Owen (Maureen) Papers, 1970 - 2000
Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- Maureen Owen Papers
- Dates:
- 1970 - 2000
- Creators:
- Owen, Maureen, 1943-
- Abstract:
- 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.
- Extent:
- 11.8 Linear feet (29 archives boxes, 1 card file box and 7 oversize folders)
- Language:
- English .
- Preferred citation:
-
Maureen Owen Papers, MSS 567. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego Library.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The papers of Maureen Owen document Owen's career as a writer, editor and teacher. The collection also highlights her written influences, as defined by her working and personal relationships. Materials include correspondence with other writers and family members, editorial work on publications, teaching materials, manuscripts and working papers, notebooks, audio and videorecordings, and other miscellaneous material such as appointment books, reading announcements and photographs.
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.
- Biographical / historical:
-
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.
During the 1970s, Owen worked as coordinator and director (1976-1980) of the St. Mark's Poetry Project in New York City and served on the board of directors. She also was active as an instructor of numerous writing workshops at St. Mark's. Owen served on the board of directors of the Coordinating Council of Literary Magazines both as a member and as vice chairperson.
Her academic career includes teaching courses in creative writing and research at the Edinboro University of Pennsylvania in 1999, as well as mentoring workshops at Swarthmore College and St. Joseph's College in Connecticut. She received a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship grant in 1979-1980, awards from the Foundation for Contemporary Performance Arts in 1998, and the Los Angeles Times Book Festival Prize in 1999.
Owen's publications include COUNTRY RUSH (1973), NO TRAVELS JOURNAL (1975), A BRASS CHOIR APPROACHES THE BURIAL GROUND in BIG DEAL 5 (1977), HEARTS IN SPACE (1980), AE (AMELIA EARHART) (1984), ZOMBIE NOTES (1986), IMAGINARY INCOME (1992), UNTAPPED MAPS (1993) and AMERICAN RUSH (1998). Her poems have also appeared in many anthologies and magazines from ANHOI to Z Magazine. Her title AMELIA EARHART won a Before Columbus American Book Award for Poetry in 1985.
- Acquisition information:
- Acquired 2002.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
About this collection guide
- Date Encoded:
- This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-12-09 11:04:14 -0800 .
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Master audio and videocassettes and reel-to-reel tapes located in Series 7 are restricted. Listening copies may be available for researchers.
- Terms of access:
-
Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.
- Preferred citation:
-
Maureen Owen Papers, MSS 567. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego Library.
- Location of this collection:
-
9500 Gilman Drive, Dept. 0175La Jolla, CA 92093-0175, US
- Contact:
- (858) 534-2533