Robert Sund papers, 1950-2001

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Sund, Robert, 1929-2001
Title
Robert Sund papers
Dates
1950-2001 (inclusive)
Quantity
9.12 cubic feet (12 boxes) including textural materials, photographs and 1 cassette tape plus 1 oversize vertical file
Collection Number
5740
Summary
Papers of Northwest poet, Robert Sund
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Open to all users.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Robert Sund (1929-2001) grew up on a small farm in Washington's Chehalis Valley and studied with poet Theodore Roethke at the University of Washington. His early experiences of farm life, logging camps, fishing in Southeast Alaska, and working the wheat harvest in eastern Washington, together with his love of colloquial language, served to ground his language deeply in place and community. He spent his life living in and writing about the Pacific Northwest. Over decades, he became a much-loved figure in the arts community of the Northwest, locally renowned as a poet, painter, calligrapher, translator, teacher, musician, and inspired reader of his poetry. He is the author of Poems from Ish River Country: Collected Poems and Translations, Shoemaker & Hoard, 2004; Taos Mountain, Poet's House Press, 2007; and Notes from Disappearing Lake: The River journals of Robert Sund, Pleasure Boat Studio, 2012. A documentary, In the Hall of Light: The Work and Life of Robert Sund, was released by the Robert Sund Poet's House Trust in 2010. For additional information, go to < www.robertsundpoetshouse.org >

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Journals, manuscripts, drafts of poems, corresponence, newsclippings, photogtaphs, notes, writings, artwork, and ephemera of poet Robert Sund.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

The creators' literary rights have been transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Organized into 2 accessions.

  • Accession No. 5740-001, Robert Sund papers, 1951-2001
  • Accession No. 5740-002, Robert Sund papers, 1962-2000

Bibliography

Poetry Collections:

  • Bunch Grass, University of Washington Press, Seattle & London, 1969. 2nd edition, 1973
  • Ish River, North Point Press, San Francisco, 1983 (received the Washington Governor's Writers Award)
  • Poems from Ish River Country: Collected Poems & Translations, Shoemaker & Hoard, Washington, D.C., 2004
  • Taos Mountain, Poet's House Press, Anacortes, WA, 2007
  • Notes from Disappearing Lake: The River Journals of Robert Sund, Pleasure Boat Studio, New York, 2012

Poetry Chapbooks:

  • Ish River Poets in Folio, (self published) 1965
  • In Praise of my Ink Bottle, (pamphlet) Double-Elephant Press, Seattle, 1971
  • Why I am Singing for the Dancer, Poets Press, Olympia, Washington, 1978
  • The Hides of White Horses Shedding Rain, Copper Canyon Press, Port Townsend, Washington, 1981
  • How the Dancer is Carried into the Hall of Light, Sagittarius Press, Port Townsend, Washington, 1982
  • This Flower, The Great Blue Heron Society, La Conner, Washington, 1982
  • As Though the Word Blue had been Dropped into the Water, Sagittarius Press, Port Townsend, Washington, 1986, 2nd edition 1989, 3rd edition 1996
  • Shack Medicine, Poems from Disappearing Lake, Tangram Press, Berkeley, 1990 (reissued by The Robert Sund Poet's House Press, La Conner, (1992)
  • Home: A Prayer for the World Where You Found It, (pamphlet) Tangram Press, Berkeley, 1991
  • Bringing Friends Over, Haiku by Issa, Buson, Basho and Friends, Tangram Press, Berkeley, 2002

Editor:

  • The Sullivan Slough Review, Number 1, Spring, 1969

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Accession No. 5740-001: Robert Sund papers, 1951-2001Return to Top

5.61 cubic feet (6 boxes) plus 1 oversize vertical file

Scope and Content: Journals, manuscripts, drafts of poems, corresponence, notes, writings, and ephemera of poet Robert Sund (1929-2001).

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: The creators' literary rights have been transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Container(s) Description Dates
Journals
Box/Folder Accession
1/1 5740-001
Loose leaf journal in blue box
May 1956-May 1958
1/2 5740-001
Loose leaf journal in manila envelope
Summer 1958
1/3 5740-001
Loose leaf journal in manila envelope
October 1958-June 1960
1/3a 5740-001
Folded 8.5x11 in. loose leaf journal
October 1961
1/4 5740-001
Green binder
April 1962-September 1963
1/5 5740-001
Brown binder
October 1963-January 1964
1/6 5740-001
Brown binder
February-April 1964
1/7 5740-001
Green binder
May-August 1964
1/8 5740-001
Brown binder
August-December 1964
1/9 5740-001
Brown binder
December 1964
1/10 5740-001
Green binder
July 1965-March 1966
1/11 5740-001
Black bound journal
December 1966-April 1967
1/12 5740-001
Black bound journal
December 1967-June 1968
1/12a 5740-001
Black bound journal
June-September 1968
1/13 5740-001
Black bound journal
September 1968-February 1969
1/14 5740-001
Black bound journal
January-May 1969
1/15 5740-001
Black bound journal
May-September 1969
1/16 5740-001
Small black bound journal
August 1969-March 1970
1/17 5740-001
Black bound journal
April-September 1970
1/18 5740-001
Black bound journal
September 1970-April 1971
2/1a 5740-001
Black bound journal
May-August 1971
2/2 5740-001
Small Chinese sewn paper journals
Scope and Content: 5 notebooks
July-November 1973
2/3 5740-001
Small Chinese sewn paper journals
Scope and Content: 5 notebooks
January-December 1974
2/4 5740-001
Small Chinese sewn paper journals
Scope and Content: 3 notebooks
February-March 1975
2/5 5740-001
Journals and letters - Loose leaf in manila envelope
February-May 1976
2/6 5740-001
Xerox journal and letters - Loose leaf in file folder
February-May 1976
2/7 5740-001
Blue writing tablet
April-May 1976
2/8 5740-001
White writing tablet
June-July 1976
2/9 5740-001
Rust Academie sketch pad
December 1976-April 1977
2/10 5740-001
Small Chinese sewn paper journal
June-July 1977
2/10a 5740-001
Rust Academie sketch pad
August-November 1977
2/11 5740-001
Small Chinese sewn paper journals
Scope and Content: 8 notebooks
January-October 1978
2/12 5740-001
Small Chinese sewn paper journals
Scope and Content: 7 notebooks
January-May 1979
2/13 5740-001
Small Chinese sewn paper journals
Scope and Content: 7 notebooks
June-December 1979
2/13a 5740-001
File folder, newsprint paper journal
November 1979
2/14 5740-001
Small Chinese sewn paper journals
Scope and Content: 10 notebooks
January-August 1980
2/15 5740-001
Folded art paper journals
Scope and Content: 13 folios
March-October 1981
2/16 5740-001
Rust Academie sketch pad
July 1981
2/17 5740-001
Small Chinese sewn paper journals
Scope and Content: 4 notebooks
May-November 1981
2/18 5740-001
Small Chinese sewn paper journals
Scope and Content: 2 notebooks
April-October 1982
2/19 5740-001
Small Chinese sewn paper journals
Scope and Content: 7 notebooks
February-November 1983
2/20 5740-001
Black bound journal
March-October 1984
2/21 5740-001
Small Chinese sewn paper journals
Scope and Content: 6 notebooks
March-June 1985
2/22 5740-001
Small Chinese sewn paper journals
Scope and Content: 6 notebooks
June-December 1985
2/23 5740-001
Thick Chinese sewn paper journals
July 1985-April 1986
2/24 5740-001
Small Chinese sewn paper journals
Scope and Content: 4 notebooks
May-July 1986
2/25 5740-001
Small Chinese sewn paper journals
Scope and Content: 4 notebooks
July 1986
2/26 5740-001
Small Chinese sewn paper journals
October 1986
3/1 5740-001
Thick Chinese sewn paper journal
February-December 1987
3/2 5740-001
White letter box with loose leaf journals
1989
3/3 5740-001
White letter box with loose leaf journals
1992-1993
3/4 5740-001
White letter box with loose leaf journals
1994-1995
4/1 5740-001
White letter box with loose leaf journals
1996-1997
4/2 5740-001
White letter box with loose leaf journals
1998
4/3 5740-001
Orange letter box with loose leaf journals and Garden Poem notebooks
1998-2000
4/4 5740-001
Large loose leaf cream/tan paper journals
2000-2001
4/5 5740-001
Blue file, miscellaneous sheets
undated
Manuscripts
Box/Folder Accession
5/1 5740-001
Small brown binder - "Under the Lantern," typed and annotated
1951-1954
5/2 5740-001
Black folder - Early poems, typed and annotated
1952-1955
5/3 5740-001
Green folder - Blake essay for UW English course, typed
1961
5/4 5740-001
Bunch Grass - Typed manuscript in folder, early version with two poems not included in book
1969
5/5 5740-001
Green binder - Neruda translations and Spanish originals; various translators, working papers for The Sullivan Slough Review vol. 1 no. 1; typed, handwritten and Xerox copies
1969
5/6 5740-001
Purple folder - "The River with One Bank"; journal entries and poems, typed and annotated; pencil edits by Tim McNulty (2004)
1970-1972
5/7 5740-001
Manila envelopes in folder - "Two Bums in One Boxcar," unpublished poetry manuscript with Gary Hickenbottom, typed manuscript and working papers; "Tramp," earlier manuscript by Sund
1972
5/8 5740-001
Manila envelope - The Hides of White Horses Shedding Rain
ca. 1980
5/9 5740-001
Folder - Ish River loose leaf, working papers, typed and annotated
1979
5/10 5740-001
Bound gray manuscript with red binding - Ish River, typed and annotated
1979
5/11 5740-001
Blue folder - "Why I am Singing for the Dancer" and "How the Dancer is Carried into the Hall of Light," dancer poems typed and annotated, loose pages
ca. 1978
5/12 5740-001
Blue folder - As Though the Word Blue Had Been Dropped into the Water, typed manuscripts and working drafts, with two poems not included in book
1984-1985
5/13 5740-001
File folder - Shack Medicine drafts, text, and related materials, handwritten and typed loose pages
1990-1991
5/14 5740-001
Two manila folders - Bringing Friends Over, clipped loose leaf Xerox copies of handwritten translations of and commentary on Japanese haiku
1988-1997
5/15 5740-001
Stationary box - Taos Mountain, original handwritten loose pages and related material
1991
5/16 5740-001
Blue folder - Notes from Disappearing Lake: The River Journals of Robert Sund, typed manuscripts by Glen Hughes and Tim McNulty with edits
2010
Box/Folder Accession
6 5740-001
Poems, translations, and drafts in folders by title
General Notes: Compiled by Robert Sund Poet's House Trust, January 5, 2012.
1952-1970s

Accession No. 5740-002: Robert Sund papers, 1962-2000Return to Top

3.51 cubic feet (6 boxes) including textural materials, photographs, and 1 cassette tape

Scope and Content: Collection mainly consists of correspondence between Robert Sund and individuals/organizations as well as correspondence related to specific subjects/projects. Some of the correspondence includes original artwork/poetry. Collection also includes news clippings, event invitations, photographs, and poems and design materials.

Restrictions on Access: No restrictions on access.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's copyrights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.

Acquisition Info: Barbara Hathaway - Robert Sund Poet's House Trust, 2016-06-03

Container(s) Description Dates
Series 1: Correspondence
1962-2000
Subseries 1: Individuals
1962-2000
Box/Folder Accession
1/1 5740-002
Rocky E. Alonzo
1990
1/2 5740-002
Peggy Andersen
1992
1/3 5740-002
Andy Anderson
1992
1/4 5740-002
Guy Anderson
1982
1/5 5740-002
Dorothy Anthony
1993
1/6 5740-002
Robert "Bob" Arnold
1994
1/7 5740-002
Douglas Barnd
1987
1/8 5740-002
Max Benjamin
1966
1/9 5740-002
Wendell Berry
1991
1/10 5740-002
James Bertolino
1993
1/11 5740-002
Richard Beyer
1993
1/12 5740-002
Dan Billings
1992
1/13 5740-002
Robert Bly
1962-1967
1/14 5740-002
Louise Bogen
1968
1/15 5740-002
Megs Bookern (Intiman Theatre)
1976
1/16 5740-002
Mike Borghoff
1964-1965
1/17 5740-002
Keith Botsford
1967
1/18 5740-002
Betty Bowen
1968
1/19 5740-002
Bill Bradd
1982
1/20 5740-002
Bruce Brown
1994
1/21 5740-002
Keith Brown
1995
1/22 5740-002
Clifford Burke
1992-1995
1/23 5740-002
Ed Cain
1989
1/24 5740-002
Camillo Capua (Intersection Gallery)
1983
1/25 5740-002
Roger Cockerline
1968-1993
1/26 5740-002
Jeff Cohn
1992
1/27 5740-002
Marliee Cole
1967
1/28 5740-002
Robert "L.E" Cornelison
1993
1/29 5740-002
Joan Cross
1999
1/30 5740-002
Gary Cummisk
1989
1/31 5740-002
J.L. D'Acquisto
1989-1990
1/32 5740-002
Jacques Delourine
1993
1/33 5740-002
James Donaldson
1991-2000
1/34 5740-002
Robyn Du Pre (North Cascade Institute)
1991
1/35 5740-002
George Dunham
1970
1/36 5740-002
Ali East
1992
1/37 5740-002
Don Ellegood
1989
1/38 5740-002
Enkel - Enehjelm
1965
1/39 5740-002
Gonzolo Escudero
1965
1/40 5740-002
Jack Estes
1988
1/41 5740-002
DeLois Fox
1993
1/42 5740-002
Joe Frischolz
1968
1/43 5740-002
Jim Frye
1991
1/44 5740-002
Bradford E. Furlong (Law Office)
1992
1/45 5740-002
Zhi Xiao Gang
1989
1/46 5740-002
Peter Gellatly (Topics in Technical Services)
1982
1/47 5740-002
Arthur Greeno
1973-1993
1/48 5740-002
San Green
1989-1992
1/49 5740-002
Thomas Hadley
1989
2/1 5740-002
Jon Halper
1989-1991
2/2 5740-002
Paul Hansen
1981
2/3 5740-002
Karen Hartman
1983
2/4 5740-002
Jim Hartz
1982-1994
2/5 5740-002
Joel Hawkins
1992
2/6 5740-002
Anne Hauberg
1993
2/7 5740-002
Gary Headlee
1992
2/8 5740-002
Steven Herold
1981
2/9 5740-002
Gary Hickenbottom
1990
2/10 5740-002
Steve Hockman
1991
2/11 5740-002
Mike Hooper
1993
2/12 5740-002
Chip Hughes
1991-1995
2/13 5740-002
Krista Hunter
1992
2/14 5740-002
Paul Hunter
1992-1993
2/15 5740-002
Yuichi Inoue
1988-1989
2/16 5740-002
Diane Johnson (Timberland Regional Library)
1989
2/17 5740-002
Steve Johnson
1990-1992
2/18 5740-002
Frank Kathman
1982
2/19 5740-002
Jeanine Keefe
1991
2/20 5740-002
Milton Kessler
1993
2/21 5740-002
Valerie Kettley (Jonathan Cape Limited)
1983
2/22 5740-002
Brad Killion
1990
2/23 5740-002
Pat Knox
1982-1992
2/24 5740-002
Jim Koller
1965
2/25 5740-002
Charles Krafft
1982-1993
2/26 5740-002
Joseph Wood Krutch
1965
2/27 5740-002
Jeff Langlow
1982-1993
2/28 5740-002
Clayton Leaury
1983
2/29 5740-002
Riitta Leitso
1992
2/30 5740-002
Denise Levertov
1992
2/31 5740-002
Ernie Levon
1992
2/32 5740-002
Peter Lewis
1993
2/33 5740-002
John Logan
1965-1966
2/34 5740-002
Tom Lynch
1982
3/1 5740-002
Robin Magowin (Margin)
undated
3/2 5740-002
Marne Marcus
1988
3/3 5740-002
Stafanie Marlis
1983
3/4 5740-002
Doug Martin
1993
3/5 5740-002
Mimi Stewart McArdle
1965
3/6 5740-002
Joe McCarthy
1968
3/7 5740-002
David McCloskey re: Cascadia
1993
3/8 5740-002
Andy McConnell
1993
3/9 5740-002
Dawn Dufford McDill
1991
3/10 5740-002
Scott McManus
1993
3/11 5740-002
Tim McNulty
1982-1996
3/12 5740-002
Neil Meitzler
1990-1991
3/13 5740-002
Lorenzo Milam
1968
3/14 5740-002
Joe Miller
1989
3/15 5740-002
Walt Miller
1993
3/16 5740-002
Dorothy Mills
1994
3/17 5740-002
Charlie Mish
1972
3/18 5740-002
Allen Moe
1987-1989
3/19 5740-002
John Moffat re: Disability Request
1975
3/20 5740-002
Ted Montgomery
1993
3/21 5740-002
Barbara Morgan
1989
3/22 5740-002
Dory Myers re: Coast Weeks Reading
1983
3/23 5740-002
Rusty North
1978-1993
3/24 5740-002
Mike O'Connor
1992
3/25 5740-002
Dan O'Donnell re: Shack Medicine
1994
3/26 5740-002
Fred Owens
1983
3/27 5740-002
Susan Parke (Museum of Northwest Art)
1992
3/28 5740-002
Craig Parker
1991
3/29 5740-002
Paul Post
1996
3/30 5740-002
Mary Randlett
1965-1992
3/31 5740-002
Pete Randlett
1968
3/32 5740-002
Jerry Reddan re: Shack Medicine
1989-1994
3/33 5740-002
Virginia Reiss
1993
3/34 5740-002
Marie Rexnorth
1982
4/1 5740-002
Danny Reyes
1990
4/2 5740-002
Tom Robbins
1976
4/3 5740-002
Bob Rose re: "Track" manuscript
1990-1999
4/4 5740-002
Mike Rust
1966
4/5 5740-002
John Austin Rustad
1982
4/6 5740-002
Clyde Sanborn
1990
4/7 5740-002
Viviana Sanchez
1990-1991
4/8 5740-002
Larry Schmidt
1993
4/9 5740-002
Jack Schumaker
1983-1993
4/10 5740-002
Erik Schweiss
1982
4/11 5740-002
Virginia Shaw
1981
4/12 5740-002
Bill Shively (Red Sky Poetry Theatre)
1983
4/13 5740-002
Judt Shrode
1990
4/14 5740-002
Christine Wardenburg Skinner
1983-1993
4/15 5740-002
Jim Smith
1982
4/16 5740-002
Kim Snell
1993
4/17 5740-002
Gary Snyder (& Masa)
1973-1986
4/18 5740-002
Chris Stearns
1990
4/19 5740-002
Jeffree Stewart
1992-1998
4/20 5740-002
Joseph Stroud
1968-1990
4/21 5740-002
Donald Sund
General Notes: Folder titled "Family Correspondence" and "Little Brother"
1992
4/22 5740-002
Patty Ward
undated
4/23 5740-002
Wesley Wehr
1993-1997
4/24 5740-002
Diane Welty
1992
4/25 5740-002
Wallace Whatley
undated
4/26 5740-002
David Whyte
General Notes: Folder titled "Poetry at Home"
1992
4/27 5740-002
Finn Wilcox
1980-1986
4/28 5740-002
David Wilk
undated
4/29 5740-002
Charles & Annie (Iverness)
1982
4/30 5740-002
Janet re: Note and Clyde Sanborn manuscript
1996
4/31 5740-002
Jerry (Family)
1993
4/32 5740-002
Laura/Omak
1993
4/33 5740-002
Nephew
1993
4/34 5740-002
Sather
1993
4/35 5740-002
Serena
1982
4/36 5740-002
Thostensen
1993
4/37 5740-002
Toby
1993
4/38 5740-002
Tom & Minnie
1968
4/39 5740-002
Victoria (Tibetan Center/Sakya Tegchen Choling)
1981
4/40 5740-002
Unmailed Letters
undated
4/41 5740-002
Letters to Finish
undated
4/42 5740-002
Correspondence Unknown
undated
4/43 5740-002
Misc. Letters Late 1960s
circa 1965-1970
5/1 5740-002
Misc. Correspondence
undated
5/2 5740-002
Copies of Letters Sent
undated
5/3 5740-002
Event Invitations
1992
5/4 5740-002
"Letters"
Scope and Content: Folder includes correspondence with Michael Claugh, Michael Korson, Judy Magnuson, Eileen Bell Garrison, Christina Wardenburg Skinner, Jack Schumaker, and Roger Cockerline
1983-1993
5/12 5740-002
FrancEyE (Frances Dean Smith)
Scope and Content: Includes manuscript
1993
Subseries 2: Organizations
1964-2000
Box/Folder Accession
5/6 5740-002
The Burlington Little School
1987
5/8 5740-002
British Broadcasting Company
Scope and Content: Includes cassette tape of school child reading "Bunch Grass"
1990
5/9 5740-002
Bollingen Foundation
1964
5/10 5740-002
Cascadia Farms
Scope and Content: Includes corrspondence with Joan Provo and Dan Smith
1990
5/11 5740-002
Channel Town Press
1982
5/13 5740-002
Friendship House
Scope and Content: Includes correspondence with Barb Cram
1993
5/14 5740-002
Ish River Foundation
1989-1991
6/1 5740-002
Peninsula College
Scope and Content: Includes correspondence with Jack Estes
1988
6/2 5740-002
Skagit County Parks and Recreation Department
General Notes: Folder titled "McGlinn"
Scope and Content: Includes correspondence with Jon Aarstad regarding McGlinn Island.
1990
6/3 5740-002
Skagit River Poetry Festival
Scope and Content: Includes correspondence with Kathy Shoop
2000
6/6 5740-002
Tacoma Arts Commission
Scope and Content: Includes correspondence with Laura Jensen and Dorothy McQuistian regarding Distingusihed Poets Series
1996
6/8 5740-002
Town of Anacortes
General Notes: Folder titled "Movies"
2000
6/9 5740-002
Town of LaConner
1983
Subseries 3: Topics
1965-1996
Box/Folder Accession
5/5 5740-002
"Bunchgrass"
1968-1969
5/7 5740-002
"Across the River" Reading Series
1989-1990
6/4 5740-002
San Francisco
1982
6/5 5740-002
Shack Medicine
Scope and Content: Includes second edition and correspondence with Alex Fischer regarding the French translation
1992-1993
6/7 5740-002
"Yes, It's Really Work!"
Scope and Content: Includes correspondence with Jon Halper
1989-1990
6/10 5740-002
Poetry Rejection Letters
1965
6/11 5740-002
"Magazine Requests"
Scope and Content: Includes correspondence with David Raffeld
1993
6/12 5740-002
"Requests"
1995-1996
Series 2: Newsclippings
circa 1970-1989
Box/Folder Accession
6/13 5740-002
Newsclippings
circa 1970-1989

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Literature rejected for publication--Washington (State)
  • Poetry--Sources
  • Poets, American--Northwest, Pacific--Archives
  • Poets, American--Washington (State)--Archives
  • Poets--Correspondence

Personal Names

  • Sund, Robert, 1929-2001--Archives
  • Sund, Robert, 1929-2001--Diaries

Form or Genre Terms

  • Ephemera
  • Manuscripts for publication
  • Personal correspondence
  • Photographs

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)