Donald E. Stanford Papers, 1933-1985

Collection context

Summary

Creators:
Stanford, Donald E. (Donald Elwin)
Extent:
1.5 Linear Feet and 3 boxes
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item] Donald E. Stanford Papers , M0466, Dept. of Special Collections, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection covers contains copies of correspondence, typescript poems, drafts of books, news clippings and a few photographs.

Correspondence makes up the bulk of the collection covering fifty-two years with as many correspondents, most of whom are important twentieth century literary figures. The collection includes both incoming and outgoing correspondence and in many cases the letters follow chronologically for a considerable time span, providing the reader with a clear, fully documented picture of a certain period. The correspondence provides important biographical information about Donald Stanford as well as valuable insights into the lives of the correspondents.

The subject matter stems primarily from Stanford's position as editor of the Southern Review. Letters contain discussions of articles that are to be submitted and often enclosures of poems. In 1959 all correspondence is concerned with a volume of poetry to be produced for Yvor Winters' sixtieth birthday, which was never published. Many letters also discuss books that Stanford and his correspondents are writing, providing an additional source of information about published pieces by these authors.

The papers from the early period, 1933-49 provide insights into Stanford's early life as a poet and provide information about the `Winters circle'. The collection of letters from Yvor, five folders in all, portrays in detail the highs and lows of Stanford's early career. Through Winters we learn that Stanford as a young, aspiring poet has a poor view of the teaching profession, a profession in which he was to excel. Winters encouraged Stanford to become a teacher, at least to have a job other than as a writer, and his view of those who write alone is in this letter written in September 1933: "There is [nothing] more pathetic and in a way contemptible than the free-lance writer who [attempts] to live by writing and actually lives by borrowing from his more provident friends."

The collection of Donald Stanford gives an important overview of the lives of many important twentieth century literary figures.

All material in this collection is photocopied. Originals reside at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge (http://lib.lsu.edu/special).

Biographical / historical:

Donald Elwin Stanford was born in Amherst, Massachusetts on February 7th, 1913. He s obtained both his BA and Phd from Stanford and his MA from Harvard all in English. Before embarking on his teaching career, Stanford was a free-lance writer, and a member of the literary group known as the `Winters circle', centered around Yvor Winters himself. Winters helped the aspiring poets and writers learn more about the art of creative writing, mainly through criticism of one anothers work.

In 1949 Stanford was appointed Instructor to the Alumni Professor of English at Louisiana State University and was promoted to Professor of English in 1953 and then Alumni Professor Emeritus in 1979. He married Maryanna Peterson in 1953 and became the editor of the [unk] Review in 1963. In his capacity as editor of the Review Stanford communicated with those writers and poets who had been an important part of his early writing career: Yvor Winters, Janet Lewis, Elisabeth Bishop, J.V. Cunningham, Allen Tate and Ann Stanford, to name a few.

Throughout his career Stanford received several accolades. He was awarded a Guggenheim fellowship in 1959, Distinguished Faculty Fellowship in 1973 and Distinguished Research Master in 1982 He retired as Professor of English and editor of the Southern Review in 1983.

Among his published works are: New England Earth (poems) 1941; The Traveler (poems) 1955; The Poems of Edward Taylor 1960; Edward Taylor 1965; Nine Essays in Modern Literature 1965; The Selected Poems of Robert Bridges 1974; The Selected Poems of S. Foster Damon 1974; Revolution and Convention in Modern Poetry 1983; In the Classic Mode: The Achievement of Robert Bridges (2 vols.) 1983, 84; John Masefield: Letters to Margaret Bridges 1984, John Masefield Selected Poems 1984; The Cartesian Lawnmower and Other Poems 1984.

Stanford also contributed to journals such as the Southern Review, Hudson Review, [unk] Review, Michigan Quarterly Review, Hopkins Quarterly, etc.

DONALD FLWIN STANFORD

Missing Title
Date Event
1913
Born, February 7th, Amherst, Massachusetts.
1933
B.A. Stanford University.
1934
M.A. Harvard University.
1949
Instructor to Alumni Professor of English, Louisiana State University.
1953
Phd. Stanford University.
1953
Professor of English, Louisiana State University.
1953
Married Maryanna Peterson, August 14th, Reno, Nevada.
1959
Guggenheim Fellowship.
1961-2
Visiting Professor, Duke University, North Carolina.
1963
Editor of the Southern Review, Louisiana State University.
1973
Distinguished Faculty Fellowship.
1979
Alumni Professor Emeritus, Louisiana State University.
1982
Distinguished Research Master.
1983
Retires as Professor of English and Editor of the Southern Review, Louisiana State University.
1984
Visiting Professor, Texas, A & M University, College Station.
Publications include
Date Event
1941
New England Earth (poems).
1955
The Traveler, (poems).
1960
The Poems of Edward Taylor.
1965
Edward Taylor.
1965
Nine Essays In Modern Literature.
1974
The Selected Poems of Robert Bridges.
1974
The Selected Poems of S. Foster Damon.
1983
Revolution and Convention in Modern Poetry.
1983
Editor, Dictionary of Literary Biography, vols. 19 & 20.
1983, 84
In the Classic Mode, The Achievement of Robert Bridges. (2 vols.)
1984
John Masefield: Letters to Margaret Bridges.
1984
John Masefield: Selected Poems.
1984
The Cartesian Lawnmower and Other Poems.

Contributed to: Southern Review, Hodson Review, Sewanee Review, Michigan Quarterly Review, Hopkins Quarterly, etc.

Memberships: Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, PEN, MLA, SAMLA, SCM.

Custodial history:

Gift of Donald E. Stanford, 1986.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Names:
Stanford, Donald E. (Donald Elwin)

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research use.

Terms of access:

All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, California 94305-6064. Consent is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner, heir(s) or assigns. See: http://library.stanford.edu/spc/using-collections/permission-publish. Restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item] Donald E. Stanford Papers , M0466, Dept. of Special Collections, Stanford University 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