William Witherup papers, 1935-2009

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Witherup, William
Title
William Witherup papers
Dates
1935-2009 (bulk)
Quantity
19.83 cubic feet (25 boxes plus 3 OS folders and 1 vertical file)
Collection Number
4321
Summary
Biographical features, correspondence, writings, poems, and other papers of William Witherup, a poet, author, playwright, and activist based in Seattle, Washington.
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
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

William Witherup was a self-described "working-class" Seattle poet, author, playwright, and activist. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 24, 1935, Witherup grew up in Richland, Washington. His father was employed at the Hanford nuclear facility. Witherup lived in the San Francisco Bay area from his late teens until 1989, when he moved to Seattle. He also served in the Air Force as a Russian translator from 1957 to 1959.

Witherup authored several collected volumes of poetry and also served as a contributing editor to the anthology Atomic Ghost: Poets Respond to the Nuclear Age. Much of his work focused on racism, technology, and the Hanford nuclear facility and people who lived nearby.

William Witherup died of leukemia on June 3, 2009.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Biographical features, correspondence, writings, poems, drafts, notebooks, submission records, medical records, subject files, publicity materials, publications, clippings, posters, ephemera, artifacts, artworks, photographs, sound recordings, and video recordings.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Restrictions may exist on copying, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Organized into 11 accessions.

  • Accession No. 4321-001, William Witherup papers, 1935-1991
  • Accession No. 4321-002, William Witherup correspondence and writing, 1973-1980
  • Accession No. 4321-003, William Witherup papers, 1951-1991
  • Accession No. 4321-004, William Witherup papers, circa 1957- circa 1992
  • Accession No. 4321-005, William Witherup papers, 1943-1996
  • Accession No. 4321-006, William Witherup papers, 1977-1996
  • Accession No. 4321-007, William Witherup papers, circa 1957-1997
  • Accession No. 4321-008, William Witherup correspondence, 1994-2001
  • Accession No. 4321-009, William Witherup papers, 1945-2002
  • Accession No. 4321-010, William Witherup papers, 1986-2005
  • Accession No. 4321-011, William Witherup papers, 1960-2009

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Accession No. 4321-001: William Witherup papers, 1935-1991Return to Top

5.59 cubic feet (5 boxes and 1 oversize folder)

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

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

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights retained. Contact repository for details.

Acquisition Info: Received from William Witherup, October 1, 10, and 14, 1991.

Container(s) Description
Box Accession
1 4321-001
Writings
Scope and Content: Some writings are about the Hanford nuclear facility or the general topic of nuclear power.
2 4321-001
Men at Work including draft
3 4321-001
Hanford, Washington; Slant Step
4 4321-001
Hanford, Washington; Slant Step
4 4321-001
Personal Papers of William Witherup/Witherup family
Scope and Content: Includes high school annuals and other items documenting Witherup's early years at Richland and Hanford.
5 4321-001
Personal Papers of William Witherup/Witherup family
Scope and Content: Includes high school annuals and other items documenting Witherup's early years at Richland and Hanford.
6 4321-001
Oversize items from Personal Papers

Accession No. 4321-002: William Witherup correspondence and writing, 1973-1980Return to Top

0.03 cubic foot (1 folder)

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

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

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Acquisition Info: Received from Robert Monroe, October 1, 1980.

Accession No. 4321-003: William Witherup papers, 1951-1991Return to Top

1.51 cubic feet (2 boxes and 1 oversize folder)

Scope and Content: Biographical features, correspondence, submission records, writings, photographs, art works, ephemera, subject series, 1951-1991.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights retained. Contact repository for details.

Acquisition Info: Received from William Witherup, November 5 and 18, 1991 and December 11, 1991.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Accession
1 4321-003
Biographical Features
1985
1 4321-003
Correspondence
1953-1991
1 4321-003
Submission Records
1987-1988
1 4321-003
Writings of William Witherup
1965-1991
1 4321-003
Writings of Others
1972-1991
1 4321-003
Photographs
1963-1987
1 4321-003
Ephemera
1980-1981
1 4321-003
Subject Series
1981-1991
folder:oversize
OS Folder 4321-003
Portraits and Collages of William Witherup
1990
OS Folder 4321-003
Poem
undated
OS Folder 4321-003
Mockup for Nuclear Mailer
1987-1988
Box
1 4321-003
Hanford, Washington
1951-1991
2 4321-003
Hanford, Washington
1951-1991

Accession No. 4321-004: William Witherup papers, circa 1957- circa 1992Return to Top

3 cubic feet (3 boxes)

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

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

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Acquisition Info: Received from William Witherup in several installments, starting on May 8, 1992.

Accession No. 4321-005: William Witherup papers, 1943-1996 (bulk 1993-1996)Return to Top

1 cubic foot (1 box)

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

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

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Acquisition Info: Received from William Witherup, April 19, 1996.

Accession No. 4321-006: William Witherup papers, 1977-1996 (bulk 1987-1996)Return to Top

0.84 cubic foot (2 boxes)

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

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Acquisition Info: Received from William Witherup, October 1, 1996.

Accession No. 4321-007: William Witherup papers, circa 1957-1997Return to Top

3 cubic feet (3 boxes)

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

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Acquisition Info: Received from William Witherup, July 12, 2001.

Accession No. 4321-008: William Witherup correspondence, 1994-2001Return to Top

0.21 cubic foot (1 box)

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

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Acquisition Info: Received from John Bradley, June 26, 2001.

Accession No. 4321-009: William Witherup papers, 1945-2002Return to Top

1.05 cubic feet ( 3 boxes; Sound cassettes: 5; Video cassettes: 2 VHS)

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

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights retained. Contact repository for details.

Acquisition Info: Received from William Witherup, June 6, 1997; August 1, 1998; April 20, 2001; and January 16 and November 8, 2002.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Accession
1 4321-009
Letters
1945-2001
1 4321-009
Publicity, Photocopied Photos, Newsletters
1953-2002
1 4321-009
W. W. Published Writings and Books
1973-2000
1 4321-009
Sound and Video Recordings
1980-2001
2 4321-009
Columbia High School Writings - Richland, WA
1953
2 4321-009
William Witherup photographs
approximately 1938
2 4321-009
Yearbook class, Columbia High School photographs
1952-1953
2 4321-009
Bill Witherup photographs
2002
2 4321-009
Mask Collage (Stevens Elementary) photographs
2001-2002
2 4321-009
Photocopies of W. W. - Joseph Bruchac letters
1970-2001
2 4321-009
Photocopies of W. W. - James Still letters
1976-1996
2 4321-009
Newspaper Clippings
1956-1957
2 4321-009
Nita Rosemond All Family Tree
2 4321-009
Newsletter and Reading Flyer (New Mexico Highlands University)
2002
2 4321-009
Yearbook class, Columbia High School photographs
1954
3 4321-009
Broadside Poem - Draft for "The Grape of Wrath"
1984
3 4321-009
Broadside Poem - "Son of the Hunter," signed
1995
3 4321-009
Poster (Reading at Anacortes with Suzanne Paola)
2001
3 4321-009
Mask (Self Portrait by James McGrath, Santa Fe, MN)
1969

Accession No. 4321-010: William Witherup papers, 1986-2005Return to Top

0.63 cubic foot (2 boxes)
Arrangement: The materials in this accession was maintained in their original order, as supplied by the donor.

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

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

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Acquisition Info: Received from William Witherup, August 11, September 23 and 29, and October 14, 2005.

Container(s) Description Dates
Correspondence
Incoming Letters
Box Accession
1 4321-010
Letters from Bill Hotchkiss
1999-2002
1 4321-010
Letters from James B. Hall
2 folders
1987-2005
Outgoing Letters
Box Accession
1 4321-010
Letters to James B. Hall
4 folders
1986-2005
2 4321-010
Letter to Bill Hotchkiss
2002
2 4321-010
Letter to North American Review
1986
2 4321-010
Letters to Editors re: James B. Hall pieces
1989-2000
2 4321-010
Letters to Karyl Winn
2001
Writings
Box Accession
2 4321-010
"Fallout" Essay in Political Affairs
2005 July
2 4321-010
"Dream of a Nuclear Nightmare" Essay
2005 July 14
2 4321-010
Review of James B. Hall's " The Extreme Stories, +3" in Northwest Review
2002
Publicity Materials
Box Accession
2 4321-010
Poster for James B. Hall Reading at Michael Good Fine Books
circa mid 1980's
2 4321-010
Clipping re: James B. Hall and William Witherup reading at Seattle University
1992
Video Recording
Box Accession
2 4321-010
DVD of William Witherup's Slant Step Chant
circa 2005

Accession No. 4321-011: William Witherup papers, 1960-2009Return to Top

2.97 cubic feet (4 boxes)

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

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Restrictions may exist on copying, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.

Acquisition Info: William Witherup, 2006-04-03

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Accession
1 4321-011
Correspondence with James McGrath
1979-2005
1 4321-011
Correspondence relating to James McGrath
1973-2000
1 4321-011
Speaking with Magpies manuscript by James McGrath
2003
1 4321-011
James McGrath research materials and notes
1995-2006
1 4321-011
Correspondence from Don Foran
1991-1992
1 4321-011
Correspondence from and dissertation by Ken MacLean
1984-1989
1 4321-011
Correspondence to John Bradley
1996-2009
1 4321-011
Correspondence with Joel Weishaus
1977-1999
2 4321-011
Correspondence with Robert Schuler
1977-2005
2 4321-011
Miscellaneous
1970, 1993, 1999, undated
2 4321-011
Miscellaneous publications
1981, 1999-2002
2 4321-011
Literary journals, magazines, and other publications
1960s-2000s

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Antinuclear movement--Poetry
  • Nuclear energy--Poetry
  • Nuclear warfare--Social aspects--Poetry
  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
  • Protest poetry, American

Personal Names

  • Witherup, William--Archives
  • Witherup, William--Interviews
  • Witherup, William--Photographs
  • Witherup, William. Atomic ghosts
  • Witherup, William. Learning to glow

Titles within the Collection

  • Atomic ghost : poets respond to the nuclear age
  • Learning to glow : a nuclear reader

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Witherup, Rose (interviewee)