Papers of Maureen Owen, poet, editor, publisher and coordinator/director of the St. Mark's Poetry Project (1976-1980). The papers contain correspondence with colleagues, including Rebecca Brown, Bernadette Mayer, Susan Howe, and Ron Padgett; poetry manuscripts and drafts; production materials for published collected works; typescript drafts for collaborative works; and personal notebooks and journals. Also contains files documenting the activities of the St. Mark's Poetry Project, especially reports and minutes of the board of directors (1984-1986) and the advisory board (1980-1984); grants; and special events and readings. Less well represented are materials for her publications Telephone Books and Telephone magazine. Also included are materials for workshops and classes taught by Owen, biographical materials and recordings of Owen's readings. The papers are arranged in seven series: 1) CORRESPONDENCE, 2) EDITORIAL PROJECTS, 3) TEACHING MATERIALS, 4) WRITINGS, 5) MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS, 6) NOTEBOOKS AND JOURNALS, and 7) RECORDINGS.

Maureen Owen was born in 1943 in Graceville, Minnesota. She has travelled to and lived in Japan where she was influenced by Japanese haiku, renku, and Zen Buddhism. In 1969, Owen began publishing and editing Telephone Books and Telephone magazine, a press and magazine that began in mimeograph format.

11.80 linear feet (29 archives boxes, 1 card file box and 8 oversize folders)

Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.

Collection is open for research