David Meltzer Papers, 1956-1977

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Meltzer, David.
Title
David Meltzer Papers
Dates
1956-1977 (inclusive)
Quantity
2 boxes, (2 linear feet)
Collection Number
UUS_COLL MSS 526
Summary
This collection contains the papers of San Francisco-based poet David Meltzer. This collection is made up of a variety of different materials, mostly correspondence, from David Meltzer.
Repository
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives Division
Special Collections & Archives
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
Logan, UT
84322-3000
Telephone: 4357978248
Fax: 4357972880
scweb@usu.edu
Access Restrictions

No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

David Meltzer was born in 1937 in Rochester, New York. His career as a poet began to take off during the beat generation of poetry in San Francisco during the 1950s. In addition to being a successful poet, Meltzer is also an accomplished musician and author. At the time of processing he lived in Oakland California. Some notable contemporaries of David Meltzer and Robert Hawley include poets: Kenneth Rexroth and Robert Duncan.

Robert Hawley was born in Stockbridge, Wisconsin in 1929. Hawley was the founder of the publishing company Oyez in 1964, a press that mainly published poetry books by students of Black Mountain College and the Bay Area Renaissance poets. Oyez first published book was a collection of poems by David Meltzer, and his later book, Two-Way Mirror, in 1977.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection is made up of a variety of different materials, mostly correspondence, from the San Francisco beat poet David Meltzer. The bulk of the collection consists of letters between David Meltzer and his friend and publisher, Robert Hawley. These letters illustrate the relationship between Meltzer and Hawley from the mid 1960s up to the publishing of Meltzer’s book, Two-Way Mirror,in 1977.

The collection also contains retention letters that Meltzer sent to his mother as a young college student. These letters reveal Meltzer’s strained relationship with both his mother and his father. The correspondence with fellow poet Doug Palmer also shows the working relationship between the two poets, specifically Palmer's attempt to book Meltzer for a poetry reading.

The remainder of the collection includes several documents associated with the publishing of Two-way Mirror, including two edited gallery proofs of the book. There are also several pieces that relate to Meltzer’s career as a poet, several original illustrations by Meltzer, and a working draft of Meltzer’s poem Oyez!

This collection relates to the San Francisco Renaissance, a poetry movement that was born in post-World War II San Francisco. Meltzer was part of a group of poets that wanted to break free of the literary traditions and social norms of the time. This collection shows the relationship between poet and publisher, fellow poets, and also some works of Meltzer that are contemporary to this time period.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Daivd Meltzer Papers must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.

Preferred Citation

Initial Citation: David Meltzer Papers USU_COLL MSS 526, Box [ ]. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.

Following Citations:USU_COLL MSS 526, USUSCA.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

This collection is arragned by document type, then chronologically.

Processing Note

Processed in March of 2016

Acquisition Information

These materials were purchased by Special Collections and Archives in 2016 from Ken Sanders Rare Books.

Bibliography

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

David Meltzer Correspondence, 1956-1977Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Correspondence with Mrs. Anthony Marco (Retention copies)
1956-1964
Box Folder
1 1
David Meltzer to Mrs. Anthony Marco
1956 February 26
1 2
David Meltzer to Mrs. Anthony Marco
1956 May 9
1 3
David Meltzer to Mrs. Anthony Marco
1956 August 13
1 4
David Meltzer to Mrs. Anthony Marco
1958 May 28
1 5
David Meltzer to Mrs. Anthony Marco
1958 December 27
1 6
David Meltzer to Mrs. Anthony Marco
1959 February 27
1 7
David Meltzer to Mrs. Anthony Marco
1964 November 22
Correspondance with Robert Hawley
1965-1977
Box Folder
1 8
David Meltzer to Robert Hawley
1965 December 6
1 9
David Meltzer to Robert Hawley
1969 September 23
1 10
David Meltzer to Robert Hawley
1970 April 18
1 11
David Meltzer to Robert Hawley
1970 April 27
1 12
David Meltzer to Robert Hawley
1970 May 4
1 13
David Meltzer to Robert Hawley
1971 June 10
1 14
David Meltzer to Robert Hawley, January 21, 1972
1972 January 21
1 15
Postcard from David Meltzer to Robert Hawley
1972 October 5
1 16
Postcard from David Meltzer to Robert Hawley
1972 November 15
1 17
Postcard from David Meltzer to Robert Hawley
1972 December
1 18
Postcard from David Meltzer to Robert Hawley
1972 December 26
1 19
David Meltzer to Robert Hawley
1973 February 27
1 20
David Meltzer to Robert Hawley
1973 November 11
1 21
David Meltzer to Robert Hawley
1977 January 10
1 22
David Meltzer to Robert Hawley
1977 April 12
1 23
David Meltzer to Robert Hawley
1977 November 28
Correspondence with Doug Palmer
Box Folder
1 24
David Meltzer to Doug Palmer
1974 March 26
1 25
David Meltzer to Doug Palmer
1974 April 5
1 26
David Meltzer to Doug Palmer
1974 April 15
1 27
Postcard from David Meltzer to Doug Palmer
1974 May
1 28
David Meltzer to Doug Palmer
1974 June 8
1 29
David Meltzer to Doug Palmer
1974 September 7
1 30
David Meltzer to Doug Palmer
1974 December 2
1 31
Postcard from David Meltzer to Doug Palmer
1975 January 7
1 32
Postcard from David Meltzer to Doug Palmer
1975 February 8
Correspondence with Oyez Publishing
Box Folder
1 33
Broadside from Oyez Press to Mr. and Mrs. Meltzer and Family
1968 November 29

Two-Way Mirror Publication Documents, 1977Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 34
Unbound and Uncut Gallery Proofs of Two-Way Mirror with edits.
1977
1 35
Unbound Gallery Proofs of Two-Way Mirror with edits. (See box 2, folder 1 for oversized item)
1977
1 36
Manila Envelope Addressed to Bob Hawley from David Meltzer. (See box 2, folder 2 for oversized item)
1977
1 37
Dust jacket drafts and mock up cut outs.
1977
1 38
Cover flap printing insturctions.
1977
1 39
Scrap paper with book layout and pricing insturctions.
1977
1 40
Rough draft of Acknowledgments written by David Meltzer.
1977

David Meltzer Poetry, 1965-2002Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 41
Typescript for poem Oyez!
1965 December
1 42
Mimeographed printing of the poem Mahshav, Mitva, Miktav by David Meltzer.
1971 May 17
1 43
Flyer advertising a David Meltzer poetry reading.
1974 July 28
1 44
San Fransisco Art Institute program including David Meltzer as a poetry reader.
May 14
1 45
Photograph of David Meltzer and his wife Tina performing.(See box 2, folder 3 for oversized item)
2002 November 9

David Meltzer ArtReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 46
Original David Meltzer colored illustration and envelope addressed to Dorathy Hawley.(See box 2, folder 4 for oversized item)
1966 December 25
1 47
Original David Meltzer colored illustration.
undated
1 48
Original David Meltzer colored illustration.
undated
1 49
Original David Meltzer colored illustration.
undated
1 50
Award of Merit for Color Photography to Lionel Meltzer.
undated

Oversized ItemsReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
2 1
(Oversized Item from box 1, folder 35) Unbound Gallery Proofs of “Two-Way Mirror” with edits.
1977
2 2
(Oversized Item from box 1, folder 36) Manila Envelope Addressed to Bob Hawley from David Meltzer.
1977
2 3
(Oversized Item from box 1, folder 45) Photograph of David Meltzer and his wife Tina performing. November 9, 2002
2002 November 9
2 3
(Oversized Item from box 1, folder 46) Original David Meltzer colored illustration and envelope addressed to Dorathy Hawley.
1966 December 25

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • American poetry--California--San Francisco--20th century..
  • Beats (Persons)--Poetry.
  • Poets, American--California--San Francisco--20th century.

Personal Names

  • Hawley, Robert, 1929-
  • Meltzer, David--Two-way mirror.
  • Meltzer, David.
  • Palmer, Doug

Corporate Names

  • Oyez (Firm)