William Witherup papers, 1935-2009

Scope and Content: Biographical features, correspondence, writings, publications, clippings, audiotapes, posters from poetry readings, photographs, artifacts, ephemera, memorabilia, subject series.

Bulk of this accession documents William Witherup's response to threats posed by nuclear energy. Also includes a file of material on The Slant Step in Box 4.

Scope and Content: Correspondence (1973-1980), draft of poem (1980).

Correspondence is with Robert D. Monroe, Head, Special Collections Division of the University of Washington Libraries, a friend of the poet.

Scope and Content: Biographical features, correspondence, submission records, writings, photographs, art works, ephemera, subject series.

Scope and Content: Correspondence, writings, poems, ephemera, photographs, publications.

Includes writings and related materials from 1981, when he taught at Soledad Prison, as well as his letters to his family during his service in the U.S. Air Force, 1957-1960.

Scope and Content: Correspondence, publications, clippings, and sound and video recording of the poet's recent activity, especially in commemorations of the 1945 bombing of Nagasaki, Japan, and other anti-nuclear issues. Also includes childhood photographs.

Videotape is an interview with Bill Witherup and his mother, Rose Witherup, produced by Nagasaki Broadcasting Company in 1995.

Scope and Content: Correspondence, audiotaped interview, typescripts and drafts of reviews and essays, journals, signed copies of poster poem "Witherup in Nighttown," publications containing Witherup's poetry and prose including the anthology ATOMIC GHOST. Also contains works about Witherup, typescripts of works by others, medical file, photographs, clippings, and memorabilia.

Scope and Content: Notebooks, correspondence, writings of Witherup and others, publications containing Witherup's poems and those of fellow poets. Includes correspondence, drafts and related material for the compilation Learning to Glow.

Scope and Content: Letters to John Bradley, with whom Witherup worked on "Atomic Ghost" and "Learning to Glow"; 1994-2001.

Scope and Content: Letters, incoming (1945, circa 1979-2002), including letters from his mother, Rose Witherup; outgoing, 1996-2002; photocopied family photos, photos of Witherup, publicity about Witherup and others, publications containing his poems, his books: Black Ash, Orange Fire; Down wind, Down river; sound and video recordings, including readings by Witherup, 1980, 1988, 2000, 2001; broadsides, poster, mask by James McGrath, clippings; 1945-2002.

Scope and Content: Correspondence, writings, publicity materials, and video recording.

Correspondence includes incoming and outgoing letters with James B. Hall and Bill Hotchkiss. Writings document two essays and a review of a James B. Hall's "The Extreme Stories +3," written by Witherup. Publicity materials feature a flyer and a clipping related to James B. Hall and William Witherup readings. Also includes a DVD copy of a film containing Witherup reading his piece, "Slant Step Chant."

Scope and Content: Incoming and outgoing correspondence with James McGrath, Don Foran, Ken MacLean, John Bradley, Joel Weishaus, and Robert Schuler; other McGrath materials; research materials; literary magazines and other publications; and other papers of William Witherup.