May (James Boyer) Correspondence, 1956-1972, bulk (bulk 1956-1965)

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Summary

Title:
James Boyer May correspondence,
Dates:
1956-1972, bulk (bulk 1956-1965)
Creators:
May, James Boyer
Abstract:
This collection correspondence between Kenneth Patchen, Miriam Patchen and James Boyer May between 1956-1972, as well as a small collection of printed material documenting Kenneth Patchen's jazz-poetry period and his degenerating medical condition.
Extent:
2 document boxes
Language:
English.
Preferred citation:

James Boyer May Correspondence. MS 165. Special Collections and Archives, University Library, University of California, Santa Cruz.

Background

Scope and content:

This archive mainly consists of outgoing and incoming correspondence between the Patchens and James Boyer May. The bulk of the letters provide a chronological commentary by Kenneth Patchen and his wife Miriam, beginning in his famous poetry-jazz period and continuing through the trauma of his medical condition. The letters are in turn hopeful, humorous, and courageous.

A small portion of the material is printed material on Kenneth Patchen; ephemera and clippings covering fundraisers, jazz-poetry and publishing activities.

Biographical / historical:

James Boyer May,(December 30,1904 - February 21,1981), was a minor poet, essayist and a publisher. He ran the small but influential literary magazine Trace from 1952 through 1970 in Los Angeles. Trace printed listings of small press activities connecting Alan Swallow of Denver to Len Fulton's Dustbooks in Northern California. May recollected, "Trace was called a 'Bridge' by various people - and it was - between people in many parts of the world... It's my belief, and I think it could be documented, that we had an influence on the language itself."

The friendship between May and Kenneth Patchen began with a strong review in Trace of Patchen's newly issued works Hurrah for Anything, and When We Were Here Together (1957), and continued throughout the 1960's. May appeared to Patchen as a possible source of help in his efforts to obtain financial support from the literary community. Sadly, the letters in this archive are a chronicle of his failure.

Acquisition information:
Acquired, June 1987
Physical location:
Stored in Special Collections & Archives: Advance notice is required for access to the papers.
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Processed by UCSC OAC Unit.
Date Prepared:
© 2003
Date Encoded:
Machine-readable finding aid created by UCSC OAC Unit. Machine-readable finding aid derived from MS Word. Date of source: December 2003.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection open for research.

Terms of access:

Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permission to publish or to reproduce the material, please contact the Head of Special Collections and Archives.

Preferred citation:

James Boyer May Correspondence. MS 165. Special Collections and Archives, University Library, University of California, Santa Cruz.

Location of this collection:
Special Collections and Archives, University Library
1156 High Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95064, US
Contact:
(831) 459-2547
speccoll@library.ucsc.edu
Website