  • 14. Reel-to-Reel Audiotapes of Poets Reading Their Works, 1958-1974
  • 15. RG Drawing Poem Exhibits, 1997-2003
  • 16. Addenda, 1967-1998

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use. Audiovisual materials are not available in original format, and must be reformatted to a digital use copy.

Terms of access:

While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns.

Preferred citation:

Robert Grenier papers, 1941-2003 (M1082). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

Location of this collection:
Department of Special Collections, Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford, CA 94305-6004, US
Contact:
(650) 725-1022
specialcollections@stanford.edu
Website