Guide to Jack Marshall Papers M2703
Emma Frothingham
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
February 2022
Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford 94305-6064
specialcollections@stanford.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Jack Marshall papers
source:
Eureka Books
Identifier/Call Number: M2703
Physical Description:
10.5 Linear Feet
(23 manuscript boxes and 4 half manuscript boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1963-2021
Abstract: Correspondence and writings of American poet Jack Marshall spanning the latter half of the twentieth century.
Conditions Governing Access
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.
Box 27 is closed for research until Jack Marshall's death.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased, 2021. Accessions 2021-217 and 2022-059
Arrangement
Collection is organized into seven series: 1. Correspondence; 2. Books: Drafts, Proofs, Galleys' 3. Poetry; 4. Non-poetry
Writings; 5. Reviews and Contributions; 6. Notebooks; 7. Miscellany
Biographical / Historical
The child of an Iraqi-Jewish father and Syrian-Jewish mother, Jack Marshall grew up in an Arabic-speaking Mizrahi Jewish home–an
experience he wrote about in his memoir From Baghdad to Brooklyn: Growing Up in a Jewish-Arabic Family in Midcentury America
(Coffee House Press, 2005). After graduating from Brooklyn College, where he studied literature, Marshall took a series of
jobs, including working on a Norwegian merchant ship, managing a clothing store, and working as a longshoreman in the late
1950s. Marshall was active in the Lower East Side poetry scene centered around the 10th Street Coffee House in the first part
of the 1960s. He published his first volume of poetry, The Darkest Continent, in 1967.
In the late 1960s, Marshall moved to San Francisco, where he became active in the Bay Area poetry scene. He is known for narrative
poetry that makes use of highly concentrated imagery to thwart narrative closure in favor of open-endedness. Marshall's poetry
explores themes of identity and belonging, drawing from influences including the Persian poet Rumi, the Objectivists of the
1930s, the Black Mountain school of the 1950s, and the Beat poets of the 1950s and 1960s. The poetic form Marshall has developed
affords him a way of exploring the tensions shaping his own experience of living as "a minority within a larger minority."
Over the course of a career that has spanned sixty years, Marshall has published over a dozen volumes of poetry, including
a the book-length poem Floats (1971), the collaboration Surviving in America (1971) with Arab-American poet Sam Hamod and
Finnish-American poet Anselm Hollo, Arriving on the Playing Fields of Paradise (1984), and Arabian Nights (1986).
In 1993 Marshall published Sesame, which departed from the more narrative forms of his earlier works. In Sesame, Marshall
deployed vivid imagery to disrupt the narrative flow of the poems and to explore the open, indeterminate nature of identity–most
specifically his own identity as a Mizrahi Jew. Sesame received a PEN West Award and a National Book Critics Circle Award
for poetry. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Marshall's work turned toward more political themes in works like Millennium
Fever (1996), in which he took up themes of environmental collapse, and The Steel Veil (2008), in which he engaged with the
US occupation of his father's Iraqi homeland. In addition to being a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award for
From Baghdad to Brooklyn, Marshall has received two PEN West Award, two Bay Area Book Reviewers rewards, and a Guggenheim
Fellowship in 2008. During his career Marshall also taught at several writing programs, including the Iowa Writers' Workshop,
California Western College in San Diego, and San Francisco State University.
Preferred Citation
[identification of item], Jack Marshall Papers (M2703). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford Libraries,
Stanford, Calif.
Processing Information
Marshall had quite a few cats, so there is a significant amount of cat hair mixed in with the papers. Be cautious if you have
allergies!
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of correspondence, both handwritten and email printouts, about poetry spanning from the 1960s to the
2010s. Letters are mostly from poets and publishers, including many based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Drafts of Marshall's
books, poems, and prose make up most of the remainder of the collection. Materials about his books date from the 1990s and
2000s, while the poems and prose cover that period and earlier. Marshall's notebooks and looseleaf notes are also included.
Manuscripts dominate the collection, although there are some photographs and A/V materials.
Conditions Governing Use
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.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Poets, American
American poetry -- Jewish authors
Mizrahi authors
American poetry -- 20th century.
Eureka Books
Marshall, Jack
Series 1. Correspondence
1964-2021
Arrangement
Correspondence is arranged alphabetically. Individuals with whom Marshall corresponded with more extensively have their own
folders.
Scope and Contents
Marshall was a prolific letter writer and used it as a means to gain feedback on his work from fellow writers. His correspondence
includes written, typed, and print-outs of email messages from the span of his career. In addition to correspondence with
editors and literary agents, the series also includes letters exchanged between Marshall and other writers, including Andrei
Codrescu, Jack Gilbert, Sam Hamod, Michael Heller, Allan Kornblum, George and Mary Oppen, and Alan Williamson. Of particular
note is Marshall's extensive decades-long correspondence with fellow poets Steve Kowit and Morton Marcus, with whom he shared
drafts of his own work and provided feedback on their works. Marshall's drafts of replies to the letters are often on the
backs of letter pages or envelopes. Many of the emails, although written by Jack Marshall, were sent through his wife Naomi
Schwartz's account.
Box 1, Folder 1
Correspondence - A-Ber
Scope and Contents
Marilyn Abildskov ; Elliott Anderson (TriQuarterly) ; Allan Appel ; John Balaban ; Sharon Bangert ; John Batki ; Beau Beausoleil
; Marvin Bell ; Steve Berg (The American Poetry Review) ; Carol Berge ; Frank Berry
Box 1, Folder 2
Correspondence - Barich, Bill
1971-1999
Creator: Barich, Bill
Related Materials
University of California, Davis, holds the Bill Barich Papers (D-552): https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8hx1f07/
Scope and Contents
Bill Barich is an author based out of Northern California known for his travel writing. He was a staff writer at "The New
Yorker" for many years and a Guggenheim Fellow in 1984. Although Marshall's correspondence with Barich spans many years, the
bulk of it is concentrated around the early 1970s when Barich was working at Larry's Literary Agency in San Francisco.
Box 1, Folder 3
Correspondence - Berriault, Gina
1988-1999
Creator: Berriault, Gina
Scope and Contents
Gina Berriault (1926-1999) was a short story writer and novelist also writing out of the San Francisco Bay Area. Much of Berriault's
correspondence with Marshall is personal in nature although she does comment on some of Marshall's works. Also included is
Berriault's letter of reccommendation for Marshall's Guggenheim Fellowship application.
Box 1, Folder 4
Correspondence - Boy-C
Scope and Contents
Kay Boyle ; Norman O. Brown ; Anitra Budd ; Annette M. Budzisz ; Paul Carroll ; Hayan Charara ; Signe Clutz (Harper & Row
Publishers ; Robbie Conal ; Lauren M. Connolly ; Joanne Cornbleet ; Barbara Craig ; Michael Cuddihy
Box 1, Folder 5
Correspondence - Brenna, Duff
2006-2011
Creator: Brenna, Duff
Scope and Contents
Duff Brenna is a freelance writer and professor emeritus of English and creative writing at California State University, San
Marcos. Brenna's correspondence with Marshall covers a collaboration on publishing a poetry anthology and Brenna's Guggenheim
Fellowship application.
Box 1, Folder 6
Correspondence - Bullock, Ken
2005-2012
Scope and Contents
Ken Bullock is a translator and an arts critic for the Berkeley Daily Planet. Much of his correspondence with Marshall is
an exchange of works and discussion of translations done by Bullock. The pair also discuss their opinions on poetry they've
both read
Box 1, Folder 7
Correspondence - Chandra, G. S. Sharat
1971-1974
Creator: Sharat Chandra, G.S., 1935-2000
Scope and Contents
G.S. Sharat Chandra was an author and poet who wrote about the Indian/American immigrant experience. During his correspondence
with Marshall, he was based out of the Iowa Writers Workshop. He later taught at University of Missouri, Kansas City. Chandra's
correspondence with Marshall pertains to the publication of his journal Kamadhenu and general life updates.
Box 1, Folder 8-9
Correspondence - Codrescu, Andrei
1974-2003
Creator: Codrescu, Andrei, 1946-
Scope and Contents
Andrei Codrescu is a Romanian-born American poet. His poetry explores themes of identity and exile. In addition to his poetry,
Codrescu has served as editor of a number of literary journals and anthologies. Codrescu's correspondence with Marshall includes
general life updates and comments on his poetry.
For more on Codrescu, see: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/andrei-codrescu
Box 1, Folder 10
Correspondence - D-F
Scope and Contents
William J. De Saegher ; James Dickey ; Steve Dickison ; Stephen Dunn ; David Duer ; Art Edelstein ; George Evans ; John Felstiner
; Jerry Ferraz ; Chris Fischbach ; Mel Fisk ; Hermine Ford ; Graham Foust
Box 1, Folder 11
Correspondence - Fleming, Gerald
2004-2011
Creator: Fleming, Gerald J., 1946-
Scope and Contents
Gerald Fleming is a poet and former schoolteacher in San Francisco's public schools. Fleming's correspondence with Marshall
includes updates on mutual friends in the poetry world and exchanges of their works.
For more on Fleming, see: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/gerald-fleming
Box 2, Folder 1
Correspondence - Fraser, Kathleen
1982-2008
Creator: Fraser, Kathleen, 1935-2019
Related Materials
University of California, San Diego, holds the Kathleen Fraser Papers (MSS 0529): https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt7199n8pr/
Scope and Contents
Kathleen Fraser (1935-2019) was the a professor at San Francisco State University, as well as the director of the Poetry Center
there. She founded the American Poetry Archives. Fraser's correspondence with Marshall includes feedback on some of his poems.
For more on Fraser, see: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/kathleen-fraser
Box 2, Folder 2
Correspondence - G-K
Scope and Contents
John Gallagher (The Viking Press Inc.) ; Riva Gambert ; David Gitin ; Albert J. Guerard ; Richard Hack ; C. G. Hanzlicek ;
Lee Harwood ; Robert Hass ; John G. Henry (Cedar Creek Press) ; Daryl Hine (Pegasus Poetry) ; Benjamin Hollander ; Anselm
Hollo ; Richard Howard (The Paris Review) ; Dick Hugo ; Mark Jarman ; Joyce Jenkins ; Shirley Kaufman ; David Kennedy ; Stephen
Kessler ; Carolyn Kizer ; Auggie Kleinzahler ; Michael Koch
Box 2, Folder 3
Correspondence - Gilbert, Jack
1984-1985
Creator: Gilbert, Jack, 1925-2012
Scope and Contents
Jack Gilbert (1925-2012) was an American poet known for his works about relationships. His correspondence with Marshall during
the 1980s touches on their careers and publishers. For more on Gilbert, see: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/jack-gilbert
Box 2, Folder 4
Correspondence - Gray, Darrell
1971-1974
Creator: Gray, Darrell, 1945-
Scope and Contents
Darrell Gray was a poet associated with the Actualism movement in during the late 1970s, co-editing "The Actualist Anthology"
with Morty Sklar. Gray's correspondence with Marshall includes discussion of poetry and reviews of Marshall's works.
Box 2, Folder 5-7
Correspondence - Gudas, Eric
1999-2010
Creator: Gudas, Eric
Scope and Contents
Eric Gudas is a writer and editor based out of Los Angeles. His correspondence with Marshall includes the exchange of written
works for feedback, including a full draft of Gudas' "Vital Tapping."
Box 2, Folder 8
Correspondence - Hall, Donald
1968-2008
Creator: Hall, Donald, 1928-2018
Scope and Contents
Donald Hall (1928-2018) was a poet, editor, and the 14th Poet Laureate of the United States. His correspondence with Marshall
includes general life updates and discussions of their works. For more on Hall, see: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/donald-hall
Box 3, folder 1-2
Correspondence - Hamod, Sam
1971-2008
Creator: Hamod, Sam
Scope and Contents
Sam Hamod (1936-2021) was an Arab American poet and collaborator of Marshall's. His correspondence with Marshall includes
drafts of Hamod's poetry and discussion of their collection "Surviving in America" published with Anselm Hollo. For more on
Hamod, see: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/sam-hamod
Box 3, folder 3-8
Correspondence - Heller, Michael
1986-2017
Creator: Heller, Michael
Related Materials
Stanford University holds the Michael Heller Papers (M1741): https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt787037m0/
Scope and Contents
Michael Heller is a poet and critic considered an expert on Objectivism in poetry. His correspondence with Marshall includes
feedback on Marshall's own work and discussion of poetry movements.
Box 4, folder 1
Correspondence - Hillman, Brenda
1987-2008
Creator: Hillman, Brenda
Scope and Contents
Brenda Hillman is a California-based poet and writer. Her correspondence with Marshall largely pertains to plans for events
around the Bay Area. For more on Hillman, see: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/brenda-hillman
Box 4, folder 2
Correspondence - Hirsch, Ed
1993-2010
Creator: Hirsch, Edward
Scope and Contents
Edward Hirsch is a poet and writer. His correspondence with Marshall focuses on discussion of Marshall's publications. For
more on Hirsch, see: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/edward-hirsch
Box 4, folder 3
Correspondence - Hoffman, Eric
2006-2009
Creator: Hoffman, Eric R.
Scope and Contents
Eric Hoffman is a writer and poet. His correspondence with Marshall is about the life and works of George Oppen.
Box 4, folder 4
Correspondence - Katz, Steve
1970-1971
Creator: Katz, Steve, 1935-
Scope and Contents
Steve Katz (1925-2019) was an American fiction writer. His correspondence with Marshall includes updates from Katz's life
in New York and discussion of his work.
Box 4, folder 5
Correspondence - Kornblum, Allan
1971-2012
Creator: Kornblum, Allan, 1949-2014
Scope and Contents
Allan Kornblum (1949-2014) was the founder and editor of Coffee House Press, which published many of Marshall's poetry collections.
Box 4, Folder 6-11, Box 5, Folder 1-5
Correspondence - Kowit, Steve
1968-2012
Creator: Kowit, Steve
Scope and Contents
Steve Kowit (1938-2015) was a poet and one of Marshall's most frequent correspondents, with their letters and emails spanning
the early 1970s until the 2010s. The pair would write lengthy letters with life updates, opinions on poetry they had read,
and exhaustive feedback on each other's works. Box 5 Folder 4 includes lengthy tribute to their fellow writer Morton Marcus.
Box 5, Folder 6
Correspondence - L-Mi
Scope and Contents
Doriane Laux ; Robert Lescher ; Alan Leveton ; Phil Levine ; Raymond Lifchez ; Dan Linehan ; Lynn Luria-Sukenick ; Conor Robin
Madigan ; Susan Margolis ; Andy Marshall ; Diane Matza ; Michael McClure ; Jim McCurry ; Duncan McNaughton ; Ellie Mednick
; Anthony Menard ; Bert Meyers ; Jeffrey Miller ; Martin Mitchell
Box 5, folder 7
Correspondence - Mattingly, George (Blue Wind Press)
1971-1976
Creator: Mattingly, George, 1950-
Scope and Contents
George Mattingly was the publisher for Blue Wind Press, based in Berkeley, California. His correspondence with Marshall pertains
to some of Marshall's early published poetry collections.
Box 5, folder 8
Correspondence - McCullough, Frances (Harper & Row)
1970-1972
Creator: McCullough, Fran, 1939-
Scope and Contents
Frances McCullough is a longtime poetry editor, as well as an author. At the time of her correspondence with Marshall, she
was an editor at Harper & Row, Publishers.
Box 5, folder 9
Correspondence - McPherson, Sandy
1982-1994
Creator: McPherson, Sandra
Related Materials
University of California, Davis, holds the Sandra McPherson Papers (D-551): https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8s181t6/
Scope and Contents
Sandy McPherson is a poet and professor at University of California, Davis. Her correspondence with Marshall pertains to his
recent publications. For more on McPherson, see: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/sandra-mcpherson
Box 5, Folder 10-11, Box 6, Folder 1-3
Correspondence - Marcus, Mort
1981-2003
Creator: Marcus, Morton
Related Materials
University of California, Santa Cruz, holds the Morton Marcus Poetry Archive (MS.198): https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8fx79zs/
Scope and Contents
Morton Marcus (1936-2009) was a poet and author based in Santa Cruz, California. Marcus and Marshall frequently exchanged
drafts of poems they were working on to get feedback from each other.
Box 6, folder 4
Correspondence - Marlis, Stefanie
1993-1995
Creator: Marlis, Stefanie, 1951-
Scope and Contents
Stefanie Marlis is a copywriter based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her correspondence with Marshall includes life updates
and postcards.
Box 6, folder 5
Correspondence - Marshall, Nat
2002
Scope and Contents
Nat Marshall is Jack Marshall's brother. Their correspondence discusses their childhood memories and family history.
Box 6, Folder 6
Correspondence - Mo-P
Scope and Contents
Bill Mohr ; Derek Morgan (The New Yorker) ; Frederick Morgan (The Hudson Review) ; Rusty Morrison ; Robert Moskowitz ; Howard
Moss (The New Yorker) ; Edward Mycue ; Jack Nahem ; Diana O'Heir ; Bill O'Reilly ; Kathleen Norris ; Stephen Parker ; Christian
Peet ; Bob [Pereli?] ; Charles Perry ; Robert Peters ; Ted Pierce
Box 6, Folder 7
Correspondence - Ne Jame, Adele
1988-2008
Creator: Ne Jame, Adele
Scope and Contents
Adele Ne Jame is an American poet of Lebanese descent based in Hawaii. Her correspondence with Marshall includes discussion
of her life and feedback on his work.
Box 6, folder 8
Correspondence - Oppen, George and Mary
1980-1990
Creator: Oppen, George
Creator: Oppen, Mary, 1908-1990
Related Materials
University of California, San Diego, houses the Mary Oppen Papers (MS0125) and the George Oppen Letters (MS0205): https://oac.cdlib.org/institutions/UC+San+Diego::Special+Collections+and+Archives
Scope and Contents
Mary Oppen was a painter and George Oppen was an Objectivist poet. The Oppens' correspondence with Marshall tended to be short
letters and notes. For more about George Oppen's work, see: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/george-oppen
Box 6, folder 9
Correspondence - Phelps, Donald
1973-1975
Creator: Phelps, Donald, 1929-
Scope and Contents
Donald Phelps (1929-2015) was a literary and film critic based in Brooklyn, New York. His letters to Marshall include discussion
of his own work and Marshall's poetry.
Box 6, folder 10
Correspondence - Pinsky, Robert
1982-1994
Creator: Pinsky, Robert
Related Materials
Stanford University houses the Robert Pinsky Papers (M0697): https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/tf0w1001fk/
Scope and Contents
Robert Pinsky is a poet and literary critic. His correspondence with Marshall discusses their works and provides some background
research. For more on Pinsky, see: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/robert-pinsky
Box 6, Folder 11
Correspondence - R-S
Scope and Contents
Henry Rage (Pegasus Poetry) ; Carl Rakosi ; Richard C. Raymond ; Jerry Reddan ; Zack Rogow ; M.L. Rosenthal ; Linda Rothfield
; Mark Rudman ; Nancy E. Schadlick ; Keith Shein ; Naomi Shihab ; Charles Simic ; Amy Skinner ; Morty Sklar ; Gilbert Sorrentino
; M.D. Springer ; George Starbuck ; Jake D. Steele ; Ron Sukenick ; Arthur Sze
Box 6, folder 12
Correspondence - Roditi, Edouard
1987-1988
Creator: Roditi, Edouard
Related Materials
University of California, Los Angeles, houses the Edouard Roditi Papers (644): https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/ft5j49n8ft/
Scope and Contents
Edouard Roditi (1910-1992) was an American poet and translator. His correspondence with Marshall focuses on Jewish poetry
publications and traditions. For more on Roditi, see: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/edouard-roditi
Box 6, folder 13
Correspondence - Schmitz, Dennis
2001-2013
Creator: Schmitz, Dennis, 1937-
Scope and Contents
Dennis Schmitz (1937-2019) was a poet based out of Sacramento, California. His correspondence with Marshall pertains to Marshall's
works and updates on their families.
Box 6, folder 14
Correspondence - Schneider, Bart (Hungry Mind Review)
1989-1996
Creator: Schneider , Bart
Scope and Contents
Bart Schneider is the founding editor of Hungry Mind Review. Much of his correspondence with Marshall regards Marshall's reviews
done for Hungry Mind Review.
Box 7, folder 1-2
Correspondence - Schultz, Philip
1969-1976
Creator: Schultz, Philip
Scope and Contents
Philip Schultz is a poet and founder of the Writer's Studio. At the time of his correspondence with Marshall, Schultz was
teaching at Kalamazoo College. Marshall and Schultz exchange poems and short stories in their letters, providing feedback
on each other's work. For more on Schultz, see: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/philip-schultz
Box 7, folder 3
Correspondence - Soldofsky, Alan
1971-2006
Creator: Soldofsky, Alan
Scope and Contents
Alan Soldofsky is the Director of Creative Writing at San Jose State University.
Box 7, folder 4
Correspondence - Stern, Gerald
1982-2007
Creator: Stern, Gerald, 1925-
Scope and Contents
Gerald Stern is a poet and educator. For more on Stern, see: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/gerald-stern
Box 7, folder 5
Correspondence - Stewart, Frank
1988-2012
Creator: Stewart, Frank, 1946-
Scope and Contents
Frank Stewart was a poet and professor of English at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. His correspondence with Marshall discusses
an invitation for Marshall to teach at Manoa as a visiting writer.
Box 7, folder 6
Correspondence - Stoloff, Carolyn
1988-1989
Creator: Stoloff, Carolyn
Scope and Contents
Carolyn Stoloff is a poet and painter based in New York. Her correspondence with Marshall focuses on sharing their opinions
on each other's works.
Box 7, folder 7
Correspondence - Swigg, Richard
2008-2014
Creator: Swigg, Richard, 1938-2017
Scope and Contents
Richard Swigg was a lecturer at Keele University in England. His correspondence with Marshall pertained to George Oppen.
Box 7, Folder 8
Correspondence - T-Z
Scope and Contents
Catherine Taylor ; Robert Taylor ; Kathy [Terrill?] ; Alissa Valles ; Robert Vas Dias ; Helen Vendler ; Stephen Vincent ;
Paul Violi ; Scott M. Walker ; Charlie Walsh ; T & R Weiss (Quarterly Review of Literature) ; Dan Wickenden ; Sandra Williams
; Charles Wright ; Tracy Youngblom (Emprise Review) ; Al Zolynas ; Jack Zucker ; Renee [Zwerin?]
Box 7, folder 9
Correspondence - Taggart, John
1988-1995
Creator: Taggart, John, 1942-
Related Materials
University of California, San Diego, holds the John Taggart Papers (MSS 00111): https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/tf2r29n9vh/
Scope and Contents
John Taggart is a poet and served as editor of Maps poetry magazine for many years. His correspondence with Marshall focuses
on providing feedback to Marshall on his reviews and poems. For more on Taggart, see: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/john-taggart
Box 7, folder 10
Correspondence - Williamson, Alan
2003-2020
Creator: Williamson, Alan (Alan Bacher), 1944-
Related Materials
University of California, Davis, holds the Alan Bacher Williamson Papers (D-522): https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt2g5035ms/
Scope and Contents
Alan Williamson is a poet and professor at UC Davis. In their correspondence, Williamson and Marshall exchange poems and provide
feedback on each other's works. For more on Williamson, see: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/alan-williamson
Box 7, folder 11
Correspondence - Miscellaneous
Series 2. Books: Drafts, Galleys, Proofs
1993-2017
Arrangement
The series is arranged chronologically by book.
Scope and Contents
Series 2 covers Marshall's published books from the 1990s and 2000s, including his memoir From Baghdad to Brooklyn and his
poetry collection Sesame. The series includes drafts, galleys, and proofs of some of Marshall's works, as well as edits by
Marshall and his editors.
Box 8, Folder 1
"Sesame" galley with corrections
1993
Box 8, Folder 2
"Chaos Comics" early drafts with holograph corrections
1994
Box 8, Folder 3
"Chaos Comics" drafts
1994
Box 8, Folder 4
"Millennium Fever" proof with notes and intro letter from Coffee House Press
1996-07-29
Box 8, Folder 5
"Millennium Fever" proof with holograph corrections by Jack Marshall and printer; letter to Chris Fischbach (Coffee House
Press) from Jack Marshall
1996-07
"Baghdad to Brooklyn"
2005
Box 8, Folder 7
Aleppo-Brooklyn Connection
Box 8, Folder 8
Ancient Aleppo, Brooklyn Bones
Box 9, Folder 1-2
"From Baghdad to Brooklyn" final draft? with corrections/changes/additions
Box 9, Folder 3
"From Baghdad to Brooklyn" typed sheets
Box 9, Folder 4
Notes for Baghdad/Brooklyn and Brooklyn Bones
Box 9, Folder 5
"Spiral Trace" final draft/proof
Box 9, Folder 6
"Spiral Trace" suggested changes by Alan Kornblum, editor
Box 9, Folder 7
"Spiral Trace" sheets with corrections
Box 9, Folder 8
"Spiral Trace" draft with Kornblum's suggestions and Jack Marshall's edits
2012-09-13
"Fugitive, in Full View"
2017
Box 10, Folder 4-5
Poems to be included, those rejected; rewritten, altered, comments
Box 10, Folder 6
"Fugitive, in Full View" typed sheets with changes
Series 3. Poetry
1965-2020
Arrangement
Poetry is sorted alphabetically by title. Poems that were grouped together, possibly as potential collections, have been left
together and are filed under the title of the topmost work.
Scope and Contents
The series includes a mix of poems that were published and ones that never were. Many of the individual poems include multiple
drafts with Marshall's handwritten notes and edits, as well as feedback from others. Some drafts include dates, although the
majority are undated.
Box 14, folder 6
Poetry - background research
Series 4. Non-Poetry Writing
1980-2000
Scope and Contents
The majority of Marshall's non-poetry writings are prose short story pieces. It is unclear which pieces were ever published
and the majority are undated. Some pieces include notes and multiple versions. Also included are draft scripts of a play and
a novel.
Box 15, folder 1
Prose - Last Night in Africa
1988
Box 15, folder 2
Prose - Snow, White as Winding Sheet
Box 15, folder 5
Prose - Of Men and Angels
Box 15, folder 6
Prose - From Leon's Journal
Box 15, folder 7
Prose - The Dream of Icarus
Box 15, folder 10
Prose - Waving to Normal Going By
Box 15, folder 13
Prose - The Boardinghouse
Box 15, folder 16
Early drafts of "Last Night in Africa" and Notes for the Messiah Play
Box 15, folder 17
Play - The Messiah Notebook
Box 15, folder 18
Play - The Messiah of Izmir
Box 15, folder 19
Play - The Messiah of Smyrna
Series 5. Reviews and Contributions
1963-2014
Arrangement
The series is arranged chronologically.
Scope and Contents
Series 5 includes reviews written by Jack Marshall of other author's poetry and some of Marshall's contributions to poetry
journals and newspapers. For some of the reviews written by Marshall, there are drafts of the review and notes about the piece
being reviewed. Also included in the series are reviews of Marshall's own poems and books. Some correspondence about specific
reviews is mixed in.
Box 17, Folder 1
Reviews and Contributions by Jack Marshall
1960s
Box 17, folder 2
Reviews and Contributions by Jack Marshall
1970s
Box 17, folder 3-4
Reviews and Contributions by Jack Marshall
1980s
Box 17, Folder 5, Box 18, Folder 1-3
Reviews and Contributions by Jack Marshall
1990s
Box 18, Folder 4-5
Reviews and Contributions by Jack Marshall
2000s
Box 19, Folder 1
Reviews and Contributions by Jack Marshall
2010s, undated
Box 19, folder 2
Reviews of Jack Marshall's Works
1960s
Box 19, folder 3
Reviews of Jack Marshall's Works
1970s
Box 19, folder 4
Reviews of Jack Marshall's Works
1980s
Box 19, folder 5
Reviews of Jack Marshall's Works
1990s
Box 19, folder 6
Reviews of Jack Marshall's Works
2000s-2010s
Box 19, Folder 7
Reviews of "From Baghdad to Brooklyn"
2005-2006
Series 6. Notebooks
1963-2021
Scope and Contents
Marshall's notebooks contain thoughts on poems, drafts of his writing, and phrases that caught his eye. The notebooks come
in a variety of sizes, from legal pad size to sticky note-size. Loose leaves from notebooks are also included.
Arrangement
The notebooks are boxed by decade.
Series 7. Miscellany
Scope and Contents
Series 7 contains miscellaneous biographical information about Marshall, as well as A/V materials relating to the collection.
Also included are papers about awards Marshall has received, poetry readings, and teaching material.
Box 25, Folder 1
Awards and Poetry Readings
1984-2017
Scope and Contents
Fliers and correspondence regarding poetry readings given around the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as programs and correspondence
about awards won by Marshall.
Box 25, Folder 2
Interview Questions
2011-05
Scope and Contents
Interview questions for "Emprise Review" with Marshall's typed answers
Box 25, Folder 3
Portraits
Scope and Contents
Professionals photos of Marshall used for publications
Box 25, Folder 4
Teaching Material
1984-1997
Scope and Contents
Syllabi and reading lists from poetry courses and workshops taught by Marshall
Box 26
A/V Materials
1990s? - 2004
Jack Marshall: Poet ...the rare language of air... video by Alan Leveton
2004-03-01
Physical Description: 1 optical disc(s) (cd)
"Spiral Trace"
Physical Description: 1 optical disc(s) (cd)
Poetry Reading
undated
Physical Description: 1 videotape(s) (vhs)
Box 27
Applications and CV's
1994-2008
Conditions Governing Access
Closed until Jack Marshall's death
