Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Nelson Bentley Papers, 1915-1990
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Bentley, Nelson
- Title
- Nelson Bentley Papers
- Dates
- 1915-1990 (inclusive)19151990
- Quantity
- 4.9 cubic feet (7 boxes and 1 oversize vertical file)
- Collection Number
- 5475
- Summary
- Papers of poet and former University of Washington Professor of English
- 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
No restrictions on access to paper-based materials. No user access copies exist for the audio and video recordings. Contact Special Collections for terms of access to these materials.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Nelson Bentley (1918-1990) was a poet and Professor of English at the University of Washington from 1952 until his retirement in 1989. He was born in Elm, Michigan, and received his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Michigan. Bentley studied under W. H. Auden, and was a friend and colleague of Theodore Roethke, among other Northwest poets.
Bentley won the University of Washington Distinguished Teaching Award and the Washington Governor's Award for Service to the Arts. He was co-founder of both Poetry Northwest and The Seattle Review literary journals. In addition, he had a poetry column in The Seattle Times Pacific magazine, conducted poetry readings around Seattle, had regular poetry programs on local radio and television, and founded the Castalia Reading Series, which started at the University of Washington in the mid-1970s and continues today. He also published many books of poetry.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Bentley's papers include manuscripts and student writings by Bentley, correspondence, notebooks, publications, audio and video recordings of Bentley lectures and readings (with others), clippings and artifacts.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Arranged into 2 accesstions:
- Accession no. 5475-001, Nelson Bentley papers, 1940-1990
- Accession no. 5475-002, Nelson Bentley papers, 1915-1990
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Accession No. 5475-001: Nelson Bentley papers, 1940-1990Return to Top
Scope and Content: Bentley's papers include manuscripts and student writings by Bentley, notebooks which include writings and course materials, and audio and video recordings of Bentley lectures and readings (with others).
- Writings, 1940-1989
- Course materials, 1970-1989, undated
- Notebooks, 1942-1990
- Recordings, 1960-1990
Acquisition Info: Source: Sean Bentley, son of Nelson Bentley, 2007.
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box | Accession | ||
| 1 | 5475-001 | Writings |
1940-1989 |
| 1 | 5475-001 | Course materials |
1970-1989, undated |
Notebooks |
|||
| Box | Accession | ||
| 1 | 5475-001 | University of Michigan
Scope and Content: Spiral notebooks of class writings, notes, and classroom
rosters from when Bentley was a student.
|
1942-1949 |
| 2-4 | 5475-001 | University of Washington
Scope and Content: Spiral notebooks of class notes, lesson plans, classroom
rosters, and writings from when Bentley was a professor.
|
1952-1989 |
Recordings |
|||
| Box | Accession | ||
| 5 | 5475-001 | Nelson Bentley 1 sound tape reel
|
1960 April 11 |
| 5 | 5475-001 | Conversations on the Craft of Poetry: Cleanth Brooks
and Robert Penn Warren with Robert Frost, John Crowe Ransom, Robert Lowell,
Theodore Roethke 2 sound tape reels
|
1961 |
| 5 | 5475-001 | CBC, Watkins "Yeats in Dublin" 1 sound tape reel
|
1967 March 14 |
| 5 | 5475-001 | Mrs. Vernon Watkins, Nelson and Beth Bentley, and Dale
Nelson reading Vernon Watkins' work 1 sound tape reel
|
1968 |
| 5 | 5475-001 | Highline College 1 sound tape reel
|
1972 October 18 |
| 5 | 5475-001 | Kathie/Jim/Nelson Bentley Bainbridge Island
Reading 1 videocassette (VHS)
|
1987 September |
| 5 | 5475-001 | Nelson Bentley- Art of Teaching lecture at the
University of Washington, Savery Hall 1 sound cassette
|
1989 May 24 |
| 5 | 5475-001 | World's Worst by SB 1 videocassette (VHS)
|
1990 |
| 5 | 5475-001 | Castalia Reading #1831, 17th Annual Poems, Stories,
and Songs for Children 1 videocassette (VHS)
|
undated |
| 5 | 5475-001 | The Ballad of the Mari Lwyd-Vernon Watkins,
BBC 1 sound tape reel
|
undated |
| 5 | 5475-001 | "Untitled" 2 sound tape reels
|
undated |
Accession No. 5475-002: Nelson Bentley papers, 1915-1990Return to Top
Scope and Content: Correspondence, poetry and prose manuscripts, published writings, awards.
Drafts of poems from college and later (handwritten, typed, and photocopied); drafts of poetry manuscripts (including early versions of "Sea Lion Caves"); drafts and finished prose manuscripts (fiction and essays) from college; notebooks with notes for poems and lectures; miscellaneous papers and artifacts, including awards, articles about Bentley, and published writings; and correspondence.
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users
Acquisition Info: Donor: Sean Bentley, son of Nelson Bentley, May 29, 2008.
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- College teachers--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives
- Poets, American--20th century--History--Sources
- Poets--Archives
- University Archives/Faculty Papers (University of Washington)
Personal Names
- Bentley, Nelson--Archives
- Bentley, Nelson--Archives
Corporate Names
- University of Washington--Faculty
Other Creators
-
Corporate Names
- University of Washington. University Archives
