Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives
May Swenson photograph collection
UUS_P0437
1 box
.25 linear feet
1938-1991
Collection contains 74 items, including photographs and a few pieces of writing from or about May Swenson. Photos include images of May Swenson, places she lived or visited, and her friends and family.
Material in English
Processed in January of 2014
Donated by members of Paul Crumbley from members of the Swenson family
No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from the The May Swenson photograph collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Photograph Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.
Initial Citation: USU_P0437; The May Swenson Photographs Collection; Photograph Collections Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.
Following Citations:USU_P0437, USUSCA.
May Swenson was born on May 28, 1913, in Logan, Utah, the daughter of Swedish immigrants. (Her father, Dan Swenson, was a professor of mechanical engineering at Utah State University.) Following her graduation from USU in 1934 she took a job as a reporter for the Deseret News. A year later she moved to New York City where she worked in a variety of jobs, including as a stenographer, until she became the editor for New Directions Press in 1959. In 1966 Swenson quit working as an editor in order to devote herself full time to writing. For the remainder of her life she lived in Sea Cliff, New York. She died on December 4, 1989, and was buried in Logan.
Swenson's trademark was her use of complex wordplay in her poems, which frequently took the form of riddles or unusual arrangements of the words on the page. These "iconographs" often were arranged to resemble the shape of the poem's subject. Frequently classified as a nature poet, Swenson received much praise for her descriptions of natural phenomena and her sensory tone. Her chief themes were animal and human behavior, sexuality, death, and the nature of art and perception. Swenson's poetry has often been compared to the writings of Elizabeth Bishop, E. E. Cummings, and Gertrude Stein. Over the course of her career, Swenson published seven volumes of poetry (see list below). In addition to her poetry, Swenson also wrote three books of poems for children, a play, three short stories, and a book of translated poems by the Swedish author Tomas Tranströmer. Several additional volumes of Swenson poetry have been published posthumously.
May Swenson received a wide variety of recognitions and honors during her career, including serving as poet-in-residence at several universities in the United States and Canada during the late 1960s and early 1970s. She was the recipient of Guggenheim, Ford, Rockefeller, and MacArthur fellowships and a National Endowment for the Arts grant. In 1972 she received a medal from the International Poetry Forum for her translation of Tranströmer. Swenson also received the Shelley Memorial Award from the Poetry Society of America, the Bollingen Prize from Yale University, and an Award in Literature from the National Institute of Arts and Letters. She was also elected a member of the latter organization, as well as the Academy of American Poets of which she later served as chancellor. In 1967 she received a Distinguished Service Gold Medal from Utah State University, and in 1987 an honorary doctor of letters.
Books of Poetry: • Another Animal (1954) • A Cage of Spines (1958) • To Mix with Time (1963) • Half Sun Half Sleep (1967) • Iconographs (1970) • New and Selected Things Taking Place (1978) • In Other Words (1987)
The May Swenson photograph collection consists of 74 images relating to May Swenson. Photos include images of May Swenson, places she lived or visited, and her friends and family. The items were not initially organized in any identifiable way, and so have been reordered into the following categories: professional photos of May and others, negatives and reel photos, candid photos of May and others, locations (mostly at or around May's home in Sea Cliffs), friends and family, and writings. Most of the photographs are original, but a few items are copies (these have been indicated in the item description). Most items are not dated, or dated generically (i.e. by decade). All images are black and white unless otherwise indicated.
USU Special Collections also holds a number of other items from or about May Swenson, both manuscript and photograph. The manuscript collections include: • The May Swenson Papers (MSS 282) • The May Swenson Addendum (MSS 485) • The Kenneth W. Brewer Papers (MSS 275, boxes 41, 69, 75, 92, and 95) • The Gary Smith Papers (MSS 132, box 15) • The Veneta Nielson Papers (MSS 315, box 4) • The Stanford O. Cazier Papers (MSS 3.1/12-2, box 100) • The Paul Swenson Papers (MSS 476, Boxes 3 and 4) Other photograph collections include: • The Gary Smith Photographs (P0106, items 2-03-01 through 2-03-380 and 15-10-01 through 15-10-13) • The Herald Journal Newspaper Photographs (P0001, box 58) • The Outlook Magazine Photographs (P0320, boxes 11 and 13) • The Kenneth Brewer Photographs (P0381, box 1) • The A-Board Historical Photographs (Aboard1, Drawer 19)
The May Swenson Photographs Collection has been arranged thematically. Folder 1 included posed images of May and her friends or family. Folder 2 included candid photos of May and others. Folder 3 includes images of locations. Folder 4 includes images of family and friends of May. Folder 5 includes negatives.
USU Special Collections also holds a number of other items from or about May Swenson, both manuscript and photograph. The manuscript collections include: • The May Swenson Papers (MSS 282) • The May Swenson Addendum (MSS 485) • The Kenneth W. Brewer Papers (MSS 275, boxes 41, 69, 75, 92, and 95) • The Gary Smith Papers (MSS 132, box 15) • The Veneta Nielson Papers (MSS 315, box 4) • The Stanford O. Cazier Papers (MSS 3.1/12-2, box 100) • The Paul Swenson Papers (MSS 476, Boxes 3 and 4) Other photograph collections include: • The Gary Smith Photographs (P0106, items 2-03-01 through 2-03-380 and 15-10-01 through 15-10-13) • The Herald Journal Newspaper Photographs (P0001, box 58) • The Outlook Magazine Photographs (P0320, boxes 11 and 13) • The Kenneth Brewer Photographs (P0381, box 1) • The A-Board Historical Photographs (Aboard1, Drawer 19)
Poets, American--Utah--Photographs.
Authors, American--Utah--Photographs.
Literature
Photographs
Posed and professional images of May, family, and friends
1938-1991
1
May with cat, series
1-001
1970-1979
1
1
May, head only, 8x10 Glossy
1-002
1970-1979
1
1
May, smoking, 8x10 Glossy
1-003
1970-1979
1
1
May, head only, 8x10 Glossy
1-004
1970-1979
1
1
May, at beach, 8x10 Glossy
1-005
1960-1969
1
1
May, head only, 8x10 Satin
1-006
1970-1979
1
1
May, head only, 8x10 Glossy
1-007
1970-1979
1
1
May, on balcony, 6x9 paper, by Thomas Victor
1-008
1970-1979
1
1
May, head only (from balcony photo), promotional, for "New and Selected Things"
1-009
1979 March
1
1
May, head only, 6x9 Paper, by Layle Silbert (3 dates: copyright 1979, Billinger Prize 1981, Jun/Feb 1988)
1-010
1979
1
1
May, seated at park, flyer clipping (copy), for "Poets at the Park", NYC
1-011
1979 May 21
1
1
May, seated by tree, clipping (copy)
1-012
1960-1969
1
1
George Swenson, torso, 8x10 Sepia
1-013
1940-1949
1
1
Swenson Family Photo, all seated, 5x7 Glossy
1-014
1940
1
1
Anne Margaret Swenson (mother), seated, 8x10 paper on board
1-015
1938-1991
1
1
Dan Swenson (father), seated, 8x10 paper on board
1-016
1938-1991
1
1
Candid images of May and others
1938-1991
1
May with friends (unidentified), Virgin Islands, 3x3 Glossy, color
2-017
1966 March
1
2
May and Pearl camping, Montana, 3x4 Glossy
2-018
1960-1969
1
2
May and Zan (Rozanne Knudson), eating ice cream, New Zealand, 3x4 Glossy, color
2-019
1987 January
1
2
May, Ann (Guialconi?), Ruth Jacobson, by fence, 3x4 Glossy
2-020
1960-1969
1
2
May, camping, Wildwood (LI?), 3x4 Glossy
2-021
1960-1969
1
2
May, Zan or Miken (?), on beach, 2x3 Glossy, color
2-022
1968
1
2
May, at Sue Bigelow's house, 3x3 Satin, color
2-023
1970-1979
1
2
May, eating, at MacDowell(?), John LaMontaine, composer, 5x7 Glossy
2-024
1960-1969
1
2
May, seated, outdoors, 2x4 Glossy
2-025
1930-1949
1
2
May, standing near water, 2x4 Glossy
2-026
1930-1939
1
2
May, at Vesuvius from the Amalfi Drive, 12.5 km from Sorrento, 3x3 Glossy, color
2-027
1960 September 9
1
2
May, on beach (probably Coney Island, 2x4 Glossy
2-028
1940-1949
1
2
May, in water at beach, 2x4 Glossy
2-029
1940-1949
1
2
May, standing at beach, 2x4 Glossy
2-030
1940-1949
1
2
May, standing in South California Desert, 3x5 Satin, color
2-031
1973 February
1
2
May, standing on Terrace at 73 Blvd. (Sea Cliffs), 4x6 Satin, color
2-032
1970-1979
1
2
May, standing in Sante Fe, NM, 3x3 Satin, color
2-033
1973
1
2
May, standing in UCLA Garden, 4x6 Glossy
2-034
1978
1
2
May, standing near photo, location unknown, 4x5 Glossy
2-035
1965 February
1
2
Unknown person (maybe "Zan" or Miken?) seated at May's grave marker, 8x12 Glossy, color
2-036
1980-1989
1
2
Addendum to candid photos
1938-1991
1
May and a cousin (?), 2x2.5 paper
2a-001
1922
1
2a
May at the beach, 2x3 Glossy
2a-002
1930-1939
1
2a
May at Riverside, CA, 2x3 Glossy
2a-003
February 1973
1
2a
May and Pearl with unknown English professor at Tucson University
2a-004
1970-1979
1
2a
May in apartment on Grant Street in Lafayette, IN
2a-005
1970-1979
1
2a
May in apartment on Grant Street in Lafayette, IN
2a-006
1970-1979
1
2a
Locations
1938-1991
1
May's house at 73 The Boulevard, balcony from below, 2x3 Glossy, color
3-037
1970-1979
1
3
View from May's house at 73 The Boulevard, from balcony overlooking the bay, 3x5 Satin
3-038
1970-1979
1
3
May's house at 73 The Boulevard, from below looking at balcony, May waving from foreground, 3x3 Glossy, color
3-039
1969
1
3
Terrace at 73 The Boulevard, taken by Margaret, 5x7 Glossy, color
3-040
1970-1979
1
3
View from May's desk at 13 Addy Road, Bethany, DE, Scene of "Angels at Unsubdued," 4x6 Glossy, color
3-041
1970-1979
1
3
Windoe at Sea Cliffs book shop, displaying May's book "In Other Words," 3x5 Glossy
3-042
1970-1979
1
3
Window at Sea Cliffs book shop, display of May's work and news clippings, 3x5 Glossy, color
3-043
1970-1979
1
3
May's grave marker, front, 4x6 Glossy, color
3-044
1990
1
3
May's grave marker, back, 4x6 Glossy, color
3-045
1990
1
3
1--May's terrace at 73 The Boulevard, 2--indoor home library, person and location unknown (likely 73 The Boulevard), photocopies on 8.5x11
3-046
1970-1979
1
3
1--indoor sitting room w/ library, location unknown, 2--woman seated at desk, looking over bay (not May) location and person unknown (likely 73 The Boulevard)
3-047
1970-1979
1
3
Family and friends of May
1938-1991
1
Mr. (Roy) Swenson, Grace, Grace's husband, and Mrs. Swenson (May?) in California, 3x4 glossy
4-048
1960-1969
1
4
Margaret Swenson, as child, 3x6 Glossy
4-049
1938-1991
1
4
Persons unknown (Roy and Mrs. Swenson?) from flyer clipping, list of missionaries on reverse, 4x4 paper
4-050
1938-1991
1
4
George Swenson in New York, photograph by May, 2x5 Glossy
4-051
1938
1
4
George Swenson in Washington Park New York, photograph by May, visiting her on way to mission in Sweden, 2x4 Glossy
4-052
1938
1
4
George "Swede" Swenson, dressed as soldier in kilt, 3x5 Satin
4-053
1944 September
1
4
Anca, 2x4 Glossy
4-054
1938-1991
1
4
Anca, 2x4 Glossy
4-055
1938-1991
1
4
Anca, 2x4 Glossy
4-056
1938-1991
1
4
Anca, 2x4 Glossy
4-057
1938-1991
1
4
Anca, 2x4 Glossy
4-058
1938-1991
1
4
Anca, 2x4 Glossy
4-059
1938-1991
1
4
Anca, 2x4 Glossy
4-060
1938-1991
1
4
Unknown person with dog, on USU campus, 2x4 Glossy
4-061
1933
1
4
Woman with baby (unknown), USU Old Main Tower in background, 3x4 paper
4-062
1938-1991
1
4
Rick (Ruth's son), in coveralls, maybe 18 months old, 3x4 glossy
4-063
1945
1
4
Reisa (center) and Arnold, Zan's editor and friend, taken at event in New York City, 3x5 Glossy, color
4-064
1991
1
4
May Swenson Memorial Readers (list of names on back), Dorothy Alexander, photographer, 5x7 Glossy
4-065
1990-1991
1
4
Addendum to family and friends of May
1938-1991
1
May's mother, Ruth, 2x2.5 Glossy
4a-001
1930-1939
1
4a
May's mother, Ruth, after Paul's birth, 2x3 Glossy
4a-002
1930-1939
1
4a
May's father, Dan, with child, 3x4 Glossy
4a-003
1930-1939
1
4a
May and Pearl with unknown English professor at Tucson University
4a-004
1970-1979
1
4a
May's father, Dan, 3x4 Glossy
4a-005
1950-1959
1
4a
"Trail Builders," children, unknown, 2x2.5 Glossy
4a-006
1930-1939
1
4a
Negatives
1938-1991
1
Negative, May at desk
5-066
1938-1991
1
5
(36) negatives, May seated, at home, in the woods, all posed
5-067
1938-1991
1
5
Series of developed negatives (all appx. 1x1), May seated, at home, in woods, all posed
5-068
1938-1991
1
5