Charles Bukowski papers, 1965-2006, bulk 1965-1994

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Summary

Creators:
Bukowski, Charles
Abstract:
The materials include drafts of poems, short stories, and monographs by author Charles Bukowksi; correspondence to and from Bukowksi; and ephemera related to Bukowski and his works.
Extent:
86 boxes, plus additional uncatalogued materials.
Language:
The records are in English, primarily, with some German, Spanish, French, and Italian.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection includes drafts of numerous poems, published and unpublished, by Charles Bukowski, as well as short stories and monographs. Other mauscripts include drafts of various published collections of poems or other writings, including posthumous publications.

The correspondence includes incoming and outgoing material to friends, fans, and editors. Persons include: Marvin Malone, John Martin, William Packard, and Carl Weissner, among others.

Ephemera and addenda manuscript and correspondence are as yet uncatalogued. Please contact the Curator of Literary Manuscripts with questions regarding these materials.

Cataloger's note: The word anthology is sometimes used here not in its traditional sense, but rather to refer to a collection of poems which may or may not have been previously published.

Arrangement

The materials are organized into three major series: Manuscripts, Correspondence, and Ephemera. These series are broken into multiple parts (i.e. Manuscripts Part I) as various materials have been acquired over several years.

  • Manuscripts (Part I) - Boxes 1-54
  • Correspondence (Part I) - Boxes 55-65
  • Oversize - Box 66
  • Manuscripts (Part II) - Boxes 67-81
  • Correspondence (Part II) - Boxes 82-86
  • Ephemera and Addenda - Uncatalogued

Manuscripts are arranged alphabetically by author's last name, then title. Correspondence is arranged alphabetically by author's last name.

Biographical / historical:

Charles Henry “Hank” Bukowski was born August 16, 1920 in Andernach, Germany. Known for his crude and evocative poetry and prose, often describing the hard luck, boozing, womanizing underbelly of life in Los Angeles, Bukowski achieved success later in life. In his earlier years he was published sporadically and worked several years for the U.S. Post Office, an experience he ultimately funneled into his first novel. Often disparaged by critics, Bukowski’s writing has achieved a large cult following in the United States, while his popular and critical acclaim is significantly larger in Europe, especially in Germany.

Bukowski, married twice, once briefly to Barbara Frye and the second time to Linda Lee Beighle, until his death. He had one daughter, Marina, with his then girlfriend Frances Smith, another poet who later took the name FrancEYE. Bukowski died, March 9, 1994.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Linda Lee Bukowski, 2006-2014.
Rules or conventions:
Finding Aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
Website