Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Kenneth (Kenny) E. Johnson Collection, 1948-1993
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Johnson, Kenneth E., 1913-1991
- Title
- Kenneth (Kenny) E. Johnson Collection
- Dates
- 1948-1993 (inclusive)19481993
- Quantity
- 1.3 cubic feet
- Collection Number
- OLPb032JOH
- Summary
- This collection includes correspondence from William Stafford to Kenneth E. Johnson and his wife Jean during the years 1947-1991, and a number of publications by Stafford.
- Repository
-
Lewis & Clark College, Special Collections and Archives
Aubrey R. Watzek Library
615 S. Palatine Hill Rd.
Portland, OR
97219
Telephone: 5037687758
Fax: 5037687282
archives@lclark.edu - Access Restrictions
-
This collection has no restrictions and is open for research.
- Languages
- English
Historical NoteReturn to Top
Kenneth (Kenny) E. Johnson (1913-1991) was born in Portland, Oregon on the Johnson family farm adjacent to Johnson Creek, which was named after Kenny's ancestor William Johnson, who first settled on the land in 1846. Kenny Johnson earned a B.A. in History at Reed College and an M.A. in Philosophy from the University of Nebraska. He joined the faculty of Lewis & Clark College as an instructor of English in 1946; he had previously served as an instructor of Philosophy and Literature at St. Helen’s Hall Junior college. Johnson was quickly marked as an excellent instructor by his students and by his departments. In 1947 Johnson and his wife Jean met the newly hired William Stafford and his wife Dorothy, and the two couples quickly became close friends. Stafford left Lewis & Clark in 1950 to study for a Ph.D at the University of Iowa. He eventually returned to Lewis & Clark to teach English, but throughout the time he was away Stafford and Johnson maintained a regular correspondence. After Stafford's return, the two continued to correspond until the end of Johnson's life in 1991. In addition to being a close friend, Johnson was a trusted critic. This collection includes correspondence from Stafford to the Johnsons during the years 1947-1993, as well as a number of Stafford's publications.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This collection includes correspondence from William Stafford to Kenneth Johnson (1947-1991) and his wife Jean, as well as a collection of publications by Stafford.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Permission to publish, exhibit, broadcast, or quote from materials in the Watzek Library Archives & Special Collections requires written permission of the Head of Archives & Special Collections.
Preferred Citation
The Kenneth (Kenny) E. Johnson Collection (OLPb032JOH), Lewis & Clark College Aubrey Watzek Library Archives & Special Collections, Portland, Oregon.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Arranged in two series: Series 1 includes a chronological series of letters from William Stafford to Kenneth Johnson; Series 2 includes publication by Stafford.
Location of Collection
Special CollectionsAcquisition Information
Donated to the Lewis & Clark College Special Collections by Steve Johnson in 2008.
Processing Note
Processed in 2004.
Related Materials
The Lewis & Clark College Special Collections holds the complete archives of William Stafford including incoming correspondence from Kenny Johnson.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
Abbreviations used in finding aid: WS = William Stafford, DS = Dorothy Stafford, KJ=Kenny Johnson, JJ=Jean Johnson, tls=typed letter signed, and als=autograph letter signed.
Series 1: Correspondence, William Stafford to Kenny Johnson, 1948-1993Return to Top
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box | ||
1 | Box 1: Correspondence |
1948-1993 |
Item | ||
1 | WS to KJ 1 card
Christmas card with photo of baby Brett.
|
December 21, 1948 |
2 | WS to KJ 2 pages tls.
From Iowa. Cover letter for the four-page typed response to
the Hoxie Fairchild booklet (corrected text), sent to Odell and to Hazen
Foundation July 27, 1950. See following two items.
|
July 27, 1950 |
3 | WS to Morgan Odell One-page tls
From Iowa (newly settled there). See previous and following
item. Sent to KJ as an attachment to previous item.
|
July 27, 1950 |
4 | WS to Paul Braisted One-page tls
Related to, and same date as, two previous items [see also
related item in typescript folders from this date, 7/27/50]
|
July 27, 1950 |
5 | Dorothy Stafford to
KJ Two-page tls
With a hand-written note signed by “Bro Bill, Ph. D-less”.
Both writers in good form.
|
November 6, 1950 |
6 | WS to KJ Two-sided tls from
Iowa
Headed in red pencil by WS: “!Dangerous communication—to be
read secretly and burned at once. Keep away from all responsible and
respectable people!” In part describes the Grosses’ marital troubles.
|
ca. Late Summer 1950 |
7 | WS to KJ 1 envelope
Envelope that contained a one-page letter from Iowa September
11, 1950, and one-page letter from Iowa October 26, 1951 (now item 27).
|
September 11, 1950 |
8 | WS to KJ Unsigned one-page typed
letter
From Iowa. With envelope mailed two days later in Iowa City,
annotated “Bills poem on the Gross Housewarming,” though that poem was sent
later, on November 21, 1950.
|
October 16, 1950 |
9 | WS to KJ Two-page tls
Letter from Iowa accompanying and explaining typescript draft
of “At the Grosses’ Housewarming,” written earlier. Three pencil marks circled
by WS, with the ironic comment “the sacred doodlings of P. Engle.” See item
112.
|
November 21, 1950 |
10 | WS to KJ One Brown
Envelope
Contained the following items: a) One-page tls from Iowa
December 19, 1950, originally enclosing poem about the “shady side” of KJ from
its use at the Iowa workshop. This was apparently “Farewell to a Certain
Student,” for which WS noted later there was no documentary copy. b) Typescript
(used in the Iowa Workshop) of “Farewell to a Certain Student,” written
12/19/50. Valuable manuscript notes by WS.
|
December 19, 1950 |
11 | WS to KJ One-page
letter
From Iowa
|
January 4, 1951 |
12 | WS to KJ 1 Envelope
From Iowa, containing the following item.
|
February 17, 1951 |
13 | WS to KJ Two-page
letter
From Iowa
|
February 17, 1951 |
14 | WS to KJ Two-page tls
Includes envelope post marked in Iowa City the following
day
|
February 26, 1971 |
15 | Dorothy Stafford to
Johnsons 1 Note and 1
Envelope
From Iowa City, Note is three sided on pink paper with
matching envelope
|
Mailed March 9, 1951 |
16 | WS to KJ Two-page tls
From Iowa
|
March 20, 1951 |
17 | WS to KJ Three-page als and 1
envelope
From Iowa, shortly before traveling west in 1951, with a year
still to go at Iowa. With envelope post marked Iowa April 23, 1951.
|
April 22, 1951 |
18 | WS to KJ One-page tls
From Glendale
|
June 5, 1951 |
19 | WS to KJ Two-page tls
From Glendale
|
28 June [1951] |
20 | WS to Dr. Wolle 1 Page Letter
Copy of WS letter to Dr. Wolle in Boulder, asking for a copy
of the loyalty oath he’d need to sign for a job at U of Colorado. See following
two items.
|
July 11, 1951 |
21 | WS to Dr. Francis
Wolle 3 Pages
Three items in one communication: carbon copies of two letters
to Francis Wolle of the Dept. of English and Speech at U of Colorado in
response to the third item, a copy of the Colorado Oath of Allegiance (see
previous and following items).
|
July 11, 1951 |
22 | WS to Dr. Wolle One-page tls
From Glendale, discussing problems with signing Colorado
loyalty oath.
|
July 17, 1951 |
23 | WS to KJ One-page tls
From Glendale, with handwritten marginal note by WS
|
July 24, 1951 |
24 | WS to KJ One-page handwritten WS
note and 1 envelope
Letter giving new Quonset address, and headed “Dear
Sybarites.” With envelope mailed the next day in Iowa City. Perhaps enclosed
with this letter was the WS photo of quonsets at Iowa. WS note on back: “Note
the Stafford home—with 2 bicycles (middle quonset) Palaces of the gentry
visible across the river, on the heights . . .”
|
August 29, 1951 |
25 | Dorothy to WS One Card
Card written from Iowa by Dorothy at start of school year 1951
(Kim had poison ivy.)
|
Envelope postmarked September 12, 1951 |
26 | DS to Johnsons Two-sided tls,
envelope, and 2-page WS tls
Also a two-page WS tls of October 3, 1951 at Iowa City,
sharing envelope with Dorothy’s letter
|
fall 1951, Envelope postmarked October 5, 1951 |
27 | WS to KJ One-page
letter
From Iowa (see item 7), on cheap (browned) paper.
|
October 26, 1951 |
28 | WS to KJ Two-sided tls
Letter on self-confessedly cheap (now browned) paper, Iowa, in
envelope mailed the next day.
|
November 10, 1951 |
29 | WS to KJ Two-page tls
From Iowa
|
December 10, 1951 |
30 | WS to KJ Two-sided tls
From Iowa
|
January 4, 1952 |
31 | WS to KJ One-page tls
from Iowa with envelope postmarked the following day.
|
January 20, [1952] |
32 | WS to KJ Three-page als
from Iowa about plans for return to Lewis & Clark College,
with envelope postmarked the following day.
|
March 29, 1952 |
33 | WS to KJ
Envelope mailed in Iowa City enclosing handwritten note from
Dorothy Stafford.
|
May 5, 1952 |
34 | WS to KJ
Envelope addressed from Iowa City by DS. Contained undated tls
(two sides) from DS, three weeks before end of time in Iowa. WS studying for
comps.
|
May 19, 1952 |
35 | WS to Johnsons als (two
sides)
On the road from Iowa in Junction City, Kansas. Envelope
mailed there on June 23, 1952.
|
undated |
36 | WS to KJ One-page tls
(signed by WS “Caesar”) from Portland to KJ in Hospital in
Seattle.
|
Fall 1952 |
37 | WS to KJ Two-page tls
from Lewis & Clark College to University of Washington;
describes birth of Kit. Contains typescript of “Literature I” (“Lit
Instructor”) written 11/15/52, headed by handwritten WS comment.
|
November 18, 1952 |
38 | WS to KJ Envelope
mailed in Portland, containing cyclostyled note (presumably
from Morgan Odell) on the role of the college “in loco parentis”—with marginal
comment by WS.
|
December 12, 1952 |
39 | WS to Jean Johnson One-page tls
from Manchester College, enclosing check from The New Republic
in payment for poem “A Visit Home” written 10/11/53.
|
October 21, 1955 |
40 | WS to KJ
Envelope mailed from Saratoga Springs, with one-page tls of
previous day written on yellow paper from Yaddo. (WS says he has currently
eighty-two items out for consideration. Expects a net acceptance of around
four.)
|
June 24, 1956 |
41 | WS to KJ
Carbon made for the Johnsons of a letter of April 4, 1957 from
San Jose to John and Cleo Gross. Mention of Jim Harmon, “strenuously San
Francisco bohemian.”
|
1957 |
42 | George [Jensen?] to
WS One-page typed
letter
from George [Jensen?] to WS requesting a recommendation. On
verso a handwritten request for a copy to go elsewhere. See next item.
|
10 April 1957 |
43 | WS to KJ One-page tls
Letter from San Jose that enclosed George’s letter, previous
item.
|
12 April 1957 |
44 | WS to KJ Two-page tls
from San Jose
|
May 5, 1957 |
45 | WS to KJ two-page tls
from Iowa in envelope mailed May 11, 1951.
|
Undated |
46 | WS to KJ
Carbon made for the Johnsons of a letter of June 4, 1957 from
San Jose to John and Cleo Gross, with envelope postmarked June 6.
|
June 6, [1957] |
47 | WS to KJ
Copy of one-page unsigned typed letter, evidently from Kenny
Johnson, to President Odell.
|
May 5, 1960 |
48 | "Lona" to KJ three-page tls
To KJ from Lewis & Clark College colleague “Lona” on
college letterhead, criticizing WS for an aversion to suffering and consequent
lack of profundity. A strange outpouring. With undated envelope to “Kenneth
Johnson,” annotated “Lona on Bills Poetry.” No mention of National Book Award,
so presumably before 1963.
|
undated |
49 | WS to KJ typescript
Typescript of WS poem “A Final Examination: American
Renaissance,” Hand-addressed by WS on verso to “Prof Kenneth Johnson.”
|
May 25 1962 |
50 | WS to KJ One page
Typed letter from Sunningdale
|
September 18, 1962 |
51 | DS to Johnsons Air letter
Dorothy to Johnsons from London with news from June 25th
onwards.
|
July 12, 1962 |
52 | WS to Johnsons Aérogramme
L & C College to Johnsons in Japan
|
October 4, 1962 |
53 | WS to Johnsons Aérogramme
L & C College to Johnsons in Japan
|
October 21, 1962 |
54 | WS to Johnsons Aérogramme
WS to Johnsons in Japan , giving news of Arthur
Throckmorton’s death.
|
December 25, 1962 |
55 | WS to KJ Four-page als
From San Blas, Mexico, on sheets from a lined steno notebook
(tj3)
|
3 May 1964 |
56 | WS to Johnsons One-page tls
From Portland to Johnsons in Italy, enclosed in the following
item.
|
August 18, 1964 |
57 | WS to Johnsons Empty airmail
envelope
From Sunningdale to Johnsons in Rome, originally containing
the previous and following items.
|
August 20, 1964 |
58 | WS to KJ twopages
Copy of “An Informal Will,” Portland. Enclosed in previous
item.
|
August 20, 1964 |
59 | WS to KJ Tear-sheet (back cover)
from Satire Newsletter
Tear-sheet (back cover) from Satire Newsletter, poem by WS,
“A Defense of My Uncle,” written 5/31/63. Note by KJ on last stanza: “Hovers on
the edge of nonsense but manages to keep from going over.”
|
[August 20, 1964] |
60 | WS to KJ One-page
typescript
One-page typescript (yellow paper, red type) of two poems,
annotated “1962 Bill Stafford”. Poems “Seeing the Students Off for Japan’
(written 9/29/66) and “For a Stone at Balmers’ Ranch” (Written 9/22/66). Date
of annotation must be wrong. Sent with following item.
|
undated |
61 | WS to KJ One-page tls
Red type on yellow paper. Just finished article on Roethke
[“Roethke’s Way,” housed at 5E.74 and published in Crossing Unmarked Snow, 50
ff.].
|
October 20, 1966 |
62 | WS to KJ One-page tls
|
December 5, 1966 |
63 | WS to KJ One-page tls
From Portland, originally enclosing photos (no longer present)
of KJ and of Jack Radow and of Mrs. Netboy.
|
September 4, 1967 |
64 | WS to Steve Johnson One-page tls
on Alaska Methodist letterhead
|
June 29, 1968 |
65 | WS to KJ One-page tls
On Alaska Methodist letterhead. With matching envelope
postmarked two days later.
|
July 5, 1968 |
66 | WS to KJ als
On verso of Wooster college map, posted Cincinnati October 24
(date on letter must be an error for 23 or 24) originally enclosing Bouwsma
quote on Wittgenstein [this quote housed in archives L1].
|
October 25, 1968 |
67 | WS to Jean Johnson Envelope
From London addressed to Jean J, containing a) WS thankyou
note for a money transfer, and b) WS note of May 25, 1969 to both Johnsons from
Bergen, Norway.
|
June 19, 1969 |
68 | WS to KJ Christmas card
Christmas card with photo of family on station platform in
Britain (Scotland, perhaps Waverly Station, Edinburgh).
|
December 22, 1969 |
69 | WS to KJ two stanzas
Handwritten poem by Kenny Johnson
|
1969 |
70 | WS to KJ One-page tls
From Sunningdale, mentioning and enclosing a “Secular
Prayer,” (“The Saint of Thought, a Secular Prayer,”. Response to discussion of
WS’s character.
|
July 5, 1970 |
71 | WS to KJ Six-page
typescript
By WS of KJ’s long letter. Typed so KJ “might be able to read
your writing, as I can—Bill”. Further deep discussion of character. Annotated
“K.E.J. to Bill Stafford.”
|
August 8, 1970 |
72 | WS to KJ Two-page tls
From Virginia.
|
September 10, 1970 |
73 | WS to KJ Envelope
Mailed with (apparently misdated) letter of September 20,
1970, and poem on the death of John Gross, also dated 9/20/70. Johnson note on
envelope: “Make copy for cynical Sam.” See following two items.
|
September 19, 1970 |
74 | WS to KJ Two copies of WS
poem
On John Gross’s death. Poem written 9/20/70. In Portland
Teachers Credit Union envelope. See previous and following item.
|
Undated |
75 | WS to KJ One-page
typescript
Poem “To Kenny & Jean Johnson on Hearing of John Gross’s
Death,”. See previous two items.
|
September 20, 1970 |
76 | WS to KJ One-page tls
With envelope postmarked the following day, McLean,
Virginia.
|
October 2, 1970 |
77 | WS to Jean Johnson One-page tls
from Virginia.
|
October 17, 1970 |
78 | WS to KJ Christmas card
With photo of Barb holding Nicholas and Lief.
|
December 1970 |
79 | WS to KJ Two-page tls
From Virginia, originally enclosing Wang Hui-Ming’s James Agee
woodcut (copies of woodcut in broadsides drawers). With envelope postmarked the
following day.
|
December 30, 1970 |
80 | WS to KJ Two-sided tls
From Dorothy in Virginia, undated, but written February 3,
1971, describing Vonnegut’s aborted reading of Monday February 1st at the
Library of Congress.
|
February 3, 1971 |
81 | WS to KJ One-page tls
From Virginia, with unpostmarked envelope.
|
March 12, 1971 |
82 | WS to KJ Two-page (three sides)
tls
Envelope postmarked the following day, in Washington DC.
|
April 11, 1970 |
83 | WS to KJ Two-page tls
From Virginia, typed on verso of folded 1971 Williams College
poster.
|
May 20, 1971 |
84 | WS to KJ Typescript of
poem
“My Friends My Enemies My Lonely Hours,” no record of
publication. Text differs from that in D1 (personal reference to Sam Yorks and
Ken Johnson).
|
2/21/72 |
85 | WS to KJ Typescript
On goldenrod paper of poem “Kenny’s Office,” with annotations
by KJ.
|
10/24/73 |
86 | WS to Virgil Baldwin
Day Small printed
homily
On poverty by Cabeza de Vaca, 1538, sent as a Christmas
greeting to WS (as noted by WS on verso) from Virgil Baldwin Day.
|
1973 |
87 | WS to KJ Christmas card
|
December 17, 1973 |
88 | WS to KJ
Pages from American Poetry Review, Vern Rutsala’s essay
“Poetry in the Classroom,” and his poem “The Journey Begins.”
|
May/June 1974 |
89 | WS to KJ One-page tls
Accompanying typescript of “Paragraphs to Tack on the Wall,”
written 8/14/74. This is the same poem (with different lineation and order of
stanzas) as “Notes on the Refrigerator Door,” a Bellevue Press broadside 1976.
It differs also (slightly) from the poem used as the prospectus for the WS
class “Notes for the Refrigerator Door.”
|
September 6, 1974 |
90 | WS to KJ one-page
typescript
Copy (signed “Greetings, fellow wage slaves—Bill, on the road
Nov ‘74”) of poem “Dreams of Retirement.” Added note from Bob Dusenbery:
“Ken—could I get this back—Bob D.” See following item.
|
11/4/74 |
91 | WS to KJ
Copy of previous item
|
|
92 | WS to Jean Johnson Empty envelope
From New York to KJ. No obvious enclosure present in this
collection. Johnson note on envelope “Letter from Bill S to Jean.”
|
January 29, 1975 |
93 | WS to KJ typescript
Signed typescript of poem “On the Poetry Circuit,” writtenas
“Surviving a Poetry Circuit,” with accompanying brief comment by WS.
|
2/19/75 |
94 | WS to KJ Tearsheet
From Literary Half-Yearly with WS poem “Little Sermon.” With
KJ notation “Bill this is my perennial sermon to you—you took the words right
out of my mouth.”
|
1/9/75 |
95 | WS to KJ Half-sheet
typescript
WS concrete poem in shape of spectacles, “Dark Glasses.”
|
5/19/76 |
96 | WS to KJ Two poems
Two WS poems typed on National Endowment for the Humanities
half-sheet letterhead: “An Invitation to Explore,” written 5/23/76, and “A Myth
to Live By,” written 6/26/76.
|
5/23/76 and 6/26/76 |
97 | WS to KJ Typescript
WS poem “For Everybody Ambitious, on Retirement of the
Undersigned.” Extensive annotations by KJ.
|
2/1/78 |
98 | WS to KJ One page
Goldenrod sheet with typed poem “Retirement Speech.”
|
4/4/78 |
99 | WS to KJ one page
Single sheet of lined lemon-yellow pad paper, with
introspective notes by KJ headed “The Sacred.”
|
April 8, 1978 |
100 | WS to KJ one-page tls
Envelope addressed to KJ from Sunningdale, with one-page tls
of same date, including WS poem “Places with Meaning,” about the Johnson Fourth
of July, written that same morning.
|
July 5, 1978 |
101 | WS to KJ One-page tls
WS’s last day of teaching before spring break and apparently
retirement.
|
March 16, 1979 |
102 | WS to KJ One-page tls
(Jean’s date of 1980 is incorrect) enclosing Tony Piccione’s
letter of August 24, 1979,
|
August 30, 1979 |
103 | WS to KJ Three-page
letter
(Apparently typed by Jean Johnson) on green paper, KJ to WS
and DS. Followed by KJ’s draft of the same letter on yellow lined paper, with
clarifications (by JJ?) in red ink.
|
September 20, 1979 |
104 | WS to KJ one-page tls
Mentions Dorothy’s gallstone operation, and encloses items
from Tony Piccione. See following item.
|
November 27, 1979 |
105 | WS to KJ Two-page tls
From Tony Piccione with covering one-page reply to Piccione
from WS November 27, 1979 promising to send his letter to KJ. See previous
item.
|
November 22, 1979 |
106 | WS to KJ Poem-card
From Service-berry Press, poem “Atoms” by Anthony Piccione,
sent by him on 11/22/79 to Ken, originally in envelope from Portland August
1,1981 (repostmarked Eagle Creek 8/3/81) with annotation “Piccione,” but
containing WS poem “With Neighbors One Afternoon,” small undated broadside from
hit & run press. Poem written 12/7/78, first published Poetry January 1980.
See item 110
|
11/22/79 |
107 | WS to KJ Christmas card
|
December 21, 1979 |
108 | WS to KJ One-page tls
From Tony Piccione, accompanying his six-page response to a
question from the editor of Manassas Review.
|
January 17, 1980 |
109 | WS to KJ Letter and typed
poem
“Starting the Day,” written on that date. Included also typed
poem “It’s All Right,” written the same day.
|
February 4, 1980 |
110 | WS to KJ octavo
broadside
Undated octavo broadside from hit & run press of “With
Neighbors One Afternoon,” written 12/7/78 and published in Poetry, January
1980, this publication noted on broadside. See item 106.
|
Undated |
111 | WS to KJ Handwritten
note
|
April 15, 1980 |
112 | WS to KJ One-page tls
Enclosing typescript of “At the Chairman’s Housewarming.”
Poem written on or before 11/21/50. See item 9: Also mentioned and included:
essay on Samuel Johnson from Sewanee Review, annotated by KJ.
|
November 25, 1980 |
113 | WS to KJ Envelope
Sent from Sunningdale, perhaps originally containing carbon
copy (yellow) of WS (misdated?) letter to Piccione April 9, 1981. Later also
contained the items in 117.
|
April 8, 1981 |
114 | WS to KJ Long (nine-sided)
handwritten letter
KJ to WS and DS.
|
May 1, 1981 |
115 | WS to KJ Long (ten-sided)
handwritten letter
KJ to WS and DS.
|
May 26, 1981 |
116 | WS to KJ Empty envelope
From Portland with annotation “Arrivaderci” (sic).
|
June 2, 1981 |
117 | WS to KJ
Letter from Portland referring to and enclosing the
double-sided first page of the tribute booklet for John Howard May 22, 1981,
containing WS poem “The Weather Beyond the Weather,” written 12/21/74.
Handwritten WS note indicating total length of booklet and describing argument
with Howard and wife.. Also responds to KJ’s “May 26 indictment.”
|
June 4, 1981 |
118 | WS to KJ Carbon copy
Carbon copy for Johnsons of Piccione letter with short typed
signed note by WS.
|
April 9, 1981 |
119 | WS to KJ
Carbon copy for Johnsons of WS letter to Piccione.
|
April 29, 1981 |
120 | WS to KJ Handwritten draft (nine
sides of ruled paper )
Incomplete letter by KJ to WS.
|
July 3, 1981 |
121 | WS to KJ One-page tls
From Sunningdale containing “Why I Am Happy,” written the
same day, in the body of the letter. On verso of flier for “Death &
Suicide” anthology. In envelope from Portland postmarked July 22, 1981.
|
July 22, 1981 |
122 | WS to KJ
Letter from Portland, originally enclosing letter of Tony
Piccione to WS from Kendall, NY, studying Chinese, July 23, 1981. Folded with
yellow carbon of WS letter to Piccione April 29, 1981.
|
August 1, 1981 |
123 | WS to KJ Christmas card
“Seeing an Old Snapshot,” written 11/28/81 and published in
“Yankee” and The Long Sigh the Wind Makes.
|
December 14, 1981 |
124 | WS to KJ Envelope with
typescript of WS poem
Poem of 2/16/82, “A Letter None of My Children Has Got Round
to Writing,” bearing a handwritten note by WS
|
February 24, 1982 |
125 | WS to KJ Card
To WS from Tony Piccione sent from Beijing, written on verso
of the BOA advertisement (“Answerers”) for Things That Happen When There Aren’t
Any People.
|
September 8, 1982 |
126 | WS to KJ Two-page tls
KJ to WS and DS.
|
October 11, 1982 |
127 | WS to KJ Christmas card
Addressed by Dorothy to K & J from Portland, containing
WS poem “Childish Things,” written 12/26/82.
|
December 1982 |
128 | WS to KJ one-page typed WS
poem
Envelope containing “Bill’s poem on [Kenny’s] pain,” a
one-page typed WS poem, “Having Pains,” written 6/1/83 and later titled “Pain.”
Annotation on verso “June 3, 1983 Bill S”.
|
June 3, 1983 |
129 | WS to KJ Tearsheet
From Southern Humanities Review of poem “1940” (“It is
August. Your father is walking you”) annotated by KJ: “The certainties are
specific sense experiences. All the rest you don’t know.”
|
6/14/83 |
130 | WS to KJ One-page
typescript
“Fame”
|
9/6/83 |
131 | WS to KJ Christmas card
|
December 17, 1983 |
132 | WS to KJ Card
From WS on his photo-card of the John Haines homestead, and
signed “Goldpen” in the month of his seventieth birthday.
|
1/1984 |
133 | WS to KJ Page of quotes
From Stafford letters out of Iowa in 1951 and 1952, gathered
for “Bill Stafford’s 70th.”
|
January 17, 1984 |
134 | WS to KJ
Caricatures of Nietzsche and Schopenhauer tagged (by an
unknown hand) “B. in his 50’s” and “B. in his 80’s” respectively, with note “We
named a cat after you, he’s solidly black and he’s called Willy or Uncle
Willy.” On verso, note by KJ: “Bills only remark—I guess it says I need a
haircut.”
|
Jan 18, 1984 |
135 | WS to KJ note on lined
paper
Penciled note on lined paper torn from notebook, DS and WS
having dropped by to see K and J.
|
February 27, 1984 |
136 | WS to KJ One-page tls
Enclosing WS typed poem “Deserters,” written 4/23/84.
|
April 26, 1984 |
137 | WS to KJ One-page tls
|
May 23, 1984 |
138 | WS to KJ One-page tls
From Portland, enclosing a two-page copy of the translation
from Yoshihara, “From the Afterworld,” made in Japan 8/29/84 (tj8.5v).
|
December 18, 1984 |
139 | WS to KJ Christmas card
With unpublished poem “Traction Devices Required.”
|
December 19, 1984 |
140 | WS to KJ Envelope
(Governor Vic Atiyeh stationery) mailed to Johnsons. Johnson
annotation “Bill S Jan 85”. Contained letter of January 3, 1985 typed on back
of Columbia Basin College flier.
|
January 4, 1985 |
141 | WS to KJ One-page tls
From Portland , accompanying typescript of poem “That Day,”
completed 6/4/85.
|
June 22, 1985 |
142 | WS to KJ Typescript with WS
note
Poem “Saint Matthew and All,” written 10/16/83.
|
July 28, 1985 |
143 | WS to KJ Postcard
Postcard (of a giant jackrabbit being saddled up by a cowboy)
sent by Dorothy from Rock Springs, WY, on the cross-country drive to Florida
for the Verbal Events workshop (see following item).
|
October 28, 1985 |
144 | WS to KJ Two-sided tls
From Dorothy from Florida (Verbal Events workshop). With
manuscript postscript from WS.
|
November 12, 1985 |
145 | WS to KJ Envelope with excerpts
and letter.
Envelope with excerpts from Bernanos, Diary of a Country
Priest, and a letter of the same date with quotes from Wittgenstein.
|
August 8, 1986 |
146 | WS to KJ One-page tls
|
September 11, 1986 |
147 | WS to KJ One-page tls
Originally enclosing a quote from Goethe’s Dichtung und
Warheit, no longer present.
|
October 1, 1986 |
148 | WS to KJ program
Copy of program for “The Animal That Drank Up Sound,”
presented at the Capitol, Salem, Oregon.
|
February 6, 1987 |
149 | WS to KJ Large (double-size)
sheet with WS tls and poem
Large (double-size) sheet with WS tls and WS typed poem of the
same day, “In Any Country.”
|
May 1, 1987 |
150 | WS to KJ One-page tls
With typed poem “Conviction,” written 6/12/87.
|
October 6, 1987 |
151 | WS to Dan [Labby] One-page tls
|
November 10, 1987 |
152 | WS to KJ Typescript
Typescript of poem “Trying to Tell It,” written 12/29/87,
enclosed in envelope postmarked 1/11/88, found inside Jean’s copy of An Oregon
Message.
|
12/29/87 |
153 | WS to KJ Christmas card
Christmas card of December 19, 1988, mourning Bret, who died
November 7.
|
December 19, 1988 |
154 | WS to KJ Christmas card
Christmas card December 19, 1989, with parody of a popular
song.
|
December 19, 1989 |
155 | WS to KJ Empty envelope
Empty envelope from Portland March 5, 1990, with letter of the
same day quoting WS poem “Kenny’s Office,” also sent on an earlier occasion
(probably around the time of its composition on 10/24/73) as item 85. Both
these typescripts have the same text, the first in two stanzas, the second in
three, the later copy bearing WS’s marginal comment “(not perfect yet)”. Other
annotations indicate other items once housed in this envelope: “Kenny’s Pain”
(see item 128) and “An Informal Will” (see item 58).
|
March 5, 1990 |
156 | WS to KJ One-page
typescript
One-page typescript of poem “My NEA Poem,” (7/28/90); Johnson
annotation “8-10-90”
|
7/28/90 |
157 | WS to KJ Envelope containing
letter
Envelope dated September 19, 1990 from WS at Sunningdale
containing letter of previous date, with thanks for Johnson presence at dinner.
Note by KJ on envelope recording its other enclosures: Vaclav Havel’s
self-effacing speech on Kafka printed in NY Review of Books, and an Economist
article on Portland as urban success.
|
September 19, 1990 |
158 | WS to KJ Card
Card (of Pump Room, Bath) from Dorothy in England, October 22
[1990].
|
October 22 [1990] |
159 | WS to KJ Envelope enclosing
one-page tls
Envelope to KJ & JJ from Sunningdale November 26, 1990,
with Johnson notation “A Dream.” Enclosing one-page tls of November 25, 1990
with a dream about KJ.
|
November 26, 1990 |
160 | WS to KJ Christmas card
Christmas card December 16, 1991, with parody photo of
“American Gothic” and copy of poem “Starting with Little Things,” written
9/20/73.
|
December 16, 1991 |
161 | WS to KJ Manilla envelope
from Sunningdale, originally containing ten items now
distributed by date. Kenny Johnson inscription on envelope: “I must return to
the family creek where I fished as a boy and lingered with myself under the
shelter of and cover of sun & shade.” Items gathered in this envelope (and
now distributed to their appropriate positions) were:
a) Two-sided tls from Dorothy in Washington D.C., undated,
but written February 3, 1971, describing Vonnegut’s aborted reading of Monday
February 1st at the Library of Congress. Item 80.
b) Poem-card from Service-berry Press, poem “Atoms” by Anthony
Piccione, sent by him on 11/22/79 to Ken. Item 106.
c) Tear-sheet (back cover) from [Spring 1965] Satire
Newsletter, poem by WS, “A Defense of My Uncle,” written 5/31/63. Note by KJ on
last stanza: “Hovers on the edge of nonsense but manages to keep from going
over.” Item 59.
d) One page tls (signed by WS “Caesar”) from Portland to KJ in
Hospital in Seattle, Fall 1952. Item 36
e) Empty envelope from Portland July 22, 1981. Item 121.
f) Empty envelope from Portland June 2, 1981 with annotation
“Arrivaderci” (sic). Item 116.
g) Envelope from Portland August 1,1981 (repostmarked Eagle
Creek 8/3/81) with annotation “Piccione” but containing WS poem “With Neighbors
One Afternoon,” small undated broadside from hit & run press. Poem written
12/7/78, first published Poetry January 1980. Item 110.
h) Letter of Tony Piccione to WS from Kendall, NY, studying
Chinese, July 23, 1981. Item 122.
i) Letter from Portland June 4, 1981 referring to and
enclosing the poem for President Howard and describing argument with Howard and
wife.. Also responds to KJ’s “May 26 indictment.” Folded with letter, carbon
copy (yellow) of WS letter to Piccione April 9, 1981. Items 117 and 113.
j) Letter from Portland August 1, 1981, originally enclosing
Piccione’s “Chinese” letter from New York, and folded with yellow carbon of WS
letter to Piccione April 29, 1981. Items 122 and 113.
|
Undated |
162 | WS to KJ Envelope
Envelope with Johnson notation “Epitaph Bill Stafford &
Mark Twain,” containing four-line epitaph by Mark Twain in WS’s hand. No
date.
|
Undated |
163 | KJ Two pages (yellow lined
pad)
three sides of KJ commentary, apparently on WS..
|
Undated |
164 | WS to KJ 1 small page
Small undated note to say that WS and DS had stopped by.
Signed “Sister and Brother Hicks.”
|
Undated |
165 | KJ 1 note page
Notations by KJ on Equitable Savings paper, beginning “All I
want is a garden—Bill.”
|
Undated |
166 | KJ 1 note page
Undated note by KJ on Portland Teachers Credit Union
notepaper: “Bill has decided that he lives in an egocentric world & to
accept it Vanity vs. egocentricity.”
|
Undated |
167 | WS business card
Pleasing keepsake on glossy white stock; business card with a
laurel wreath alongside “WILLIAM STAFFORD Poet Laureate of Oregon,” with
Sunningdale address, and imprint “Printed at The Elliott Press Pacific Lutheran
University.” No date.
|
Undated |
168 | WS to KJ Folly Press
single-sheet chapbook
Mutilated copy of Folly Press single-sheet chapbook,
“Prophets,” number 110.
|
Undated |
169 | WS to KJ Three-pages
Three-page typed poem by Earle A. Taylor
|
Undated |
170 | Newspaper Clippings Twenty-six newspaper
cuttings
Newspaper cuttings and other Stafford memorabilia, collected
under the title "Stafordiana" by the Johnsons, listed as follows, a-z.
a. Article on Anthony Piccione (Brockport, NY) in December 4,
1979 Stylus.
b. Kim’s “A Separate Hearth,” in Oregonian Northwest Magazine
2/17/85.
c. Clamshell Press broadside “Ode to Garlic.”
d. Kim’s poem “Rosemary at Four,” Winter Solstice 1986. Mailed
12/24/86.
e. Kim’s poem “Night Work in June,” Winter Solstice 1984.
Mailed 12/26/84.
f. WS poem “The Arts at the Coast,” in Oregonian Northwest
Magazine 1/20/80.
g. Paul Pintarich on WS, with review of A Scripture of Leaves,
in Oregonian 10/3/89.
h. Paul Pintarich review of An Oregon Message in Oregonian
Northwest Magazine 7/5/87.
i. Publicity flier of “Answerers” for BOA Editons Things That
Happen When There Aren’t Any People.
j. Poster for WS reading at Columbia Basin College, November,
no year.
k. Paul Pintarich on NW Writing Institute and Having
Everything Right, in Oregonian 10/27/86.
l. Kim’s “Should We Pave Our Dead End Road?” in Rain. Jan/Feb
1985.
m. WS poem “Many tomorrows ago . . .” from Oregonian Northwest
Magazine 9/15/85. Reprinted in A Scripture of Leaves.
n. Rick Rubin on WS in Oregonian Northwest 2/6/66.
o. Paul Pintarich on Judson Jerome Contest (WS 1st) from
Poets’ Market, in Oregonian11/9/86.
p. “Father and Son,” by Ellen Emry Hetzel, Oregonian 6/19/83,
Brent Wojahn photographer.
q. Copy of “Notice to All Patrons” (“I have been obliged by
the sheer weight of fatigue . . .”)
r. Remodeling article in Oregonian Foodday 2/9/88.
s. Flier for Wixon/Markee video “What the River Says.”
t. Fout WS poems (“The Secret,” “Why the Sun Comes Up,” “From
the Ink on This Page,” “Selina.”) in Oregonian Northwest Magazine 2/3/91.
u. Paul Pintarich on WS turning over job of Oregon Poet
Laureate, Oregonian 8/16/87.
v. Judy McDermott on WS workshop at Reed, Oregonian 8/10/85.
w. Paul Pintarich on Kim at New Orleans, Oregonian 6/1/86.
x. Poem (rather unsuccessful) by Harry Davidov in memory of
WS, using phrases from Passwords. In Sunday Oregonian 9/20/93.
y. Profile of Craig Lesley and Bill Stafford, “So You Want to
Be a Writer,” by Douglas Freeman, Oregonian 8/13/86.
z. Newspaper clipping, John Gross letter to the editor on
Korea.
|
Date in description |
Series 2: Publications from the Johnson Collection, 1947-1994Return to Top
All items are listed on the Watzek Library online catalog and housed with Special Collections rare books.
Description | Dates |
---|---|
: Glen Coffield,
The Metaphysics of Wrong Numbers
(poems), East Portland Station |
1955 |
: Glen Coffield,
Bay Area Poems, San
Francisco |
1958 |
: Glen Coffield,
Creative Method Essays (prose),
Carthage, Missouri, |
1960 |
: William Stafford,
Down in My Heart, Brethren
Press,
first edition—archives have only second ed. title still with
Kim
|
1947 |
: William Stafford,
West of Your City, Talisman
Press
paper or cloth, title still with Kim
|
1960 |
: William Stafford,
Traveling through the Dark ,
Harper
first or later printing, title still with Kim
|
1962 |
: William Stafford,
Eleven Untitled Poems,
Perishable
title still with Kim
|
1968 |
: William Stafford,
Weather, Perishable
title still with Kim
|
1969 |
: William Stafford,
That Other Alone,
Perishable
title still with Kim
|
1973 |
: William Stafford,
In the Clock of Reason,
Soft
title still with Kim
|
1973 |
: William Stafford,
I Would Like to Mention Aluminum ,
Slow Loris
title still with Kim
|
1976 |
: William Stafford,
Braided Apart,
Confluence
title still with Kim
|
1976 |
: William Stafford,
My Name Is William Tell,
Confluence
paper or cloth, title still with Kim
|
1976 |
: William Stafford,
Someday, Maybe, Harper
cloth, Jean Johnson’s copy (Title shelved behind the books on
the Prose shelf)
|
1973 |
: William Stafford,
An Oregon Message, Harper
paper, Jean Johnson’s copy. (Two small sheets of notes by Kenny
Jonson laid in, and a typescript of “Trying to Tell It,” in an envelope dated
1/11/88, this item merged with the correspondence.)(Title shelved behind the
books on the Prose shelf)
|
1987 |
: William Stafford,
Learning to Live in the World,
Harcourt, Brace,
Jean Johnson’s copy (Title shelved behind the books on the Prose
shelf)
|
1994 |
: William Stafford,
That Other Alone., Perishable
Press
A single-page announcement sheet from Perishable Press from
Labor Day 1973, containing an announcement of That Other Alone. (This item in
broadside case, folder 1H)
|
1973 |
: Kim Stafford,
A Gypsy’s History of the World,
Copper Canyon
Paper
|
1976 |
: Kim Stafford,
Having Everything Right,
Confluence
Cloth
|
1986 |
: Kim Stafford,
Lochsa Road,
Confluence
Paper, signed
|
1991 |
: Vern Rutsala,
The Window , Wesleyan
Paper
|
1964 |
: Vern Rutsala,
Selected Poems , Story
Line
Paper, signed
|
1991 |
: Lawrence Ferlinghetti,
Tentative Description of a Dinner Given to
Promote the Impeachment of President Eisenhower , Golden
Mountain
Paper
|
1954 |
: Lawrence Ferlinghetti,
A Coney Island of the Mind , New
Directions
paper, twelfth printing
|
1958 |
: Tony Piccione,
Anchor Dragging, BOA
paper
|
1977 |
: Anthony Ostroff,
Imperatives, Harcourt,
Brace
Cloth
|
1962 |
: O. K. Bouwsma,, New
Directions
offprint of talk on a fragment of Descartes
|
|
: J. A. Stauffer,
Shore Encounter , Adams
Press
paper
|
1986 |
: Antaeus 18
Poetry Journal
|
Summer, 1975 |
: Carolina Q 25:3
Poetry Journal
|
Fall, 1973 |
: Dialogue 8:1
Poetry Journal
|
1975 |
: The Genesis
Poetry Journal
|
May, 1966 |
: Modern Poetry Studies 6:
1
Poetry Journal
|
Spring, 1975 |
: Northwest Review
Poetry Journal
|
Summer 1959 |
: Northwest Review
Poetry Journal
|
1973 |
: Northwest Review
Poetry Journal
|
Spring 1975 |
: Northwest Review
Poetry Journal
|
1976 |
: Open Letter 9
Poetry Journal
|
Fall, 1974 |
: Paris Review 20
Poetry Journal
|
1959 |
: Parnassus
Poetry Journal
|
Spring/Summer 1974 |
: Philosophy East and
West
Poetry Journal offprint
|
Unknown |
: Poetry Northwest 6: 3
Poetry Journal
|
Autumn, 1965 |
: Sewanee Review 65: 1
Poetry Journal
|
Winter, 1957 |
: Tennessee P J 1: 1
Poetry Journal
|
Fall, 1967 |
: Tennessee P J 1: 1
Poetry Journal
|
1950-1970 |
: Western Humanities Review 27:
2
Poetry Journal
|
Spring, 1973 |
: West Coast Review 1:
1
Poetry Journal
|
Spring, 1966 |
: World Order 9: 3
Poetry Journal
|
Spring, 1975 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Poetry
Personal Names
- Johnson, Kenneth E., 1913-1991--Archives
- Stafford, William, 1914-1993