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)
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 Collections

Acquisition 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