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Michael William Corr collection, 1957-2008

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Corr, Michael William
Title
Michael William Corr collection
Dates
1957-2008 (inclusive)
1960s-1980s (bulk)
Quantity
37.7 cubic feet (29 boxes)
Collection Number
5733 (Accession No. 5733-001)
Summary
Collection of papers, publications, woodcuts and art supplies
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.

Request at UW

Languages
English
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Biographical Note

Michael William Corr, born 1940, is a poet and print maker, published in a variety of media. Corr was born in Seattle to socialist activists William and Cecilia Corr, and learned from his mother’s artistic talents as well as his parents' activism. Corr moved to Kyoto, Japan from 1967 to 1969, during which time he taught at Kyoto University and studied block printing with Takeji Asano, noted Kyoto block printer and illustrator. In 1969 Corr moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where he met poet Michael Castro, with whom he remained a life-long friend and artistic collaborator. From 1973 to 1977 Corr returned to Japan for a period of great artistic production, as shown by the poetry and woodcuts published in poetry journals, as well as published poetry, art collections, and book cover art. From 1977 to 1989 Corr lived in Seattle, earning two academic degrees and producing essays, travelogues, and poetry, and selling prints. In 1989 Corr returned to Japan, where he teaches at Nagoya University in Nagoya, Japan, and continues to write poetry with a focus on haiku, and essays.

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Content Description

The collection documents Michael Corr's poetry, wood cuts, and accompanying prints, as well as art supplies, sketch books, and inspirational materials. Personal correspondence, copies of books and journals containing his work, and his Master's and PhD theses are also included. The collection contains 85 woodcuts and copies of his three publications:Brooming to Paradise,To Leave the Standing Grain, andCape Alava.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

The creators' literary rights have been transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

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Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

Donor: John F. Corr, October 1, 2012.

Processing Note

Processed by Alex Rihm; processing completed in 2012.

7 books were relocated to the Book Arts collection.

Related Materials

The papers of Michael William Corr's parents, William and Cecilia Corr, are also held by Special Collections. These papers are described and indexed in the guide to the William and Cecilia Corr Papers .

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Detailed Description of the Collection

 

  • Personal papers

    • Description: Correspondence, including letters to parents
      Dates: 1960-early 1980s
      Container: Box 1
    • Description: Legal paperwork, including marriage to and immigration status of Kinuyu Matsuda
      Dates: 1960-early 1980s
      Container: Box 1
    • Description: Papers and journals
      Dates: 1960-early 1980s
      Container: Box 1
    • Description: Block print making supplies, including brushes and mortars and pestles
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 2
    • Description: Personal notebooks, including journals from 1970-1973 and "Ledger of Wins" (1968-1972)
      Dates: 1968-1973
      Container: Box 3
    • Description: Poetry drafts
      Dates: 1970s-1980s
      Container: Box 3
    • Description: Ripple anthology, (5 copies)- Featuring poetry, cover, seals, and woodcuts by Michael Corr
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 3
    • Description: Photos and negatives of artwork
      Dates: 1970s-1980s
      Container: Box 3
    • Description: Brown Leather book- Dreams III, June 1968-April 1971
      Dates: 1968-1971
      Container: Box 4
    • Description: Personal photos
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 4
    • Description: Sketchbooks
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 4
    • Description: Michael Corr’s poetry collectionBrooming to Paradise- 5 copies. Front and back cover feature Corr's woodblock prints. Published by Workingmans Press, Berkeley, CA.
      Dates: 1976
      Container: Box 4
    • Description: Notebooks related to personal radio station
      Dates: 1957
      Container: Box 4
    • Description: Negatives
      Dates: Fall 1972
      Container: Box 4
    • Description: Personal Correspondence: Letters from parents Bill and Cecilia, brothers, son Anders, and friends/artistic collaborators Michael and Jan Castro.
      Dates: 1957-1970s
      Container: Box 4
    • Description: Six woodcuts
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 5
    • Description: Ten woodcuts
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 6
    • Description: Newspapers featuring Michael Corr poetry, prints, and the occasional letter to the editor.
      Dates: 1968-1975
      Container: Box 7
    • Description: River Styxissue 1, featuring Michael Corr poetry, cover art, and glyphs.
      Dates: Spring 1975
      Container: Box 7
    • Description: Moving Through the Desert and Other Poemsby John Levy, art by Michael Corr. Printed in a run of 150 copies, Kyoto, Japan.
      Dates: March 1975
      Container: Box 7
    • Description: 2 copies ofTransPacificissue 2, featuring ‘center fold’ print by Michael Corr (not listed in table of contents)
      Dates: Fall 1969
      Container: Box 7
    • Description: Sixpackissue 7/8, featuring poems and print (see spine break) by Michael Corr
      Dates: Spring/Summer 1974
      Container: Box 7
    • Description: Alcheringa ethnopoeticsvolume 1, issue 1, featuring print by Michael Corr inside back cover
      Dates: 1975
      Container: Box 7
    • Description: Large manila envelope labeled “Mike’s Poetry”
      Dates: 1968-1976
      Container: Box 7
    • Description: Iron Without Measureprose issue (November 1976), featuring prose by Michael Corr
      Dates: November 1976
      Container: Box 7
    • Description: Mixed personal and professional papers
      Dates: 1968-1976
      Container: Box 7
    • Description: Letters
      Dates: 1968-1976
      Container: Box 7
    • Description: Curriculum vitae
      Dates: 1968-1976
      Container: Box 7
    • Description: Autobigraphy
      Dates: 1968-1976
      Container: Box 7
    • Description: 2 issuesEnvironmentmagazine featuring Michael Corr professional writing
      Dates: 1968-1976
      Container: Box 7
    • Description: Various poetry books and journals
      Dates: 1968-1976
      Container: Box 7
    • Description: Poetry drafts labeled “Save for perusal of literary executor”
      Dates: 1970s-1980s
      Container: Box 8
    • Description: Copy of PhD thesis on the phyto-geography of Kyoto's Lake Biwa
      Dates: 1985
      Container: Box 8
    • Description: River Styxissue 8 with Michael Corr cover art
      Dates: 1970s
      Container: Box 8
    • Description: River Styxissues 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, no Michael Corr poetry or art
      Dates: 1970s
      Container: Box 8
    • Description: Seeds of Changevolume 3, issues 1 and 2 with Michael Corr art
      Dates: 1970s-1980s
      Container: Box 8
    • Description: Seeds of Changevolume 2, issues 1 and 3, no Michael Corr poetry or art
      Dates: 1970s-1980s
      Container: Box 8
    • Description: Various poetry and prose journals and broadsides
      Dates: 1970s-1980s
      Container: Box 8
    • Description: Shin Tarng New China Quarterlyissue 1 with Michael Corr cover art
      Dates: September 1982
      Container: Box 8
    • Description: Dust jacket and cover boards for book by Michael Castro with Michael Corr cover art
      Dates: 1970s-1980s
      Container: Box 8
    • Description: 4 bookmark sized pen and ink drawings.
      Dates: 1970s-1980s
      Container: Box 8
    • Description: Copy ofCape Alavaby M. Corr, in Brooding Heron Press and Bindery envelope
      Dates: 1987
      Container: Box 9
    • Description: Mixed poetry and prose, no Michael Corr, but there is one work by John Corr
      Dates: 1980s
      Container: Box 9
    • Description: 2 other Brooding Heron envelopes featuring books by other poets
      Dates: 1980s
      Container: Box 9
    • Description: Sketch books
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 9
    • Description: 2 copiesCape Alavaby Michael Corr, White Pine Press. A book of poems, prose, and illustrations.
      Dates: 1981
      Container: Box 10
    • Description: To Leave the Standing Grainby Michael Corr, Copper Canyon Press. 1 hardback copy, one paperback copy. Book of poems and woodcuts.
      Dates: 1977
      Container: Box 10
    • Description: Rippleanthology, one copy.
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 10
    • Description: Brooming to Paradise2 copies.
      Dates: 1976
      Container: Box 10
    • Description: Untitled book of poetry, featuring cover and poems by M. Corr.
      Container: Box 10
    • Description: River Styxissue 2, featuring art and poetry by M. Corr
      Dates: Winter 1977
      Container: Box 10
    • Description: Greenjournal: “Stamping Meditation” by M. Corr dedicated to brother John
      Dates: 1970
      Container: Box 10
    • Description: Box of letters M. Corr sent to brother John
      Dates: 2000s
      Container: Box 10
    • Prints that have woodcuts

      • Description: One black and white abstract print, three copies of blue abstract print
        Container: Box folder:oversize 11/1
      • Description: Early Prints: "Bull Elk", 1963- 4 completed prints, 3 background prints and "Whale Pod with Flying Birds", 1964
        Dates: 1963-1964
        Container: Box folder:oversize 11/2
      • Description: Untitled (celestial shapes), 1967. Prints 3-6, 8, 10, 11 of 12. 1/12 in PNW curator office
        Dates: 1967
        Container: Box folder:oversize 11/3
      • Description: "St Elmo's Fire", 1967, prints 2-9 of 9.
        Dates: 1967
        Container: Box folder:oversize 11/4
      • Description: "Eclipse of the Crimson Dipper", 1967- 3 complete prints, 6 incomplete prints.
        Dates: 1967
        Container: Box folder:oversize 11/5
      • Description: "Tentacles", 1968- one print
        Dates: 1968
        Container: Box folder:oversize 11/6
      • Description: Birds + Beasts prints: Snake, n.d., 2 prints; vulture print, n.d., and vulture drawing; Wall of China with Bird, n.d., 2 uncompleted prints, 1 drawing; Crow, 1967, 2 completed prints; "Point of Arches" (crow/raven)- 1967, 2 complted prints, 1 drawing; "Great Algonkian Bird", 1973- 1 completed print; Black and Brown Bears, 1967- 3 completed prints, 1 drawing; "Wasego" (fish), 1970- one completed print.
        Dates: 1967-1973
        Container: Box folder:oversize 11/7
      • Description: Portraits + Figures prints: Stokely Carmichael, n.d., 3 completed prints, 2 drawings, 1 ink transfer backing; Carlos Bulosan, 1967, 2 completed prints- 2 and 6 of 7, different inking; Limoger Bouddhiste…, 1967- 3 completed straight prints different inking and paper; Stench of Vietnam, 1967- 2 completed prints, different inking; Bodhisattva at Daitoku-ji Zen temple, 1968- 1 completed print; Geometric woman, 1967- 2 completed prints (different position and inking), 1 drawing, 3 uncompleted prints; Untitled nude woman, 1967- 3, 5, and 7-9 of 10; Translating Wang Wei (or Greek Dress)- 9 completed prints, 1 drawing; Woman with turtle, 1975, 1 print; Yin Dynasty bear (on other side of block)- 1 print; Solar Boat with Otter Markings, 1975, 2 completed prints (People on shore and boat?).
        Dates: 1967-1975
        Container: Box folder:oversize 11/8
      • Description: Misc. prints that have blocks: Sunflower, n.d., 1 completed print; Tang Dynasty Lion, 1967, 1 completed print, 1 drawing; From a Ming Tomb (camel), 1967, 1 completed print, 2 drawings (2 views); Stoneware, 1979- one completed print; Vertical symbology, #7 of 30, 1968. Text based pieces: All Men Are Brothers, 1967- 2 completed prints, 1 drawing; If you have time to read a book, 1971, 1 print (inscribed to Bill + Cecilia- Mom + Dad); I love making brown rice, 1972- one completed print; Anasazi, 1973- 1 completed print, one proof; Alaska Cedar, 1973, one print. Originally commissioned by Sandra Kroupa for the book arts collection.
        Dates: 1967-1973
        Container: Box folder:oversize 11/9
    • Description: Twenty-one wood cuts, various sizes.
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 12
    • Prints without corresponding wood cuts

      Container: Box/Folder 13

      • Description: Stamp prints: Hindu, Olmec, Hebrew, and Taoist symbols, n.d.; Field of many colored eyes, n.d.; Yashuki Nyorai in the early fall, n.d.; Akagarasu (red crow), n.d.; Multi-colored Buddha figures (black, blue, red and yellow), n.d.; Assorted symbols bordered by orange/red Buddha figures, n.d.; Rows of multicolored Buddhas over white paper with Buddha figures stamped in black, n.d.; Turtle shell with trilobites and foraminifera on fancy Shoji Washi, n.d.; Kamakura Kitishgartha, Kyoto, 1968; The Horyuji-in-butsu collage with yin-yang and fan (title affixed to label on back of print), 1969; Triptych, #1 of 3, 1970; Ching Mandala, 1970; Alpine High Spring I, 1970; Three columns of colored turtles, 1981; Eighth century flutist, 1982.
        Dates: 1968-1982
        Container: Box folder:oversize 13/1
      • Description: Misc. prints: bird print, n.d.; Blossoming Lichen, 1967, #1 of 20; Lusty Deer, 1967, #9 of 30; Abstract, 1967; Meditation Mask, 1968, #6 of 30; Abstract black and white, 1969; Tactile self portrait, 1969; "The Silence of Nature", 1974, print with text, Kyoto.
        Dates: 1967-1974
        Container: Box folder:oversize 13/2
      • Description: Drawing probably by Corr- Bear + snake. Watercolors by Corr/possibly by Corr: crow: 1 watercolor, 1 print; bear, bear + man, rats, woman, woman + child (2).
        Container: Box folder:oversize 13/3
      • Description: Misc unidentified watercolors, pastels, and drawings: 2 watercolors by Barclay, 1 watercolor by Waldo Chase, 3 watercolors, 2 pastels, 6 drawings.
        Container: Box folder:oversize 13/4
      • Description: Misc watercolors and prints by other or unidentified artists
        Container: Box folder:oversize 13/5
    • Description: Five wood cuts, various sizes.
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box:oversize 14
    • Description: Six wood cuts, various sizes.
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box:oversize 15
    • Description: Four woodblocks, various sizes, all with corresponding prints:

      Blocks in this box correspond to the following prints: vertical symbology, "Wasego", vulture with leaves, and "Great Algonkian Bird" and "Solar Boat with Otter Markings" on the same block.

      Dates: undated
      Container: Box:oversize 16
    • Miscellaneous personal items

      Container: Box 17

    • Correspondence and manuscript drafts

      Container: Box 18

    • Description: Sixteen wood cuts, various sizes, all with corresponding prints in collection.

      Wood cuts in this box correspond to tthe following prints: Crow (with "Bull Elk" background on reverse), geometric woman, "Whale Boat with Flying Birds", "Greek Dress", Carlos Bulosan (both), "Stoneware", "All Men are Brothers", Stokely Carmichael, Turtle in Woman, Great Wall with Bird, "Stench of War"/"Limoger Bouddhiste", "Black and Brown Bears" and "Bodhisattva at Daitoku-ji Zen temple"

      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 19
    • Various works, 1960s

      Container: Box/Folder 20

      • Letters, drawings, prints

        Container: Box/Folder 20

        • Description: Cecilia Corr: ink drawing of figures in silhouette on river, 1961; watercolor of men fishing on riverbank, 1962; watercolor of spider in web, 1967; newspaper article "Fish in Art" featuring drawing by Cecilia Corr attached to Corr "Peace" block print. Indian Center news, Nov 2-3, 1968; letter and print from William and Cecilia Corr to Kinuyu and Michael Corr, n.d.; doves/Season's Greetings print and letter from Cecilia Corr to Michael Corr, n.d.
          Dates: 1961-1968
          Container: Box folder:oversize 20/1
        • Description: Anders S. Corr: Ink scribble by Anders, done when he was 13 months old.
          Dates: February 14, 1971
          Container: Box folder:oversize 20/1
        • Description: Michael Corr: prints of religious figures and symbols, block print in verso of typewritten statement of problem and hypothesis.
          Dates: 1968-1970
          Container: Box folder:oversize 20/1
        • Description: The Corrs: Season's Best Wishes block print with Mr. and Mrs. John Patten typewritten on verso
          Dates: undated
          Container: Box folder:oversize 20/1
        • Description: Miscellany: "Die Besten Grüsse und Wünsche zum Neuen Jahr" rooster print signed 'für Barbara and Michael von Jörg'; Abstract with 'done by young man from Yamagishi-kai, friend of Tetsuo Nagoruma'.
          Dates: 1966-1969
          Container: Box folder:oversize 20/1
        • Description: Additional Miscellany: 1 painting on stiff board, 3 pencil sketches, "May Peace on Earth- Goodwill Prevail- The Corrs", 3 block prints, 1 watercolor (dots), 1 paper sample signed Andy C., and 4 ink sketches.
          Dates: undated
          Container: Box folder:oversize 20/2
    • Description: Rolled large scale calligraphy, artist unknown.
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 21
    • Description: Rolled large scale calligraphy, artist unknown.
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 22
    • Description: Large rolled scroll printed with black overlapping buddhas.
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 23
    • Art Supplies

      Container: Box 24

    • Magazine Issues

      Container: Box/Folder 25

      • Description: 70 issues ofBezoarliterary magazine

        At least one issue per volume from vol. 3 to vol. 21. Includes some unnumbered special issues.

        Dates: September 1976- July 1981
      • Description: 65 issues ofBlue Cloud (Indian) Quarterly

        Michael Corr illustrated issues not included (according to tag on original package). From vol. 17 no. 1 to vol. 33 no. 4. Full runs of vol. 20 and 23-33.

        Dates: undated
    • Description: Seven wood cuts, various sizes, all with corresponding prints in the collection.

      The woodcuts in this box correspond to the following prints: "Tang Dynasty Lion", "Point of Arches", celestial shapes, sunflower, and untitled nude woman.

      Container: Box:oversize 26
    • Description: Ten wood cuts, various sizes, all with corresponding prints in the collection.

      The woodcuts in this box correspond to the following prints: "Anasazi", "From Ming Tomb", "I love making brown rice...", "If you have time to read a book...", "Tentacles", abstract blue, "St. Elmo's Fire", and "Eclipse of the Crimson Dipper".

      Container: Box:oversize 27
    • Description: Prints and Woodcuts
      Container: Box:oversize 28
    • Description: Prints, Woodcuts, Drawings and Calligraphy
      Container: Box:oversize 29