The collection contains letterpress and computer-generated prints of poetry by William Dickey, and some by Dickey and Leonard Sanazaro. Some pieces are exmples of fine printing by Lee Engdahl (Engdahl Typography), hit & run press, and the Pterodactyl Press. The collection also contains 7 postcards and 15 letters from Dickey to Lenore Weiss, a creative writing student and friend. The letters include his feedback on poems by Weiss, and also include details about his personal life.

William Dickey (1928-1994) was born in Bellingham, Washington, and educated at Reed College, Harvard University, the Writer's Workshop of the University of Iowa, and Jesus College, Oxford. He was a professor of English and creative writing at San Francisco State University. He wrote and published prize-winning poetry for over thirty years.

8 folders and 1 oversized folder

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.

The collection is open for research.