Amiri Baraka papers
Finding aid prepared by Tine Brouwer; re-processed by Doug Johnson, October, 2016; machine-readable finding aid created by
Caroline Cubé
UCLA Library Special Collections
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1575
(310) 825-4988
spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
Online finding aid last updated 5 July 2017.
Title: Amiri Baraka papers
Collection number: 491
Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.6 linear feet
(4 boxes)
Date: 1952-1966
Abstract: Amiri Baraka (1934-2014) was the founder and editor of the literary journals
Yugen and
Kulchur. An outspoken public intellectual, he was the author of poetry, plays, novels, and essays. The collection consists of poetry
manuscripts and correspondence submitted to Baraka while editor of
Yugen. Some material relates to
Kulchur.
Language of Materials: The material is primarily in English, with a small amount in French.
Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library Special
Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Creator:
Baraka, Amiri, 1934-2014
Conditions Governing Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library Special
Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
Property rights to the physical object belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. Literary rights, including copyright, are
retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright
and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
Processing Information
This collection was slightly reprocessed in 2016, primarily to eliminate some ambiguities that were the result of unusual
formatting. The collection name was also changed (from Imamu Amiri Baraka) to make it consistent with the Library of Congress
subject heading.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Amiri Baraka Papers (Collection 491). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research
Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
UCLA Catalog Record ID
UCLA Catalog Record ID:
462289
Biography
Amiri Baraka was born Everett LeRoi Jones on October 7, 1934 in Newark, New Jersey. He attended Rutgers University and graduated
from Howard University. After some graduate study in New York City, he joined the U.S. Air Force. Upon his discharge he returned
to New York and took up writing poetry in earnest. To distribute the work of other poets as well, he and his wife, Hettie
Cohen, founded Totem Press and the literary journal
Yugen. With the poet Diana di Prima, he also founded the journal
Kulchur. Always politically active, throughout the 1960s, he became more radical and embraced Black nationalism. Later, he distanced
himself from Black nationalism to adopt a more globalistic Communism. For the rest of his life, he would be known as much
for his controversial political views as for his poetry. Baraka died on January 9, 2014 in the city of his birth.
Scope and Content
The collection consists of correspondence as well as poetry manuscripts submitted to Amiri Baraka (LeRoi Jones), editor of
Yugen. Some material relates to
Kulchur. Correspondents include Jonas Mekas, John Rechy, Diane Wakoski, and Philip Whalen.
Organization and Arrangement
The collection is arranged alphabetically by correspondent and manuscript author.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Baraka, Amiri, 1934-2014--Archives.
African American authors--Archives.
African American dramatists--Archives.
African American poets--Archives.
Beat generation--Poetry.
Manuscripts for publication.
Periodical editors--United States--Archives.
Container List
Correspondence and Manuscripts.
Box 1
A.
1959.
Scope and Content
Includes letter and poem by Alan Ansen.
Box 1
Abrams, Sam.
1960-1966.
Scope and Content
Six poems; one letter; annotated typescript draft and published copy of
Barbara (Ferry Press, 1966).
Box 1
Allen, Donald.
1960-1964.
Scope and Content
Eight letters, review of
The Dharma Bums by James Schuyler.
Box 1
Bergé, Carol.
1962-1966.
Scope and Content
Two letters; eighteen poems.
Box 1
Berrigan, Ted.
undated.
Scope and Content
One letter enclosing poems by Larry Swingle.
Box 1
Blackburn, Paul.
1959.
Scope and Content
Chain letter.
Box 1
Blaser, Robin.
undated.
Scope and Content
Two poems.
Box 1
Booth, Luella.
undated.
Scope and Content
Fourteen poems; one-act play;
Love Is Bright Round My Shoulder (Toronto: J.H. Bell & Son).
Box 1
Bremser, Ray.
1958-1965.
Scope and Content
Eight letters; approximately 115 poems.
Box 1
Briggs, Harold.
undated.
Scope and Content
Three poems.
Box 1
Brodey, Jim.
1963-1966.
Scope and Content
Eleven poems; record review; two letters.
Box 1
C.
1960-1964.
Scope and Content
Includes post card from Kirby Congdon.
Box 1
Caplan, Ron.
undated.
Scope and Content
Two poems.
Box 1
Carroll, Paul.
1959.
Scope and Content
Two letters.
Box 1
Creeley, Robert.
undated.
Scope and Content
One letter.
Box 1
Crews, Judson C.
undated.
Scope and Content
Two poems.
Box 1
Dawson, Fielding.
1958-1962.
Scope and Content
Nine drawings; three letters; typed manuscripts.
Box 1
Di Prima, Diane.
1959-1966.
Scope and Content
Four letters; thirteen poems.
Box 1
Dorn, Edward.
1960-1964.
Scope and Content
Approximately sixty letters; four poems; annotated manuscript for
The Newly Fallen.
Box 2
Edson, Russell.
1963.
Scope and Content
One letter.
Box 2
Eigner, Larry.
1960-1965.
Scope and Content
Ten letters; nine poems.
Box 2
F.
1960-1964.
Scope and Content
Includes "Poetry and Politics" by Larry Fagin; letter and poem from Vincent Ferrini.
Box 2
Fallon, Tom.
1964.
Scope and Content
Letter; prose manuscripts.
Box 2
Finstein Max.
1960-1964.
Scope and Content
Three letters; statement about LeRoi Jones' 1961 arrest on obscenity charges.
Box 2
Fles, John.
1959-1960.
Scope and Content
Five letters; eight poems; manuscripts; book review.
Box 2
G.
1958-1966.
Scope and Content
Includes post card from E.V. Griffith.
Box 2
Gallatin, David.
1963.
Scope and Content
Two poems; one letter.
Box 2
Gallup, Dick.
1962-1963.
Scope and Content
Nine poems.
Box 2
Guillén, Nicolás.
undated.
Scope and Content
Includes poem by Guillen; two poems by Silvano Lora; flyers.
Box 2
H.
circa 1961.
Scope and Content
Includes essay by Bobb Hamilton.
Box 2
Hollo, Anselm.
1960-1963.
Scope and Content
Nine poems; two letters.
Box 2
Irby, Kenneth.
1962-1966.
Scope and Content
Three letters; six poems.
Box 2
J.
circa 1957.
Scope and Content
Includes collage material from Ray Johnson.
Box 2
Jonas, Stephen.
1953-1963.
Scope and Content
Approximately six letters and eighty-five poems.
Box 2
Kaplan, Allan.
undated.
Scope and Content
Fifteen poems.
Box 2
Katzman, Allen.
1966.
Scope and Content
One letter; eight poems.
Box 2
Kelly, Robert.
1966.
Scope and Content
Post card; seven poems.
Box 2
Kgositsile, K. William.
undated.
Scope and Content
Seven poems.
Box 3
Loewinsohn, Ron.
1957-1963.
Scope and Content
Uncut galley proofs; twenty-nine letters; approximately twenty-five poems.
Box 3
M.
1959-1964.
Scope and Content
Includes two poems by Christopher Maclaine; one poem by Clarence Major.
Box 3
Malanga, Gerard.
1966.
Scope and Content
One letter; six poems.
Box 3
Marshall, Edward.
1957-1961.
Scope and Content
Two letters; seventeen poems.
Box 3
Mekas, Jonas.
undated.
Scope and Content
One letter; two poems; clippings.
Box 3
Meltzer, David.
1959-1964.
Scope and Content
Six letters; post card; four poems.
Box 3
Metcalf, Paul C.
1962-1964.
Scope and Content
Three letters; two poems.
Box 3
Moraff, Barbara.
1958-1962.
Scope and Content
Approximately eight letters and fifty-six poems.
Box 3
Olson, Charles.
1965.
Scope and Content
One letter; assorted writings.
Box 3
Oppenheimer, Joel.
1964.
Scope and Content
One letter; six poems.
Box 3
Owens, Rochelle.
1960.
Scope and Content
Two letters; nineteen poems.
Box 4
Padgett, Ron.
1964.
Scope and Content
Twenty-one poems; four letters.
Box 4
Perrault, John.
1964.
Scope and Content
Five poems; one letter.
Box 4
Planz, Allen.
undated.
Scope and Content
Ten poems; one letter.
Box 4
Polite, Allen.
undated.
Scope and Content
One manuscript.
Box 4
Randall, Margaret.
1966.
Scope and Content
One letter and three poems.
Box 4
Rechy, John.
1962.
Scope and Content
Three letters.
Box 4
Rice, William J.
undated.
Scope and Content
Five copies of printed, unbound manuscript "Poems."
Box 4
Robbins, Tom.
undated.
Scope and Content
Three poems.
Box 4
Rumaker, Michael.
1961-1965.
Scope and Content
Six letters; two poems
Box 4
S.
1960-1963.
Scope and Content
Includes letter from Michael Shayer; letters and poems from George Stanley.
Box 4
Snyder, Gary.
1958-1960.
Scope and Content
Three letters; broadside; four poems, including an annotated manuscript of "The Berry Feast."
Box 4
Sorrentino, Gilbert.
1960-1966.
Scope and Content
Book review; three poems; three letters; short story.
Box 4
Spellman, A.B.
1958.
Scope and Content
Three letters.
Box 4
Thomas, Lorenzo (aka Lorenzo Toumes?).
1964-1965.
Scope and Content
Two letters; four poems.
Box 4
Towle, Tony.
1966.
Scope and Content
One letter; three poems.
Box 4
Tzara, Tristan.
undated.
Scope and Content
One poem [in French].
Box 4
W.
1959-1963.
Scope and Content
Includes letters from Douglas Woolf.
Box 4
Wakoski, Diane.
1962.
Scope and Content
Three letters; nineteen poems.
Box 4
Whalen, Philip.
1952-1964.
Scope and Content
Twenty-two letters; eleven poems; prose manuscript.
Box 4
Wieners, John.
1957-1966.
Scope and Content
Two letters; thirteen poems.
Box 4
Williams, William Carlos.
1958.
Scope and Content
One letter.
Box 4
Yorck, R. L.
undated.
Scope and Content
One letter; two poems.
